How to create Easy Painted Luggage

INSIDE : Learn how to transform an old suitcase piece into an Easy DIY Hand Painted Luggage statement!  A quick and easy colorful update will give your travels a whole new look.

DIY Hand Painted Suitcase

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This post has been updated since it’s original publish date of April 2015.

Last summer, I went to a local thrift shop and bought two pieces of luggage for $1.50 each, such a great deal.

The first one I made into a Memory Box for my son and the other one has sat unloved and untouched all this time.

Looking for more thrifted fun?  Check out all my Thrifting tips here!

Today I am sharing How to create Easy hand Painted Luggage and completely update the look of a suitcase, briefcase or an old piece of luggage!  

And now that I have done this project, I have a strong desire to start painting old suitcases – anyone want to join me?! It’s such fun.

What supplies do I need to Paint Luggage?

Easy Painted Luggage supplies

How to paint an old suitcase

Once you are ready to paint a suitcase the fun really begins.

I had never used Martha’s Vintage Decor paints before and although I know it’s “just paint” – I really fell in love with it.  Everything Martha Stewart creates is a solid product and her paints are no different .  I could not believe how thick and creamy the texture of the paint was.

Easy Painted Luggage steps

I was also surprised that covering the entire hard shell suitcase only took two coats of paint. Good product, Martha!  

Also, her vintage decor brush was so much better to use for such a thick paint than a typical paint brush.  The brush felt sturdy and solid while I used it.

Easy Painted Luggage paint

Looking for more creative Martha Stewart projects? Check out the 20+ crafts I’ve made using her amazing supplies!

I applied two coats of the Cantelope paint and allowed it to throughly dry.

How to stencil paint on a suitcase

Once dried, I taped on my stencil.  I used simple washi tape to hold the stencil in place and it was perfect without being too sticky and removing any paint underneath it.

Learn how to transform an old suitcase piece into an Easy DIY Hand Painted Luggage statement!  A quick and easy colorful update will give your travels a whole new look. Delineate Your Dwelling #paintedluggage #paintsuitcase

Painted Suitcase Ideas

Who ever said you have to use the entire stencil design – not me!  I used just half of the petal stencil in different colors, terra cotta paint and then in a gold metallic.  

I felt like it needed one more color, so then I added one last row in a bright pink acrylic paint.

Learn how to transform an old suitcase piece into an Easy DIY Hand Painted Luggage statement!  A quick and easy colorful update will give your travels a whole new look. Delineate Your Dwelling #paintedluggage #paintsuitcase

Vintage Painted Suitcase

This vintage painted suitcase is such fun now.

I love that this hard shell suitcase was only $1.50 and yet with a fresh coat of paint and some simple stenciled details, it now has a classic vintage luggage vibe!

Learn how to transform an old suitcase piece into an Easy DIY Hand Painted Luggage statement!  A quick and easy colorful update will give your travels a whole new look. Delineate Your Dwelling #paintedluggage #paintsuitcase

I keep going back and forth on whether I will actually use the luggage or if it will become a fun storage item.  What would you use it for?

Update : It has been FOUR years and this luggage piece gets constant use from my kids.  They play with it for dress-up, sit on it, use it as a table and much more.  After four solid years of use and there is but maybe one single scratch where the paint has come up!  I can hardly believe how well this paint has lasted.

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Learn how to transform an old suitcase piece into an Easy DIY Hand Painted Luggage statement!  A quick and easy colorful update will give your travels a whole new look. Delineate Your Dwelling #paintedluggage #paintsuitcase

Are you interested in some of the other 12 Months of Martha projects I have done?

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27 Comments

  1. Im wondering as to the Prep that was involved: did you use any special cleaning method to get the suitcase ready to accept the paint?

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Great question, Cheryl. I didn’t do anything special at all to the luggage to prep it for painting. Since it was so old, I did take a damp paper towel to lightly clean off dirt. The Martha Stewart paint I used is like a chalk/matte paint and goes on very thick. It was perfect for this project and has held up remarkably well. My kids use this to contain dressup clothes so it’s gets a LOT of use and no chipped paint yet! Good luck.

  2. Rosie hostetler says:

    decorate suitcase in your wedding or birthday colors and use to collect cards..

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Great ideas!

  3. Did you have to tape off the hardware as not to get paint on it? Love the outcome!

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      You certainly could tape off the hardware, but I’ll be honest for this project I did not. The hardware was fairly big and I just used a smaller brush when I got closer to painting around it. Thanks for asking, Pam!

  4. OMG Love! I painted my train case this weekend too! Love the results, should have done it sooner. I tore out the inside and painted that also. Chalky finish paint in pure white and Paris gray <3

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Ah! Great minds think alike! I bet it’s just lovely!

  5. Wow! What a great makeover for that suitcase! Can’t wait to try this paint.

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Thanks so much, Bonnie! I was really impressed with how thick Martha’s paint was.

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Thanks so much, Val!

  6. OH my gosh I have this same suitcase in dingy off white and have kept it hoping to paint it but never have. Then I just put it aside for a yard sale but now you are making me reconsider! It looks amazing!

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Yay, you definitely should give it a try! If anything else, it’s lovely storage!!

  7. So adorable! That cantaloupe color is perfect. Thrift store scores are the best, especially when people are as creative as you and can envision such a great transformation. Nice work!

  8. It’s lovely, what a great transformation. I wouldn’t want to be taking this through the airport though, I was watching a video on FB just the other day that is doing the rounds again showing how they chuck our suitcases around with no care at all! Much better to use this for journeys by car maybe when you can be careful yourself or for pretty storage.

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      A very good point, Julie! My luggage always comes back hugely scuffed after taking an airplane trip. My daughter has already claimed this as “pretty storage” for her room – ha.

      1. Ah yes, daughters have a habit of doing that sort of thing don’t they?!

        1. delineateyourdwelling says:

          Ha, yes – especially when they are four years old.

  9. Wow…. I never would have even thought of doing this. It turned out great… what a fun project. 🙂

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Oh my, Krista! This coming from such a talented lady yourself!! You are too much. =)

  10. Hi! Visiting from the Inspiration Spotlight link party. I love the colors and design you chose! Super cute!

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Thanks so much, Ashley! This was a fun one to do. =)

  11. I would love to know in the future if the paint holds up to use as a suitcase. My daughter is going to college and a cute suitcase/storage would be so fun!I would be more apt to use Martha paint if it does hold up.
    Or do you have a tip of what paint or top coat would help keep it looking nice?
    Thanks

    1. delineateyourdwelling says:

      Kathy, so far so good on the paint holding up… but it’s only been a week or so. I’ve not used the luggage too much yet. However, I know you could spray it with a clear protective spray to keep from any dings or chips. And I was really impressed with the thickness of Martha’s Vintage Decor paint. I would highly recommend for something like this over a normal acrylic, which would take so so many coats to cover.

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