That's a great color, I've never seen such a fun, bright trunk! My first thought was to add some nice big castors to the bottom, that way you can obviously move it around easier, plus it'll add some height if you want to use it was a table or bench. Chunky, substantial legs would also give you the height you need and make it look more like a piece of furniture. I could definitely see this under a window, if you add a custom sized pad in a bold fabric, plus a toss pillow or two. So it doesn't look "lonely" under the window, anchor it with a side table or shelf to encourage using it as a comfy spot. Good luck!

if you make a rectangular pillow of the same size of the top, you could make it to stay using some velcro strips self-adhesive on the sides and use it as foot stool next to your couch or armchair. And you can store blankets for the cold tv-nights into the trunk. Lovely color, by the way!
If you have a fireplace, I use a trunk as a side table next to the fireplace and keep the logs inside. ( a bit of a pain to remove all the thinks on top every time I need some wood, but I don't have much on it anyway)
ciao, Donatella
www.inspirationrealisation.com

I think casters are a great idea - even if you keep it as a coffee table. If you do spring for casters, get the commercial grade ones so you never have to worry about it.

If you're looking for cheap but reasonably sturdy legs, you might check out IKEA. They have steel or wood, ranging from 5 or so inches to 30+ high so you can manage a coffee table all the way to a console table. Some people put square ottomans under console tables to keep foot ottomans out of the way while having a catch-all. Cuter options are often available at your local hardware store too.

casters are infinitely more practical. I've put casters on my dining table and all sorts of furniture and never regretted it.

I like the idea of putting an upholstered foam top on it. If you have an entryway (or even a highly organized coat closet), you can hang some hooks or a shelf above it and create your own "landing pad." It did this with a small wooden trunk and wrought iron hooks on the wall just inside my bedroom, and it's a great place to drop off a coat, hats, etc.

Instead of legs, what about setting it on a sturdy platform, with or without legs?

I vote for casters and a slab cushion on top - voila, bench! :)

If you have a piece that you don't want to direcly alter; Try casters attached to a piece of plywood with trim or something to prevent the trunk from sliding would give you height you need... and you can use the platform for movable stack of storage bins or moving furniture later (depending on how strong you make it.

If you go the seat cushion route, you could add a pleated skirt to it to cover the trunk and soften the look up (or is that so '90's?).
Another option is to stand it on end, put castors or legs on the bottom to raise it off the floor, and use it like a small armoire. You could put hooks, shelves, or a bar inside for storing clothing, accessories, or books.

My personal take would be to put it on it's side and make a minibar inside.

Or, jack it up on tv trays (usually dirt cheap at thrift stores) and use it as a console table. Just put a few screws through the trays to keep them open, as they tend to be shaky. Rug mats will keep it from slipping.

why not add the height to the top? Get some fabric and pillow stuffing and add a seat cushion to the top. It could function as an ottoman or bench seat in your window. If you are dead set on adding the height on the bottom, why not add wheels? You could paint them to match the rest of the trunk.

I actually added some in-drawer file frames to mine (for like $10 on amazon) and turned it into my file cabinet. It's really, really easy/cheap and can eliminate the need for a desk if you just use your laptop most of the time and have been using a desk almost entirely for storage.

Is it sturdy enough to hold up to people sitting on it? Some trunks of this kind are made of thin enough metal that a lot of wwight can bend them...

I envision a parsons table kind of base, with square (in cross section) legs and a base the same size as the trunk's bottom to lift it as a coffee table. You could paint it to match or contrast with the trunk color, match the color of the hardware, or go black.

if you decide to put casters on it as many are suggesting - make sure to use at least one or two locking ones! I have a similar trunk - looks about the same size, anyway, that i put casters on and i intended to use as a coffee table. but it slides around every time i put my feet up on it.... so now it just sits against a wall like yours. i haven't gotten around to changing out the casters cause my power drill died, :)

I second the idea of casters. I don't know if this would be doable, but you could try some cement blocks painted in a metallic to match the trunk, or covered in fabric (or mattress foam, then fabric). Not sure if that would work or not.

If it helps, this gives me a great idea for a coffee table because we actually need something extremely short to fit under the handle of the reclining part of the chair. Thanks for the reverse inspiration!

Ashley Erin Mayer

i think casters sound best. maybe you can find some in a bright color or paint them a bright color. alternatively find a luggage rack at a thrift store and you can set it up high. just make sure the luggage rack is sturdy enough.

Elevate it on a couple of wooden wine crates.

We had a sturdy chest that we weren't sure what to do with, and decided to use it as a bench at our dining table. We have little kids and they think it is the coolest thing ever, as 2 or 3 can sit together at a time. Adults like it too since you can spread out a bit or sit indian-style.

Some legs or wheels would transform it into mobile storage, paint it black or any accenting color from the room it'll be in, a rectangular pillow top with a interesting pattern and even new hardware too would spruce it up and make it your own.

I would do something like this! - http://s3.amazonaws.com/cmi-niche/assets/pictures/16452/content_gift8.jpg?1319646665

Then put casters or legs on the bottom and use it as a side table with a lamp on top - http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20049538/

Please submit a before and after whatever you decide to do.

I agree with ShinySpork. Check out the couch legs available from IKEA for a short height boost.

I have two of these beauties is two separate sizes. I reinforced the tops of both with some 2x4s, One is a record holder/end table and the other is an amazing tv stand. Inside I've organized all the additional/back up cables, and dvds.

I've had these for years, and I will never get rid of them. I hope you get to keep yours for a long while.

Try it on it's side as an end table (or landing table) if it isn't opened very often.

Hi Emily,

I think you have a gorgeous piece of furniture here, and if I were you I would try to protect it as much as possible. The first thing I thought to myself when I saw it was that it would look wonderful sitting underneath a simple acrylic or glass table. Here is a perfect coffee table for that:

http://www.cb2.com/peekaboo-clear-coffee-table/f699
or
http://www.acrylicparts.com/acryliccoffeetable.html

You would get a coffee table that works, and also it would give you a little bit of contrast against the rest of your apartment decor -- and contrast is one of my favorite things in the world! At the same time, the table would protect the chest from damage, and you'd be able to look at it at all times.

Now, I understand that you are on a very, very tight budget, so I did a quick search on Amazon, and there are some not-so-expensive options:

http://www.amazon.com/Flash-Furniture-FD-COFFEE-TBL-GG-Glass-Coffee/dp/B007ACQOWY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359591799&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+coffee+table

http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Brand-Chrome-Finish-Occasional/dp/B005BE5S7K/ref=sr_il_1_8?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1359591742&sr=1-8&keywords=acrylic+coffee+table

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Acrylic-Nesting-End-Tables-Set-of-3/1995574/product.html?cid=202290&kid=9553000357392&track=pspla&ef_id=wilQFbUuuYEAAB8P:20130131003158:s

If you don't like this idea, I would say that I also like the caster suggestion -- the only thing is that I'd be hesitant to alter the chest permanently.

In either case, good luck!

LT

I turned my rhino trunks on their sides vertically and used them as side tables. You could also leave them horizontal. I really liked the way they are used in this living room: http://ohjoy.blogs.com/my_weblog/2012/11/baby-proofing-your-stylish-living-room.html

We have a old WWI Medical trunk made out of metal that weighs probably 80lbs. I love it and it makes an excellent bench by the door to put our shoes on. I made a cushion to tie on top of it so there's some soft and hard looks to it.

re. casters: screw them into sturdy shelving/plywood a bit smaller than dimensions of trunk, whatever way it stands, place trunk on board. if bottom is longer/wider dimension, use 6-8 casters to distribute weight, balance caster placement between strength at edges & recessed so not-as-obvious. use industrial grade (ikea's disintegrate at 2-3 yrs). raises @ 2".

as coffee table, raise @ 2" more by placing casters-on-another-board-upside-down/blocks/books at corners & putting piece of 1/4" glass on top of that (stick small clear bumpers on underside of glass so it does not roll off casters on top of trunk). may be able to find glass at thrift shop.

I took an old trunk and added legs from an equally old midcentury-style ottoman with tapered legs. Check Goodwill and similar thrift-type venues for legs you like.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/376263_10151392940457446_1157199047_n.jpg