Vintage Suitcase Bedside Table Project

Ok, I might have gone off the deep end with this vintage DIY project, but I like it, so I thought others might as well. I always come across super cheap vintage suitcases. At flea markets, the Salvation Army, Good Will, thrift stores, my attic, and well, everywhere. While I love many of the projects I have seen with vintage suitcase, sometimes the colors are not right, they don't fit into a simple or classy décor, and well, did I mention the odd colors. Some vintage suitcases are just the worst greens, browns, and blues. So, this easy DIY project is a simple way to control the color of you vintage suitcases and build a great bedside table with lots of storage for your home. You could also change the dimensions of this project and make a coffee table, side table for your living room, or even a great console table for the entry way.

To Make a Vintage Suitcase Bed side Table You Will Need:

Vintage Suitcases (of course, you have to determine how many!)
Spray Primer (I recommend Kilz)
Spray Paint (I used Antique white)
Piece of beveled glass cut to size (optional)
Felt (optional)

The first step is to thoroughly clean the outside of your vintage suitcase. Any grime and dirt will keep the paint from adhering correctly. You do not want paint peeling off after all of you hard work.

Use ammonia based cleaner to cut through the grime. Ammonia based cleaner's also dry fast. You can make your own by mixing one part ammonia with 3 parts water. Scrub the vintage suitcase down and allow it to dry.

Now, lay your suitcase out, open, and face down on a flat work surface. I laid mine on newspapers out in the yards. Next, spray on a coat of the Kilz primer. Allow this to dry. If you need a second coat of primer to cover up an especially dark color suitcase repeat the process.

Once the primer has dried you can add you finished paint color. I spray on an antique white. I wanted my tables to blend away and provide a serene feel. Afterwards I rubbed a tiny bit of wood gel stain in the corners and crevices to add a little depth, but not so much that it change the color of my bed side table.

Stack you suitcases up next to your bed, add you piece of glass and you are set.

Now, to save a little money you can use a piece of regular old picture frame glass. When you cut it or have it cut make sure eth edges get sanded so that they do not cut you.

You can also choose variety of different paint colors and embellishments to incorporate your vintage suitcase into your bedroom décor. For example, you can paint them a fun antique brown color to make them blend with a classic or vintage décor. Add travel stickers on them to make them look like they have been to a lot of cities. Use the gel wood stain on the entire surface to age it.

For a fun colorful room you could opt to paint the vintage suitcases in bright pinks, blues, oranges, and yellows. This is a great way to incorporate some storage into a child's room.

If the lining is worn our in the suitcase ego ahead and rip it out. You can use simple felt material to reline the inside and make it clean again. After you cut your felt out to size spray it with a light coat of spray adhesive. Press it into the inside lid and bottom of your vintage suitcase. This is a great place to store kids toys, like Barbie and all of their friends. You could even simply tale the suitcase with you on vacation and never have to pack all the kid's toys!

Now, if you are on travel with this suitcase or are worried about it getting bumped around a lot you can add a layer or tow of clear acrylic spray paint or even polyurethane. Make sure to apply this while the vintage suitcase is laying face down on your work surface. If you apply the clear coats while the suitcase is closed you could seal it shut and make it difficult to open.