Storage Trunks

Types of Storage Trunks

Blanket Chests (H3)

A blanket chest is a wooden or upholstered trunk designed primarily for bedroom use: positioned at the foot of the bed to store extra blankets, pillows, and linens that are used regularly but don't belong in the bedroom closet. Most blanket chests run 42" to 52" wide and 16" to 18" tall, with interior depths of 12" to 16" that hold a substantial volume of folded textiles. The flat top also serves as a bench seat, making the blanket chest one of the most useful bedroom pieces available: storage, seating, and a room anchor in one.

Hope Chests (H3)

A hope chest is a traditional storage trunk used to collect and store linens, quilts, and personal items over time. Modern hope chests are functionally identical to blanket chests but often feature more ornate detailing, including carved panels, cedar-lined interiors for fabric and textile preservation, decorative hardware, and wood species such as cherry, walnut, or oak. Cedar-lined hope chests are the preferred choice for long-term textile storage because cedar naturally deters moths and insects without requiring chemical treatments.

Toy Chests

A toy chest is sized and designed for children's rooms: typically 36" to 48" wide and 16" to 18" tall, with a deep, open interior that holds a large, varied collection of toys without dividers or organization requirements. The most important safety features on a toy chest are a lid support or slow-close hinge that prevents the lid from falling on a child, and ventilation holes in the interior to prevent air entrapment. Both features are recommended regardless of local safety code requirements.

Wooden Storage Trunks

A wooden storage trunk in pine, oak, cedar, or hardwood provides the most durable and structurally sound storage chest format. Wood trunks hold their shape under heavy contents and can be repurposed across rooms as storage needs change. In a traditional or farmhouse-style interior, a wooden trunk with visible grain, metal corner hardware, and a strap-detail lid reads as both a decorative accent and a storage piece.

Wicker Storage Trunks

A wicker storage trunk brings a natural, textural quality to a room that wood and upholstered trunks don't provide. Wicker trunks work well in coastal, bohemian, and natural-material interior styles and are commonly used in living rooms, bathrooms, and guest bedrooms. The woven construction is lighter than solid wood, making wicker trunks easier to reposition as needed. Most include a removable lid and a fabric-lined interior to protect stored items from the rough wicker surface.

Vintage and Antique-Style Trunks

Vintage-inspired and antique-style storage trunks use distressed wood finishes, aged metal hardware, leather straps, and riveted corner details to evoke the look of travel trunks and steamer chests from earlier eras. These trunks function as decorative statement pieces in living rooms and bedrooms while providing the same enclosed storage capacity as a standard wooden trunk. A vintage-style trunk placed as a coffee table in a living room is one of the most effective ways to add both storage and character to the room.

Storage Trunk as Coffee Table

A flat-top storage trunk in a rectangular or square format works as a coffee table alternative in a living room. Placed centrally in a seating group, a trunk coffee table holds its contents inside while the flat top surface handles everyday living room use. For drinks and trays, a smooth-top wooden or upholstered trunk provides a stable surface. For a more casual arrangement, a wicker trunk with a removable tray top offers a softer aesthetic with the same functional position.

Choosing a Storage Trunk

Interior Capacity and Cedar Lining

For storing textiles, blankets, and seasonal clothing, a cedar-lined interior is worth prioritizing: cedar naturally deters insects and absorbs moisture, extending the life of stored fabrics. Trunk interiors typically range from 3 to 6 cubic feet of storage volume. A standard blanket chest at 48" x 18" x 14" deep provides approximately 7 cubic feet of usable interior space.

Lid Safety

Any trunk used in a child's room or accessible to children should have a lid support or a soft-close mechanism to prevent the lid from dropping freely. A free-falling lid on a heavy wooden chest can cause serious injury. Lid support chains and pneumatic hinges both address this; confirm which mechanism is included before purchasing for a child's room.

Placement Surface

Trunks placed on hardwood or tile floors should include felt or rubber feet to prevent floor scratching when the trunk is slid into position. If the trunk will be used as a coffee table with regular foot traffic nearby, confirm the base is stable and won't rock or shift under light pressure.

Complete Your Storage Setup

For softer, upholstered large-capacity storage in a living room, our storage ottomans offer the same interior storage capacity with a fabric or leather exterior.

For bedroom storage with a more furniture-like appearance, our cabinets and chests include a chest of drawers and bedside storage options in coordinating finishes.

See all storage formats in the storage furniture collection to compare trunks, benches, ottomans, and cabinets side by side.