Cardboard Furniture

[leftace53]

I don't know if anyone's had a go at this, but cardboard furniture is pretty much the best thing since sliced bread.

About a year ago, I made a shelf from cardboard, and I think it cost me about $4 total. Acquiring cardboard is pretty easy, you can go to any store or organization (or anywhere really), and ask them if they have empty boxes they are going to throw away. The good thing about this is also that you generally get very good quality cardboard, meant for carrying heavy stuff. After that you just cut, glue, gesso, paint.

I've been meaning to start on a cardboard chair for some furniture for my place in september.

Thoughts? Comments?

[Foldered]

I like the idea; what's it wrapped in, or is it painted?

I would rather leave it unpainted, but I'm not sure how much it is glued and the like.

[Stand Your Ground]

Interesting. How comfortable would it be though? :confused:

[Foldered]

Interesting. How comfortable would it be though? :confused:
You could make your own pillows/upholstry for it; the cardboard I imagine would act as a frame?

I probably wouldn't venture into making a couch, but I would certainly attempt making a bookcase of a sort.

[leftace53]

I taped the pieces of cardboard into shape, then added some paper mache to the frame for strength, then used acrylic gesso to try to smooth it out a bit before I painted it (its gold because its the golden spiral :) ). then I just painted it with acrylic dollar store paint :P Leaving it unpainted to expose the cardboard could definitely work too, but its best to apply some sort of a sealant like mod podge or something for some added support and moisture protection.

for comfort of chairs and stools and such, it would depend on the construction. This chair for instance (http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ol-images/nursery/uploads/2007-08-14-davidgraas1.jpg) could be fairly comfortable depending on how many support beams you give it for equal weight distribution. But yea, you could also make pillows or cushions (my next diy is pillow making) for the chairs :thumbup1:

[Veg_Athei_Socialist]

Very clever idea! When I get my own place I will have to try something similair.

[Pretty Flaco]

I officially love you for this: and I'm going to attempt this for a bookcase/shelf.

[Fictional]

Oh man, if only I could ship Cardboard to those who need it.

My Anti-Capitalist manager refuses to pay 60 Pence per Orange Commercial waste bag so we have a room full of cardboard from goods we order at the recording studio - to recycle all that would into a peice of furniture would be sick :/

[Foldered]

I officially love you for this: and I'm going to attempt this for a bookcase/shelf.
You should post progress!

[Stand Your Ground]

You could make your own pillows/upholstry for it; the cardboard I imagine would act as a frame?

I probably wouldn't venture into making a couch, but I would certainly attempt making a bookcase of a sort.
That's what I was gonna guess.

[x371322]

After reading this thread I wanted to do a quick google search. Man, some of this is pure art. It's amazing what people can do with cardboard...

http://helenguttridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/speach-bubble-coffee-table.jpg

http://momelo.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/cardboard-furniture.jpeg

http://freshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/cardboard-furniture2.jpg

:thumbup1:

[leftace53]

After reading this thread I wanted to do a quick google search. Man, some of this is pure art. It's amazing what people can do with cardboard...

I know eh, theres some hard core cardboard furniture peeps out there, someday I'll get there I swear :)


I officially love you for this: and I'm going to attempt this for a bookcase/shelf.

Definitely :thumbup1: As foldered said, post progress! We'll exchange notes and cardboard cuts :lol:

[Foldered]

http://momelo.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/cardboard-furniture.jpeg

This is what I want to attempt. :)

[Pretty Flaco]

I've proceeded to past step 1 (obtaining the cardboard) and now I'm at step 2: shaping the cardboard!... which I'll do eventually. I'm not exactly sure what I could use to shape the cardboard though. I'd aim for the first design posted by Czad.... I'd quote it but it won't let me post it yet because of my post-count. :glare:

[leftace53]

I made a template to shape it, partially because I needed a high level of accuracy and my shelf is fairly small. The first one posted by Czad looks like they cut out a LOT of pieces in the shape of the table (a backwards 'Q'/a speech bubble), and attached them side by side. This is definitely a more sturdy method for a table than just assembling the sides and a top. You could eyeball the 'Q' shape on one piece of cardboard, cut it out, and use that as a template for the other Q shapes, or you could eye ball all of them, giving the end product somewhat of a more "raw" look if they don't match up exactly.

Either way, when cutting, remember to use an exacto knife, because using scissors can force you to bend the cardboard, which you definitely don't want to do (unless you're trying to shape it someway), because it loses strength.

If you do want to shape it, like make sides, and a top (like a box), then keep the cardboard as straight as possible in the areas you don't want it bent (most of the top). When you're bending look at the ribs of the cardboard and bend the ribs in, this makes it easier to get the shape you want. Also be sure that for the sides, you have the ribs going vertically, since that is what will carry the weight of the table.

[Rogue Trooper]

If you spill a few drops of water on the table, you ruin it :)

[Veg_Athei_Socialist]

If you spill a few drops of water on the table, you ruin it :)
Very true. What can be done to prevent such a catastrophe from accuring besides just being careful?

[leftace53]

:lol:
I painted mine with Acrylic paint, which makes it water resistant after the paint dries. You could also seal the end product with polyurethane or waterproof mod podge. You can basically look at any super store (with a craft section) or a craft store for waterproof sealants, they are generally quite cheap for a large amount.

[Rogue Trooper]

:lol:
I painted mine with Acrylic paint, which makes it water resistant after the paint dries. You could also seal the end product with polyurethane or waterproof mod podge. You can basically look at any super store (with a craft section) or a craft store for waterproof sealants, they are generally quite cheap for a large amount.

neat :thumbup1:

[jake williams]

When I decided to unpack at my previous apartment, having but one shelf, I decided to make a shelf and a small table out of the boxes I'd brought my belongs in.

It worked for a little while, but by the end they started falling apart and I decided they looked like shit. Next year I'm buying some shelves, out of wood.

[Veg_Athei_Socialist]

I just made a small table.
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae64/VegAtheiSocialist/IMG_0561.jpg