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Just the Woods, LLC | a Colorful Home & Healthy Lifestyle Blog

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Transform an Antique Storage Chest To Custom Toy Box

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An antique handmade storage chest has been transformed it into a functional custom toy box with chalk type paint and a decoupaged fabric drawer.

When I bought this storage chest I was told that it was over 100 years old and handmade. I decided that with a little work I could turn it into a toy box for my little ones.  Their current toy storage area is a complete eyesore and this would also open up the opportunity to purge some of the plastic “crap” that has accumulated over time.  I’m sure any mom of little kids can relate!

toy box, toy storage, custom toy box

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure policy. 

Transform an Antique Storage Chest To Custom Toy Box

Materials Needed/ Source List:

  • Wood Glue
  • Hammer
  • Nails
  • Wood glue syringe
  • painters tape
  • Fabric
  • Electric Drill
  • Finishing washers
  • Electric sander

The ‘Before” Situation of the Toy Area

As you can see, this is an eye-sore.

messy toy area, bulging toy box,

The Antique Toy Chest Before it Became a Toy Chest

This antique storage chest needed work and it is definitely an “embrace the age and imperfections” kind of piece, which I also think is perfect since the kids will bang their toys in the chest and I won’t have to worry about them messing it up.antique chest, storage chest, trunk, toy box, antique storage trunk and chestI love that you can see the way the chest was made, the planked drawer, dovetail joints and hammered nails.

Hand Made storage chest, dovetail joints, antique trunk, linen chest

Antique Storage Chest , hammered nails, hand made, toy box

The Reality of an Antique Storage trunk

To say that this antique wood chest needs work puts it mildly.  One base leg is falling off, the trim needs to be re-secured and numerous areas need glue and new nails.

repair antique furniture, old wood, storage trunk, antique wood chest

repair antiques furniture, toy box, storage chest

For the hard to reach spaces I use my glue syringe to get glue inside without having much access. These things are fantastic! If you don’t have any yet, you can find them (HERE)

syringe, wood glue, wood repairs, antiques

The holes from the old hardware were gigantic so I decided to fill those in as well.  I covered the inside with painters tape to prevent the filler from falling through the hole and inside the drawer.

antique chest, storage chest, toy box, Just the Woods

Once the wood filler dries, you can remove the tape from the hole. wood filler, repair antiques, wood furniture

I also decided to give the entire chest a quick sanding outside before bringing it in.   Once it was thoroughly cleaned I brought it in to get started. Click here to see How I Prep Painted Furniture. New to painting furniture and not sure where to start? Start at the beginning with How to Paint Furniture – a Beginners Guide.

how to paint furniture

Adding Decoupage to The Drawer

I decided to line the inside of the lower drawer with this gorgeous ikat fabric from Minted. Since the drawer is planked and will be filled with toys the fabric will give it a solid clean bottom for all those little toys that eventually end up all over the house.  ðŸ˜‰ You can also find amazing deals on a wide variety of fabric for decoupage or any projects (HERE)

ikat fabric, ikat, minted, green fabric

Pulling from the dark green in the fabric I painted the chest in a dark green chalk type paint. You can find great quality furniture paint and stain online HERE. An added bonus, when painting furniture, you want to make sure to use a quality non-toxic furniture paint.

dixie belle, dixie belle paint, chalk paint, chalk mineral paint, order paint, order dixie belleDark green is somehow the perfect neutral but not neutral color.

antique storage, painted furniture, shabby chic, toy box, toy storage, personalized toy box  I also freshened up the inside of the chest with a brown wood stain.
antique, storage chest, wood stain, toy box, antique trunk

Once I finished painting the chest I distressed it on all the edges as well as lightly sanded the entire piece to intentionally capture any imperfections that come with a 100-year-old antique chest.

chalk paint, distressed, toy box, vintage furniture The entire chest was sealed for protection with a clear sealer.

Looking for a toy box and prefer not to tackle a DIY project? Click here for toy boxes for sale online: (here)

toy boxes for sale, wayfair toy boxes

Antique Trunk Hardware

Remember I plugged up the hardware holes?  I decided to go to my closet stash behind my shop door to find new pulls.  Anytime I take the hardware off of an old piece I save them here, as well as leftover hardware when I purchase new.  Keeping them in this over the door shoe storage is the perfect way to keep them out of my way but accessible at the same time. shoe storage, hardware storage, storage, vintage hardwareI chose a pair of pulls that are both unique and functional for small hands to grab.  I simply cleaned them with a toothbrush and left them in their original condition.  I measured where I wanted to place my new pulls and drilled new holes.

antique furniture, vintage hardware, toy box,

The hardware screws were just a bit too long when attaching them to the drawer.  With the help of these finishing washers to make up the extra space they now they fit perfectly.

shabby chic, storage, finishing washers, diy, project

antique, storage, toy box with drawer, just the woods, decoupage

The Result of Transforming an Antique Storage Chest To Custom Toy Box

I love that the chest is functional to be a toy box now and later down the road when the kids no longer need a toy trunk it can be used for blankets and such.toy box, blanket chest, antique, storage trunk, green toy box, wood storage chest, custom toy box

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custom toy box, custom toy chest, antique toy chest

decoupage

decoupage, how to paint an old trunk, toy box trunk

If you prefer a restoration over painted furniture then make sure to check out How to Restore an Antique Steamer Trunk.

how to paint an antique trunk, custom toy box, toy box,

Transform an Antique Storage Chest To Custom Toy Box

open lid toy box

Transform an Antique Storage Chest To Custom Toy Box

My Reality

Can I get an Amen for purging old toys?toy box before and after, painted trunk before and after

It didn’t take long for the kids to fill this right up. Antique Storage Chest To Toy Box Makeover by Just the Woods

Love unique home decor but don’t feel like spending hours scouring the internet? Let me do the work for you. Click to be added to the exclusive Home Decor & Fabulous Finds.

home decor deals

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Antique Storage Chest to Toy Box


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Comments

  1. debbie says

    July 30, 2016 at 2:10 am

    So beautiful that you can see the joints even after your painting. Love the final look and your pulls are very stylish. What a great find and save.

    Reply
    • Kandice says

      July 30, 2016 at 12:56 pm

      thank you so much! I hated the thought of completely covering those joints, Im so glad I was able to keep them exposed too xoxo

      Reply
  2. Melony says

    July 30, 2016 at 2:25 am

    That’s a super cool chest with that little drawer at the bottom. I love the fabric you lined it with.

    Reply
    • Kandice says

      July 30, 2016 at 12:59 pm

      thanks so much! I actually dont mind looking at all the toys piled up now that they are in the chest 🙂

      Reply
  3. Susanne says

    July 31, 2016 at 2:58 am

    You do such a wonderful job of bringing your pieces back to life!!! Such inspiration, thank you for sharing at TaDa Thursday!!!

    Reply
  4. Charlene Asay says

    August 2, 2016 at 2:07 am

    I need one of these for all my kids toys. I love the green! Thanks for sharing with us at Family Joy Blog Link Up Party this week. Have a great week!

    Reply
    • Kandice says

      August 3, 2016 at 9:14 pm

      thank you so much!

      Reply
  5. Christine says

    August 2, 2016 at 9:39 pm

    Wow, you do wonderful work! I bet it gives you and your little one years of enjoyment now. Great job and thanks so much for sharing this with us at the DI & DI Link Party. I always love reading your posts. Love how you pay attention to the details!

    Reply
    • Kandice says

      August 3, 2016 at 9:15 pm

      aww thank you xoxo

      Reply
  6. [email protected] says

    August 3, 2016 at 3:04 am

    Beautiful job. It may be a toy box but it looks like a lovely antique. Love the way you left the dovetail showing through the paint. Thank you so much for sharing at Vintage Charm.

    Reply
    • Kandice says

      August 3, 2016 at 9:15 pm

      thank you so much! its amazing how its changed my view of that toy area lol

      Reply
  7. [email protected] says

    August 5, 2016 at 1:57 pm

    Layla is one lucky little girl. That toy box is amazing. Love all the old-time details. Thanks so much for lnking to Friday’s Furniture Fix.

    Reply
    • Kandice says

      August 8, 2016 at 6:29 pm

      thank you!! Missed you at Haven!

      Reply

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