DIY Vintage Suitcase Chair

A vintage suitcase can be transformed into a charming chair in a moderately easy do-it-yourself project. You need a lovely vintage suitcase that you can easily source from an antique shop, an estate sale or even a high-quality yard sale. Check out your attic or your parents' attic and you might even find a vintage piece of luggage in that space. You also need a few DIY tools like a hammer and nails and may also want some upholstery buttons that can give your fabric a textured look. These are applied to the fabric to give it the formal upholstered look as seen in many chairs and chaise lounges.

Things You'll Need

• Suitcase
• Legs for chair
• Tools
• Upholstery tools
• Fabric material

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Measure your vintage suitcase for length, width and depth. Determine whether you want to leave the leather or exterior material exposed for vintage character or whether you want to add padding and material for a comfortable seat.

   • 2

     Cover the seat using your upholstery tools and fabric. Use a handheld sewing machine or staple gun to staple the material to the bottom of the suitcase. Keep it even and avoid baggy or bunchy areas.

   • 3

     Use a hammer and nails to add the legs to the suitcase. Add a back to the suitcase. You can use wood, metal or a piece of fabric-covered board. Cover the board in fabric if you opt for this style, using the same upholstery methods as you used with the suitcase, and attach it to the suitcase with a sewing project staple gun. If you opt to use wood or metal, attach these items with screws or nails.