Reuse Cardboard Boxes To Create A Convenient Cubed Storage Solution

If you have lots of leftover cardboard boxes from a recent move or lots of online orders, you can DIY a unique decorative shelving unit out of cardboard and help make your home more organized. No matter what type of boxes you have, you can break them down and use them to build cube storage. Alternatively, if you already have a cube storage system, cardboard can be used to make perfectly sized organizing drawers to sit in each section. To make your storage solution look like real furniture, contact paper or adhesive shelf liners can be stuck to the cardboard for a chic appearance. At Dollar Tree, knotty pine shelf liners and other designs are $1.25 per roll, making this DIY super budget-friendly. You'll also need hot glue to connect your cardboard pieces together.

To DIY stylish storage containers for a cube unit you already have, measure the boxes to see if they'll fit inside your cubes. If so, remove the folding pieces on the top of the box and apply your contact paper. You might also add drawer knobs to the front or more cardboard as drawer dividers inside. Otherwise, cut out five identical pieces of cardboard for each section that are the right dimensions to fit in your cubes. With thin cardboard, you might want to use 10 pieces and glue two together for each side of your drawer for stability. If you'd like, cut out a handle on the front panel before gluing your cube together and decorating.

To make an entire cube storage unit out of cardboard, you could simply glue multiple boxes of the same size together, though this wouldn't be very sturdy. Instead, take a rectangular piece of cardboard and draw guidelines onto it. You'll want about 2 inches on each short end, as well as in the middle, and the remaining space should be even squares on either side of your thin center section. Glue three strips of cardboard across each square. Cut out two pieces of cardboard the same size as your guide squares and glue it over the strips on each side. Repeat this process, making an additional two pieces. Make another three, but so that they only have the 2-inch space in the center and none on the sides. These will make up the four sides and center beam of your unit.

For the shelves, cut out four squares (same dimensions as before) and six strips. Glue three strips onto one square, add another square on top, and repeat with the other set. Now, assemble your DIY customizable storage cube. Lay out one of the first pieces you made with the extra side space and glue each of your three matching pieces vertically into one of the 2-inch notches of the base. Add your square shelves into the notch of the center beam, then fit your final rectangular piece onto the top. Finally, add your contact paper and start filling up your cube storage solution.