Easy Lane Chest Makeover Using Embellishments

I love a nice cedar chest at the end of a bed.  I'm a huge fan of the look and the functionality.  Needless to say, I was thrilled when I came across this Lane Chest at my local Goodwill.  

It was simple and lacked any pizazz or character, but I knew I could change that!

Here's how the chest looked before:

It was covered in scratches, paint splatters and all kinds of sticky goo.  

I got started by sanding down the top.  I wanted to stain the top because the wood was in pretty good condition.  As with many of these older pieces, the piece was veneer over hardwood, which meant I had to be careful not to over sand.  

I stained the top in my favorite dark walnut stain and sealed it with soft dark wax.

Next, I painted the body of the chest in Chalk Paint™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan in Louis Blue, then Paris Grey.  I sealed the paint with soft clear and dark wax, then distressed the piece a bit.

The last step was to add some character.  I bought a wood plaque at Hobby Lobby as well as a small wood embellishment.  I stained them both with dark walnut stain, then the Louis Blue and Paris Grey Chalk Paint™.  Lastly I sealed the pieces with wax and attached them using Liquid Nails.  

It was just what the chest needed to give it a bit of flair.  

Here it is finished:

I love the depth this piece has now!

I had a lot of fun giving this piece a new lease on life.  It's going to a new home, where it will be loved for many years to come.

Do you love a chest at the end of a bed?  Do you have one in your bedroom?  I'd love to hear from you!

Thank you for reading!

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