Can’t Find Nightstands? Split A Vanity In Half Instead!

Finding a matching pair of nightstands in my neck of the woods is practically impossible. They’re either crazy expensive, ugly and outdated or non-existent.

That’s why I like to make my own nightstands by splitting vanities in half!

This gives me 2 matching nightstands that are slender, unique and much easier to find!

Splitting A Vanity In Half

When I go shopping for vanities that will become nightstands, I try to make sure they’re constructed in a way that would make them easy to take apart.

Does that make sense?

In other words, if I have to do a lot of sawing, replacing wood pieces, etc., then I’m out. I try to find pieces that are easy to take apart and don’t require too much cosmetic work afterwards. Depending on your skill set, try to shop for pieces that you think will be easy to break in half.

These particular nightstands came from an Art Deco style vanity that was toeing the line of being just a bit too complicated. I had to do a lot of filling with Bondo® and some shaping with my sander. But in the end, I was able to get 2 sweetly sized nightstands!

Here’s how they looked once all of the cosmetic construction work was finished.

Prep And Painting

My color of choice was the warm and cozy shade of Marzipan.

The wood veneer on my nightstands was pretty glossy, so I spent a decent amount of time scuffing it up with 150 grit sandpaper. I didn’t mind if they chipped here and there, so I didn’t completely go to town.

It took 3 coats of Marzipan to get the full coverage I wanted. You’ll find that may be the case with some of the lighter colors in the MMSMP line. It’s simply because they don’t have as much pigment in them as the darker colors.

After painting, I smooth sanded with 400 grit and then went over the edges and high points with 220 to do some distressing. Finally, I applied a spreadably soft finish using MilkOil™

The Finished Nightstands

After removing the bakelite from the original pulls, I reattached them to the drawers. Then, my nightstands were all ready for a new owner!

The soft warmth of Marzipan was a perfect way to quiet down these nightstands. The original wood veneer was a was going every which-way. Now, everything is one soothing and cozy color!

I usually distress my pieces to show off their vintage character. It’s an easy way to highlight the charm of your projects!

One last thing that I did was to make sure there wasn’t any paint covering the dovetail joints on the drawers. This is a mark of craftsmanship, so I like to cover that with painter’s tape while I’m working. It makes for a night, straight and crisp line!

Are you ready to go scouring your local thrift shops for vanities that have nightstand potential?

Make sure you tag @mmsmilkpaint in your social media posts so we can see your handiwork!