Help!! I Need Your Ideas on How to Restore This Foot Locker
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Bought this foot locker at yard sale - inside is not so pretty; any suggestions? Please help...
14 answers
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plant flowers in it? Upholster the inside? Use it as a coffee/enc table
Allison K.
on Aug 31, 2014
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I would clean it up little but leave just like it is. You could place under a window and put a cushion on it to make a window seat-that way you can take cushion off and use the trunk somewhere else if you wanted. Love it!
Wendy Bass
on Aug 31, 2014
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The outside looks pretty good. Clean it well and maybe wax it. Scrape anything out of the inside (I found this helps with old trunks that have the musties), scrub it good, dry it in the sun if possible and then finish the inside with fabric or vintage looking paper. I used fabric with one of mine and then sealed it. I've also used vintage looking wallpaper in the past for another one. If the hinges need replacing, they are available online as are leather handles and lock sets. This site looks good http://restorationsupplies.com/trunkinteriors.html and they even have the fabric to redo the interior. I believe I bought my parts on Ebay when I needed them. Good luck!
Cynthia H
on Aug 31, 2014
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Also here's a link for some help with it: http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Refurbish-an-Antique-Trunk-/10000000177770794/g.html
Cynthia H
on Aug 31, 2014
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I polished mine (exactly like yours) with Bees Wax. It's our coffee table and great for storage....especially since we've downsized.
Connie B
on Aug 31, 2014
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you can finish inside with fabric, velvet always looks good. Pull fabric to center of lid from all sides, and attach an oval mirrror. Continue fabric in all other inside areas of trunk. On the outside, either paint, shabby, and poly, or clean well, and poly. You'll love the result.
Norma snoddy
on Aug 31, 2014
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I have one just like it in one of my bedrooms. I store blankets in it for the winter. This is actually a steamer trunk, and not a foot locker. I have not refinished mine since I like the dinged up look and it will also lower the value of the trunk if you modify it.
Sheri N
on Dec 07, 2014
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My mom redid a trunk found in gma's attic. I use it as a coffee table in my living room & store table linens & handmade quilts in it.
Pam Taylor
on Dec 14, 2014
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Pam Taylor-Gorgeous! how difficult was that restoration to do?
Debra Woodard
on Dec 14, 2014
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I did two trunks that looked similar to your trunk. Both were structurally sound but ragged looking. I cannot tell if your trunk has the stiff fabric on it or not. I used a bucket and sponge and wet up sections an they come loose. You take a razor and cut all around it by the metal. Pull on it and the fabric comes off. Wipe off/clean off the glue as you go. Underneath is wood which I stained and refinished. I sanded and refinished the insides. Don't get any finish on the metal. One had a pretty lift off tray which I cut cardboard and covered and glued inside the tray and outside of they tray. If you refinish the inside you seal off the musty smell. Then I taped it all off and sprayed painted the metal with a couple light coats of black paint. Then when dry with a itsy bitsy small bush and a small bottle of gold paint found in the handicraft aisle, I painted the nail heads. I also had to buy new handles which I just bolted onunder the handle brackets. Kinda touchy doing that but it worked. Had to get holes under the brackets and into the wood so the bolts fit. I also put a poly finish on the bottom, which was black paint, so it wouldn't stain the carpets. I kinda kept track and I spent round 80 hours on each one. Definitely was worth it though. I get lots of complements with people wondering where they might get one too. My answer is to go to an antique store, get your bucket and wet it up and start out. You can get it real sloppy, so don't skimp. Just get that old fabric/burlap off of there. I found both projects to be fun and rewarding. Guess that is why I did two. The first one turned out so well, I just had to do another.
Starbright57
on Dec 14, 2014
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clean it up and dry it outside. repaint the canvas neutral grey, replace any leather and enjoy I did this with 2 different trunks.
Fenya Kashergen
on Dec 17, 2014
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we did ours in AS chalk paint in imperial red. came out fabulous
Linda OsborneMarvel
on Jan 13, 2015
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I love it like it is. Beautiful piece
Janet Hartley
on Jan 13, 2015
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First, this isn't a foot locker. It is an old steamer trunk they used in the victorian area for ship voyages, train and wagon trips. Restore and enjoy. Missing parts are available from Restoration.com
Jan Munroe
on Jan 14, 2015
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