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I woke up this morning with a “bee in my bonnet”, so much so that I decided to attack the storage room. You know that room where all the various boxes seem to pile up and then you forget to put them out with the trash?
While merrily flattening the boxes I realized I had a few that were the same size and crafty inspiration struck!. Lets change that silly nook around the corner into a play nook and use the boxes as shelves! Yay!
Putting the boxes aside, I had a look around Google, nothing much to get excited about, saw almost no pins in Pinterest, so just grabbed my scissors and duct tape (yes duct tape) and started.
Most of the pictures in my search had the lids cut off, bending them inward looked weird and so did bending them backwards, so off they went. I had various helpers, from my 2 year old stacking the boxes to my 3 year old wanting to help cut the duct tape, and my almost 5 month old happily “supervising” everyone.
Here are the steps to make your own DIY Cardboard Box Shelves
- Gather your materials, boxes, scissors and duct tape.
- Cut the lids off of the boxes
- Style your boxes
- Tape a row at a time
- Then tape the entire thing together
- Paint it
- Add toys
Now I didn’t paint mine. I was heading outside with my spray can when it started raining.
But after putting toys in to test it out I decided since its kinda in a corner, I don’t think I’ll even paint it for now.
I might add some more boxes later on and then get some different color paints, like red, blue, yellow, purple and do all different things.
All in all, I’m very happy with my shelf I didn’t have to pay a cent for!
Stephanie Kay Shockley says
I tried doing this to hold my DVDs and Blu-Rays and it wouldn’t hold anything. It kept falling apart. It was like it couldn’t handle the weight.
Ashley says
Sometimes the quality of cardboard and age will yield different results. See if you can collect some stiffer ones to use, especially the stackable ones 😉
Marc Treppler says
Thank you, just some info, packing tape is much better for attaching to corrugated board than duct tape. I know duct tape is supposed to stick to anything and everything. We used duct tape to repack 200 office chairs once and the tape started lifting after a few days. Packing tape is designed specifically for cardboard boxes, it is strong, can be stretched to provide tension, adheres very well to cardboard and is cheaper than duct tape. If you want to remove it later you can heat it with a hair dryer and lift it off the box. There are many brands with different thicknesses and different adhesives. Scotch heavy duty packing tape is my favorite for projects as it is thicker and stronger than some of the less expensive brands. I use the other thinner ones for shipping stuff.
Ashley says
Thanks so much for the tip and the education, based on experience?
Shawndra Higgins says
THANK YOU! ♥ I knew I wasn’t crazy for wanting to make shelves out of the boxes I collect from work! lol The Duct tape and paint would be the cost to consider. What paint would you suggest for a baby enviornment? I’m making this comment 6 years from the date of your post. How long did your shelf last? Did it survive awhile? If not, how did it die? lol
Nicolette Roux says
hehehe. yes the shelf did die but from my 3 year old trying to climb on it! so it was weight related. (this was about after a year and it was a phase he was going though)
Any baby safe paint is going to be fine. you know the ones that don’t smell!
Theres Just One Mommy says
Can’t beat cardboard boxes and duct tape!
I used recycled diaper boxes to help organize my pantry. I love your toy shelf idea!
Natasha says
This is just what I need! We have moved into a house with little cupboard space and think this is the solution to getting the toys and other tot-friendly lightweights stashed away.
Nicolette Roux says
Awesome! ours is still going strong and I’ve made a second one that holds all the kids shoes behind the front door 🙂
Ashley says
If you don’t have any boxes on hand, you can order flat rate shipping boxes for free from the post office. They come is various sizes and they will even deliver them to your house.
Krystie says
Great way to recycle! Very useful project.
Victoria from the Busy House Big Heart says
I had a shelf in a garage fall on me as a kid, so I think cardboard is a good safety idea for a kids play area!
Would be fun to get them a bunch of different colours.
Nicolette Roux says
It would! It’s on my to do list to paint some multi-colors 🙂
Tulip says
That is such a cool up-cycle! I have a bunch of diaper boxes that need to be turned into shelves. Thanks for sharing at Mom’s Library!
iGameMom says
Interesting idea. How long do they last?
Nicolette Roux says
provided the kids dont smash it 🙂 Mine are still good as new 6 months later
Caroline Fay says
That is a Crafty Mom! Great job! I will have to try it out too. Thanks for the idea.
Nicolette Roux says
Thank you!
Annelie Meiring Roux says
Cool idea! If you put some brown paper tape (the kind that they put on the seams of dry wall) on the cut edges it will give them a smooth finish and if you paint over that they will look really neat.