What can be made from an old suitcase?

Tables, armchairs, trunks and adorable mini-lockers are not all that can be made from an old suitcase. The impressive size and convenient shape make it possible to turn a worn-out suitcase into a useful, original item.

You can use an old suitcase for a variety of tables: coffee, dining, writing. The easiest option is to attach four legs by taking them from an unnecessary piece of furniture or buying new ones.

If the suitcase has a soft base, then its lid can be made more rigid by reinforcing it with a sheet of plywood. You can make an insert from plexiglass.

A large suitcase with even corners is enough just to put in the room in place of the coffee table, putting paperweights, magazines and bookmarks on it, placing a vase of flowers. At home, this is the most affordable option. A small flat suitcase is placed on a sheet with wheeled legs, secured.

You can make a picnic table - cut out the sides of the suitcase so that they can be pulled out on the legs.

Sometimes suitcases are used only as decor. The front of this piece with handles and straps is decorative enough. The finished old table is completely covered with covers. Rivets are applied to the corners, achieving a coherent perception.

It is quite difficult to make a chest of drawers out of a suitcase. This is usually done by designers. At home, such a craft will take time, high-quality parts and a set of tools.

The easiest way: to compactly fit different suitcases into a ready-made chest of drawers without drawers. If the outer side of the suitcases is decorative enough, the chest of drawers will evoke associations with Ikea organizers. Suitcase halves can be used.

Materials:

• old travel suitcase;
• cassette case with drawers, drawer handles;
• ready-made balusters, underframe;
• knife, sandpaper, screws;
• paints, stencils, brushes;
• PVA glue.

Manufacturing.

1. In one wall, you need to cut a hole for the cassette holder. Divide the cut out part into two parts - these are the facades of the future drawers. It is glued to the boxes with PVA glue.
2. The suitcase is opened, the cassette holder is placed so that the drawers slide out through the hole, and they are closed.
3. They paint with paint in the desired color.
4. This model is installed on an underframe with balusters, but you can also take legs with wheels. The suitcase is fixed on the legs with self-tapping screws. All details are also painted in the desired shades.
5. Ornaments are made using stencils, brushes and paints. If you have the skill you can draw the patterns by hand.
6. To age the resulting pattern, lightly sand it with fine sandpaper.
7. Last but not least, handles are attached to the drawers.

To make the piece of furniture even more spectacular, paint aging techniques are used. These are dry brushing, patting (applying patina), glazing (several translucent layers of paint), spray painting and craquelure - varnish with cracks.

Fading can also be done with a candle. This is a popular technique for making shabby chic furniture. The necessary details of the future chest of drawers (shelves, legs, frame) are covered with bright paint along all the joints, rubbed with paraffin and covered with light paint. After that, all places are treated with sandpaper. Use light shades of paint: lavender, pistachio, hyacinth, linen, ivory, pearl rose, cream. Complement the surface with decoupage drawings, splashes, hand painting. Finish the treatment by coating the parts with matt acrylic lacquer.

You can also do the following from a suitcase with your own hands.

1. Bedside table. Suitcases complement with legs in style or stack on top of each other.
2. Poof, ottoman. One suitcase will make two poufs. A soft upholstery with a filler is inserted into the base, legs of the required length are attached from below.
3. Wall shelves. Older suitcases that are not suitable for large items can be cut into pieces. Attach 1/3 to the wall with a handle and a decorative front. It is better to first fix the part on a board of a suitable size, then on the wall.
4. Ladder. If there are a lot of suitcases, you can lay out a ladder from them. The suitcases themselves are relatively soft for such an object, so they are used only as a decor, achieving a convincing imitation of a “suitcase” ladder on the basis of other materials.
5. Audio speakers. The speaker is placed in a suitcase case.
6. First aid kit, minibar or bathroom cabinet. The suitcase is equipped with shelves and even light bulbs.
7. Flower bed. The most effective options are when everything looks as if the flowers themselves grew in an accidentally abandoned object.

Tools and raw materials:

1. old suitcase, vintage is better;
2. parquet matte or glossy varnish, paints, primer;
3. masking tape;
4. brushes;
5. furniture stapler;
6. greenhouse film;
7. expanded clay and sand for drainage;
8. purchased soil;
9. plants.

Manufacturing.

1. Remove the cover or use it for another craft.
2. Thoroughly wipe all parts of the second part, treat with alcohol.
3. Prime the outer part with acrylic.
4. It is not necessary to prime the handles and corners, they are first sealed with tape. But you can paint over them too.
5. Wait until the soil is dry. Repeat 2 times.
6. Apply decor, for example, using decoupage technique.
7. Cover with varnish.
8. Lay out the suitcase with plastic wrap.
9. Expanded clay is poured at the bottom, then sand. Since there will be no holes for draining excess moisture, drainage should be especially high-quality, and plants should be selected from those that perfectly tolerate excess moisture, for example, ferns.
10. Plant a composition of plants. Be sure to consider their compatibility.

Small suitcases make wonderful organizers for handicrafts, cosmetics, tools, and little things for the home. Internal surfaces are equipped with crossbars, pockets.

Advanced craftsmen go further and assemble entire organizer complexes. For the selected suitcases, a frame is created in the same style - it will act as a unifying detail. Then a suitcase is inserted into each cell, as in a chest of drawers. If the style is consistent, the craft will look great.

Cats love a variety of box gadgets.

To make a house, it is enough to cut a hole of a suitable size in the side of the suitcase and trim it beautifully with edging. The inner walls are lined with soft-filled covers.

To make a couch, you need to insert a pillow, mattress or cover with filler into the half of the suitcase. If desired, legs are attached to it, obtaining a semblance of a pouf.

You can go even further by making a whole suitcase complex with a scratching post. This will require additional materials, necessarily environmentally friendly, without a pungent odor. For solid parts, take chipboard, MDF, plywood, board. For upholstery - plush, carpet, artificial leather, suede, velor, as a filler - synthetic winterizer and foam rubber.

A sofa or armchair is one of the most popular large suitcase crafts. When unfolded, it already has a seat and back. They only need to be fixed and supplemented with soft, comfortable upholstery. This makes great chairs for the home.

To make a chair for a summer residence, well-washable surfaces are taken for cladding: leather, synthetic fabrics for outdoor furniture. They can be purchased in specialized stores - just browse the sections of fabrics for the manufacture of awnings, awnings, sun umbrellas, yacht furniture and open cars. Sometimes you can find a suitable fabric among the materials for sewing hunting and sports clothing, for curtains on open windows.

A lot of ideas can be prompted by your own unique situation or need. For example, there are toys in the doll-in-the-house style. Why not make a larger analog out of a suitcase? Such a toy is easy to take with you, unfold, and then reassemble.

For information on how to make a table from an old suitcase, see the next video.