You will also have come across an old wooden trunk . The flea markets abound with these fascinating but apparently impractical objects, especially for today’s homes. The trunks of the common imagination are in fact devoid of drawers and shelves, which makes them rather uncomfortable. In fact, with a little imagination they find wide use even in today’s homes.
A wooden trunk can become so comfortable and so beautiful that many designers have decided to propose them again. Alongside the vintage trunks , an infinite number of contemporary models have appeared , adapted according to today’s needs. So let’s see how to exploit these antique-style furniture in a modern context. In this article we will explain howdecorating an old trunk and how to give it a new life:
- How to restore an old wooden trunk
- Where to use a vintage or modern trunk
- Alternative ways to exploit a chest
How to restore an old wooden trunk
The simplest solution is to buy a new wooden trunk , there is no shadow of a doubt. But if you like manual work and you have found an old trunk in the attic, you could restore it . How
- Many old trunks have overlapping layers and layers of paint, often peeling and damaged. The first step is to remove everything with an ecological paint remover , which does not pollute and is more comfortable than sandpaper. Brush it on a piece of trunk, remove the paint with a spatula and go on like this until the end. Use little pressure , otherwise you risk damaging the wood as well.
- Wipe a slightly damp soft cloth over the entire surface and let it dry thoroughly.
- Disassemble the metal components and fill any missing areas with wood pulp. Sand the surface with fine sandpaper.
- Woodworm treatment . Pass a special product over the entire surface and leave it to act overnight, possibly covered in a plastic sheet.
- Repaint the entire wooden trunk in the color of your choice. If you want to preserve the natural grain, treat it with wood oils and waxes .
- Clean and reassemble the components you removed.
Where to use a vintage or modern trunk
Let’s say you have finished restoring your vintage trunk or, more simply, you have bought a new one. How you can use it
In this paragraph we want to focus on the slightly more classic uses. In the next we will see the alternative ones. The trunk for clothes
Not all trunks are large wooden boxes in which to throw everything at random. A clothes trunk is designed specifically to accommodate clothes and shoes: it opens vertically and contains drawers , shelvesand even a pole to hang your clothes on. You can keep it in the closet or in a corner, to store clothes and shoes that you use little but don’t want to ruin. If equipped with wheels, it is an excellent alternative to the classic trolley, especially if you are planning a formal event. The toy trunk
Children tend to scatter toys around the room and the bedroom. To get them to keep a little tidier, offer them a secret chest for their treasures. You can choose a classic vintage trunk , which recalls a pirate atmosphere, or a modern and colorful trunk. Decide based on the child’s personality.
A toy chestand perfect for large games, such as dolls and remote control cars. It can be a little too distracting for small objects, such as buildings. The garden
trunk A wooden trunk outside
In fact, the classic garden trunk is made of resin or plastic . Both materials resist weathering better than wood, which makes them more durable. Also, such a chest is mostly used for storing garden tools that may be dirty or damp. But if you really want to use your old trunk, be sure to treat wood to waterproof it . The chest chest
A chest and a laundry chest with a flat lid that you can sit on. Some models are even equipped with seat and backrest, others are padded on top or on all sides.
A wooden chest of drawers goes well with the rustic décor of a mountain house or a tavern. For the bedroom and living room, you can choose a more colorful and contemporary solution. In both cases, it allows you to put away bulky items or items that you use little and to recover a seat. An ideal solution, if you live in a studio apartment or want to save space. Alternative ways to take advantage of a chest
Several of the uses we have seen above require special chests. What to do with a classic wooden trunk , as well as use it to store your things
If you like vintage or shabby chic furniture, you can take advantage of it in one of these ways. From linen trunk to coffee table
If the trunk has a flat lid , as is often the case with laundry trunks, you can transform it into a coffee table for the living room . Consider restoring it or decorating it on the sides with small stencils that match the rest of the decor. In most cases it is not needed, but it largely depends on the style of the room and your tastes.
Each type of wooden trunk goes well with a particular style of furniture. A clothes chest with leather inserts, for example, is perfect for colonial décor. A carved white vintage trunk will look best in a shabby setting. From vintage trunk to dressing table
A tall but not too deep trunk can become a splendid dressing table . Alternatively, you can attach the lid and turn the trunk as you like. The important thing is that it is stable, especially if you want to put cosmetics or even a mirror on it.
The vanity unit is just one of the ways you can recycle your old laundry trunk. Depending on its size, it can become a bedside table to keep next to the bed or a simple oneshelf . From garden trunk to planter
If you need a garden trunk in the proper sense of the term, you should focus on modern products. However, if you have an old ruined chest and almost to be thrown away, you can turn it into a planter .
- Clean it and remove any rust residue.
- Renew it as explained above, if you want to get a more elegant and lasting result.
- Insert a saucer and one or more plant pots . This way you avoid water stagnating and the whole structure is lighter.
A large trunk can accommodate a large plant or many smaller pots. In the latter case, insert an additional support in the trunk to raise the jars to the right level. Otherwise, you risk that the edges of the trunk will cover the plants and block out light from them.
A wooden trunk can also become a sui generis vase , as long as it is not too big. Line the inner walls with clear plastic and drill the bottom to avoid stagnation. Now fill it with earth and use it as a vase. To adopt the solution on balconies and terraces, make sure that the final result is not too heavy.
Now that you know everything about wooden trunks and how to use them, all you have to do is put into practice what you have learned!
