Suitcase Shelves

My wife had been after me for some time to put the suitcases upstairs, so I finally got the hint...

Actually, she got this idea from a magazine -- cutting up some old suitcases and making shelves out of them. We began accumulating a few old suitcases (and a train case and an old wood tool case) and decided to make these and mount them on a wall in our media room.

The materials required for this project were:

- old suitcases
- about 6 square feet of 1/2 inch plywood
- about 10 feet of pine 1x2 lumber
- wood screws
- toggle bolts for mounting the cases on sheetrock
- painters tape (for marking cutting line)

The tools used were:

- scroll saw with metal cutting blade
- drill & bits
- screwdriver

Step 1: Remove the lining

The first thing I did was to rip out the lining from each suitcase. I suppose you don't absolutely have to do this, but I think it could get really messy when you start sawing into the suitcase if you don't. The lining for each suitcase came out relatively easy -- I just grabbed a corner and started pulling.

Comments

[JFabor]

Super great instructable! I've been wanting to make one of these for a while, you were just the inspiration I needed! Here's the one I put up last night using your instructable.

[knife141]

Very nice job -- looks great! Thank you for your nice comment.

[foobear]

oh aaaawesome do love it

[shuja.shaher]

great instructable
GREAT idea
as sharp as a KNIFE

[Dapper Hippo]

What a great idea.

[hgkjggjgjhg]

thats pretty neat

[jessyratfink]

That's fantastic work! Never would have thought to use them for that.

[knife141]

Thanks for the nice words. If my wife hadn't saw something like this in a magazine, I wouldn't have thought of it either!

[benderautomatic]

Originality is the art of concealing your sources. Good job.

[chicopluma]

It would be cool if you can open them, so you can store things inside and on them.
And I just have this blank space in my bedroom wall and I was looking for something to put that wasn´t just decorative.

[knife141]

I suppose you could fix them where they would open -- you could make a 2nd cut across the top and hinge it. You would probably have to slant the cut on the sides a small amount toward the front to allow for the lid to clear the bottom section, but it would probably work. I didn't consider storing anything inside these, since they're designed to be used as shelves. Thanks for your comment.

[blueyedcookie]

Awesome idea. I too love to turn trash into treasures....especially when it can be useful. Very unique and creative.

[knife141]

Thanks for your comment! I believe that re-purposing and reusing is the ultimate recycling.

[maryan1]

Thank you very much, to me it,s more than just one idea......opened the creativity
Window and also receiving lots of beautiful scene of sharing is another gift .
Blessings

[knife141]

Thanks for the very kind words! What you've said is something I really like about the Instructables site -- I get a lot of inspiration from reading about projects done by others. Thanks again.

[raviolikid]

So cool! Very clear instructions and good photography!

I could see these used in some sort of trendy boutique. Your wife is a lucky woman!

[knife141]

Thank you for your comments, and "yes," my wife is indeed a lucky woman! I remind her often......... :-)

[agecker]

I adore this idea! What magazine was it in....might have some other cool ideas as well! Thanks for sharing.

[knife141]

Sorry, but I don't know what magazine it was in. My wife has the habit of tearing out pictures and articles from magazines, and she saw this one in a magazine she purchased while we were on a road trip. I think the magazine probably got deposited in a hotel wastebasket. Thank you for your comments!

[gamemasterful]

I have this SAME magazine! Flea Market Style. Fall/Winter 2011 issue. http://fleamarketstylemag.blogspot.com/ Definitely a must have issue!

[fauxreal]

Love this idea... I can totally see it in a guest bedroom for wall decor/display shelves...

[knife141]

Thanks for your kind words and your comment!

[Retirement1]

This is fantastic!! Bravo to you and your wonderful project. How fun would it be to mount the other half on the other side of the wall!! I can imagine people walking around the corner and seeing the bottom half (sticking out) of the the wall in the next room.

[knife141]

Thank you for the kind words! Actually, I did in fact mount one over a doorway that is half on one side and half on the other. You can see it here:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Double-Suitcase-Shelf/

[bright.n.squirrelly]

I love this idea. Would it be possible to actually put a hinge on the top and use the inside of the suitcase for storage?

[knife141]

I suppose you could -- but make sure there is enough clearance for the suitcase to actually open, since it is mounted flush against the wall. I didn't consider making it where it could open, since I was planning on using the suitcases as shelves. Thanks for your comment.

[jlancaster4]

How did you measure it so that the shelf was 6 inches deep all the way around the case? It seems a difficult thing to do since you dont have a single point you could measure from on every side?

[knife141]

Using a carpenter's square placed on the front about 3 inches from each side, I marked a 6" point at two places on the top and the bottom. Then I used a flexible yardstick to mark the top & bottom lines. I then connected the top and bottom lines using a string pulled tight on each side. I then drew the connecting lines on the side by following the string. Another option would be to set the suitcase down (in the handle-up position), then stack blocks of wood and books until you're at the 6 inch point. Lay a marker down on top of the stack and move the suitcase against the marker until the line is marked all the way around. Hope this description makes sense!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Awesome idea! And are those just books stacked above the door on the left?

[knife141]

Yes, that's a floating shelf. Thanks for your comment!

[Manny B]

I think we need an instructable on that shelf too! Very clever.

[knife141]

You're in luck! Just search for "floating shelf" and you will find several instructables already posted!

[Manny B]

Cool. Thanks!

[pddonovan2011]

VERY cool idea! What a great Instructable! Come to think about it, I have a pile of old tool boxes that are no longer needed because I bought one huge toolbox that holds everything (It's harder to steel a toolbox that weighs 7800 pounds, fully loaded, than it is to make-off with a bunch of handled toolboxes! Some old, some new, some aluminum, some with Hammertone Paint finish and all of them varying ages! I'll have to do an Instructable for that one because it will involve metal working! Ooo! Thank you' for the 'Idea' implant!

[knife141]

I think doing this with old metal toolboxes would look really great. Nice idea! Thanks for your comment.

[porcupinemamma]

Very cool! Well done!!!

[knife141]

Thank you for your comment.

[kylara70]

This is so great! Thanks for sharing your project. I love seeing unusual objects suspended as shelves. This was a VERY creative idea. Your instructable is VERY well done.

[knife141]

Thanks! I appreciate your comment.

[qwerty9988]

Very cool look! Would it be possible to combine the 'floating shelf' and the suitcases? I would like to be able to keep the suitcase complete and pull it out to store my stuff. I could then put a luggage tag on each suitcase indicating the contents. I don't want to have to remove all the stuff on top of the suitcase to access the contents, so that's where the floating shelf comes in.