How to Turn a Vintage Trunk into the Perfect Coffee Table

I’m sharing everything you need to know to turn a vintage trunk into a fabulous coffee table in just a few minutes.

This project all started with this old trunk. A family friend asked if I wanted this old trunk a few years back when they were cleaning out their basement. And even though I had no idea what I was going to do with it, I immediately knew that I wanted it.

I think my vintage trunk is actually an old military foot locker, but I don’t know much about its history. It wasn’t in the best shape when I got it, with scuffs and scratches on the body along with lots of rust on the brass fittings. But I don’t mind a few imperfections – they just add to its vintage charm.

For a few years it sat in my own basement, while I waited to find the perfect spot for it. As is, it was amazing for storage, but I wanted to use it somewhere it could really be seen and appreciated.

And finally, this week I pulled it out of storage to give it a new purpose. I knew the size was perfect for a coffee table or bench, but the height was just a bit too low. With a good cleaning and some new legs, now it’s the perfect addition to my son’s room.

Today’s upcycle is one of those super, super simple projects that really probably doesn’t even require a tutorial. But sometimes even when a project is pretty simple, seeing photos of how it’s done can really help.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more.  Click here to see my full disclosure policy.

Furniture Leg Options

A typical coffee table is 16-18 inches high and this trunk was 13 inches high, so I only needed to add 3-5 inches of height.

I considered a few options:

• Large industrial wheels. These were really popular several years ago when industrial style and antique factory cart coffee tables were popular. I’m not seeing as much industrial furniture lately, but I do think big wheels would look great on this style trunk. This 4″ set of wheels has a great industrial look.
• Basic metal furniture legs. These are often used on couches and dressers, but I thought that this antique brass set might look nice on the foot locker.
• Hairpin legs. A few years ago, hairpin legs became super popular as midcentury style became more popular. I don’t think hairpin legs look good on all types of furniture but for this midcentury style trunk they seemed like a great option.

In the end, I decided to go with 4″ hairpin legs. I think the shape of the legs really compliments the trunk well. I debated whether I should get these legs in a black or gold finish, both of which would look great on a foot locker like this.

In the end I chose black. I love the look of the gold, but I was afraid it would draw too much attention to how rusty the brass fittings on my trunk are.

How to attach hairpin legs to a trunk

Attaching the legs is super simple, but I do have a few helpful tips to share.

The banding around the edges of the trunk made it impossible to line up the legs perfectly in the corners. Instead they could be placed either a bit closer to the front and back of the trunk or a bit closer to the sides of the trunk.

After testing out both options, I decided that the legs looked better positioned closer to the front and back of the trunk.

My hairpin legs did come with screws, but the included screws were pretty long and would have stuck really far into the interior of the trunk. Instead, I used 1/2″ screws and they were the perfect size. From the inside of the trunk, you can just barely feel the very tip of the screws.

Installation itself is super easy. Just predrill holes with a regular drill bit and then screw the legs into the bottom of the trunk with your 1/2″ screws.

How to add legs without damaging your trunk

I know there may be some people who would prefer not to drill holes in their vintage trunk, especially if it is a family heirloom or is in really pristine condition.

If you don’t want to alter your trunk permanently, you can still add legs to turn it into a coffee table.

Instead of screwing the legs directly into the trunk, you can cut a piece of sturdy plywood the same size as your trunk. Paint it to match, attach your legs to the plywood and use it as a stand for the trunk. That way you gain height without permanently damage your trunk.

If you go this route, it would be a good idea to also add something to keep the trunk from sliding around on the base. A few command strips or even non-slip carpet tape would work great.

Vintage Trunk Coffee Table

And here is my finished trunk coffee table:

I did clean it a bit to remove the dust and as many of the scuffs as I could, but I decided not to mess with the brass. It might be possible to remove the rust and polish up the brass with a lot of elbow grease, but I kind of like letting it show it’s age.

I tried it out in our living room just to see how it would look, and it makes an awesome coffee table. But we actually already have another old trunk that I’ve been using as a coffee table in there. Clearly, I have a think for vintage trunks!

In the end, I decided this trunk would be perfect in my son’s room. I’m putting the finishing touches on his travel themed room this week, and this trunk is going to make a perfect little bench for some extra seating with built-in storage. Stay tuned for the full room reveal in just a few days!

And if you love upcycling vintage items into awesome furniture like I do, be sure to check out this collection of genius repurposed furniture ideas. There are some real gems there!

I’d love for you to pin this post on Pinterest!