About Cardboard Furniture

With recycling all the rage, there may be no better way to make use of the tons of discarded cardboard than to turn it into cardboard furniture. If someone boasts about her cardboard furniture, it doesn't necessarily mean she is sitting around on a box. A number of designers have already come up with stylish and useful pieces, or folks can try their hand at making their own. Cardboard furniture has a number of benefits and can be made into all types of furniture pieces.

Types

Cardboard furniture comes in tables, couches, chairs, shelving units and other pieces that fit well in living rooms or family areas. Benches, space dividers, modular pieces that can be stacked or connected together to create storage areas or entertainment centers are other options. Some cardboard furniture may be already assembled while others are put together by the new owner. Cardboard can be used to make doll furniture, play structures such as forts, and pet hideaways.

Features

Corrugated cardboard is what is usually used to create cardboard furniture. It is usually constructed by lining up several rows of the stuff, all cut in identical shapes. The end result can create the variety of pieces in unusual and angular shapes. Since corrugated cardboard is easy to cut and glue together, some interesting shapes can be made that go beyond the standard rectangle or square created by many of these furniture pieces made with other materials.

Identification

Cardboard furniture may not be easily identifiable as such at a first glance, but a closer look and feel will usually give it away. Some of the furniture may mimic plaster, wood or even plastic, but knocking on it will produce a dull, hollow sound. The furniture will also usually be very lightweight and often contain perforations at the edges or other areas. Corrugated cardboard becomes very strong when lined up with like pieces, thus ensuring the piece can hold some weight and function as traditional furniture would.

Considerations

Cardboard furniture is a good choice for kids for several reasons. Cardboard is softer and less likely to injure a child, especially without sharp edges. It is also lightweight enough to cause no harm or broken bones if kids knock or bang into it. Kids may also get a kick out of creating miniature cardboard furniture themselves. Free cardboard chair instructions are available online from FoldSchool.com (see Resources below).

Expert Insight

Another way to play with cardboard furniture is with three-dimensional cardboard pieces that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. A line of this stuff, called Bloxes by its creator Ava Raskin, is available online (see Resources below). The Bloxes arrive flat, to be assembled and played with by the new owner. With no design set in stone, the puzzle pieces can be put together in a variety of ways to suit a variety of needs. Bloxes can be pieced together to create tables, storage cubes, wall dividers or chairs.

Resources

• Chair instructions at FoldSchool.com
• Bloxes at MetaEfficient.com