Guest post by Cassandra Rosas

Almost everyone has gone through a period of time in their lives when they had a cumulous of cardboard boxes that they didn’t know what to do with. Instead of throwing in them in the trash, recycle or upcycle them! There are numerous ways to upcycle cardboard into actually useful items for the home, the kids, your pets and even your office.

Cardboard, just like paper is made of fiber from wood: there is the corrugated type and the paperboard. The first one consists of layers containing a zigzag structure in the middle layer. The second one, on the other hand, consists of a single layer, is grayish in color, and thicker than paper, but still easy to tear apart. Corrugated cardboard, when recycled, can be turned into paperboard.

Recycling Cardboard

Cardboard can be recycled very easily as long as it is done properly; most cities have some kind of recycling center or facility that is willing to take your cardboard. You just need to break it down and flatten it , whether you bring it for drop off or if they pick it up. If you will bring it to the recycling facility, ask ahead of time about the requirements to bring in your cardboard for recycling.

There are certain requirements, in general, to be able to recycle cardboard. If it’s wet, the fibers will lose some of their value. If it’s stained with grease or wax of some kind, think pizza boxes, it will not be accepted for recycling, and you’ll have to throw it in the trash, compost it, or reuse it at home.

There are many ways to reuse cardboard around the home; if you are someone who likes to repurpose things into useful items, read on.

Ways to Reuse Cardboard

Storage boxes. This is probably the most popular option for reusing cardboard. You can make it look pretty by wrapping your boxes with decorative paper, fabric, or even plastic and add some labels to keep your stuff organized; you can even mix and match color palettes and patterns to make the boxes look coordinated with the rest of your home décor.

Shoe rack. You can make an awesome shoe rack with the boxes that your shoes already came in, instead of buying a shoe rack. You just have to stack your cardboard boxes and stick them together with a glue gun to make the structure more firm and secure, or you can try this unique folded cardboard shoe rack.

Dividers for drawer organization. Cut the cardboard into strips and use it to keep your drawers organized; whether it is for socks, underwear, clothing, kitchen utensils or for the bathroom, you’ll be able to keep your stuff arranged clearly and neatly.

For Home Décor

Frames for your photos. Choose the photos you want to frame, and cut two cardboard pieces: one for the back and one for the frame. Use glue or staples to connect both pieces, and remember to leave one side open to slide the photo into the frame. You can try this tutorial for more ideas.

Mirrors. Take a mirror and stick it to a cardboard box cut in whatever shape you want. You can make a round figure and then, using a glue gun, add some rope around the mirror for a coastal look in your home, or simply choose beads, crystals or any material you like to decorate your mirror.

For Your Pets

Cat bed. Pick a box big enough for your cat to enter easily and have enough space around to move, then cut a door and some windows, and paint it with any theme you like. Add some pillows or a cozy blanket for your cat to be comfortable.

Birds’ houses. Using sturdy cardboard, cut it into a birdhouse shape and coat it with a waterproof layer of paint; with this, you can create a variety of birdhouses and place them in a covered patio.

For the Office

For filing and storing documents. Store old files and documents you don’t want to get rid of yet still don’t want to have on site; paint your boxes in cool colors and label them with the content they contain to make them easier to find when you need them.

Office storage décor. Use cardboard boxes from oatmeal and cereals to hold your pens and keep your everyday documents in hand and organized; cut cereal boxes diagonally and glue them together to store files. Use decorative paper or fabric, ribbons or any other items to adorn them and make them look visually interesting.

Playhouses & Crafts for Kids

Play mini kitchen. Make a stove, a fridge, a microwave, a toaster, plates, pots and pans made of cardboard, cut the cardboard into the desired shape, and let your kids use their creativity to draw the details and paint them in different colors; your kids will have hours of fun!

Dollhouse. Create a dollhouse out of cardboard; it can be as simple as using a single box for a miniature room, letting the kids draw the interior, and making cardboard mini furniture. Alternatively, go for an elaborate design and make a big house with multiple stories, a balcony, a rooftop, stairs, a garage, and anything else you can think of, using multiple boxes of different sizes.

Fort. Create a cardboard fort in your backyard; toddlers will love anything they can crawl into and hide inside, while older kids and even adults may enjoy making a more elaborate fort with tunnels and rooms. Just make sure to check the weather beforehand, so rain doesn’t ruin your fun.

Submarines, cars, ships, or rockets. Whichever your child prefers, you can make it with cardboard, cut doors and windows with a sharp cutter or a knife, and have the kids draw the tires, wheels, controls and handles with markers and colors.

With your imagination and creativity, there are many different ways to reuse cardboard and turn it into useful objects for the home, which will also help to decrease your carbon footprint and reduce your household waste. Also, consider the money you are saving by crafting your own dog beds, cat scratchers, storage decor, mirrors and even some holiday decorations. These can also be great activities for the kids to develop artistic skills and stimulate their imagination. Kids and pets love cardboard boxes, and it can mean hours of fun for them. After your kids and pets are done with their cardboard boredom-busters, you can still take the boxes to the recycling center instead of sending them to the trash.

Cassandra Rosas is a content writer at Porch.com. She is passionate about the environment, sustainability, reading, writing, and music.

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