Your Guide to Understanding and Filling a Hope Chest

What is a Hope Chest?

The term hope chest symbolizes hope in a marriage. Historically, the term hope chest has been used to describe a large box designed to store items for younger women to have when they get married. They were most commonly used until the 1950s, but you can certainly still find a hope chest for sale today. That newly married woman could then one day hand it down to her own daughter. Most traditional hope chests were constructed with cedar, a type of wood that naturally repels insects and fungus. Traditional cedar hope chests were also used to help protect fabrics and to give the items inside a pleasant aroma.

Although they’re not widely used in today’s society, you can still fill a hope chest for a variety of occasions. You can store items for a wedding, collect sentimental objects to pass onto a daughter, or prepare for a future baby. It’s a tradition that has been around for decades. However, you can easily modernize your hope chest by filling it with meaningful items.

Traditionally, hope chests were used to hold essentials such as heirlooms, sentimental items, blankets and quilts, previous awards and kitchenware. Whether your goal is to fill a hope chest for your daughter or yourself, knowing its history – and how to fill one – is quite useful.

Hope Chests: A Tradition That Spans Centuries

Hope chest history dates back to a period of time when families exchanged property and goods. If it was designed primarily for a future wedding, a young woman’s hope chest would likely contain hand-embroidered linens and delicate pieces of clothing.

When the hope chest became a tradition amongst cultures across the world is rather hard to pinpoint. However, we know they existed by reading well-preserved ancient texts like the Cairo Genizah.

It’s safe to say that most cultures (possibly by the ninth century or earlier) had some form of dowry box. Variations of hope chests have been found in West Africa to the Middle East, India and Indonesia. Some chests were highly ornate, some simple and sturdy, and others contained symbols of luck or prosperity.

European Hope Chests

The cedar chest really blossomed during the European Renaissance as production techniques became faster and more efficient. Now the hope chest was a more affordable addition to many households. Wooden hope chests also started to come with drawers, making them increasingly useful for their recipients. Most images of hope chests depict a glamorous box adorned with fancy detailing and metals. However, the hope chest was once called a “bottom drawer” in the United Kingdom. This term references an ordinary drawer that was set aside to hold crucial items. The hope chest is designed to relocate along with its owner, but some chests are heavy enough that they can’t be transported without a few extra hands.

New World Hope Chests

As colonists began to cross the ocean, the hope chest was typically the one piece of luggage that was used to store all of a family’s belongings. However, many chests belonged exclusively to wealthier families. Most of the U.S. chests were made with cedar, but some were constructed from cherry or mahogany. Regardless of the type of wood used, each chest was typically lined with cedar to keep the interior protected.

The Modern Hope Chest

The hope chest remains an integral part of Amish culture today. Amish hope chests are generally given to young women and newly married couples as they leave home. Generally, the collection inside features items that the couple could use for their new home, such as crockery, linens and oil lamps.

The tradition dates back several decades, but the symbolism of the hope chest is timeless. Even if yours is not yet a family heirloom, or it’s filled with just a few meaningful items, the act of giving a close family member a hope chest can be the start of a wonderful tradition for future generations.

The goal is to encourage each generation to add its own items throughout the years, a process that will eventually turn the chest into a coveted family heirloom. Not only does this help to carry on a beautiful tradition, but the act of passing down a hope chest from one generation or family member to the next is also a great way to ensure a lasting emotional bond between yourself, or a family member, and the recipient.

How to Fill a Hope Chest

It takes years to properly prepare a hope chest. Having a general idea of what to collect for a hope chest can make the process much easier. It can help to spread the word to family members and close friends. They might have something that they want to contribute to the chest.

While there are no standards or essentials, many individuals find that blankets, quilts, and kitchen-related items are very well received. In addition to the basics, you may choose to personalize the chest with goods that are unique or special to the recipient.

Use the Hope Chest as a Family Heirloom

Some families have had hope chests that have been passed down for decades. It’s not too late to start your own family hope chest for the future. A hope chest becomes more an interesting and unique part of any family’s history as each generation adds to it.

An heirloom hope chest is a great place to begin safely storing prized family possessions and valuables. Whether you’re adding to a family heirloom or starting from scratch, your recipient is bound to cherish these meaningful goods as they gets older.

Hope Chest for a Daughter

It’s never too early to begin planning for the future, especially when your daughter is young. Let her pick out her own blanket, a china tea set, or another valuable item that you know she’ll need later in life. Even if she doesn’t appreciate it early on, it can be an exciting discovery when she unveils it years later.

It may help to include more unique items from your own collections. This could be tea towels, or dishes, especially if it’s not something you use regularly. Even if she decides to replace it later, your daughter will appreciate having these essentials as she moves out of the house.

Gift Ideas That Will Fill a Hope Chest With Warmth and Love

Hope chests are quite large and many people wonder how to adequately fill them. The general idea is to fill a hope chest with warmth and love. Of course, this broad suggestion is wide open to interpretation! Some gift ideas for filling a hope chest include the following:

Blankets, Quilts & Bedding: For some people, they want to literally start with objects to keep the recipient warm, such as quilts, blankets and bedding. Lining the bottom of the hope chest with such items also provides a layer of protection for any valuables that might be added along the way.

Kitchenware: Glasses, Dishes & Utensils: It’s helpful to fill your hope chest with practical household items for your daughter (or other family member). Aside from blankets and linens, this could include kitchenware such as glasses, dishes and cooking utensils.

Monogrammed & Personalized Items: You can also add monogrammed or personalized pieces as an extra measure. To prevent goods from getting broken or damaged, package them carefully in bubble wrap or a towel and then into a cardboard box.

Think Outside The Box: Packing your daughter’s hope chest with love will surely bring a smile to her face. This can mean anything from a cherished family photo to a book that’s been personally autographed. Nothing is off-limits, and if it can fit in the hope chest it’s probably worth packing.

The goal is to help personalize a new living space while preserving memories. To prevent the precious goods from shifting or breaking during transportation, make sure that the lid is tightly closed before moving the chest. Place breakable items in such a way that they won’t shift or fall when the chest is moved.

Types of Hope Chests

Cedar chests have recently been the most popular type of hope chest. Most share the same basic design – a medium to large box occasionally outfitted with one or more drawers for storage.

However, if you look hard enough you’ll likely find a unique chest on the market. You might fall in love with a cherry wood chest, or one decorated in metal panels or mosaic tile.

Hope Chests, Blanket Chests, Cedar Chests: Oh My!

During your search for a hope chest, you are bound to find cedar and blanket chests. These chests are similar in size, design and construction and can easily be used as a hope chest. After all, the idea is to fill it with hope and love, and you can easily do that with any large chest.

You may also opt to use a separate cedar wood chest to store larger or more important keepsakes. Storing larger objects in these separate boxes frees more space for the hope chest.

Traditional hope chests feature a classic and timeless design that holds up decade after decade. The chests were initially placed at the foot of the bed, and were later relied upon as an extra seating surface during the 17th and 18th centuries, when extra seating surfaces – such as chairs – were difficult to come by.

Today, it’s not uncommon for hope chests to be a versatile piece of furniture that not only stores larger items, but that also doubles as a seating surface or a usable storage space. With a mix of details ranging from simple to elegant, not to mention beautiful wood construction, it’s easy to see why hope chests become the topic of conversation in any living space.

Hope Chest Styles and Designs

Most chests are larger to accommodate essential items as they accumulate over the years. However, there are medium-sized chests and even smaller ones as well. Depending on your needs, you may choose a hope chest that sits at the foot of the bed or that is specifically designed to double as an extra seating space. Some chests feature a basic, yet stunning and timeless, style that fits right in with most decor. There are also chests with unique features, such as nostalgic genuine leather handles that replicate an old-world appearance or ones with raised paneling.

The most common type of hope chest has a plain but detailed construction that works well in a variety of settings. However, some hope chests feature a specific design, such as a forest or a moose. You may also come across chests with animal tracks or hand-painted ones featuring ducks or some sort of animal. Popular styles and designs include:

Trunk

Trunk hope chests resemble storage boxes more than furniture. They are large boxes with a rectangular shape that open from the top. This type of hope chest is usually made of cedarwood and decorated with distressed or carved edges.

Even though they usually do not serve as furniture, the trunk hope chest is sturdy enough to sit on, so it can double as a bench if needed. Our Trunk With Rounded Lid hope chest features a cedar bottom and black leather handles.

Table

If you’re searching for hope chest gift ideas, consider ones with a flat top, which allows the recipient to decorate it with candles or other items if he or she desires. You can use table hope chests, such as the Regal Blanket Chest, as tables and storage areas. They shouldn’t be confused with coffee tables, which sometimes have small drawers. A table hope chest will have more of a block shape with a flat top that can serve as a table.

Bench

Bench hope chests, also known as storage benches, are perfect if you’re looking for a beautiful piece of furniture with functional storage space. The primary purpose of the bench hope chest’s design is furniture seating. Unlike the trunk hope chest design, the bench hope chest looks like a bench and provides a more comfortable place to rest.

 

Bench hope chests often have upholstered tops, and, in some designs, backrests. They are often slightly taller than other hope chest designs and include legs for support. We designed our Palisade Blanket Chest With Cedar Bottom to hold an optional seat cushion if comfort is your top priority.

Domed-Top

Domed top hope chests have a dome-shaped cover and slightly resemble pirate treasure chests. Since their top is dome-shaped, they cannot serve as a seat or a table, but they are a beautiful option for storing your own personal treasures.

Choosing the Right Hope Chest Size

Hope chest sizes vary, so there is sure to be a hope chest perfect for your home, whether you have a large space or a limited amount of space. A smaller hope chest would be perfect for a small study, a child’s bedroom or a playroom. Larger hope chests are perfect for displaying in your living room or at the foot of a bed. With various sizes to choose from, we can customize a hope chest to fit your ideal space in your home. 

Our smaller hope chests, such as the Flat-Top Mini Cedar Chest, are 21″ long, 16″ deep and  17″ high. They are small enough to fit in any room, but they have enough space to hold your most beloved items. Our larger chests, such as the Charleston Blanket Chest, are around 48″ long,  20″ deep and 28″ high. These chests are large enough to serve as benches and hold a large number of items. 

Shopping For a Hope Chest

Want to fill a wooden hope chest with hope and love for a loved one or yourself?  We can help you find something beautiful and sturdy that can offer style and function for decades. We have a generous selection of high-quality chests that would make great hope chests. Be sure to browse our selection of hand-crafted chests and subscribe to our newsletter for updates and new additions.