Antique Steamer Trunk Makeover

Turn an old antique steamer trunk into the cutest toy storage for a baby’s room! This easy update adds charm, character, and extra storage.

9 image collage with thrift store makeovers

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Antique Steamer Trunk Makeover

Table of Contents

It’s time for this month’s Thrift Store Decor Team challenge and I am revisiting an old curbside find from many years ago.

After we get to this simple trunk makeover, be sure to check out the links for all of the amazing DIY projects at the bottom of this post.

I first found this old steamer trunk 8 years ago left curbside. It was painted a soft cream color, but was pretty dinged up.

At the time I was looking for storage for my craft room and decided to use this freebie to hold craft supplies. Storage is always needed, especially in a craft room.

Before and After

Here is a before and after showing the steamer trunk with a pink and gold makeover:

Easily Transform A Steamer Trunk With Beautiful Metallic Paint Our Crafty Mom #steamertrunkupdate #thriftstoreupcycle

Unfortunately, after a couple of moves and sitting in storage, this old trunk was in need of another facelift. I’m not sure where the blue paint came from!

before image antique steamer trunk makeover

Baby Shower Toy Chest

If you follow me on Facebook, you know I have been in full on planning mode prepping for all things baby for my daughter’s baby shower.

Now that the shower is over, I can share some of the cool DIY projects, including turning this old steamer trunk into a toy chest for my grandson.

Baby Lucas is expected in early August and we are counting the days. Here is the trunk set up at the baby shower filled with gifts.

antique steamer trunk shown with baby toys

Supplies

Here is what I used for this second trunk makeover:

Folk Art One Decor Paint – I used iced turquoise
Foam Brush
Painter’s Tape

Painting Tips

Start by cleaning the trunk to remove any dirt, grime or loose paint. Tape off any areas you plan to paint a different color.

I was going to paint the hardware white, but changed my mind after seeing how pretty the solid blue was.

You will need a good 2-3 coats for full coverage. Let dry.

Decorate the Inside

I wanted this toy chest to be a baby shower gift, but also wanted it to serve as a decoration for the shower. Leaving the chest open and placing gifts inside was a perfect way to display the chest while also seeing the gifts.

The navy cloud fabric is waterproof and can be used under a high chair to keep messes at bay. If my daughter prefers, I can also secure it to the chest.

With all of the excitement I forgot to take a picture of it closed. My Cricut machine was used to add Lucas in a script font to the top of the trunk. I will share a photo of this next week.

A final coat of clear sealer will be added to keep it protected and enjoyed for years! I can see this being filled with stuffed animals, books, blocks and other essentials as baby grows.

center view of steamer trunk at baby shower

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before and after Antique Steamer Trunk Makeover

Thrift Store Decor Tour

Now, it’s time to hop on over to see the rest of the Thrift Store Decor Tour. You can take the tour by clicking the links below the “before” makeovers photo collage.