How to Fix Up a Vintage Suitcase or Antique Suitcase for Vintage Home Decor

During one of my Junkin’ Journey trips (specifically to Richmond, VA), I came across the most GORGEOUS vintage suitcase at an antiques shop. But as much as I loved it, I couldn’t justify the cost on something I simply didn’t need- truly an exercise in restraint for me. So, I snapped a photo and thought of it often…until I wondered if I could recreate my own version of a vintage suitcase for vintage home decor myself!

Now, of course, I already know that whatever I created wouldn’t look EXACTLY the same or be a perfect replacement for the Real McCoy. BUT…it might scratch the vintage luggage itch that I had…and would cost just a fraction of my inspiration.

The first step in my experiment was obtaining the right vintage suitcase. I found one at a thrift but an even better one came from Maliasmark, one of my favorite Etsy shops. NOW I could get started on creating the perfect vintage home decor with an antique suitcase.

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Fixing up a Vintage Suitcase or Antique Suitcase

The beat-up vintage suitcase was, however, missing a handle. An interesting challenge that didn’t scare me off one iota.

Why? Because I had a plan for luggage handle replacement that was both simple and inexpensive: A plain ole’  door pull or door handle from the hardware store.

All I needed to do was spray paint the galvanized metal of the door pull and swap out the screws for nuts and bolts. So, I did exactly that (using this spray paint on all parts) and set it aside to dry. I also carefully pried off the old handle hardware using pliers – but seriously, talk about luggage handle replacement that is the easiest and cheapest way to go!

Now- to transform the vintage suitcase into the vintage home decor I was envisioning, I needed to do two things. First, I needed to add some luggage straps (said with air quotes!) and second, apply some vintage-y looking luggage stickers.

The former would be easy, and as it turns out, the luggage stickers weren’t difficult or expensive at all! I found another Etsy shop that sold digital downloads of luggage labels– I couldn’t decide on a favorite, so I bought four of them.

If you notice, the luggage stickers are kind of faded/pale- that’s because I printed them using my printer’s “Ink Saver” mode, which I thought made them look more worn and vintage-y! How funny is that?

Decorating an Antique Suitcase with Luggage Straps and Travel Stickers

Now for the luggage straps! I suppose I could have fashioned straps out of old belts or other material, but I decided it was just as easy to paint them directly onto my vintage suitcase.

It was easy enough to do- first I measured out where I wanted the luggage straps to be and marked the edges with painter’s tape– making sure that they were about as equally placed apart as possible.

Then, I brushed on some dark craft paint inside my painter’s tape stripes, removing the tape after two coats had dried. And just like that, I had painted some luggage straps onto my vintage suitcase and they looked fabulous!

Onto the luggage stickers! I had printed them on full-size label sheets, and cut them out leaving a “tag” of label edge on each one, if that makes sense. This made it a LOT easier to separate from the paper backing before fully trimming them out.

I seriously love these full-size label sheets because you can turn anything you print into a sticker!!

Vintage Home Decor with a Vintage Suitcase

After covering my vintage suitcase with the luggage stickers (further securing them with this easy-to-use brush on super glue), I attached my now-painted door pull as the luggage handle replacement. Doesn’t it look great?

And that was it- my vintage luggage decor idea came to life exactly as I had hoped. And for a HECK OF A LOT CHEAPER than my inspiration suitcase at the antiques store.

Now I can use it as vintage home decor and/or storage. I’ve been known to bubble-wrap breakables- vases, bottles, platters- that I use infrequently and store them in old suitcases. It keeps them safe and dust-free, and if the suitcase has a musty odor, it’s not a big deal for non-porous items like glass or glazed ceramics.

Such a fun project to work on and I think the door pull trick as a luggage handle replacement will come in handy for many folks facing the same dilemma. And while it’s not a perfect replacement for the original antique suitcase that I fell in love with, it’s awfully cute nonetheless. For even more upcycling ideas and repurposed projects, please check out my full collection here before you go!

Craft on!

S

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