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Hope Chest Plans
A hope chest, also called a blanket chest: a deep box on a low base at the foot of the bed, with a lid that overhangs the front and sides, hinged at the back and held open by a lid stay. Line it with aromatic cedar to make a cedar chest. Enter the length, the depth and the height to get the cut list. Every cut is square.
- Default size
- 1000 × 500 × 450 mm
- Parts
- 10 pieces · 6 sizes
- Sheets (2440 × 1220 mm (4 × 8 ft))
- 1 carcass + 1 door
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Build time
- About 6 hours
- Edge band
- 8.7 m
Cut list (default size)
| Part | Qty | Length | Width | Thick. | Board | Edges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front and back · grain | 2 | 1000 | 402 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm | |
| End · grain | 2 | 414 | 402 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm | |
| Bottom | 1 | 964 | 414 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm |
Sizes in millimetres; length runs along the grain. Edges: bold lines are banded.
3 more parts, the sheet layout and the cut order are in the full plan.Resize it to any size, print labels and save it in a project.Sign in free to open it
How it is built
- Hinge the lid at the back with a piano hinge or three butt hinges, and fit a soft-close lid stay.
- Fit no latch or lock: a child can be trapped inside.
- Glue and screw the bottom inside the walls, then set the box on the base and screw down through the bottom.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the lid without a stay: it slams on fingers.
- Finishing the cedar lining: varnish seals in the smell that keeps moths away.
Tools you need
- Circular saw or table saw
- Drill/driver
- Clamps
- Sander
Frequently asked questions
What size is a hope chest?
Most are 40–48 in (1000–1220 mm) long, 18–20 in (450–510 mm) deep and 20–24 in (500–610 mm) tall, about the width of the bed it stands at. The default is 1000 × 450 × 500 mm.
How do I make it a cedar chest?
Line the inside walls and bottom with 1/4–3/8 in (6–10 mm) aromatic cedar boards, glued or pinned on, and leave the cedar unfinished so it keeps its smell.
Is a hope chest safe for children?
Only without a latch. Children have been trapped in latched chests. Fit no lock, and use a lid stay that holds the lid open and stops it from slamming.
Hope chest or blanket chest?
The same piece: a lidded chest for linens and blankets. Hope chest is the traditional name, from the linens collected before a wedding.
