Here’s how I updated a plain cedar chest by adding furniture trim | YouTube Video
Hello, creative friends, welcome back, I’m so happy you’re here! This cedar chest makeover is a PERFECT example of how a little trim can totally change the look of a plain piece of furniture. If you’ve never added trim to your pieces, I hope this salvaged chest makeover inspires you to give it a try!
Today I’m sharing –
- How to add furniture trim onto a plain piece of furniture
- A simple formula to SPACE your trim perfectly
- How to easily mix a custom paint color
- and more…
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Here’s the cedar chest I started with. It’s a good solid piece and the inside is meticulous!
The outside needed a little love though. The veneer was chipped and scratched.
And there was a big stain that had penetrated the veneer on the top.
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WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Solid Cedar Chest – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
Sand Pads | Shop Towels
Easy to Sand Wood Filler
Bonding Boss Primer
Bosch Sander
Paint Brushes
Art Brushes
Yellowstone Silk All-In-One Paint
Prickly Pear Silk All-In-One Paint
Measuring Tape | Pencil
Ryobi Miter Saw
Wood Trim (Home Depot)
Titebond Wood Glue
Pneumatic Brad Nailer
Gold Gilding Wax
HOW TO ADD FURNITURE TRIM
Here’s how this thrift chest all came together and got a brand-new look, I can’t wait to hear what you think…
CLEAN AND SCUFF
This white lightning cleaned this cedar chest on the inside and out. I wiped it down a few times and then used clean water to remove any residue. Then the outside of the chest was given a quick scuff sanding.
TRIM DESIGN
I bought some wood trim at Home Depot because it matched the design on the existing trim on this chest. Well almost. I couldn’t find the four grooved trim so I went with three. When I got it home, I started playing around with which ‘trim design’ to use. I started with the abstract, then thought horizontal would update it as well. I didn’t end up using either of these and instead, went with vertical trim which was a little more work but looks great as you’ll see.
CUTTING TRIM TO SIZE
Once I had the design figured out, it was time to cut the wood trim to size. I measured for the length I needed and using my miter saw, cut the wood trim to length. If you don’t have a cutting tool, this type of trim is easy to cut using a hand held saw.
HOW TO GET *EVEN* SPACING BETWEEN TRIM
I’m the first to admit my math skills aren’t the best so I’m a little embarrassed to admit this – I spent over an hour trying to figure out how to space all the trim evenly. Then I found this awesome video explaining How To Get Equal Spacing Between Trim. Thank you, Tyler at Wood Nerds!!
How To Calculate Equal Distance Between Trim
- Measure the width of your furniture where applying the trim
- Minus the total measurement of ALL the trim
- Lay out your trim pattern and COUNT how many blank spaces are in between the trim
- Divide the Width of the furniture minus the trim by the number of spaces between the trim.
Here’s what my measurements looked like:
HOW TO ADD TRIM
After I figured out my spacing it was time to add the trim to my furniture.
Here’s the step-by-step to add trim to furniture ~
- Measured furniture
- Measure and cut trim to size
- Calculate the spacing between your trim design (as above)
- Measure out your spacing and mark where your trim will be added
- Adhere the trim with wood glue
- Secure with a brad nailer/trim gun
- Remove excess glue
- Prime and paint or stain
The last step to give the trim a professional finish, I used this nail punch/setter to inset all the nail heads that were sticking out slightly above the trim. Using a hammer I sink them below the trim line and then use some wood filler to fill in all the details for a smooth finish.
PRIME
Once all the trim was added on, I primed with this Bonding Boss Primer. It was my first time using this 2″ synthetic chip brush and I loved it. It works even better than the regular chip brushes for brushing on this primer and it’s super cheap!
WOOD FILL IMPERFECTIONS
When the first coat of primer was dry, it was easy to see where ALL the imperfections like the chipped veneer, scratches, trim nail holes etc required filling in with wood filler. I used Dixie Belle White Mud because it’s so easy to hand sand.
I smoothed out the large areas with my Bosch Sander and the smaller more detailed areas with hand sanding.
CUSTOM PAINT COLOR
With fall just around the corner, I’m thinking of changing leave colors, cooler temps, and pumpkin lattes, which are just a few of my favorite things! I created a custom FALL paint color using the Dixie Belle Color Lab. I wanted to create a caramel-eee / pumpkin spice-eee yummy color for the upcoming season. I used the top formula and added approximately 80% Yellowstone to 20% Prickly Pear.
When I painted on my first coat, it looked nothing like my screenshot. My paint studio is filled with heavy duty lighting so I can see everything I’m spraying and painting along with taking videos and images that YOU can see. I often have to remember this when using new-to-me colors. They often don’t look anything like what they will look like in natural lighting.
The second coat started to look a little more true to what I was after. The third coat was a charm when I brought it upstairs!
FINISHING DETAILS
For the finishing details, I removed the painters’ tape from the hinges and legs. I used Gold Gilding Wax to make the bottom part of the brass legs look new again. I also painted and touched up the inside rim of the chest. No topcoat was required because it’s included with the SILK All-In-One Mineral Paint!
THE FINISHED LOOK
Here’s the cedar chests’ finished look. Oooooh-la-la!
The custom paint color looks MUCH different than it did while I was painting it under all that fluorescent and camera lighting. After it was all dry and I brought it upstairs into natural light and I like it so much better!!
And here’s a close-up look at the trim with the chest opened up.
I’m so happy the inside cedar wood needed nothing more than a good cleaning – it’s meticulous in there!
I can’t wait to hear what you think of the trim on this piece!… and the custom color!
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YOUTUBE TUTORIAL
Here’s the full step-by-step video tutorial. Our #siyoutubefamily is already a community of 47.6K so don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t done so already! So exciting, thank YOU!
Here’s another look at this cedar chest before and after. I hope it inspired you and gave you some ideas for your upcoming furniture painting projects.
I’d love to hear what you think of this cedar chest makeover in the comments below. Thanks again for joining today and wishing you a GREAT week. I’ll be back next Tuesday with my fabulous and talented Trashy Treasures crew! 🙂
Happy painting my friends!
Denise x
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I can see you have great vision when you create a new look from a castaway item. Bravo! Loved how this one turned out.
So happy you like it, thank you Kim! 🙂
Beautiful work and inspiration art. Love it
I do have one question thou. I never found where the trim was added to sides I’m , assuming not. Just wondering because I have a piece pretty much like yours and couldn’t decide how much trim I wanted.
Like I said your work is very inspirational. Love everything recreated with your imagination. Blessed
Thank you Bev! I did NOT add trim to the sides – although that would have looked awesome as well! I just purchased enough to do the front. If you give this a try on your piece, I’d love to hear how it turns out for you!!
The trim looks excellent. Who knew that you had to be a math wiz!
lol…right?!!🤣 Thank you Rita, I’m so happy you like it!
The color is beautiful, Denise! But can we take a moment for the fantastic math skills you have? Numbers are not friendly to me. 🙂 Thank you for sharing your talents, tips, and tricks.
We can take all day and ‘pretend’ I have fantastic math skills 😂˖🤣˗🤣! Too funny my friend and glad I’m not the only one!! I like telling myself my creative right brain works hard and this affords my analytical left to take some time out.🤪 Thank goodness for Youtube!
I love this! Wish I had it myself, lol. It looks like it would be great for storing some small fall throw blankets. The trim detail and paint color are just perfect. 🙂 Great job as always!
Hi Mariele!!! 🤗 Thank youuu. I agree, it would be awesome to store some fall throw blankets. I hope it fits nicely into someones’ decor!😊
Hi Denise. Love the new color, trim, and splayed legs. Fabulous transformation!
Thank you Monique! I didn’t think anyone would notice the legs but you guys are goooooood!😃
Thanks so much for your brilliant makeovers. Your pieces are truly inspirational and your careful direction gave me confidence to try an old piece in my home! We are very pleased. Even my husband!
**I’ve double coated my second piece with DB Silk and the fill job on the knob areas is too visible. Can I lightly sand, fill again & repaint?
Thank youuu and thanks for sharing.💙 I’m thrilled you salvaged an old piece in your home and double bonus if hubby is pleased!😃 As for the visible filled area around the knob, YES. You can lightly sand, fill and repaint. Depending on the size of the area, if you see a slight variation, it may be beneficial to give the full side one more coat so it blends in seamlessly. Hope this helps!
What a gorgeous transformation, Denise! You have such a good eye and imagination for these pieces. Love seeing what you go.
Aw thanks so much Marcia! I really enjoyed working on this because I learned something new. Now I won’t be spending over an HOUR trying to figure out spacing anymore.😅
You have inspired me to give this wood trim a try Denise! I have a flat faced dresser and this trim would work perfectly. Thank you and I’m looking forward to watching the video too. I need as much instruction/help as I can get so I appreciate your step by step explanations! 🥰
I’m sooooo happy it’s inspired you Nicki and I’d LOVE to hear how your dresser turns out. I hope the formula for spacing the trim is helpful and saves some time as well – it sure was for me!
Gorgeous as usual! Your work is top notch. I do have to say that the increase in advertisements is very distracting. I realize that is how you earn money but it’s not enjoyable to read a post with an ad every two sentences.
Hi Jen thanks so much! Re the ads, I understand and appreciate the feedback. It’s a challenge finding the sweet spot of monetizing a blog. It’s SO MUCH work creating projects, video, writing tutorials, photoshoots, social etc and keeping it FREE for YOU and all my readers/viewers. Many of us bloggers leave it to Media companies such as Raptive or Mediavine, for example. I hope this explains a little… and let me say THANK YOU! I SO appreciate you and supporting my #siblog Jen!💜
Denise,
Oooh, I just want to express how beautiful this Chest came out!! You instructions are
very clear, as well, as the color combination(s). I have been a follower of Salvage Inspirations for years now, your project presentations never disappoint!
I must say that this Cedar Chest is my all time favorite !! Just love it~
Thank you, Denise
Your all time FAVE!~!… that is such a HUGE compliment Carli, thank you so much!! And I appreciate you being here and following along my furniture painting/blogging journey. It means a lot! Hugs
It looks like you splayed the legs at an angle in the after pics. Did you or is it just a trick of the photography? and if you did, how? I like the look.
GREAT EYE Gina!! 😃 Yes, the bracket for the legs under the chest had 2 places you can screw the legs in! When I picked up the piece the legs were screwed in the screw hole on the inside of the plate. After I took them off and painted them, I screwed them into the hole closer to the outside of the chest. It’s nice that whoever buys this cedar chest can attach the legs either or!
Terrific! Another creative transformation.
Thanks so much Babs!🤗
Hi Denise,
You did a fabulous job on this poor little cedar chest. It has a new life, and it looks so happy with its lively color. You added character with the trim. You are the best!!!!!
It did look like a ‘poor little chest’ when I saw it sitting in the thrift store.., and it had such great potential. And YOU are the best Marian, thank you so much!🤗
Perfection!
YAAAY! Very sweet, thanks Susan! XOXO
Love your cedar chest. Your trim brought it into the 21st century.
The custom color is awesome. I love everything you do. You are so talented.
Wood trim for the win every time, hehe! It really does modernize a piece of old furniture and thanks so much Margaret… so happy you like it, including the color! Not going to lie, I was a little worried when I first started painting it on…lol. 😉
I’m loving the trim.! A modern ish vibe, but still some traditional….. if that makes sense.
I do love me some orange. Great shade mix in time for the coming fall.
We’ve had over 50 days in the 90’s so far !!! (Denver area) I love summer – but a little cooler will surely be welcomed.
As always you make your tutorials so thorough even I can follow your process 🙂
And everyone can use a nice cedar chest.
Thanks for the inspiration !
I love your description of “modern ish vibe, but still some traditional”… I wish I had thought of that and used it in my post!😂 I’ve never been to the Denver area but I’d love to, I’ve heard it beautiful especially in the Fall! Our temps are cooling down here in Toronto (in the low 70’s) and I’ve already starting seeing a few trees turn color. Love the fall season.🍂
Much more attractive and contemporary. Good job!
Thanks so much Char, appreciate it!🤗