Hi, if it's any help I know it's murder painting this, but I would go for white or light beige and gold. These two colours are in right now.

Thanks
Rose (Interior Designer)

Stag Mistral can still be bought new but my family had it when I was little so I also think it looks very dark and old fashioned. Since this is not an antique I don't see any problem with painting it.
You need a primer and then any hardwearing paint will work (eggshell or similar) there are also spray paints available in the DIY stores but these cost more.
Personally I think people go off strong colours so you may end up painting it again later. Instead consider painting it a neutral grey and replacing the handles with alternate handles in jewel colours.

What is the colour scheme of the room this will be sitting in? Initially I would say grey and keep the handles gold or perhaps a dark blue or navy

Thanks all for suggestions so far. There isn't much else in the room yet, just a metal framed bed with white bed sheets and a bedspread that is the same style as this, but with blue colours instead of pinks and reds: http://www.zarahome.com/gb/bedroom/bedspreads/fuchsia-patchwork-effect-digital-print-linen-cushion-cover-and-bedspread-c1089051p7546782.html 

I am reluctant to paint it white as last time I painted furniture white it went yellow when I sealed it with polyurethane (am I doing something wrong!?!).

A friend of mine recommended Annie Sloan chalk paint and I look the look of French Linen, Paris Grey and Coco. Also like Duck Egg Blue for a bit of colour that isn't too bold?!? https://www.anniesloan.com/annie-sloan-products/paints/chalk-paint.html 

Polyurethane goes yellow.

I'd suggest chalk paint too and I'd say light grey or a blue that works well with your bed linen. I'd keep the handles.

I'd say don't paint it! It's beautiful furniture and once your paint it there may be no going back!

Beautiful piece of furniture! Don't worry about the future...be here and now and if you feel like painting paint it. Otherwise it will become an obstacle waiting for better time :) How about natural wood? Would you consider taking off the paint? Because of the mirrors make sure it will not be standing in your bedroom. Best of luck/ Marcin

Hi - we bought one of those dressing tables and a tv cabinet from eBay for our sons new home. I primed and under coated them then painted in F & B elephants breath - they look lovely.
Everyone comments on them and don't realise they are stag minstrel pieces.

Hi. I'd go for a shade of blue to complement the bed, I think a dark inky blue would be nice personally and would keep the handles. If you google images of stag minstrel dressing table there are a few colours that come up so it may help you decide. Her website has been updated since I last looked and I now can't find the details but Annie Sloan paint can react to an old varnish I think pre-dating the 80's (although it also reacted to my 2 year old bannisters!) so would test a patch on the back first. Waxing is also hard work even though the painting isn't. I haven't tried this personally but would look at polyvine wax finish varnish. It will be far easier to apply and you should get a finish similar to the wax.

I'm in agreement with the first comment but equally it may be decades until this style and colour of furniture is fully appreciated once more. I loved the 'Nocturne' range of furniture which Stag manufactured.

Back in the early 1980's when I set up my first home my parents gave me their bedroom furniture. It wasn't too dissimilar to yours but I decided it needed modernising and, following the fashion of the day, which wasn't to paint furniture (so 1970's!), I stained it a different colour. We did quite a reasonable job but it never looked completely right. Eventually we got rid of it and bought something more modern for too much money on hire purchase. Idiots.

Now, given the trend for 'mid-century' furniture Mum & Dad's old furniture would have been much sought after. As would all their old sideboards, wall units etc. which all ended their days as firewood.

So we all do it. Some may have regrets but unless you've got room to store it until values increase, you've just got to do what suits you best. If it were mine I'd embrace the darker furniture look and not paint it but decorate your walls to show off the look and enhance the craftsmanship and design ethos that went into the dressing table originally rather than trying to change it too radically because it just becomes a piece of painted wood then. But that's my taste, not yours. Whatever you decide to do I hope you will continue to use this furniture for many years and be grateful for its quality, painted or otherwise.

I am with Minni. I would pick a blue out if the bedding and go blue. A nice rich shade or a pale shade depending on the look you're trying to achieve and the flooring choice.

Done gorgeous new handles and a few accessories will finish it off nicely.

Good luck and do share your finished pictures.

Annie Sloan chalk paint is great, don't worry about being to out there or going crazy with it, if you don't like it you can just paint over it again, better to take the risk and have a piece you love! Post a picture when you've painted it

I'm thinking peacock colours of teal, blue and gold in multiples of 60/30/10 %

Thanks all for your awesome suggestions. I will post something when it's done (might take me a while!). C x

Don't paint it. Sell it if you don't like it.

Iv done a few of these , I also change the colour of what I got all the time

My partner has worked in large hotels where Stag was the norm and since then much has ended in charity warehouses or scrapped. I cannot see that there is much point keeping in its present form. We re-styled a G plan dressing table and picked out the colour scheme in the drapes and bed coverings for a lady. See attached.

Have a go yourself or commission a local PRO advertised in this website (we are in the Cotswolds).

Advice - Avoid chalk paint looks great but think about durability.

1. Thoroughly clean with sugar soap then clean cloth

2. Base stain stop and undercoat (eg. Zinsser 123 - Amazon or Ebay).

3. We use either "Little Green" or "Fired Earth" paints - water-based and suggest at least 3 coats for good cover.

4. Finally use a professional matt or satin water-based varnish on the surface of the dressing table to prevent spillages getting into paint.

5. The price we charged for the dressing table was £320 plus materials about £48 we used three colours.

Best wishes Celia xx

On a practical note; the drawers on this furniture are a very neat fit. I want to paint a chest of drawers in the same range and I am worried that they might not fit after being painted.

Hi Janice a light sanding with a Number 60 grade then to finish 180/240 to provide a professional look. Rule of thumb width to sand - new penny on its side. If you think sanding by hand too arduous treat yourself to an electric one around £35. Sounds as though good investment. Same situation if you paint the side of drawers. We painted a complete bedroom suite inside and outside of all drawers. When painting go through the same process as I suggested previously.

We now use London Vintage Paint Company for furniture paint but if matching your scheme "Little Green" and " Fired Earth" are still recommended.

Good Luck Celia xxOur New Website and Business Initiative