Side Table Re-do

This is a project that I actually did long ago, and have always been meaning to do a post on, and haven't. 
At a fundraiser garage sale I found this cute little side table that I thought would be fun to redo.  Unfortunately, I didn't realize it wasn't real wood until after I brought it home. I guess since I only paid a few bucks for it, no big deal.  I still worked on sanding it down as well as I could and repainted it.

I didn't finish it right, because the paint has always been somewhat sticky and hasn't kept up the greatest, but like I said...a few dollars.  I put a new drawer handle on it and painted it brown.  Sorry about the picture, not the greatest, but you get the idea.

I really do like it, but wish it was real wood so I could finish it the right way and know that it would last and paint would stick right. Any tips??