Vintage Suitcase Storage

Before my parents knew each other they each had a set of Forecast luggage, same make just different colors.

Back in my teen years my mom said she was going to go ahead and throw the musty old things out.

“NOOOOO” I whined, “They are COOOOL.”

So I took them, cleaned them up and did absolutely nothing with them for several years. Then I got my own apartment. I rented a place with uneven floors, a sometimes leaky ceiling, an uninsulated bedroom. But the land lady is totally OK with me painting, and I was told I could hang whatever I wanted. You other apartment dwellers know that storage, and floor space… is a luxury in a small living area. So the vintage suit cases quickly had to become useful. The bigger one is for fabric & crafting supplies, the littler one is for off season clothing.  Since floor space is so valuable. I hung them on the wall with some ridiculously large bike hooks that I spray painted to blend into the wall better.

Since I was pulling out my summer dresses and putting away my cozy sweaters this weekend I thought I’d share the c0nvinient storage location I’ve been using for years. They are decorative but unobtrusive, and clear up some floor space. And even as vintage suitcases become more popular, my favorite part is the background story from my parents.

  • http://feathersfreckles.blogspot.com Feathers & Freckles

    That was a really clever idea! Plus, they have a cute story :) I also store my off season clothes in our suitcases, but our suitcases are new and not charming at all, and I slide mine under the bed…. I feel so boring now :D

    • http://www.theinclinedplane.com/ Loren Cline

      Our ACTUAL suitcases live in the weird little nook in the back of my closet. And boyfriend keeps some old comics under the bed. He still reads them so I figure HE can crawl on the floor and my sweaters will hang up all neatly folded. ;)

  • Sara

    Aw man, so cool! My dad had one of those that he used until it fell apart, I always wanted one. I think I will have to keep this project in mind when I hunt one down :)

    • http://www.theinclinedplane.com/ Loren Cline

      I see lots of vintage suitcases in Goodwill. The hard case ones like these are usually pretty cheap because no one wants to lug around super heavy suitcases anymore.

  • http://14shadesofgrey.wordpress.com/ Salazar

    Now that’s a cool. I just stuff all my winter clothes into those Space Bags and slide them under the bed… but storing things on the wall is a good space-saving idea. I’m thinking about how to convince my dad to drill holes into our walls and put up some floating bookshelves, because with both me and my sister home, our old shelves are going to be stuffed.

    • http://www.theinclinedplane.com/ Loren Cline

      I let boyfriend keep a lot of old comics under the bed, so it’s a little full under there. I’ve been using dresser drawers for book shelves. I’ll have to write a post about them next.

  • http://www.ladyofashion.blogspot.com/ Ladyofashion

    What lovely vintage suitcases. I love the idea. I should pay my parent a good visit, I could use more vintage suitcases in my life. :)

    • http://www.theinclinedplane.com/ Loren Cline

      Even if you can’t hang them you can store them under the bed with fun things inside, that’s where they lived before I hung them up.

  • http://www.othersideofgray.com Annie

    Those are actually pretty cool wall decorations – LOVE it! I want to pin THAT on pinterest :)

    Annie
    The Other Side of Gray

    • http://www.theinclinedplane.com/ Loren Cline

      If I were better at white balancing my camera indoors it would be a GREAT pin ;)

  • Natalie Lord

    Ok Loren, can I just say Triple High Five on this awesomeness??!! I love vintage suitcases (and trunks), and hanging them on the wall is pure genius. My mom used to have really cool bright orange ones. Now I think I’ll see if they’re still kicking around! xx Nat

    • http://www.theinclinedplane.com/ Loren Cline

      You definitely should try to find them! They are totally useful (if a little bit heavy to pull down) but the hooks did leave a pretty big hole in the wall but they are supposed to support up to 75 lbs.

  • http://shybiker.blogspot.com/ Shybiker

    That’s so cool. I applaud your sense of style and interior design. And the story makes it even better.

  • http://www.unapologeticallymundane.com/ Unapologetically Mundane

    NEAT! I didn’t actually notice the hooks until you pointed them out and just assumed you drilled through the back. Awesome idea!

    • http://www.theinclinedplane.com/ Loren Cline

      I didn’t want to screw them to the wall because then how would I fill them up? They get lots of comments from friends too. Like ‘Why do you have luggage on the wall’ and I’m like ‘Cuz I’m a genius?’