HAVE AN OLD BLANKET BOX THAT COULD USE A FRESH, NEW LOOK? HERE ARE 9 CHEST RESTYLING IDEAS TO INSPIRE!
Hi beautiful friends, and thanks so much for joining me today. Blanket boxes are so useful, but many of them look worn and dated… but you don’t need to get rid of them! I’ve come across quite a few that have been well loved but with a little paint, stain, hardware or decorative details, they are super fun to restyle. With a little creative thinking, you can completely change the look and make it work in your home again. Here are 9 completely different ways I’ve updated them, from using paint and stain to decorative finishes. I hope this helps you decide what to do with yours.
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Below are 9 Gorgeous Blanket Box/Chest Makeovers in no particular order. If you’d like to read the full tutorial, including colors and all the supplies used, I’ve included a link to the original post in the title above each image.
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OLD CEDAR CHEST UPDATED WITH WOODUBEND
This old chest got a completely new look with paint and WoodUbend appliqués. The decorative wood mouldings added just enough detail to give this otherwise plain piece some character and charm and the best part is they are surprisingly easy to apply! If you’ve ever wondered how to add decorative details to a basic piece of furniture, this makeover is a great example.
I loved this makeover so much, I kept this one. It’s getting a TON of use and still looking amazing in my back mudroom!
SLICK FINISH BLANKET BOX UPDATED WITH COLOR AND FLORALS
This dated blanket box had a super slick, shiny finish that would normally make painting a challenge. Instead of sanding it all down, I used a Bonding primer to create a paint-friendly surface before giving it a fresh floral look. It’s a great option when you want to update laminate, glossy, or other hard-to-paint furniture surfaces.
REMOVING DETAILS TO UPDATE YOUR BOX
Sometimes updating an old blanket box is as much about what you remove as what you add! For this thrifted cedar chest, I removed the dated faux cabinet doors and bulky base, made a few necessary repairs, and added sleek new metal feet. A gorgeous deep gray-green paint color finished off the transformation and gave this old chest a much cleaner, more updated look.
HOW TO ELEVATE YOUR BLANKET BOX BY ADDING TRIM
A little trim can make a BIG difference! This plain blanket box got a more custom, high-end look by adding inexpensive decorative trim before painting. It’s an easy way to give a basic or boring piece of furniture more detail, dimension, and personality without a complicated rebuild.
UPDATE YOUR CHEST WITH PAINT AND STAIN
Why choose between paint and stain when you can use both? For this blanket box makeover that I owned for over 20 years, I paired a fresh painted finish with gel stain to bring back the warmth and beauty of the wood. Gel stain is especially handy for refreshing an existing wood finish without completely stripping everything down to bare wood first.
UPDATE A HOPE CHEST WITH A LIGHT PAINT COLOR
This thrifted blanket box was a great find, but its dark, dated finish hid all its pretty details. A fresh coat of soft white paint completely brightened it up and gave it a much lighter, more timeless look. It’s a great reminder that sometimes a simple paint makeover is all a piece needs!
HIGHLIGHT THE DETAILS FOR A FRESH LOOK
This thrifted blanket box definitely wasn’t much to look at when I brought it home, but I loved its shape and saw plenty of potential! A fresh painted finish, some added character, and a little creative vision completely transformed this dated piece. Proof that the not-so-pretty thrift store finds can sometimes make the BEST makeovers!
TONE DOWN A DATED ORANGE FINISH USING AN EASY PAINT WASH
If you love the look of natural wood but not the orange undertones, a paint wash can be a great solution! For this blanket box, I used a simple paint-wash technique to soften the wood tone while still allowing the beautiful grain to show through. It’s an easy way to give dated wood a lighter, more updated look without covering it completely with paint.
DAMAGED? TRY A FAUX WOOD PAINT FINISH
What do you do when the original wood is too damaged to save, but you still want a beautiful wood look? Fake it! For this cedar chest, I used paint and glaze to create a faux wood finish right over the damaged surface. And you won’t believe the inexpensive tool I used to get this look – a rubber pet hair remover! It’s a fun technique that proves you don’t need gorgeous natural wood to get a warm, wood-grain look.
I hope today’s blanket box/chest furniture roundup left you feeling inspired to take a second look at all those older pieces. As you’ve seen from these makeovers, these older boxes are anything but boring. And they are so useful to storage and can be used as coffee tables, end-of-bed seats, mudroom seating (like mine!), toy boxes, and so much more.
Enjoy the rest of your day and have a great week. I’ll be back next Tuesday with a Trashy Treasure my sister found curbside.
Happy creating!
Denise xo
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