I always say paint goes a long way. New hardware also makes a huge transformation. I needed nightstands to complete the bedroom of my vacation rental right away - on a budget. Used and locally in my neighborhood is often my go to hero. And it did not disappoint- I found a piece on FB marketplace. I was doubtful at first but for the price, it thought it was worth giving it a shot.

When looking for a used piece here are the things I’m looking for:

Ugly not broken: but not too ugly
Good price: It’s got to be 50% less than purchasing new because you will still have to pay for paint and new hardware. And your time is worth something too.
Is it upcycle-able?: Solid wood can be sanded and painted but anything with a plastic laminate top cannot be painted. An uneven leg might not be worth repairing.

Supplies used: wood putty, primer, paint (I used SW 9149 Inky blue), new gold handles, drill, sander, paint brush, couple of hours (split up into a couple days to let the paint dry) and lots of elbow grease.

Process:

Scour the web for the right piece, right price.
Remove all the hardware and fill the holes and cracks in the wood
Sand the entire piece starting with a high grit sandpaper (I used 150 to start) then ended with a lower grit sandpaper of 220. Then wipe down to get all the dust off.
Primer with one coat.
Paint two coats of paint letting the paint dry in between coats
Drill and screw in the new hardware. Use a level and make yourself a guide. I wish I did all that before hand and mine are crooked!