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A Vintage Suitcase Makeover

ByJane & Sonja

Restore an old and rusted vintage suitcase into a brand new looking piece of luggage. Learn some techniques to help makeover your vintage piece.

I restored an old and rusted vintage suitcase into a brand new looking piece of luggage. This makeover isn’t too difficult and doesn’t have to be perfect because the imperfections add to the vintage charm.

The finished vintage suitcase after it's been painted white, gold, green and black.

Guess where I found this old thing?  

If you have been coming here at all for any length of time you will know it came from my basement. I am starting to believe that everything from the dreaded basement must be vintage. This old suitcase was in really bad shape.  It had scratches all over and the metal framework holding it together was bent out of shape.  

I certainly had a big job ahead of me.  But if there is one thing I love, it’s a good challenge. And so we begin with my vintage suitcase makeover. 

top of a rusted vintage suitcase, used as the "before" image.

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How to Paint a Vintage Suitcase

​I started with the sides and painted them using my favorite Enchanted by Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint from DecoArt. It went on nice and smooth and I ended up using 2 coats. I created my own color because I’m a pain like that. I mixed in some white to the Enchanting to make a really soft olive color. 

Painting the sides top and bottom of a vintage suitcase white.

The next step was to take care of those awful looking corner bumps.  I used DecoArt Metallic Lustre in Burnished Brass and rubbed them to a fine sheen. I think gold would have been too much in this case. 

Painted the brass corner bumpers in gold.

I used the same polish on the inner frame parts that close. In order to get straight lines, I pressed up a piece of cardboard on the edge and then just painted along. 

Painting the inner framework in gold

The edge clamps were also treated in the same manner. 

Painting the edge clams in gold.

The outer framework was refreshed with a black acrylic color. 

Painting the outer metal frame black.

Now for this vintage suitcase, I had an old world look in mind. You’ve seen those old suitcases that had straps on them.  Well, I wanted to create that look. I taped them off and  painted them with my Enchanted color. Painting these straps gave me a backache. But one must suffer for one’s suitcase.

Painting green stripes on top of suitcase to look like straps.

I then had to go back and retouch up some areas.  As one point, I remember taking a hammer to the areas of the frame that were bent out of shape. You can see below that it is still out of shape, but that is as good as it’s gonna get. Anyway, I want you all to remember that it is a vintage piece.  Can’t make it too perfect or it’ll lose its charm.

Using a paintbrush to touch up a spot with paint.

And here she is, my beauty!

The finished vintage suitcase after it's been painted white, gold, green and black.

Doesn’t she look just spiffy?

close up of gold painted clasp.

I am really loving the contrast between the brass and the black frame.

Corner view of the painted vintage suitcase.

I chose to leave the bottom blank.  No point in breaking my back all over again. 

The bottom of the vintage suitcase, ust painted with white paint.

At one point I had considered painting the straps all around the vintage suitcase but realized that the clasps were not symmetrical.  They were placed at different dimensions away from the ends of the suitcase. Even the central edge clamp was off center. You can see it here where it is not centered with the handle, whereas the bottom clamp is.  

Showing how the front of the suitcase has gold clasps that are not symmetrical to the handle.

By painting the stripes all around, I think it would have called more attention to the irregularities of the suitcase. ​

The finished vintage suitcase after it's been painted white, gold, green and black. It's placed on top of a brown table and beside a basket filled with driftwood and rocks.

While working on this project I found a site on the internet, Brettuns Village,  which restores trunks and old suitcases.  It is very informative (that’s how I learned the names of all these pieces) and it even has a page on how to restore your own vintage piece. 

Close up of the gold painted corner bumps.
Close up of the green painted stripes.
Close up of green painted stripes, gold clasps and gold bumper on the vintage suitcase.

Of course, I’m not finished yet. I’ll show  you what’s inside very soon. 

A different angle showing a close up of green painted stripes, gold clasps and gold bumper on the vintage suitcase.

​I really love the softness of the color, it makes the hardware look so clean and the brass stand out.  I would definitely consider this vintage suitcase makeover a trash to treasure project. Do you think I chose the colors well? What about that brass?  Do you have any old pieces like this?

 And now for some rest… 

Vintage suitcase makeover overlay with a close up of the painted vintage suitcase.

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Hello, we're Jane & Sonja, sisters, moms and lifelong crafters.

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117 Comments

    1. Yes that backache really was worth it. I look at the before sometimes and cannot believe it.

    1. That suitcase was parked in my hallway for half a year, after it had been rescued from the basement. So it really was long overdue.

    1. I was going for that feel, you know the olden days when people traveled on the Orient Express.

  5. Mary, I can’t believe this is the same suitcase!! You did an amazing job at restoring this piece and making it beautiful once more. I really like the color combinations you chose. The difference in the clamps makes me wonder if it was taken apart at one point or had to be fixed. Hm, it’s like a mystery suitcase lol. I can’t wait to see what’s inside the case.

    1. Yes it is. And it took me a long time to restore it because I wanted to do the right thing. I even ended up on the internet reading about authentic suitcases.I suspect that it may have been hand made or something, because machines are pretty concise.

    1. I wanted to preserve the character of the suitcase. Can you imagine Indiana Jones carrying one on his expeditions?

  8. You did a great job with the paint Mary! This vintage suitcase really got a great makeover! The brass edges look great with the white, I love it! Can’t wait to see what’s inside???

    1. The outside had to be true to it’s era. I’m pretty sure this suitcase has to be at least fifty years old.

  9. You did a great job restoring this suitcase Mary! It looks fantastic and definitely has the old world charm you were seeking! I love it! It’s hard to believe you found this suitcase in your basement, and even harder to believe it began looking like it did.

    1. Yes Mandy, it looked pretty awful. In fact it still has plenty of dents but that is part of it’s charm.

    1. Thank you so much Marcela. I know you also finished a trunk recently. It is so exciting to bring these old pieces back to life.

  11. I could not believe you would manage to restore this old suitcase and yet you did a great job! Well done Mary!!!!
    I do have two old suitcases myself, they are wooden and they were made by my father, about 40 years ago. I am still thinking on how to revamp them!
    I wish you a lovely new week!

    1. It was a frightful sight before. If you are interested you can go to the site I liked up to above. They have lots of ideas and tips on how to restore old suitcases and trunks. I would love to see them.

  12. Your suitcase looks so charming. If it could only talk what interesting stories we would hear. I like the way you painted the hardware and the soft green of the actual suitcase. The stripes give it the wow factor.

    1. I suspect it must have belonged to my Father-In-Law many years ago. Maybe he used it when he was traveling over the Atlantic? Food for thought Debra.

  14. Your suitcase turned out great! I recently read a blog where the writer retrofitted a smaller suitcase as her sewing travel box. It was almost as pretty as yours. Happy week!

    1. What a brilliant idea. Mine is pretty big, but that would be a great storage idea for sewing things. Even if you were not traveling. Thanks for the idea Zenda.

  15. Love that suitcase! And what I wouldn’t do to be able to go ‘shopping’ in your basement! I think the stripes look fantastic…as do the brass clamps. It makes a perfect table…a fun little piece.
    Can’t wait to see the ‘next installment’.
    Hugs and wishes for a great week.
    Lynn

    1. Thank you Lynn. The way I’m going that basement will be empty soon. No, I don’t think so. I actually learned a lot about trunks and suitcases from the company I linked up to. There is always something new to learn.

    1. Tania it was one hot mess before. And even the framework was bent out of shape. I am so glad I did this.

  17. Hello Mary,
    truth be told: if you hadn’t pointed it out I wouldn’t have noticed the irregularity of the clasps, certainly not at first. Nevertheless painting the stripes was a great idea. Great job indeed!
    Have a creative week,
    Marjan

    1. Marjan, I hadn’t noticed it either till I went to paint the stripes and realized that something was wrong. At least I painted them somewhere to give it a bit of interest.

    1. I think I made the right choice in going with the brass and not the gold here. Gold would have been overkill. Thank you Ntina.

    1. Thank you Lisa. It had been sitting outside in the hallway for quite some time after I bought it up from the basement but all good things need their time.

  20. Great job Mary! Your vintage suitcase turned out great! Love the color, and the stripe. And the hardware turned out really nice. I think the brass color is a better choice then gold. My mom use to have some old vintage suitcase, which back then they weren’t vintage, and I remember her selling them at a yard sale years ago. If I only knew I would of brought them home with me.
    You know Mary I think if you look really hard you could find a rabbit in your basement. LOL You have everything else.

    1. This suitcase was a hidden treasure and one that I had not realized could be restored till I started this blog. Then the ideas started to flow. As for the rabbits Linda, well, you never know. 😉

    1. That is something that had to be cultivated Jemma. I didn’t have this ability before I started the blog. But now, all this exposure to so many creative ideas has also helped me to develop and in turn create. Thank you Jemma.

    1. I have to agree with you Sarah. Linda thinks I can pull a bunny out of there so we will have to see.

    1. Andrea as I am answering you I am having an identity crisis. Should I go with my original plan or change it up to another idea that I have? So many decisions this is what happens when you spend too much time in other blogs. lol

  24. Mary, this is marvelous! If this is what you find in your basement — lucky you! Thanks for the link. Fun information on old suitcases. Can’t wait to see the interior!

    1. Thank you Snap. I think if we open our eyes and look outside the box there are many possibilites that we can imagine that were not there before.

  26. whoa – I am so impressed with the way it turned out – such a far cry from where it started – I love it. thanks for sharing, i found you at #WayWow

    1. Thank you for your reaction Debbie. If nothing else that was a big transformation from the hot mess it looked like before.

    1. Beverly this one had seen better days but not with me. It must have been from when my FIL had it and traveled to the US with it.

    1. You just never know what I am going to come up with. I was down there the other day and spotted a big old gate but the hubs won’t let me have it. ;(

    1. Thank you Susie, the miracle is that my back didn’t go out after standing over it trying to paint that stripe.

  32. Mary, I love what you did with this. It does look spiffy and you were able to retain the vintage feel. Awesome Job! Thanks for sharing with us at #SimplifyWednesdays
    Pinned, Shared, Tweeted, Stumbled

    1. I really wanted to give you a sense that Indiana Jones was going to walk in and grab it and run off on some adventure. Thanks Carla.

  34. Holy Cow, this doesn’t even look like the same suitcase. I love decorating with old suitcases and what you did with this one is amazing. Great job as usual!

    1. Thank you so much Maya. Sometimes you can work on a project and feel like you are wearing yourself out for nothing but once it’s done and you see the result you realize it was worth it in the end.

    1. Holly I hope I have inspired you. I also have a link to a cool trunk restoration company that also offers lots of tips and ideas.

  37. Mary, your basement is full of treasures!! That suitcase had potential and you did a great job. Love the brass color and as you know, I’m a huge fan of stripes. So pretty!! A real trash to treasure, good job as always.

    1. I am so relieved to have finished it. It turned out to be much more work intensive than I had originally thought. Pili, I didn’t know you were a huge fan of stripes. I learn something new every day.

  38. Mary, Can I come and spend some time in your basement? You really have some fabulous treasures down there. The suitcase color is lovely and such a fun makeover. Looking forward to seeing the inside 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us at Brag About It!
    ~Laurie

    1. I would love to have you visit my basement Laurie, if you don’t mind that musty smell. I’m sure we can find a treasure or two to restore.

  39. Hi Mary,
    Your vintage suitcase turned out beautiful! I would have never thought of painting a suitcase, but it looks great. I like that you choose the more suptile brass, rather then gold.

    1. I believe that chalky type paint is the miracle worker. It can be applied to anything at all. So I was not in the least bit worried about this.

  40. Definitely from trash to treasure!!! Love the colors you picked, they gave it just the right touch of vintage. Thanks for sharing at TaDa Thursday!!!

    1. Thanks for confirming that Susanne. I wanted just that right touch as if Leo himself was going to take it on the Titanic.

  41. Mary, this is so neat! I love the stripe detail you added – it really gives your suitcase that extra touch! The metallic paint on the hardware is a very pretty touch, too. Thanks for linking up with Merry Monday!

  42. Mary, your basement is amazing. I’ve been dying to ask and keep forgetting, but who put all those Treasures down there? Are they old family heirlooms?
    I love old suitcases, and you have really turned this into something special. I also love the contrast with the black and the brass. And the stripes really sharp!
    And add the Romantic touch to your Seaside home. Great job.

    1. Yes that is exactly what they are. Many of them were accumulated from the grandparents and a lot of them were also put down there by us when we had no place else to put them. It is like a catch all for the stuff we don’t know what to do with.

  43. It DOES look spiffy. I think you made the perfect colour choices. You’ve almost convinced me to get to work on restoring my own trunk.

    1. I would love to see that Stella. I did another trunk with book paper and decoupaged the whole thing. Now that was a huge project. But I don’t like the black look anymore with the rust. I can’t wait to see yours.

  45. Lol…finally found the end to the comment bar! 🙂 Awesome piece Mary…love how you freshened up the case!!! Paint colors are an awesome blend to bring it back to life!!!
    Also, LOVE the NEW LOOK to your blog too!!!

    1. Yay, all that scrolling can be exhausting. I am so glad that you like the new look of the blog. It really needed a makeover. just like the projects. And I also love blending colors. to create my own. So much more interesting.

  46. I just love old suitcases. I once looked all over a flea market to find one. Finally did! Love what you’ve done with this one! Thanks for linking up at Welcome Home Wednesdays! See you tomorrow.

    1. Erin you should do a makeover on yours. Or maybe it is in such great condition you don’t need to. I hope so for your sake because this one gave me quite a work out.

  47. Wow! That is absolutely beautiful Mary. What a wonderful job you’ve done. I’ve got an old suitcase like that. I might just be tempted to make it over. I’m featuring your post at tomorrow’s party Mary. Thanks for linking up!
    Anne @ Domesblissity

    1. Ohh Anne I would love to see your take on an old suitcase, although I suspect it might look like mine. I know you are a lover of all things vintage. Thank you so much for the feature.

  48. Yes, she does look spiffy, Mary! Great makeover–love the grain sack style stripes and the green shade you chose. Thanks for linking the project up with us at Vintage Charm 🙂

    1. I’m really loving that green shade too Diana. It is such an unusual color for me but it looks great on that suitcase.

  50. Mary, you never cease to amaze me with your creativity! I think this is my favorite project of yours yet. What an amazing transformation! This is definitely a showstopper! You make me wish I had an old suitcase like this just to give it a makeover, haha.

    1. Maybe I can look in my basement to see if I can find one for you too Celeste. Thanks for your sweet comment.

  55. Mary, this came out beautifully! I did something similar and I just luv them! Thanks so much for sharing with Wall to Wall DIY Wednesday! Pinned.

  61. Mary, I love your suitcase!!! Isn’t that funny that whomever made it put the clasps and latches off-center?? I wonder if a cobbler made it with leather he had on-hand?? I love how older pieces tell a story!
    You’ll have to do an updated post with this suitcase and its travels to New York! That might be a fun series to reshare all the diy’s you’ve done and their new life now… 😉 Pinned several photos, of course! And if it’s on SYS, I’ll find and share for next week (#217). <3
    Happy summer to you all,
    Barb 🙂

    1. Thank you Barbara. Unfortunately I was forced to leave it behind in my home in Greece. It is still there holding all of my sewing things nice and neat.

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