Our Changing Table Got a Makeover

It’s hard to believe this piece of furniture…..

….once looked like this.

The photo directly above was taken from our nursery. This changing table was a solid piece we got from RH Baby & Child. It used it with all three kids. I remember rocking babies in the middle of the night and staring at this piece of furniture, thinking “This thing totally needs to be used a pretty bar.” I’m weird, I know.

Fast forward many years, I removed the top piece (the part designed for holding the child, padding, etc.) and the bottom became a temporary home for tools in the garage. The paint was dull and the finish chipped.

One day I was sitting with my friend in her parents’ living room and I stopped in my tracks. What do I see? This same piece of furniture STYLED AS A BAR. I asked my friend if it was a changing table and we both laughed that I knew what its original purpose was. I could not believe someone else also felt this piece needed to be a bar. I decided right then that it was time for me to actualize my vision for it.

First, it needed a new paint job. I sanded it to roughen the surface of the finish. I used a 120 grit sponge like I have linked here. Next, I used a foam roller (like the one here) to put a coat of primer on it. I like this primer. Once it was dry, I did two coats of this paint. I love using this paint for furniture. It’s easy to use and has a nice, durable finish.

Next, I used this wallpaper to cover the fronts of drawer. I simply put a coat of Mode Podge directly onto the furniture and then wrapped the wallpaper onto the drawer. You can see below how I folded the edges.

Once it was dry (I let it dry for 24 hours) I painted a coat of Mod Podge over the outside of it. That ensures the durability of the wallpaper.

Finally, I drilled new holes for the drawer pulls. I used these gold pulls.

I used Rub N Buff (here) to make the little knob gold. This knob pulls out additional surface space to mix a cocktail.

See? Restoration Hardware was practically begging for this piece to be a pretty bar. I love how it turned out. I still laugh that I was not alone in my vision for this piece of furniture.

The top part that the babies were actually changed on is gone (so don’t freak out when I make your cocktail on this table.) Being able to use this nostalgic piece of furniture priceless.