I'm pretty sure you can give it a good cleaning, then prime it and paint it. Get the primer tinted to the paint color so it will look better.

Before you prime it, sand it with coarse sandpaper . That will help the primer and paint stay on the furniture.

I like your idea of re-purposing the mirror and adding a different headboard to freshen the look along with paint. I don't know your style, but since the furniture isn't heirloom quality, you could have fun with it and decoupage or stencil it if that would fit in with your decor.

I think it's a great idea - but be careful about sanding easily damaged veneer, though. If tape pulls it off, sandpaper may really make a big mess of it. Think I'd just clean well, prime and paint.

Thanks, all. If any of you have done this can you share what paint/primer you've used? I've read lots on chalk paint but since it's on wood I can't distress these and I'm pretty sure chalk paint is only good if you are going to distress.

use a sanding liquid instead of sanding worked great for me. As far as the mirror-would need to see a pic. I like a mirror above my dresser-dated or not. It's just what the mirror looks like that makes the difference to me. I replaced my hutch mirror with a wood framed one and still love it.

Zinsser BIN primer is excellent. It's oil based but you can paint over it with latex. If you are planning to use as dark paint, have it tinted grey.

This is my favorite tutorial for furniture painting:

Here is a link that might be useful: How to paint furniture

I wonder if you could just slab on chalk paint?

You might try posting this in the paint forum...there are some folks there who are technical about paint products and applications...