I chalk painted this antique nightstand. The picture below is when the nightstand was at my father’s house before he passed away. ? It is old and as you can see was warped on the top.
BEFORE Picture
Below is an AFTER picture. 
Step 1: Gluing
I don’t have pictures, but we turned the table upside down on a hard surface and re-glued all the joints. We used clamps to tighten it up and hold in place while the glue dried. We also weighed it down with heavy items. It made a difference, but you can still see that there is a little curvature on the top in the final pictures.
Step 2: Sanding
I used fine sandpaper to remove any “burrs” so it has a smooth painting surface. 
Step 3: Chalk Painting
This was the first time I used this color and I LOVE IT!
It is a blue/green and went perfectly with the comforter on the guest/loft bed. (This comforter is what my daughter Emmy used on her bed at her college apartment; I try to reuse things when possible.)
I painted two coats of chalk paint, being sure to get all the crevices. I usually start with the table upside down to get the underside. Just knowing it was not consistent would bug me. Once I paint the underside, including the four feet, I flipped it over and finished painting the remainder of the nightstand.
Below are pictures after chalk painting. Up close, you can see the grainy texture, which is characteristic of chalk paint. The purpose of using chalk paint is that it sands off easily and reveals the wood or the base color. 
Step 4: Sanding
Now, it is time to sand off some (but not all) of the chalk paint in strategic spots. I sand all the “like” areas first (all four legs, then four flat pieces that brace the bottom, etc.) This helps me double-check myself for consistency so all the legs blend/match while at the same time creating a random worn pattern. 
Corners are fun to do because I can give them a real worn look. 
I really like it when a piece of furniture has rounded or spiral features. I love the way these rounded areas look after sanding. 
The edges are easiest, but I don’t overdo it. Then I work on all the flat pieces.
I constantly look over the piece until I am happy with its appearance. You can sand more or less depending on your preference.
Step 5: Now we are ready for poly.
I don’t use wax, but instead, use Minwax wipe-on poly (clear satin). I use rubber gloves so I don’t have to clean my hands with paint thinner. I use a cotton rag, which is usually from an old cotton t-shirt. 
I don’t want the furniture to have a shiny look, but just to have protection. (My sweet family has ruined several tabletops by not using coasters.) I put two coats on the entire piece of furniture. I start the same way I did the chalk paint, with the furniture upside down. I put at least three coats on the top for extra protection.
Make sure that you read the directions and give plenty of time to dry between coats — overnight is best between coats. I have made the mistake of not letting it dry sufficiently between coats and it took a LONG time to dry, but it finally did!
The poly tints the color a little – – sort of gives it an antique/aged look. 
So now, it has a home by the guest bed in our loft (also my office outside of my craft room). 
Here is a better picture. Notice how well it blends with the quilt on the bed.
As a side note, the painted rock on the nightstand was painted by my Grandmother (Mom-Mom) in 1971. She was a farmer’s wife and a talented artist. It makes me smile because I think of her and what a special person she was. I know she is in Heaven with my Dad.
Let me know what you think or if you have any questions by commenting below.
Check out some of my other chalk painting blog posts:
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