DIY Cardboard Bedroom Suite

With a basement still full of unpacked boxes from a recent move and company coming into town, Nikki needed a place for her guest to stay. In a sea of emptied boxes a full out bedroom suite was born. Click through for another view.

Nikki over at WhiMSy Love is quite the handy lady (check out her Etsy store and blog).

She had company on the way into town and feverishly worked to get her basement rid of unpacked boxes so an air mattress could be blown up. Then inspiration struck. To make the space a bit more cozy, she cut open the empty boxes and went to town with her scissor and black marker.

Obviously this isn't heirloom furniture, we still applaud the idea and think it could be a super fun way to decorate and space that needs a little oomph with a small budget. We can see it being used the world over in dorm rooms, kids spaces or even as a placeholder for more expensive pieces when money is short. There's more photos over at WhiMSy Love detailing her adventures in temporary furniture making!

Thanks Nikki!

(via: Craftzine)
(Images: WhiMSy Love)

Comments (41)

I love this idea. But I think it would look even better with white painted details instead of the magic marker black.

It's adorable for a temporary solution.

I agree with Heather, definitely a temporary solution. If I was visiting a friend who had just moved and she created cardboard furniture to make me feel more welcomed, I would be touched. We'd laugh about it and go drink some wine.

But for longer than a weekend visit? Hm. Just...no.

Cute! Love the personal touch of putting a picture of her guest's family in the frame.

oh my
this is
too wonderful
thanks
for making me smile

Very cute!

IMO, anyone visiting a friend who's just moved, regardless of the duration of the stay, is not really in a position to complain about furnishings. Especially when it shows such thoughtfulness.

I think this was an ingenius idea and my guess is that guests would love the whimsical nature of it rather than the same old guest room with forgotten pieces of furniture tossed in from other rooms.

This is beyond cute! I so admire the creativity that went into creating this.

yeah I can't imagine how impressed the guest must have felt to be shown such an adorable tribute.

Cute, but I would think the time spent doing this project could've been spent in unpacking more boxes...

Hah! How fun!

Adorable! But not a long-term option because cardboard in a basement = silver fish = YUCK!

The boxes were already unpacked.

hilariously creative and adorable! great new take on the typical boring old bedroom!

Wow, that is hilarious! I reminds me of that electric tape "headboard" that was on AT a while back. At least, I think it was electric tape, applied to the wall to look emulate wrought iron. It also reminds me of this Sharpie mural that covers a basement in Kentucky:

http://visualingual.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/sharpie-interior-mural/

How sweet and creative! Like living in a cartoon.

No need to point out that it's temporary folks. Don't you think the owner would know when it's gone from cute to worn?

I think it's an adorable and creative idea. I have slept many a night on an air mattress, and would have gotten a kick out of something like this. Good job!

Wow, in Earthquake country, this could cause some SERIOUS papercuts!!

;)

How cute!

My first thought was, "Pee Wee's Playhouse" set. But reading through, given that this was just for some friends who were coming into town, this is a sweet idea to make them feel a bit more at home and the thought is what makes it count. Especially since buying any kind of furniture for this area wasn't planned in the first place, unless she wants to make it a permanent guest space, which I doubt.

I have to disagree with the main contention of this post, though - that it would be a good solution for other areas. I don't see this being a good solution for people on small budgets or who plan to decorate kids rooms (unless you painted the cardboard and pasted flowers/dinosaurs/etc. on the walls, but that's sort of a whole different thing). For the amount of effort that's called for, you could search freecycle, the free section on craigslist, or go driving around on garbage night and pick up some nice freebie furniture instead. Then put that elbow grease into reupholstering, painting, or refinishing it.

love it. it was a good solution for my christmas tree that i did. ikea fans seemed to like it. http://www.ikeafans.com/home/flatpack-christmas/

Stinking adorable. I'd be completely tickled pink if someone went to all the effort to make something like that for me.

Absolutely adorable... and it would indeed be perfect for dorm rooms!

God bless creative people everywhere! I'm sure she made her friend feel at home and cared about during her stay, while having her space free for a more thought out (and not necessarily instant) solution to her longterm needs after that.

"My first thought was, "Pee Wee's Playhouse" set...
...I have to disagree with the main contention of this post, though - that it would be a good solution for other areas."

1

Yea, yea, yea! This is just totally great! I, too, have a basement full of boxes from a recent move, and have felt completely defeated. Thanks for giving me some hope!

Wow! Thanks for the feature!

The furniture was actually made from the VERY LAST of all the boxes I had to unpack.
And my 2 kidlets are quite excited to keep it up for a bit, since it neighbors their playroom.

Thanks for all the lovely words & comments!
-Nikki

delightful !

playful !

thanks !

This is darling! I often dislike the cutesy DIY stuff posted on AT, but this is really clever.

Adorable! Feels like a storybook. It would be great for a kids room. If you used wood and painted it white, then drew on it. I think it would be fun.

I've been looking for a DIY headboard solution for the twin bed that is in my guest room/art studio. This is perfect!!

thoughtful, welcoming, warm and fun are the words that come to mind. really sweet!

How clever!

thank god it's temporary...

Cute and thoughtful.

It's so freaking cute! Unfortunately it wouldn't be nearly that cute if I attempted it :(

Actually in an earthquake country these type of ideas would be great... no heavy headboard to fall on you in your sleep.
I think great idea!!!!! It is a fun and creative idea... and like somebody said before she will know when it is time to change it... maybe make something different everytime...... if she has the time ofcourse.. lol something to do on a rainy day!!! thanks for the idea!!! I will definetley do something like this!!!

Seriously creative and fun! Imagine trying out different themes, from French country, to Baroque, Tyrolean, Moroccan... or even get surreal with inspiration from Dali or Picasso??? Endless fun if you ask me!

The most adorable furniture ever, Nikki.

I think this is a cute idea and these ideas could be put to use for other temporary times- dramatic play areas in classrooms, playdates, children's birthday parties, school vacation or rainy summer days... thanks ofr sparking our imaginations Nikki!

Your gonna have roaches soon! :D