A cedar chest is a piece of furniture that is not only functional, but also beautiful and unique in its own way. Whether you have inherited a cedar chest from a family member or found one at a thrift store, learning how to refinish a cedar chest can help bring new life to this cherished item.

Follow these refinishing furniture techniques to update your cedar chest and turn it into a more stunning piece to display in your home. Let’s dive in!

cedar chest before refinishing with text overlay

So you’ve got a cedar chest that you want to bring back to its former glory. Maybe it’s been passed down in your family for generations, or maybe you stumbled upon one at a yard sale and fell in love with its rustic charm.

Click here for the stain removal guide and checklist

For us, a client came to us with her family heirloom cedar chest, looking to update the cushion and give the wood a fresh finish, much like its original state. Now this was actually one of our first full refinishing jobs!

So keep reading to learn how we tackled this project and brought new life to our client’s beloved cedar chest. You can use these tips and techniques to refinish your own cedar chest or any other wooden furniture piece. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Supplies Used for Refinishing a Cedar Chest

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Screwdriver
Fabric for Cushion
Staple Gun
Chemical Stripper (Citristrip or Stripwell QCS)
220 Grit Sandpaper
Tack Cloth
Minwax Pre Stain Wood Conditioner
Foam Brush
Lint Free Rag
Minwax Dark Walnut Stain
Natural Bristle Brush
Minwax Wipe On Polyurethane

Updating Cushion on Top of Cedar Chest

We started by removing the cushion from the top of the cedar chest. The screws holding it in place were located on the inside part of the lid. After unscrewing them with this handy dandy electric screwdriver, we carefully removed the stapled fabric covering the cushion.

Next, we measured and cut a fresh piece of fabric to swap out the old one. We made sure to leave some extra fabric on each side so we could staple it neatly onto the cushion. Using a staple gun, we secured the new fabric, while making sure there were no wrinkles or loose corners.

Once the cushion was reupholstered, we placed it back on the cedar chest and screwed it back into place. The new fabric gave a refreshed look to the chest, making it more visually appealing than the worn out one before.

Removing Old Finish from Cedar Chest

Before we can apply a new finish to the cedar chest, we need to remove the existing one. Refinishing the wood on this piece was a bit more complex, but we were up for the challenge. The front of the chest had faux drawers, so we needed to be careful when working on them.

We used a chemical stripper to do this job. Citristrip or Stripwell QCS, are our go-to products because they are effective yet gentle on the wood. Here’s how to strip paint from wood furniture with Citristip for a more detailed tutorial, and here’s our Stripwell QCS review to learn more about this product and how to use Stripwell QCS on furniture.

Stripwell QCS furniture stripper in bottles

Once the old finish was removed with a stain remover, we let the wood cedar chest dry completely. Then, we lightly sanded the wood with 220 grit sandpaper to remove any leftover residue and to smooth out the surface. If you want to skip the hassle of stripping off layers of stain here’s how to stain over stain!

This step is important because if there is any leftover residue, it may affect the new finish. We cleaned up the dust and debris from the sanding process with a tack cloth before moving on!

Applying Pre Stain Conditioner

We didn’t apply the new stain just yet – first we applied Minwax Pre Stain wood conditioner first. This amazing product helps the stain adhere to all areas of the wood evenly and beautifully. It also helps to prevent any discoloration or patchiness.

Minwax Pre Stain Wood Conditioner

We applied the wood conditioner with a cheap foam brush, covering all areas of the cedar chest in the direction of the wood grain. After letting it sit for 5 minutes, we wiped off the excess with a clean lint free rag. It’s as easy as that!

Staining Wood Cedar Chest

For staining the wood cedar chest, we applied Minwax Dark Walnut stain with a cheap natural bristle brush. As always, we followed the wood grain for a more uniform and natural finish. Letting the stain sit for 5-10 minutes, we then wiped off the excess with a clean lint free rag.

Minwax Dark Walnut Stain

Do 1-2 coats of stain, but apply the second coat the next day, like we did. When it comes to the last coat, we let it dry for at least 12 hours before moving on to the next step. Within this time frame, we took the rags and brushes outside to dry completely because they are prone to spontaneous combustion. They can be disposed of after complete drying.

You can see how we used the combo of the Minwax Pre Stain conditioner and the Minwax Dark Walnut Stain in this how to restain a coffee table makeover.

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Sealing Stained Cedar Chest

So now that we have applied the stain to our cedar chest, it’s time to seal it and protect that gorgeous updated finish. We used another Minwax product, the Minwax Wipe On Polyurethane in satin. It’s a clear protective coating that will not only make the wood look beautiful but also protect it from daily wear and tear. Check out our what’s the best polyurethane for furniture post where we feature the Minwax Wipe On Poly!

We put on 3 coats of this polyurethane and let each one dry in between to make sure it sets and creates a strong protective layer. And we left the final coat of topcoat on our stained cedar chest to dry for a day before attaching any hardware.

For this one, the knobs are missing though because our client is still deciding on what she wants to replace them with. But as you can see, even without the knobs, the cedar chest looks stunning with its refreshed and protected finish!

updated cushion and wood stain without knobs

The scratches are gone, the cushion’s been updated, and the cedar chest looks like new again. So we hope this guide has been helpful for you to tackle your own refinishing projects, whether it’s a cedar chest or any other wooden furniture piece.

full image of Cedar Chest after makeover

More Before And After Makeovers

Click any of these “before” photos below to view the “after” of that makeover.