How to Make Cardboard Furniture

Despite cardboard's apparent flimsiness, you can make cardboard furniture that can support the weight of a person just as easily as wood or plastic if you use an ingenious design and a little DIY creativity. So instead of throwing out your old cardboard, turn it into something useful and stylish by making a cardboard chair or cardboard stool.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cardboard
• Utility knife
• Glue

1. Get some good, strong cardboard (preferably a large, intact box). The best kind is the corrugated honeycomb type.

2. Find some plans. You can wing it if you want, but looking at a diagram and having a clear visual idea of what you are going for is much, much easier. Check out the Resources section below for some free cardboard furniture plans.

3. Mark out the necessary pieces. Read the plans carefully, taking note of measurements and how much cardboard you will need. Using a straight edge and a compass, use a marker to draw the pieces that you will be cutting out.

4. Cut out the pieces. Once you are certain that the pieces are drawn out correctly and to scale, use a utility knife to cut the pieces out.

5. Affix the pieces. Interlock the pieces or use glue, depending what the plans specify. Allow the glue to set.

6. Test your creation out carefully. Sit on the chair, but don't apply your full weight right way. Don't jiggle around too much either. If it holds up, then congratulations! You have just made cardboard furniture.

[juanaguas]

on 6/28/2009 Vague tutorial. How do I get glued seams to hold weight like the famous POAPLUM cardboard furniture designer that I've listed below? I'm assuming that they aren't hollow but stuffed with more cardboard. http://poaplum.free.fr/lesmeubles.htm

[sunshineandrose]

on 3/23/2009 I have used a cardboard box to put my feet on. I glued fabric onto it and put a cushion on top.