Do you have the space and a need for a blanket trunk in your bedroom? I think it would look nice at the end of a bed.

I have used mine at the foot of the bed as a bench. I store linens in it.

I have two large trunks and love them for storage, especially if you live in a small space. I use one at the foot of my bed to store our linens in (sheets, pillowcases, comforter covers, blankets) so it's nearest the place where they are used. The other I use to store fabric for my uncontrollable desire to accumulate more fabric than I can possibly sew with.

Stand it up showing the hardware. Place next to bed as side table, maybe with a lamp or some books.

One other thought...if turned on its side, you could add a few shelves that would act as dividers if you ever wanted to use it for storage later. But upright it could be used as an end table that opens to reveal a bookshelf or a mini-bar.

There's something very valuable about the vintage look and original condition of these things, IMHO, I wouldn't modify it, but use as is. Currently we are using something similar as a wifi (router) and PS3 + games holder

I use mine as a side table in my living room. It's great for storing my air mattress/extra bed linens.

I have two functioning as a side table in my apt and store linens in it as well but yours has more character them both of mine.

We found a trunk that we use as a side table in our living room. Since we live in a super small apartment with two teeny closets we use it for food and tool storage. Things like 10kg bags of flour, rice and sugar as well as dozens of jars of jam we made. We also store leftover paint etc in it, stuff that you don't need to get at very often. You can see it here:

http://ladybusiness-kate.blogspot.com/2011/06/found-one-steamer-trunk.html

I'd definitely leave it as is. It looks great!

We used a similar trunk as our coffee table and as our TV stand. As storage it is invaluable. Use it for thosr "once a year" things like Christmas ornaments, etc

Are you crafty??

http://pinterest.com/pin/179820868/

You could put some legs on it and use it as a side table/nightstand/entry table. Then just throw umbrellas and off season items in it.

Make a rolling bar!!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_luccxH5VwZs/S4HRFfWRWgI/AAAAAAAAAE4/RhGfJVzyqyY/s320/trunk_bar_350.jpg

what does your current coffee table look like? what is the overall look of your living room or bedroom? a rustic, worn trunk can look wonderful in the right setting. bench at end of bed, nightstand by bed and coffee table are the simplest uses and create storage in small apts. go online and google images of trunks and/or go on Pinterest and do the same to see how trunks are being used by other folks... maybe you'll see a new option. good luck!

What about turning it into a file cabinet?
http://www.marthastewart.com/272739/mini-office-in-a-chest-how-to

-Ruth

I second @leanner, but i think you should go for the gold and try to replicate this!

http://uncrate.com/stuff/waterford-crystal-bar-trunk/

I have one at the end of my bed. It is great for storage, I have everything I want to re-gift in it right now.

I have a trunk my grandmother gave me in my entryway. I leave my keys and a bowl for loose change on it. I store off season bedding in it.

I have kind of a 'thing' for trunks. I have (too) many of them and have used them in different ways through the years.

I have two metal ones kind of similar to yours, that were British miltary foot lockers. They are too low on their own, but you can either stack them, or build a really simple platform (plywood the size of the trunk bottom with 4 or 6 inch legs screwed on) to get them to the right height for side tables. Great for storing holiday decorations, candles, guest linens, airbeds, other seldom used things.

And, btw, some very very fine steel wool and paste wax would bring out their beauty even more.

Please, please, PLEASE do not modify it! Vintage trunks are so beautiful, it would literally cause me physical pain.

My sister is planning on putting her two vintage trunks at the end of her bed. My mom uses hers as a side table... the options are endless. If it's low to the ground, it might make a good entryway bench with a bench cushion sitting on top as well.

I second placing it on end and putting shelves in it.
It can be done easily with no modification to the trunk. You can build a small bookcase style shelving unit that slips inside of the trunk. To make it stable you can rest it on a plinth that has space for the handle or other surface irregularities machined/routed out. If it is recessed in the front you would still be able to open and close it

... or use in front entryway area or mudroom to contain/hide shoes and boots that are not worn everyday while it serves as a bench for putting on said footwear. could put a rectangular cushion on top for color accent.

Found one on craigslist last weekend. Put a hole in the side and now it hides my cat's litter tray. Also helps contain the mess.

My boyfriend and I live in an open concept loft-space so in order to create some privacy between our "bedroom" and our other space, we collected various sizes of trunks and stacked them to make a head board.
It does the job and is quite stunning to look at.

You could turn it on one end without doing harm to the trunk itself by

(a) carefully removing the handle from one side - if you don't have to break anything to do it - then store the handle and reattach it later, or

(b) make a stand for it - perhaps a simple square, open frame - that allows the handle to be suspended within it.

Good luck. Show us the results.

I have several antique trunks.

In one I added free-standing file frames and made it a file cabinet.

You could place it on an antique luggage rack and make it into a sofa table/bedside table, entry console.

If it will slide under your bed or dresser, it would be great for shoe storage there.

I recently found at Home Depot small three-wheeled caster-like supports that are sold individually. They're sturdy and stable, like tiny triangular dollies. I set four, one at each corner, under a file cabinet. One detached three-wheeled caster under each corner of your trunk wouldn't alter it, and you could shift it for quick, easy access and flexibility.

Wow those are all great ideas. Our bedroom is oddly shaped and tiny, so unfortunately there's no room to place it at the end of the bed, as that would be my #1 choice.

our current coffee table is this hideous heavy wooden thing but my husband simply cannot part with it.

The idea that I'll probably go with is the filing cabinet or that 'are you crafty?' post from VickieFan, because god knows I have craft supplies overflowing every closet in our space.

thanks for all the help everyone =)

I recently inherited a trunk that looks exactly the same. It was my Grandfather's navy trunk.

I turned mine into a TV stand, I attached legs to a piece of plywood slight smaller than the trunk and put it on top. I was too nervous to put them directly on the trunk.

If I put more thought into, I would have done it with wheels instead.