How to Paint Vintage Suitcases |

Step 1 : Find an old vintage suitcase, the more scuffed up, the less precious the better

Step 2 :

Remove dust and grime by vacuuming followed by soapy water…I like to disinfect with trusty Dettol.

Step 3 :

You’ll need a can of primer, I like Zinsser (expensive, worth every penny)

Step 4 :

You’ll need two coats of primer, go easy with the paint on your brush otherwise you will get a run…

Take a deep breath and paint right on over the fittings

Step 5 : Assess condition of interior, if not good…paint

Step 6 : Allow primer to dry (if you used Zinsser this will not be very long) and repeat…

Step 7 :

Paint with two to three coats of oil-based low sheen enamel for a long lasting, hard wearing finish. If like me you prefer a more matt look try water based acrylic (which I no longer use as I have 3 BC rugrats to take into consideration round here)

This is after one coat

You may well need a third coat as I will here (this one below is after two coats and it is still not quite matt enough for me, more a ‘washed’ look)

examine this closely and you will see there is a run to the left hand side…this will need, if I can really be bothered ;-) to be sanded off with very fine grade sand paper and re-painted…then again it can sit happily in Coastal Chic

335p