The idea occurred to me me when we returned from Ikea with several packages and after mounting the Expedits we really didn't know what to do with the cardboard packages, since the recycling center was far, far away and we wouldn't want to simply throw them out in the garbage bin (we try to be as eco-friendly as possible). Another thing was the we found the plastic boxes in Ikea a bit expensive and somehow ugly.
So I just started measuring the shelf and the cardboard, drawing lines, cutting and glueing together the pieces and I produced some boxes that fit perfectly. For an impeccable straight edge, use a wood panel to bend the cardboard after you've measured twice, of course. As for the glue, I used standard water-based cardboard glue, non-toxic for pets.
For the decoration, I went to the local DIY store and bought rolls of wallpaper to cover the boxes. I chose black with white stripes for the bedroom and the living room and stone patterns for the kitchen, to match the floor tiles. The final touch with adding various style handles so the boxes can be pulled out easily - you can also use chains for the handles or ribbons.
Pros: cheap, eco-friendly, easy to make, good looking (or so we think)
Cons: they are not as sturdy as plastic and they are not catproof - our cats already destroyed one by scratching, but I just made a new one.
Here are some pictures with the results for the living room - where we use the Expedit as a TV stand and the one in the kitchen - we don't really cook so we don't have a proper kitchen yet but we still need some storage space.
For best results in creating boxes, use a metal straight edge, or an architect's metal square, and a blunt burnisher or even the blunt back edge of a scissor to score both sides of cardboard at the fold; fold with a straight edge, yardstick, or even a thin, but straight piece of scrap aligned on the fold with a small bit of pressure. I make boxes all the time for shipping from scrap, especially those big flat cartons, and did a similar set of custom storage boxes for my kids, using spray adhesive and left over knit fabric (because it stretches so well). You could also re-purpose old tee shirts in the same way. I used cording from gift bag handles for mine, and grommets to help hold everything together (grommets are new, but cheap!)
ReplyDeleteThat SABA tube-receiver is a nugget. Worth to cherish it. Warm sound and good design(HfG Ulm roots?)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea, but think next time keep in mind contact paper! While it is thinner, it might be more suited (and cheaper) for this than wallpaper
ReplyDeleteI love the black cat.
ReplyDeletegreat!! way to use the leftovers!!!
ReplyDeleteThey look good. They would look great, but those handles let them down. Also I second the suggestion of contact paper, it works brilliantly.
ReplyDeleteThe black cat is a great touch in the pictures.
ReplyDeleteOurs look exactly the same (TV & expidit as tv stand) and now Im thinking of ideas for boxes to occupy the 'shelves' and sadly..my hubby already throw away the box sigh.
ReplyDeleteDo you think LCD tv box will work?
It is a really good idea. Inspired by this, i recovered the box of the GRUNDTAL white spotlight by opening, reversing, and cutting the extra long edges. I glued the extra edges to make a pencil-note rack.
ReplyDelete