Don’t get me wrong: Ikea is great.
Their wares are stylish and inexpensive. But sometimes you just don’t want a piece of furniture that thousands of other people have in their homes.
Enter DIY projects. In this case, what you can fashion from a suitcase. Which might sound unusual, but here me out.
Not only can suitcases be found at thrift stores and flea markets across the country, it also doesn’t take much work to transform them into highly functional furnishings.
Still skeptical? Check out these three unique DIY projects using old luggage:
A Side Table
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most difficult, this is definitely a 1. All you need to do is stack a few pieces of luggage on top of each other to create a unique side table with built-in storage (a common thread among all these pieces). Bonus points for using suitcases that aren’t all the same color or material, but coordinate nicely. (Side table above courtesy of Cupcakes and Cashmere)
A Bench
To create a one-of-a-kind bench —perfect for the end of your bed, even in an apartment that comes with furniture (like the apartments at 100 Midtown in Atlanta or the furnished options at 777 Place in Pomona, California)— you only need one suitcase and some screw-in coffee table legs, which can be purchased at just about any home improvement store. For complete how-to instructions, click HERE.
A Chair
Of these three projects, the chair is the most difficult when you consider the other materials (fabric, foam and wood) and skills (sawing, drilling and hammering) needed to complete it. But it’s still perfectly doable for DIY beginners! Complete directions and photos can be found HERE.
Got any other cool uses for old luggage? We’d love to hear them! Just drop a line in the comments.