[SBM] Colored Chests: A Vibrant Storage Solution for Minecraft
Keeping your base organized in Minecraft often means rows of identical brown chests, leaving you to rely on signs or memory to find what you need. The [SBM] Colored Chests mod changes that by introducing a simple yet brilliant idea: chests that you can dye in any of the 16 classic Minecraft colors. Whether you are building a themed storage room, color-coding your resources, or just want your builds to look cleaner, this mod delivers a lightweight and elegant solution.
What Makes Colored Chests Special?
At its core, the mod adds a single new block — a colorable chest — that uses only one block ID for all 16 variants. This clever design means it stays extremely compatible with other mods and won’t clutter your world with unnecessary block IDs. You can craft each colored chest by combining a regular chest with any of the available dyes, giving you instant access to a full palette of storage options.
Key Features
- 16 craftable colored chests matching every vanilla dye color.
- Full double chest support — place two chests of the same color side by side, and they merge seamlessly.
- Mixed placement allowed — different colored chests can sit directly next to each other without connecting, keeping your color zones distinct.
- NBT-based color combinations — the mod stores color data in the block’s NBT tags, so you can even create custom color combos if you know how to tweak item data.
- Single block ID — all chest variants share one ID, reducing conflicts and making it modpack-friendly.
How to Craft and Use Colored Chests
Getting started is as simple as grabbing a regular chest and a dye of your choice. Place them together in a crafting grid, and you will receive a colored chest that matches the dye. The recipe works with any standard dye — from bone meal white to ink sac black — so you can coordinate with any build palette. Once placed, the chest behaves exactly like a vanilla chest: it can be opened, hoppers can interact with it, and you can lock it with commands if needed.
Double chests form naturally when you place two chests of the identical color next to each other. If you try to combine different colors, they will remain separate single chests, which is perfect for creating compact color-coded storage walls without accidental merging.
Planned Features on the Horizon
The developer has shared an exciting roadmap for future updates. While the mod is already fully functional, several additions are in the works:
- A paint brush tool that would allow you to recolor existing chests to any RGB value, offering near-infinite customization.
- Proper ISidedInventory support for better automation compatibility.
- World generation integration so colored chests could replace vanilla chests in dungeons, temples, and other structures.
- Multi-colored chests and different wood types for even more visual variety.
These planned features show that the mod is not just a one-off idea but part of a growing vision for flexible storage.
The Single Block Mod Philosophy
[SBM] Colored Chests belongs to the Single Block Mod series, a collection of mods that each focus on one highly polished block or item. The goal is to provide maximum options and choices from a minimal footprint. Instead of bundling dozens of features into one large mod, each entry in the series does one thing extremely well. This makes them ideal for modpack creators who want to fill specific gaps without adding bulky content packs. You can find other mods in the series by visiting the Built Broken website.
Installation and Compatibility
Adding this mod to your game is straightforward. You can download it manually from the usual mod hosting platforms, or for an even smoother experience, use a launcher that handles mods for you. For example, the foxygame.net launcher lets you install [SBM] Colored Chests directly from its built-in mod menu — no file juggling required, and you can keep everything updated with a few clicks. This kind of modern launcher makes managing small utility mods effortless, especially when you are assembling a custom modpack.
The mod is designed for Forge and keeps its footprint tiny, so it rarely conflicts with other mods. Because all colored chests share a single block ID, you won’t run into ID limit issues even in large modpacks. Just make sure you are using a compatible Minecraft version (check the mod page for the latest release).
Modpack Policy and Support
You are free to include [SBM] Colored Chests in any public or private modpack without asking for permission, as long as you follow the Built Broken Modding public modpack rules. If you run into bugs or crashes, the developer encourages you to report them on the GitHub issue tracker. A clean crash report pasted into a site like pastebin.com helps the team resolve problems faster. You can also join the Discord server or the Esper.net IRC channel #BuiltBroken to discuss the mod, share ideas, or get help.
Why You Should Try Colored Chests
In a game where organization can make or break a large build, this mod offers a clean, low-impact way to bring color into your storage system. It respects vanilla mechanics, adds no unnecessary complexity, and fits seamlessly into almost any playstyle. Whether you are a builder who cares about aesthetics or a technical player who wants visual cues for your sorting network, [SBM] Colored Chests is a tiny addition that punches well above its weight. Once you see your storage room lined with a rainbow of chests, you’ll wonder how you ever managed with plain brown ones.