I recently found an old suitcase for sale for $20 on FBM. I thought it would make a fun side table. I used it this last halloween as a fun decoration in my living room. It is a simple and easy project that can be made from just about any old suitcase or trunk.
Let jump in!
Materials:
- Hair pin legs
- Suitcase
- Wood glue
- Scrap wood
- Screwdriver or drill
Step 1: Suitcase Structure
I found this in pretty good shape. I glue a few pieces of fraying fabric down around the edges. If your piece is vintage it may be in need of repair or cleaning. I suggest doing that first. This piece of mine was a little musty smelling, and the inside was pretty gross. I decided that since it was so musty, I would not be storing anything on the inside.
It was pretty sturdy, but the bottom piece of the suitcase was very thin.
To make it a little more sturdy I decided to build a small frame that could sit inside of it. I wanted to give the legs something to screw into on the bottom that would be sturdy.
Step 2: The insert
I chose some scrap wood I had laying around. I cut it to the correct length to fit inside the suitcase. I then used wood screws and attatched the 4 pieces together forming a rectangle.
It wasn’t pretty.
But it was strong. That is what matters.
If your trunk or suitcase has a sturdy bottom you may not need to do this step. It was definitely needed for mine as I could see a little flex when pushing on the bottom of my suitcase.
Step 3: Gluing the frame in
I wasn’t sure how to attach the inside frame to the actual suitcase. I ended up opting for wood glue. I applied a lot, and then set the frame inside the suitcase. I used heavy weights to hold it in place while the glue dried. I let it dry for several hours.
Step 4: Attaching the hairpin legs
I wanted it to be about coffee table height. I ended up getting some legs off of amazon for $16 for a set of 4. HERE ARE THE ONES I GOT>
They were sturdy, nicely painted, and just the right height.
I flipped the suitcase over and started work on the bottom.
I put them on with the provided screws one at a time. I made sure to measure from each edge to make sure that the legs were evenly spaced on the bottom of the suitcase.
I made sure that the screws were going into the wooden frame I added to the bottom of the suitcase. They all did, and the glue held up great!
Once they were all screwed in, I flipped it back over, and let it rest. Thats it!
Here is the final look. You could add some clear poly to it to protect it from drinks etc. if needed. This was a fun and quick afternoon project that really added some character to the space. Thanks for being here, drop any questions below.
-Amadna