Don't!

I really like it the way it is! I might just just accessorize it with fun, colorful things instead.

Yes. Leave it as is but you can do all sorts of things to make it brighter, like put a white cloth or tray on it, or a few bright bits of glassware.

Please don't paint it!

Don't paint it!

I would LOVE a trunk just like that. Please don't paint it.

I wouldn't either. If anything, I would paint the wooden base a different color that would make the top stand out. Right now they're pretty much the same. With this is mind, get a color that would match or complement your rug or sofa. Remember to look at the color wheel to see what works.

What they said.

Oh, and I meant *compliment*

paint should be reserved for items with finishes that are already FUBAR.

Sorry, I have to disagree with Everyone! Paint it! It's just another boring, brown trunk otherwise. If you want to make it a statement piece, I would paint it a very glossy white on top, and do orange legs.. or a bright green. Or vice/versa, color on top, neutral on the legs. Maybe some bold black/white stripes...

Paint it if you want to. All these wood purists are trying to distract you from making something you don't love into something you do love!

And use a paint additive called "Flood" to get a really smooth finish (I tried it and loved the finish). Whatever color you love an won't tire of.

i like it as-is, too.

I would wait to paint it until you've picked furniture/decor for the rest of the room, then paint (or not) to match. Otherwise you'll working to make the rest of the room match the trunk, and that seems more constraining.

I say paint it. Go bold. If you hate it, you can take the paint off or just paint it again.

Not a purist, but just wondering how good it will look once painted. Regarding materials - the base certainly looks like wood; is the top wood as well or is it metal? If the top is wood, are the studs that resemble those used for nail-head trim made of metal? I am wondering about how the different materials would take the paint and how the studs will look if once the piece is painted.

This piece screams for a dark, Chinesey red.

honestly, paint it!!!
the piece doesn't need it but you may get tired of the color pretty soon,so do something fun with it!!!
im in love with cyan and i can picture this in that color with white accesories on top.
at the end it's you the one that had to live with it......

Whatever you do, don't paint it all one color. The legs definitely need to be different from the base or you will loose the beautiful intricate details there.

I have a cabinet/sideboard with the similiar issue. Its a lovely brown and looks great, but I want to paint it, my hestation is I can never go back. The color is just to common though.
What about a matte (eggshell) navy blue or even something bright a dark tonal red.
Keep in mind you can always re-paint it.

thank you all so much for the advice! ill let you guys know what I finally decide. I might just wait a little like 22209 said, and finish the rest of my room to have a better idea of what would be the best option for it to fit with the rest of my decor. Thanks again!

do not

DONT PAINT IT. Sand, stain and finish it in a color you like more? Stain comes in a TON of colors

"Oh, and I meant *compliment*"
No, you were right the first time.

Is this trunk wood or leather? I can't tell, might be hard to paint leather though. Anyway, I agree this trunk needs an update. My initial inclination was white, but looking at the rest of your apt (which looks v nice btw), I might paint this a complementary color. Not sure what, that's really up to you & your preferences. Anyway, hope it works out! And if not, you can just toss it?

I'm so happy you're not stuck to a traditional look. I have a beautiful French country dining table that someone gave me and it just doesn't fit with the modern decor that is in the rest of my house. So to the horror of many of my friends I painted the table part with chalk board paint and painted the legs a deep purple. It's gorgeous and now fits in with the rest of my decor. A friend who's a designer at a national magazine came over and feel in love with it and photographed it for a DIY story.

The trunk is a lovely piece as is but I think it could be an outstanding piece people will talk about if you paint it. Go for a statement piece and paint it something pretty wild. How about a bright chartreuse or other equally vibrant color.

if you gonna leave it as the way it is, then could just choose a colorful blanket to cover it;if you want to pain it, from my way, i would pain the feet part different ---maybe the color between golden and bronze. and then the other part white, but will paint the nails different too ~~

Dont paint it!!!

Given the rest of your apartment this trunk as is creates some visual weight to ground your decor. Also its classic so the mix with the modern elements of your decor (glass, metal sofas) looks more sophisticated.

Sure if you paint it- it will be pretty on trend as seen in many a home design magazine. But trends fade and you might regret the chartreuse, honeysuckle of chinese red that you paint this piece.

Live with this piece, finish decorating your bedroom and then see where you are.

"Oh, and I meant *compliment*"
No, you were right the first time.

-- No, I really meant to say compliment, referring to a color that goes well with, not completes, her rug or sofa.

Okay, I'll shut up after this, I did mean complement. I'm PUI, people.

Leave it alone - It's perfect as it is.

DON'T PAINT IT!!!!!!!

SF_James - doesn't the table make horrible noises whenever you move a plate on it? I'd live in fear of making contact with my fingernails.

Anyway, I'm glad it looks good.

Ok, first, figure out the value of the piece. You might ruin that with paint. If it's no loss go nuts. It's your table and you obviously don't have a problem painting it. I personally think it'd look cool to do a high gloss red, but leave the wood base portion unpainted. It would make for a beautiful contrast. It's too bad that you'd have to paint the nail heads, since they would look cool in the finish they are against a bold color. But to not paint them would probably take a lot of time and the world's steadiest hand.

Don't paint it. It's gorgeous. Who made it? It may be more valuable than you think, but if you paint it, all bets are off. Don't do anything for a while. At least live with it for a while before you make a final decision. You can't undo a paint job.

Very cool piece!

I'd have to see your place to tell you what color to paint it, but I think a bright color would be best, like others suggested.

That being said, I'm not much of a "wood purist" but personally I love the color it has right now. I wouldn't paint it myself, but I don't think it would look bad painted.

There are items that can be brought to life with paint, but this isn't one of them. This really does, to me, look like a special item and would have it appraised before I did anything with it.

You may want to get it appraised. If it's worth $$$ maybe you should just sell it and get something similar not worth $$$ and paint that, but otherwise I'm with Holiday05. :| DON'T GIVE IN TO THE PEER PRESSURE.

On the other hand if it's going to be difficult paint job (look at all those studs, weep) and you think the end product will not be something you love much more than the current item—you may want to paint nonetheless, because as it is it could constrain how the rest of the room develops.

IMO if you paint it glossy white the feet/trim on the bottom should probably go (glossy) black. I like chartreuse, but you seem to have some massive peach-toned painting in the back, and a creamy leather couch, which may not go so well with it.

NOPAINT, NO PAINT!!!!

There was a post ealier about a hutch that was painted red and then slightly stained... I would that to the truck... It would bring a lot of character out of the truck.. Ofcourse you could choose any color.

*Trunk
Here is the link...

http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/diy/before-after-grandmas-hutch-makeover-127815

I would shy away from painting too -- how about applying some interesting wallpaper/contact paper on the top or sides, 1" away from the studs? Something shiny & black? Could help you decide if you want to paint the whole thing later on.

My goodness, that's a hideous mongrel monstrosity. Painting it could hardly make it uglier, so I say go for it.

Go for colour rather than monochrome, and don't paint the legs and lower trim (the bit that isn't "studded"). I'm seeing it in a rich cobalt blue, or a dark aqua.

Leave the top as is and paint only the base and legs. Turquoise or teal would be my color choice. Not too bright, toned down with a little brown or gray in it.

I would pain it for sure. In this colour it just look boring and shapeless object, sorry

Wow, amazing piece. And if you paint it, you'll lose the 'impact' of the studs (and painting around them would be a total pain). I say paint the base, but leave the top alone. Maybe add a mirror to the top to add a little zing. I also agree about finding out the value of it first, it's a nice piece.

It's too beautiful as it is and has a burnished exotic look, don't paint it!

I'm curious as to what this trunk is made from. Wood? Leather? Combination?

seafoam green