Hey Friends,
I feel like the first thing I need to do is make a confession! I AM OBSESSED WITH VINTAGE SUITCASES. Something about old luggage get’s me super excited. Recently I did a little chalk couture on one of the many vintage suitcases I own, and it turned out so cute. You just can’t beat the versatility of an old piece of luggage. I know I could personally use one in every area of my home. (and I do)
One of my favorite things in this house is a pair of reddish/brown suitcases we turned into shelves. We’ve had them for years at this point, so I don’t have a ton of in the process pictures to show you!
I found both of these guys fully in tact at a garage sale. I believe I paid $15 for the pair. They looked very much like the ones pictured below. If you want to make a set of shelves, or even just one, I would definitely recommend using a hardshell suitcase.
We measured 3 inches from the front and created a guide line to follow with the carpenter square. Using a jigsaw (any kind of reciprocating saw will work) we followed the line cutting the back side of the suitcase off.
At this point the top and the bottom will need a little help staying together. The best thing to do is take a small piece of scrap wood and secure it to both the top and bottom on the inside of the suitcase.
Now that you have a solid suitcase shelf, it’s time to hang it. We chose to use just a small piece of scrap wood, but honestly a longer piece of 2×4 would probably work way better. Measure it out so that it fits inside the shelf. Then attach the 2×4 to the wall. You may need to use anchors to make sure its sturdy. Also, use a level to make sure the wood is level. If the wood is straight, the suitcase will be too. The suitcase shelf should fit right over the 2×4. Attach the suitcase with 2 screws through the top going directly into the 2×4.
It really is that easy to make these guys, and a whole lot less expensive than buying pre made suitcase shelves!
If you love the suitcase shelves as much as I do, would you do me a little favor and…
PIN IT FOR LATER?
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xoxo- Lizzy
I have my grandparents old suitcase. It was their 1st purchase as newlyweds. Any ideas on how I could use it and keep it intact? They raised me so it has monumental sentimental value.
I actually have one that belonged to my aunts grandmother that I keep in text but I still mount it to the wall as a shelf with the handle hanging downward. I’ve also seen where people turned them into end tables ❤️❤️