What’s Inside the Vintage Suitcase?

A few weeks ago I shared a post about my vintage suitcase makeover — the battered case I found in the basement, the one that was falling apart and nearly broke my back lifting it. Today I’m finally revealing the inside and showing how I restored and repurposed it into functional, beautiful storage.

When I finished the exterior, I realized the interior still needed a lot of work. The lining paper was peeling and the metal fittings were rusty and dull.

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For the metalwork I used DecoArt Metallic Lustre in Burnished Brass. It’s a creamy metallic product that adheres nicely to aged metal and gives an instant warm sheen. I loved it so much I even rubbed it into tight crevices with my finger for better coverage.

I removed as much of the crumbling lining as possible, then sealed and smoothed the remaining surface with Mod Podge. To create a fresh, vintage-inspired lining I decoupaged an old map of Greece across the interior. By chance I found two matching maps, which allowed me to cover the entire interior and still leave the lid’s edges looking intentionally ragged for an aged effect.

At first I used the restored case to hold some of my craft supplies — twine, burlap ribbon and small containers for odds and ends. I covered tin cans with notebook paper and wrapped them with coordinating ribbons so they blended with the map lining and kept everything tidy and attractive.

Then I saw a friend’s cabinet makeover and had an idea: the suitcase would make perfect sewing storage. I had been keeping my sewing supplies in a tiny box and scattering notions around the house. Filling the suitcase with thread, scissors, bobbins, measuring tape and other sewing tools finally brought everything together in one beautiful, portable place.

The result is practical and pretty. The map lining gives the interior a fresh, airy look with blue seas and red road lines that contrast nicely with the warm metallic hardware. The tin cans and small containers keep supplies sorted and easy to find — no more digging through multiple boxes around the house.

So there you have it — the mystery is solved. The vintage suitcase is restored inside and out, decoupaged with old maps, refreshed hardware, and now serves as organized storage for my sewing supplies. I upcycled, repurposed, painted, decoupaged and organized — all without hurting my back this time!

What would you store in a refurbished vintage suitcase — craft supplies, sewing tools, or something else entirely? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments.

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