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Upcycle a bedside cabinet with paintable wallpaper

Upcycled bedside table with flower vase on top and next to a bed in the bedroom.

Overview

It's easy to use paintable wallpaper to give your furniture a fresh new look - and feel. The surfaces of this revamped timber bedside cabinet are tactile: chalk paint adds a smooth, matt finish to the outside, while wallpapering over the drawer fronts provides texture. For a dash of style, we've added new leather handles.

You can apply this D.I.Y. approach to most bedside cabinets - here's how.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (such as ear muffs, safety glasses, gloves and a mask) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Steps

1Remove drawers and handles

Working in a well-ventilated area, set out a drop sheet and place the bedside cabinet on top. Take out the drawers and remove the handles with a screwdriver. Use a scraper to smooth over the handle holes with timber filler, leaving to dry. Sand them with 180-grit abrasive paper to remove excess.

Wooden bedside table with drawers removed, outside on a drop sheet.

2Use a sander to smooth

Use an orbital sander with a 120-grit abrasive disc to smooth over the larger, flat areas; remove any bumps. Next, smooth all over using 180-grit abrasive paper with a sanding block. 

Green Bunnings hammer
Tip: There’s no need to completely remove the finish; you just need to create a key for the primer to adhere to the surface.
Person using an orbital sander to sand the top of the bedside table.

3Wipe away dust and apply primer

Wipe away any dust with a damp microfibre cloth. Apply a three-in-one primer using an angled brush along the edge profiles and corners, and a mini microfibre roller for the larger, flat areas. Leave to dry thoroughly.

Person applying primer with a paintbrush to the edges of the bedside table.

4Stir and apply the chalk paint

Stir the chalk paint well and apply two coats to the outside of the cabinet, leaving to dry thoroughly after each coat. 

Green Bunnings hammer
Tip: Apply the paint the same way as the primer, using a brush along the edge profiles and corners, and a mini roller for larger, flat areas.
Person applying chalk paint to bedside table with a mini roller while holding tray of paint.

5Mark drawer fronts

With the paintable textured wallpaper facing right-side down, mark around the drawer fronts with a pencil, adding clearance on all sides. Cut with scissors. 
Green Bunnings hammer
Tip: For the clearance, add 10mm to the thickness of the drawer front, which is usually about 20mm. Cut the corners with 45° angles to easily fit around edges.
Person cutting marked-up wallpaper with scissors.

6Spray adhesive

Spray contact adhesive over the front and around the sides of the drawer fronts, as well as the underside of the wallpaper. Leave the adhesive to become touch-dry according to the product’s instructions. When it's ready, position the paper, folding the sides over the drawer-front edges. Press to hold.

Person spraying contact adhesive to the front of a bedside table drawer.

7Apply durable interior paint

Use a clean brush to apply two coats of hard-wearing, low-sheen paint over the wallpaper covering on the drawer fronts, leaving to dry after each coat. 
Green Bunnings hammer
Tip: Choose a creamy beige tone to give the wallpaper a woven rattan or linen look. (We used Dulux Wash & Wear in 'Basketweave Beige').
Person applying paint to the front of a bedside table drawer with a paintbrush.

8Drill and screw

Mark the centre of the drawer fronts, 40mm down from the top, and drill right through with a 4mm bit. Check the depth of the drawer front against the handles’ supplied snap-off screws and adjust to fit with a spanner and combination pliers. Screw in the handles and replace the drawers.

Person screwing in handle to the front of a bedside table drawer.

9Keep in mind…

  • Work in a well-ventilated area, wearing a mask when sanding, painting and using spray adhesive.
  • To paint varnished timber, apply primer first, then apply two coats of chalk paint for a durable, scratch-resistant surface.

10Want to take your bedroom décor further?

Add more texture by creating a D.I.Y. 3D plaster headboard.

 

Photo Credit: Richard Weinstein

Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.