Uses For Vintage Suitcases

Home and Garden - Home Decor

By: DreamsInBloom 19-Dec-2010

Introduction:

I love the usefulness, the style and the nostalgic appeal of vintage suitcases. I like the symbolic meaning of them as well...that of going on a journey, because every day on earth where we learn and grow is a journey of the heart and mind. Old suitcases are a strange obsession of mine. I have over a dozen of them. The people at the local thrift store look at me strange as they see me buying yet another vintage suitcase. I don't always keep them for myself, I sometimes pass them on to others who like them as well. But my collection of suitcases isn't entirely strange, you'll see that they serve a good purpose as well.

Vintage Suitcases For Decor

Stack a few vintage suitcases together and you have a side table or night stand. Or put them at the foot of your bed. You can put one or two stacked on top of your armoire. Lately there has been a trend to re-purpose vintage suitcases by turning them into clever new things. Tables, wall hanging cabinets and ottomans are just a few things I've seen suitcases turned into. Think outside the box and you can come up with several new uses for old suitcases.

Vintage Suitcases For Storage

If you are you using vintage suitcases in your home for decor you may as well be using them to store things as well. I like to store my collection of vintage linens and fabrics in mine. But they can be used for storing blankets, out of season clothing or many other things as well. If you have several suitcases stacked up together you will most likely want to put things accessed least often inside the suitcases towards the bottom and things you access more often into the suitcases at the top.

Vintage Suitcases For Crafts

Vintage suitcases are a great place to keep things like craft supplies. You can easily tote your "suitcase craft center" from one room to another. And just close the suitcase to hide the mess when you are done for the day. You can utilized the existing pockets and dividers...or with some thought and creativity you can add more of your own.
You can also turn the suitcase into a craft project itself...paint it or decoupage it to make it look anyway you want.

Vintage Suitcases For Props

Many photographers like to use props for their photo shoots, and not just for fashion shoots either. Photographers use them in photos with children, engagement photos and more. Of course theaters and film use vintage suitcases as props. Retail stores use vintage suitcases for props in their displays too.

Vintage items, including suitcases are even being used as decor/props at weddings with a vintage them as well. For example, a small suitcase might be used as wedding card box.

Vintage Suitcases For Travel

Old suitcases can still be used for their original purpose. There are some drawbacks to this. They are heavier than their modern day counterparts and they lack things like wheels. So the can be more awkward to use. But they do have some advantages. First, your suitcase is less likely to be mistaken as belonging to someone else. Second, because of their hard shells vintage suitcases can help protect certain things better, such as valuable music or other electronic equipment.

Final Thoughts

All that is needed to find a use for something old, like a suitcase that has been stuck in the basement or attic for ages, is some imagination. Vintage suitcases can be found at yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets, antique stores, eBay, etsy.com, craigslist...and more.

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Comments

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Wasatch 5/2/2013
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Fun. I pack in them for antique shows I sell at.
pamperedpen 3/10/2012
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Great ideas for using vintage suitcases. They work for trunks as well. Thanks for sharing. H5
litetender 3/1/2011
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I like how the girl in Paint it Black used vintage suitcases to showcase her art. Great list!
DreamsInBloom 1/10/2011
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Traqqer, that suitcase "boat" sounds cute/cool.
workhomeunion 1/9/2011
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I have a vintage suitcase I've used for the past 15 years.
Traqqer 1/4/2011
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Unfortunately, my wife doesn't like decorating with older things. So, using vintage suitcases for decor (and perhaps props as well) is out for us. But I have used them for storage and for crafts. We created a "boat" for my son...he loves it.
ListingToTheLeft 12/27/2010
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Great ideas! I have some vintage suitcases that I just love.
ListMaker 12/27/2010
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Stacks of vintage suitcases always add warmth to a room. I love thinking about the travels those vintage pieces have seen.
jseven 12/24/2010
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Very clever list, I like number 4!
Vallain 12/20/2010
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I've always liked the look of a stack of vintage suitcases. Nostalgic and more space to stash my stuff. Great!