DIY Nightstand Makeover: From Damaged & Dated to Classic & Modern

You will not believe the transformation these Facebook Marketplace nightstands went through. At first glance, they were rough—busy design, one drawer completely jammed, and (no exaggeration) hundreds of tiny nails sticking out. But with some teamwork, sanding, Bondo, and a whole lot of patience, these nightstands now look timeless, versatile, and ready for a new life.

If you’ve got damaged or outdated furniture at home, here’s exactly how I flipped these step by step.

Step 1: Prep

The first thing we had to tackle was the mess. It was clear someone else had already started working on these before I got them - so this meant extra prep to bring everything back to a clean slate before moving forward.

My little brother Cyril jumped in to help pull out all those stray nails while I cleaned every surface and pried off the old keyholes.

Step 2: Sand

Using an orbital sander, Cyril and I took turns sanding down the flat surfaces. This stripped away the old finish and gave us a fresh base to work with.

For the curved edges and hard-to-reach areas, we switched to hand sanding to make sure everything was smoothed out evenly.

💡 Pro tip: Sanding not only removes the old finish but also helps your primer and paint stick way better, so it’s worth taking your time here.

Wood Filler vs. Bondo: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to filling grooves, gaps, or damage in furniture, you’ve got two main options: classic wood filler and Bondo.

Wood Filler

• Easier to work with

• Low odor, safe for indoor use

• Best for small dings, scratches, nail holes, or shallow repairs

• Slower drying, which gives you more working time

• Sands smoothly and blends well with paint or stain

Bondo (Wood Filler or All-Purpose Putty)

• Dries much faster and harder than regular wood filler

• Ideal for structural issues, deep grooves, or large problem areas

• Extremely durable once cured

• Strong fumes → always use good airflow and ideally a respirator

• Wear gloves (it’s not skin-friendly)

• Sets quickly, so you need to work fast

💡 My take: For small cosmetic fixes, wood filler is fine. But for major repairs like these nightstands—with deep grooves and structural quirks—Bondo was the way to go.

Step 3: Fill

This part was a marathon. I used what felt like a million rounds of Bondo, wood filler, and sanding before finally getting a smooth surface that was ready to prime.

One of the biggest changes was cutting off the curvy base to modernize the shape. This hack works not just for nightstands, but also for dressers or other vintage pieces—it’s one of the easiest ways to give dated furniture a more streamlined, modern look.

After all the filling and smoothing, the nightstands finally looked clean, simple, and ready for the next step.

Step 4: Prime

Once the structure was ready, I grabbed a brush and roller and gave the entire piece a solid coat of liquid primer. It kept the project affordable and got the job done.

Normally, though, I like to use spray primer—it’s sooo much easier and faster to apply, especially for detailed furniture pieces. Either way, primer not only blocks stains but also creates a smooth base for your paint to grip.

Step 5: Paint

Here’s where the magic happens. I wanted to keep a nod to the classic design, so I added new trim—mitered into neat little boxes—to frame out the drawers. Each piece was glued, weighted down, then finished with wood filler and caulk for seamless edges.

For the color, I loaded up my sprayer with a mix of paint and poly (yep, paint + sealer in one). My Finish Max sprayer laid down the smoothest sheen. Pro tip: always spot fill imperfections and lightly sand between coats if you want that factory-finish look.

Step 6: Seal

Since I mixed poly right into the paint, these nightstands came out sealed, protected, and with the most gorgeous finish. Finally, I drilled new hardware holes and added these beautiful simple brass knobs that really tie everything together.

💡 Pro tip: Using a hardware jig makes it super easy to get perfect, consistent hardware measurements every time - no guesswork required.

The Reveal ✨

From nail-covered and non-functional to classic and modern, these nightstands are now versatile pieces that could fit into almost any bedroom style. The clean lines, fresh paint, and brass accents really make them pop.

Here’s a reminder of the before—and now the after: a total transformation.

Before

After

📸 Nothing beats a good side-by-side. The before vs. after photos really show just how dramatic this nightstand makeover turned out.