We’re thrilled to welcome LeeAnn from Creative Moments back to the Dixie Belle blog! LeeAnn’s passion for transforming furniture with beautiful, natural finishes truly shines in her latest project—a stunning natural oak nightstand makeover. Using Dixie Belle’s products, she brings out the warm, timeless beauty of the wood while giving it a fresh, modern touch. If you’re inspired by classic wood tones and want to see how easy it can be to refresh your furniture, LeeAnn’s step-by-step makeover is the perfect guide. Let’s dive into this gorgeous transformation!

(The following is an excerpt from Creative Moments. Read the full article here.)

This poor little nightstand arrived in rough shape. At some point, someone began stripping off the old finish, but one side had a broken base, and the whole piece was extremely dirty, clearly begging for a makeover. Although I briefly considered not refinishing it, I decided to persevere—and the end result made me very happy I did.

Vintage two-drawer wooden nightstand with ornate black metal handles, showing natural oak finish, placed on a concrete floor.

Step 1: Repair and Sand

I began by repairing the piece, then sanding off the existing finish completely.

Man using a power tool to work on a wooden nightstand drawer inside a workshop, with a dog lying nearby and a person’s foot visible in the foreground. Close-up of a wooden nightstand drawer front with wood grain visible, resting on a gray surface with a small blue and red plastic tool placed on the edge.

Step 2: Clean

It is now ready to seal up all that hard work and detailing. But first it was wiped clean with a soft slightly damp rag.

Natural oak nightstand with two drawers, stripped and sanded, sitting on a workbench in a woodworking workshop.

Step 3: Seal with Gator Hide

I choose the super durable Gator Hide applied with my favorite 2″ mini synthetic brush.
You can see it going on the top half and enriching the wood color to a natural oak color.
Hand applying Dixie Belle Gator Hide protective finish with a brush to the side of a natural oak nightstand, showing a clear difference between treated and untreated wood.

Step 4: Apply Big Mama’s Butta

Inside on the drawer rails I applied Big Mama’s Butta with my dedicated La Petite brush. This makes the drawers slide effortlessly.
Small wood brush and open tin of Dixie Belle beeswax polish placed inside a natural oak nightstand drawer.

Step 5: Clean and Paint Hardware

The unique original hardware was scrubbed. When doing so the original gold/brass color was revealed in areas so they had been painted in the past. Black is perfect with the natural wood so black they shall stay.
Two ornate black metal drawer pulls and two rectangular black metal handles laid out on a light surface, with blue arrows marking certain areas on the drawer pulls.

Step 6: Sand and Apply 2nd Coat

Once the first coat of Gator Hidewas dry, it was lightly sanded with a 220 sanding sponge.
Hand sanding the top surface of a natural oak nightstand with two drawers in a workshop setting.
Another coat of Gator Hide was applied and once it dried an even lighter sanding to make the surface buttery smooth.

Step 7: Apply Hardware

The now dry hardware was put back on. The outside and inside of the drawers were also treated to a hydrating coat of Big Mama’s Butta.
Hand wiping the inside of a natural oak nightstand drawer with a blue cloth in a workshop setting.
This handy wood salve comes in unscented and a variety of lovely scents that give a piece a fresh fragrance.
Finished natural oak nightstand with two drawers and black metal handles, decorated with a bonsai plant on top, placed on wooden floor next to a green potted plant.
A big thank you to LeeAnn with Creative Moments for sharing this beautiful natural oak nightstand makeover with us! Her expert tips and use of Dixie Belle products show just how simple it is to enhance the natural beauty of wood while giving old furniture new life. Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or just starting out, LeeAnn’s project is a wonderful reminder that sometimes the best look is a natural one. Be sure to visit her blog for more inspiring furniture makeovers, and don’t forget to share your own creations with us. Happy painting and refinishing!
For another beautiful and easy project by Creative Moments, check out our blog, Goodbye Orange Oak – Hello Walnut Rustic Coffee Table.
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Furniture Makeovers, Guest Author