I used them as end tables or night stands, with decor items and spare bedding in them.

If you shellac the inside of the mothball smelling one, it will be fine.

We have one at the foot of DS2's room. It holds extra blankets. I have NO IDEA what happened to the color in this photo--- the real color is a medium grayish gold, and the Ikat fabric is cream and olive green. (It is the same fabric, just reverse sides.)

For context, here is the other side of the room:

There is an English dresser made of dark scrubbed pine, and a desk we had made for the room with a leather Parson's chair and a club chair by the window with a small leather ottoman.

This is the desk:

It's an eclectic mix of new and old, and the trunk fits in pretty well.

Lindac...thanks for the tip. The inside is covered in fabric, as is the tray. It was done VERY well...so I'll have to see if I can remove it. Then I will try the shellac. I've read also that it needs to be sanded down prior to the shellac.

I've tried kitty litter, newspaper, Febreeze, carpet powder stuff, leaving it sit in the sun for days on end...I guess that's why I got it so cheap. It's beautiful, but once opened it litereally makes your eyes tear up its so strong.

Maybe you should leave it opened outside in the sun.
Diane

Diane, I had it sitting in the sun for days on end, and nothing helped. I think some of the powder from the moth balls got underneath the fabric because I saw some of it in the tray. I'm going to have to remove the fabric and sand it I think then seal it with shellac...just not wanting to.

I'd have to have a steamer trunk first...and I hope to be able to post pics of my very own trunk in a couple months, lol. I have actually been thinking about them recently because I really want one for the master bedroom of our new home.