How to Make Cardboard Chairs Under Two Pounds

Cardboard can be used to make lightweight chairs.

People usually think of cardboard as a relatively weak material, but when used properly it can hold a large amount of weight. There are two main ways to make a chair out of cardboard. The first is to glue a massive amount of it into a solid block and carve out a chair. This chair will be very heavy and hard to move. A much more lightweight method is to use interlocking pieces of cardboard. Every piece supports every other piece, giving you a chair strong enough to sit in and light enough to toss around.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Hot glue

Instructions

The Base

1. Cut out 16 cardboard squares, each one measuring 16 inches by 16 inches.

2. Cut slits into each square along one side. The slits should go halfway across the cardboard. There will be one at the 1 inch mark, and one at 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 inches (a total of 8 slits).

3. Turn half of the squares upside down.

4. 

   The top of the base should look like this.

   Interweave the cardboard, sliding the slits together, to create a cube seat.

The Back

1. Cut out 17 cardboard rectangles measuring 16 inches by 5 inches.

2. Cut slits into each rectangle along one long side. The slits should go halfway across the cardboard. There will be one at the 1 inch mark, and one at 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 inches (a total of 8 slits).

3. Cut out 8 cardboard rectangles measuring 34 inches by 5 inches.

4. Starting at one end of a long side, cut slits into each square along one side at the 1 inch mark, and one at 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 inches (a total of 8 slits). The slits should go halfway across the cardboard.

5. Assemble the back by interweaving the cardboard in the same fashion as the base. Use hot glue to attach the back to the base.

References

• Studio David Graas - Products
• Dardan: How to Build Cardboard Furniture

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish