This week, I was apart of a FREE-I-Y Collaboration on Youtube, a bunch of Youtubers came together to create a FREE-I-Y, which is simply something you obtained for FREE and then you reuse, up-cycle of create something new from the piece.
My FREE-I-Y was this blue-leather trunk. Well, it’s basically a box, but I wanted to give it more “trunk like” personality and turn it into my living room coffee table. I found this piece after our house flooded by Superstorm Sandy back in 2012. I wanted something that was durable, dual-purpose and wouldn’t get messed up by our animals.
So here is what you’ll need for this project:
- Small can of paint or stain
- Painters tape
- 1 inch paint brush or sponge brush
- Stencils
- Wood glue
- Tape Measure
- 4 table legs (www.tablelegs.com)
- Set of 2 leather straps
- Shelf paper
I started the project by using the wood glue to place 4 inch mid century modern legs on the bottom of the trunk. I decided to add legs because the trunk was too low “as-is” to serve as a coffee table. The standard height of a coffee table is between 16-18 inches. I used mid-century modern legs to match the other period of furniture I have in my home. I found the legs at www.tablelegs.com, they have a ton of styles to choose from.
Next, I wanted to spruce up the wood that was outlining the trunk. I could’ve sanded and re-stained the wood however, I decided to paint the wood a lime green color that would make it not only stand out in the room, but the color added some modern personality to the boring old box. All I did was tape around the wood then used my 1-inch brush to apply the paint (which was a BEHR paint and primer in one).
Many times old trunks will have lettering, numbers, stamps or even stickers on them to show its travels. Since out FREE-I-Y was more of a box than a trunk, I decided to use a few stencils to add this traveling effect. I painted on the top of the trunk “NYC 6279.” NYC is of course where we live and 6279 is a combination of my husband and mine birthdays. His is 06/27/72 and mine 06/06/79. By adding this on the top of the trunk, without knowing it we actually created a conversation starter because once people settle into the living room, they always ask what does that mean. (Now, you know.)
Next, again to make the box appear like an older trunk. I purchased leather straps to attach to the exterior of the box. Use a tape measure to determine where you want to place the straps on the box. Make sure to wrap the strap across the lid of the box and down the side of the box where you’d access the inside. I found my straps at www.brettunsvillage.com a brown leather strap with a buckle. (Full Disclosure: I wouldn’t buy these particular straps again because the buckle is a pain in the butt when you need to access the inside of the trunk. Instead choose a strap that has a fake buckle on it and snaps the pieces into place.)
Speaking of the inside, since this was a trash find, the bottom of the box did has some stains, so to give this area new life, I bought shelf paper from www.chicshelfpaper.com a company I absolutely love because they have amazing designs on temporary paper that is easy to apply anywhere. I lined the box with this lime green geometric print I found to compliment the paint color on the exterior.
Want to watch the video and see all the FREE-I-Y projects completed on this collaboration? Check out the video below.
The final step is to add a few key accessories on the top of your new coffee table to make it functional, festive and cohesive with the room. I recommend using a tray when you have a furniture piece that you can open this way it’s easier to quickly take everything off the table top and get inside to grab what you need.
Want to turn a trunk into a coffee table? Start by looking for a piece of furniture at a local thrift store, flea market or on the side of the road and see where your creativity takes you! I’d love to see your trash to treasure transformations, post them up on our Facebook Fan Page.
Happy Hunting,
