You might remember the sunroom quick-change from a few months back when we transformed our former third bedroom—previously home to a West Elm daybed and a desk—into Clara’s nursery. Being proponents of making the most of what we already own, we moved that daybed into the sunroom and mentioned that one day we’d prime and paint it white to better balance the room, especially since the other daybed nearby is already white. While the darker finish worked with the metal framing on the surrounding glass doors, priming and painting it white has made the overall arrangement feel more cohesive.
We’re not obsessive about everything matching, but the two daybeds have different styles and pillows—one is simpler and less ornate—so unifying them with a white finish helps the L-shaped layout feel intentional rather than off-balance. The freshly painted daybed also creates a calm foundation for future layers of pattern, color, and texture that we plan to introduce in later phases.
With the trees green again outside, we added some colorful pillows that we already owned—some were previously in the guest bedroom before it became our home office/guest room/playroom. The two floral pillows were a family gift (we think from Bed Bath & Beyond) and the larger blue pillow was a Marshall’s find picked up for about $6.
Here’s how we primed and painted the daybed. First we removed the mattress and linens and set the daybed’s feet on squares of cardboard to protect the floor:
We used Kilz oil-based primer to prevent the wood stain from bleeding through the finish, applying it thinly and evenly with a brush. If you don’t paint often, place a drop cloth under your work area to protect rugs or floors—cardboard under the feet is our workaround, but that comes from lots of practice. If the wood surface is glossy or covered in polyurethane, sand it first to scuff the finish so the primer adheres. Our daybed had a matte, absorbent surface, so sanding wasn’t necessary.
Usually one coat of primer is enough—its job is to create a foundation so the latex paint will adhere and block the original color, not to provide perfect coverage. Primer tends to look rough, so aim for a thin, even coat rather than heavy application, which can cause long drying times and bubbling. Brush strokes are normal with primer and unavoidable in close-up pictures. Once the primer is dry, it’s time for paint.
The day after priming, once the primer had cured, we applied two thin, even coats of white paint about an hour apart. We used a no-VOC semi-gloss latex in the off-the-shelf white and rolled it on with a small foam roller for a smooth, factory-like finish that would better match the other daybed. You can choose either a brush or roller depending on whether you prefer a hand-painted look or a smoother appearance—both are valid choices.
Thin, even coats and adequate drying time are the keys to a successful finish. We recommend at least a day between primer and paint, roughly an hour between paint coats (depending on product directions), and several days before returning items to normal use. We waited a full week before rehanging linens and moving the daybed back into place to avoid dents or creases from impatience. The room looked a little disheveled in the interim, but Burger—our dog—enjoyed the temporary new lookout.
Once reassembled, the daybed looked like it had always been white:
The painted color ended up looking very similar to the other daybed’s white, so they play nicely together. We didn’t obsess over getting a perfect white-to-white match with swatches, but that’s an option if you want an exact match. In our case, the close match felt like a happy accident.
With Burger’s mattress perch gone, he still seems content. The room now feels lighter and fresher thanks to the glass, airy white furnishings, pops of green and blue, and breezy white sheers.
This was part one of the first phase: working with what we already had. The move and repainting cost us nothing since the daybed and paint supplies were already on hand. We also shuffled other pieces when converting the old guest room into an office: a dresser and large mirror were moved into the sunroom, while a small wooden bookcase from the sunroom moved to the office to hold Clara’s toys.
The larger dresser and mirror add storage and reflect more light and the leafy view, while the smaller bookcase fits the office footprint. Everyone benefits from the swap. This is only stage one of the sunroom refresh—expect more pattern and color to come in the next phase.
Have you ever moved bedroom furniture into a living space to make it work better, or painted a piece to help it fit in or stand out? Share your experience.
P.S. For a more detailed guide to painting furniture, there are many thorough tutorials available. Happy painting!