The “Cardboard Rule” Is the Secret to Making Sure You’ll Love Your Next Reno

I’m always amazed by DIYers on Instagram and TikTok who can create dramatic architectural features in their home seemingly out of thin air. DIYer Amber Ingram of @westonwillow_ is one of them — using her 1890s Chicago condo as her palette, she has tackled striking, shapeshifting projects time and time again. Building archways throughout her home? She’s done it — beautifully. Creating a “cloffice” for work? Yup, and with style. Installing between-the-studs storage? Been there, done that. 

Even if you don’t have the woodworking savvy of Ingram, you might wish you had some way to test out what a woodworking project might look like in your home before you hire a pro. Enter: Ingram’s ingenious way to test the waters before tipping a toe into a big home project — the cardboard method.

Essentially, it’s cardboard crafting meets project prototyping. “Before I cut, drill, or spend, I prototype,” Ingram shares on Instagram. She has created cardboard cutout versions of her arch-shaped hallway threshold, her kitchen statement hood, and her bathroom trim.

“Cardboard and tape help test size, function, and flow before committing,” Ingram says on Instagram. “Seeing an idea in real space can prevent costly mistakes (and DIY regrets). It’s simple, cheap, and makes all the difference!” 

Your cardboard creation doesn’t have to be perfect, but if you tape together the shape you’re envisioning as close as you can, you’ll get a sense of what, for example, a built-in bench or chunky trim or a dramatic mantel might look like. 

All you need is a box cutter, measuring tape, packing tape, and large boxes. (Here’s where you can source big boxes for free, by the way.) This method will help you figure out the shape and scale of your project, especially if you don’t want to make online mockups and prefer to see something in a space. 

A few projects the cardboard method would be perfect for? Adding an expensive, large piece of furniture to your home, like a sofa, bench, or a bookshelf. Check the online measurements and “build” it out of cardboard first. Crafting a partition or room divider? Make it out of cardboard first and test it in the space to see what it would look like a little more chopped up. Designing your own headboard? Create your dream silhouette out of cardboard before you buy materials, so you’ll know exactly how much you’ll need. 

There are tons of ways to use cardboard as a rendering tool, so keep all those Amazon, Target, and IKEA boxes. They might just come in handy for your next home project.