Blue Nightstand Makeover: From Commission Brief to Finished Pair

Ever wondered what really happens when someone asks a refinisher to create a custom piece?

I’ve worked on enough custom pieces to know that clients rarely start with the paint colour. They start with a feeling they are trying to achieve. In this case, a pair of nightstands needed to feel intentional in a new bedroom, not just “blue.”

Commission work always comes down to connection and conversations. The biggest decisions happen early, in those first chats, mood boards, and small tweaks that save you and your client from regret later. If you’re thinking about commissioning a piece or taking on custom work, this project gives you a look at what really happens behind the scenes.

It Starts With the Right Nightstands

Before colour even came up, we had to talk about the furniture. The clients needed taller nightstands, which could hold a lamp, books, and a few extras. Luckily, I already had the perfect pair waiting in the workshop.

These were matching Bevan Funnell end tables from the Reprodux line, with mahogany flame veneer and classic design.

Most vintage nightstands are too low for today’s bed frames. That’s why people often repurpose other pieces. These, though, were the right height from the start.

The tops had leather insets, but the leather was peeling and couldn’t be saved. That detail shaped the whole redesign. The new owners didn’t want new leather or to fill the inlay. Instead, they wanted to turn that small indented circle into a feature.

The Commission Process: Colour First, Always

When I take on a commission, I always start with what the client actually lives with.

We talked about their current bedroom furniture and the colours they wanted in their new space. They were leaning toward softer tones, with blue as the main focus.

Next, I made real paint samples in a few different blues. Seeing colour in person always changes things. In the end, we chose Atomic Blue from Wise Owl’s One Hour Enamel.

If you’re new to custom refinishing, I break down what to expect from the early stages of client work in how to start taking on commissioned furniture projects.

Working With One-Hour Enamel

One Hour Enamel is tough, which is exactly what you want for nightstands. They get daily use, such as lamps, books, and glasses of water. The finish needs to handle it all.

Unfortunately, working with this paint does take some practice. Thin layers work best. If you load up the brush or rush, the brush strokes appear quickly. I learned that the hard way on earlier projects, but a few tweaks made all the difference.

Learn how to reduce brush marks when painting furniture.

One additional thing to note: this paint is not low in VOCs. I always wear a respirator and make sure the work area is well ventilated.

Turning Damaged Leather Into a Design Feature

The leather inset was peeling and couldn’t be saved. Instead of replacing it, we decided to turn that circle into a feature.

We picked the Retro Drops stencil from Stencil Up in the UK. I had a few stencils in the workshop, but this one added just the right pattern to break up all the blue.

I’ll be honest, stencilling isn’t second nature for me. Clean lines take patience and a light hand. While good-quality stencils help a lot, the raised edges on these tables made it trickier than usual. I did have to do touch-ups by hand in a few spots.  

I believe in complete transparency with any client I work with.  I opted to send an email with photos to the client to ensure they were happy with the touch-ups or to see if they wished to go in another direction. Taking the time to communicate around key issues that may arise is good business practice.

Choosing Stencil Colours

Taking a step back, before I actually started to stencil, I showed the clients four different colour combos.  I did this by taking it a step further than a simple colour swatch.  I opted to paint with the stencil the design in all four colour combinations on a spare board.

Seeing all the colour options together, in the final pattern, made it easy for them to choose. They settled on soft blue and green colours, including Little Whale and Bellwood from Fusion Mineral Paint.

That extra step made the decision feel easy and helped the client feel confident about their choice.

Why This Direction Worked for Their Space

From across the room, they look like classic blue nightstands. Up close, the stencil gives them their own personality.

What’s interesting is how these nightstands could have gone in so many different directions. The colour choices shaped their whole identity.

If you’re curious how dramatically one piece can shift based purely on finish decisions, I recently broke down five completely different makeover directions using this exact nightstand as the starting point.

It’s a good reminder that furniture personality comes from paint, contrast, and hardware, not just the furniture’s shape.

What Commission Work Really Comes Down To

Paint is visual, but the decisions aren’t always simple. With so many colours, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Showing colour combos together and making a mood board helps clients feel more confident in their choices.

It starts with a conversation.
It’s looking at the space together.
It moves through colour sampling and, if necessary, testing out combinations.
Then it becomes about design extras, such as patterns, hardware, and additional finishes.

If you’re in your workshop, wondering whether you’re ready for custom work, or a homeowner unsure about the process, I hope this gives you a clearer idea of how collaborative refinishing really works.

And if you’ve commissioned a piece before, I’d love to hear what part of the process mattered most to you. Add your experience below.

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