How to make a table from an old Vintage Suitcase

Sometimes you just don’t know why something appeals to you. But that’s why we are all unique! Yes, I am a bit of a suitcase junkie but there is a reason… Here’s my tutorial; How to make a table from an old Vintage Suitcase.

So many styles of suitcases can be found or perhaps they are waiting in the back of the closet. The charm of suitcase hardware and aged materials make the quite nostalgic. I have seen the hardware applied to an old dresser’s drawers to resemble stacked suitcases but I’m keeping this project very simple with a great specimen I found.

Where to find old Suitcases

I like to check my local thrift store, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army stores and other second hand shops around me periodically. It is like treasure hunting! You never really know if and when you will find a suitcase that seems to speak to you.

I found this one at Value Village. I checked the shape of it, whether it was musty and how well the inside was. All was good and so was the $15CAD price! I really did not have anything to lose for that price.

So many Suitcases:

Yes I am a bit of a suitcase junkie as you see my workshop! Perhaps it developed when I saw how my mother used to organize all her sewing notions in them. Those days there weren’t any big plastic totes. It was a logical and perfect way to re-purpose older suitcases. Maybe they would even be useful between trips and vacations!

All the styles and materials speak about their history as well. Leather cases with brass latches just seem like they have already had quite a history! If only they could speak! Maybe that is what makes them so appealing.

The inside of the suitcase was quite clean and the fabric looked very unused. To make a suitcase table I look for ones that are quite structured as the I have less work to do. These hard-edged ones have a plastic edging but are quite tough. They are actually made of a plywood under the faux leather cover.

I did also find a set of legs that give the MCM (Mid century Modern) vibe.

A bit of rust on the bases can be buffed off with some fine steel wool. I am not shy to use a paint stripper to take the finish off. Brush on the paint stripper and let sit until it softens. Wearing gloves & protection you can scrape off the old finish. Coarse Steel wool does a good job for removing the finish. (Poly Super Strippa is not available any more, but there are alternatives that are much less toxic)

Another option for table legs is buying iron hairpin legs, depending on your decor choices.

How to Paint the suitcase:

I do tend to have a lot of courage when painting almost anything. I used to paint polystyrene (a type of plastic) with acrylic paint to make Architectural Models. The key was to roughen the plastic with sanding first.

I did the same here with a fine sandpaper. The plastic trim and the main ‘leather’ were well scuffed and cleaned.

What Paint to use:

There are a lot of ready-made paints for plastic now. Personally I do not like to use spray paint as it is very messy, requires precise masking and requires more caution where sprayed. I guess I am just a brush-lover!

I do have quite a collection of acrylic & latex paints. Artist paints are usually better quality than cheaper craft paint. I painted kitchen cabinets that have held up well after over 8 years.

Start with high adhesion base coat like Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer. My tip is to use an artist brush as it can give better control so that thinner coats can be applied and less globs.

Custom Paint mix:

Latex paints are usually quite thick as they are meant for walls and not small detail items. Yes there are many chalk paints that cover well since they have chalk in them. (calcium carbonate)

For this project I also wanted to try a new method of mixing a latex with an acrylic wood finish. Varathane Diamond wood finishes have been my favourite way to add a protective layer after painting furniture. Mixing that hard-wearing finish with the latex makes the latex paint thinner and stronger it seems. I used about a 50% -50% ratio. It flows better and does not fill the details as easily. I think I’ll be doing this more often on furniture.

The edging was coated with an acrylic gold paint called Modern Masters by Rustoleum. It is a thick paint that covers well. Not all metallic paints are equal as some do not have a high number of metallic particles in them. Some of the gold colours are quite light or too strong, it’s a matter of choice to what you like.

The latches, buckles and handles were a bit pitted with rust so that made the gold paint adhere even better.

As a finishing coat to protect the colour I added a layer of the Diamond wood finish in satin. Since this will be an accent table it will probably not very strong wear. Any chips can be touched up easily. Acrylic paint takes quite long to fully dry and harden.

Finishing the Table legs;

Now that the legs are lighter tone, I added some height to the gold bottom section by masking with tape and painting. The stripped wood was simply coated with the same Diamond wood finish.

Every time I look at that gold paint I like it! It is not too yellow bright or fake looking. The lighter wood colour of the legs follows the MCM era.

How to Attach the Legs:

The legs have existing threaded sections that can be bolted through the bottom of the table. A drill and sockets are needed.

Since this suitcase is made out of wood the holes to attach the legs drilled easily.

A large washer helped stabilize the legs well. (available at hardware stores) If the bottom of the suitcase is not sturdy enough a piece of wood can support them.

If you are bothered by the metal on the inside you can camouflage with a covering of fabric.

All done!

Most of the work of this project is from the preparation and painting, but otherwise quite simple. It is sturdy and understated charm. Depending on your colour choices can give it different looks.

Another style; Leather Suitcase Table

Yes, I have been eyeing out suitcases for many years! One very lucky day I came upon this beauty; a heavy leather one with monograms on the sides of the suitcase! I can only imagine where this has been! The leather is so strong and all the natural aging & patina are wonderful. I wish I knew the age!

There is no way I would paint this amazing leather but only applied a bit of dark wax with only the slightest touch.

I am sure that the hardware, locks, hinges are solid brass and it still function without repair. You can tell by the handle that it was well travelled.

The structure is sturdy and has stability but I felt it needed a very flat base for the legs to attach. I think I made this about 25 years ago! The plywood base has some extra wood trim added around it and the legs are bolted to it. The size of the base is the same as the case. As the other suitcase, there are 4 bolts drilled through the case that holds the bottom on.

Amazing Antique Suitcase find!

Such workmanship is long gone. I wish you luck in finding some of these precious pieces! It was the best $5 deal ever! I see they are now close to $1000! I bet it is almost 100 years old!

Since the top was not perfectly flat I did manage to find a piece of tempered glass to allow the leather from top of the suitcase to shine through. It has graced my family room for decades but could also be a sweet bedside table.

Sure, you can have the latest trendy furniture but why be typical?! I hope you give those suitcases a second look when you see them! Don’t feel like these are the only options, imagination is a the best tool! Even simple caes could be mod podge to become something great. Happy up-cycling!