What can i do with a cedar chest?

18 Fantastic and Creative Ways Uses for a Cedar Chest

• Coffee table. Coffee tables provide the perfect spot to rest your cup of Joe while relaxing after a long day. …
• Nightstand for a Bedroom. Nightstands are ever so handy! …
• TV Console. …
• End of the Bed. …
• Entry Way. …
• A Catch-all – Organization Space. …
• Resilient Storage. …
• Window Seat.

Are cedar chests worth anything?

Online auction sites, antique shops and secondhand stores often sell Lane cedar chests — based on their age, condition or rarity — starting at $99 and as high as $700 or more for older chests. But most chests, on average, are valued between $200 and $400.

What are cedar chests used for?

Most traditional hope chests were constructed with cedar, a type of wood that naturally repels insects and fungus. Traditional cedar hope chests were also used to help protect fabrics and to give the items inside a pleasant aroma.

How do you style a cedar chest?

Cover your chest with a folded quilt or cushion to create a bedroom window seat. Have a piece of glass or plexiglass cut slightly larger than the top of the chest to make a family room or patio coffee table. Make a handsome chest a focal piece, under a hall mirror to dignify an entryway or formalize a stair landing.

What should not be stored in a cedar chest?

Wood, papers and plastics emit gases and oils that can damage items packed in a cedar chest. Acid-free tissue paper is specially formulated paper that does not produce gases or acids that will damage belongings.

How do you refurbish a cedar chest?

Using 100% cedar oil will restore the aroma of the cedar lining as well as repelling moths and mildew. Lightly sanding. A sure-fire way to restore the lovely, fragrant cedar smell back to your hope chest is by lightly sanding it with a fine-grit sandpaper. Sanding will open the pores of the wood, exposing new oils.

How long does a cedar chest last?

You can purchase cedar hangers, cedar blocks for moths, and sachets for your clothes and bureaus, but they will be effective for about 3 months.

Can you store quilts in a cedar chest?

Cedar chests are not ideal places to store your quilts. The acid from the wood can easily transfer to your quilt, causing discoloration and staining. But if a cedar chest is your only storage option or you really want to use the chest for this purpose, then slip your quilts into cotton pillowcases first.

Are cedar chests still popular?

Cedar Chests Are a Never-Ending Phenomenon!

Cedar chests are a historically continuing phenomenon. You might have memories of grandma’s beautiful cedar chest sitting at the foot of her bed.

Can you use Murphy’s oil Soap on cedar chest?

Mild Maintenance– Furniture polish and furniture polish rag. Wipe down the exterior, wiping towards the direction of the wood grain. Moderate– Murphy’s Oil Soap or White Vinegar (especially if there is mold or mildew spots). Use a lint free cloth, wring out excess moisture and wipe down the exterior.

What can I do with an old chest?

A vintage trunk can be also turned into a home bar, just renovate or decorate it as you need and then put on some legs of your choice, or put several trunks on each other. Voila! you can use the top or open the chest and place bottles and glasses inside.

Can I paint a cedar chest?

After two coats of primer its time for paint. Two coats of white paint can now be painted on to your Lane cedar chest with your favorite Cling On brush. Make sure to lightly sand in between coats. You can great white chalk type paint as well as glazes, stains and sealers online HERE.

Are hope chests still popular?

The hope chest of the past, also called a wedding or dower chest, is still a popular piece of furniture, although it is no longer used in the traditional way. In 17th and 18th century America, a hope chest was given to a young girl.

What’s the difference between a hope chest and a cedar chest?

Hope chest is the term for a trunk or chest design that is used for storing heirlooms, valuables and keepsakes. A cedar chest is a chest made of cedar, simply.

Can you use a cedar chest as a coffee table?

Coffee table. Coffee tables provide the perfect spot to rest your cup of Joe while relaxing after a long day. Cedar chests provide an attractive and classic look as a centerpiece to your living room. For added protection for your cedar chest you can add a piece of glass or plexiglass over the top.

Do cedar chests keep moths away?

A relatively new, well-made cedar chest can protect from clothes moths for a while, as long as it is kept tightly closed and the items are not already infested when placed inside. Studies have suggested that even a new cedar chest kills only small clothes moth larvae, not larger larvae, eggs, or pupae.

Can you Restain a cedar chest?

However, as they move from household to household and generation to generation, cedar chests can become worn, scratched or coated in paint and other finishes. Refinishing a cedar chest brings back the natural beauty of the wood and can be accomplished in a few easy steps.

How do you refresh an old cedar chest?

How to Refresh a Cedar Chest

1. Empty all items from the cedar chest. …
2. Remove dust from the chest. …
3. Lightly sand the chest’s interior using fine-grain sandpaper. …
4. Close the chest’s lid and let it sit for a few hours.

How do you bring cedarwood back to life?

How to Restore Severely Weathered Wood with RESTORE – YouTube

Why does my cedar chest stink?

Excessive moisture or humidity can make any piece of wood furniture smell foul after a while. Vacuum inside the chest, and wipe the inside and outside with a lint-free dust cloth. … A screened porch is perfect, as it helps keep the chest as clean as possible. The fresh air and daylight will help banish musty odor.

How do you keep cedar wood from smelling?

Apply a few drops of natural cedar oil to a clean cloth and rub the wood to enhance the natural aroma even more.

Does cedar deter mice?

Mice will chew through wood, including cedar. Barriers should be constructed of heavy materials such as sheet metal, concrete mortar or heavy gauge hardware cloth. Mice are not bothered by chemical scent repellants or strong smelling essential oils such as mint or cedar.

Will bed bugs get in cedar chest?

It brings with it a distinctive scent that to most of us humans smells like freshly cut wood with almost a menthol, minty scent mixed in. While that scent may be pleasing to us upon opening a cedar chest or sitting back in a cedar chair, bugs don’t like it and it will make them avoid such a dwelling.

Should I put cedar in my closet?

Cedar removes moisture from the air, so in humid climates, it will act as a natural dehumidifier and keep your clothes from developing mildew. Cedar’s natural smell is very pleasant and aromatic, so it will keep your home and your clothes smelling fresh, even as the scent protects them.

Are Lane cedar chests still made?

The last Lane cedar chest to be manufactured in the United States rolled off the production line in the summer of 2001, and the plant closed for good.

When did hope chests go out of style?

You don’t hear or see much these days in the U.S. about what was once an important item for hopefully future brides — the hope chest. After the 1950s, it began to lose its popularity in America, mostly because of the Women’s Liberation Movement and changing social attitudes toward marriage.

How do you get the smell of mothballs out of a cedar chest?

Make a mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and vinegar OR lemon juice. Dampen a cloth and rub the inside of the chest. Lemon or vinegar might help counteract the mothball odor. It’s very important to keep the lid open until the chest dries and even leave it open for several days.

How do you cover the top of a cedar chest?

How to Replace the Cover on a Cedar Chest : DIY Home Decor Tips

How do you remove mold from a cedar chest?

1. Fill a spray bottle with water and lightly mist the molded area prior to brushing (this will reduce the number of mold spores released into the air). …
2. Fill a bucket with a few squirts of non-ammonia dish soap. …
3. Dip a rag into the bucket of soapy water. …
4. Wipe the mold from the cedar chest using the rag and soapy water.

How do you upcycle a wooden chest?

How To Upcycle Furniture Cheaply | Chest Of Drawers (Home DIY)

How do you refinish an old wooden chest?

How to Refinish a Wood Chest

1. 1 Clean the Chest Up. Place the chest on a work surface at about waist height. …
2. 2 Remove the Hardware. Use a screwdriver to remove hinges and latches. …
3. 3 Repair Cracks + Splinters. …
4. 4 Fill Dents + Scratches. …
5. 5 Sand the Chest. …
6. 6 Nooks + Crannies. …
7. 7 Final Sanding. …
8. 8 Wipe On, Wipe Off.

Are old trunks worth money?

The average American made antique trunk is worth about $100 to $300 depending on the style, size and condition. If fully restored prices can be anywhere from $400 to $1300.

Can you sand a cedar chest?

Sand the exterior of the cedar chest with 200-grit sandpaper and a sanding block. Sand in the direction of the wood grain to create a smooth, even surface. If you have to remove old stain from the chest, you may need to start with a 120-grit sandpaper and then follow it with 200-grit.

How much does it cost to refinish a cedar chest?

Having your cedar chest refinished at a shop could cost you close to $600. But refinishing it yourself costs only about $100 in supplies, and you will end up with a beautiful chest that you can take pride in having restored.

How do you whitewash a cedar chest?

Whitewashed Cedar Chest | Faux Driftwood Top – YouTube

What goes in a modern hope chest?

What You Should Keep in Your Hope Chest

• A wedding veil.
• Table linens, like thick napkins that would last through years of use.
• Cookware.
• Towels.
• Sheets.
• Home decor.
• Blankets.
• Valuable family heirlooms.

How do you date a Lane cedar chest?

How Old is My Lane Cedar Chest? I tell you how! – YouTube

Do men have hope chests?

While the hope chest is an age-old tradition for many countries and cultures within them, today, they still offer fresh inspiration and wonderful storage for many women and men, young and old. The hope chest tradition remains alive and well especially among the Pennsylvania Dutch and the Amish.

How do you pack a cedar chest?

Wrap the fabric with acid-free paper. You can also slip that into a cotton pillowcase for extra protection before putting it in the cedar chest. You might even want to line the entire cedar chest with a bed sheet or even Tyvek (just make sure the words are not on the fabric side).