Vintage Suitcases

Perhaps you remember my vintage trunk I use for storage in my guest room. (It actually houses old adult halloween costumes).  Today, our guest post is from Susi, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, a must-shop resource for beautiful light fixtures. She is a big fan of vintage luggage and in this post, she shares tips for reuse and decorating with them.



Saying that we love vintage suitcases is a bit of an understatement. Vintage suitcases are great for storage, stacking, and filling with all sorts of treasures. They can be found at flea markets, estate sales, antique shows, and they are even useful for hauling your other purchases. If your vintage suitcase is a little musty, stuff it with wadded newspaper and close for a few days. The newspaper should help absorb the odor.

We're sharing some of our favorite vintage suitcases and ways to use them. Hope you enjoy!

We love how Denise used a vintage woven picnic case in her guest room at the foot of the bed. This is a great idea for storage and adds additional texture.

Antique and vintage designer luggage pieces are highly collectible and are sold at auction at Christie's and Sotheby's. We dream about owning a piece of Louis Vuitton luggage or trunk.

Vintage leather and crocodile suitcases are so stylish. This is a gorgeous collection in warm browns. These are both masculine yet timeless. Pair with floor lamps for an added vintage glamour feel.

When buying vintage suitcases look for condition and quality. Does the lock work? Are the straps intact? Is the interior musty? These are all important if you plan to use the luggage for storage.

Craigslist is a fantastic resource for vintage luggage (and mostly everything). Form a collection by buying single suitcases or a partial set for a charming mismatched stack.

Finding new uses for vintage luggage is half the fun. A stack can make a great side table or nightstand or even a table in the entry. Stacked, they're perfect as bedside tablesóat the ready, you can have table lamps to read by, good books to dive into, a cup of tea and perhaps your reading glasses as well.

Of course, vintage luggage comes in many styles, shapes and colors. Vintage luggage from the 60s and 70s has great pop flair. Colorful hat boxes would look great stacked in a bathroom or bedroom.

There is even a coffee table on vintage luggage written by Helenka Gulsham that traces the history of luggage from the 19th through 20th century.

Do you like the suitcase inspirations? Comments are welcome! Come check out†Arcadian Lighting†for more†lighting fixtures at affordable prices.

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