Amazing Cardboard Shelf!

In this Instructable, I'll be showing you how to make a small, useful cardboard shelf. It'll probably cost you next to nothing if you have some cardboard lying around the house, but it will provide a sense of accomplishment and happiness. Let's begin!

Step 1: Choose/Create Your Design

When making a cardboard shelf, the first thing to do is to design the shelf. This may require drawing up a few simple sketches, or even making a few rough drafts first. For me, the inspiration came from a design which I found on this site:

http://www.leokempf.com/

I thought this design would provide a challenge, while still maintaining an easy enough build. It also provides and interesting look and feel to the shelf.

Comments

[TekoMuto]

brilliant! I can't wait to start mine!!

[Loshanagan]

Good luck! Be sure to post pictures. Have fun!

[Ward_Nox]

this gives me an awesome idea thanks

[korikorikori]

Great instructable and also the first one I completed! I kind of improvised with the hanging part which included nailing some leftover cardboard cutouts and then gluing them to the shelf itself. I know it would be a mess removing it from the wall, but oh well :)

[Loshanagan]

Cool! Would you mind posting some pictures in the comments?

[iTixle]

Just a tip to anyone doing this: a great alternative to Elmer's glue or hot glue is spray adhesive. It easily forms strong, durable bonds. :)

[drabinowitz]

Notice the skinny piece of cardboard resting over the crack. Notice the skinny piece of cardboard resting over the crack. Notice the skinny piece of cardboard resting over the crack. Notice the skinny piece of cardboard resting over the crack.

[Noah972]

One last question, do you think Command velcro picture hanging strips could hold the shelf, since I don't want to put holes in my wall? (I think they're supposed to hold at least 2 pounds, but I don't remember exactly)

[Loshanagan]

Hmm... Well I bet they can hold a bit of weight, however, I think the shelf might fall since it is out from the wall more... That might not make sense because I don't really know how to put it...

[Noah972]

Thanks a lot!

[Noah972]

Okay, so velcro strips don't work... and I had put a piece of cardboard on the back of my shelf to make it level, but it wasn't stable, so I tore it off, meaning my shelf edges come out almost a full inch from the back of the shelf, and I can't trim them. I also can't use long nails or brackets because they would damage the wall. Can anybody think of a simple, cheap, easy way to hang this without damaging anything that actually works?

[bricabracwizard]

You could use two wooden battens about 1" wide that reach the floor, attach your shelf to the battens and velcro the top of the battens to the wall. To make it look good paint the battens gloss black or white - hope this helps or gives you some other ideas.

[Noah972]

Thanks! Say, what exactly is a wooden batten?

[bricabracwizard]

It's just a thin strip of wood approx 1/2" by 1 1/2" wide, the length will be determined by the height you want the shelf. Just another name for a small plank, on board ships they say "batten" down the hatches, which basically means cover any holes with small planks

[Noah972]

Phew! I finished my shelf on Saturday and it looks great! It's a little wonky, since I'm not too good with an X-acto knife, but it only took 2 Saturdays to make and it's very sturdy. I haven't hung it yet, and I'm still debating how I should do it, but I'm really excited to. My desktop computer is down and I'm on my laptop, so I can't post a picture, but as soon as I can, I will. Very great instructable and really well thought out. Thanks for the idea, and I hope to see more great ones in the future!

[Loshanagan]

Wonderful! Yeah please do post pictures when possible!

[zpwn06]

would recommend using angle brackets to hang your shelf. These can be purchased from a hardware store, or, of course made from cardboard

[Loshanagan]

Yeah, those probably would have been better, but the finishing nails worked well enough, plus I was getting impatient. haha

[msdrpepper]

angle brackets are a nice idea. Your nails are good too - and cheaper!! ;-)

[technofossil]

You could also use a french cleat. It's 2 pieces of wood (or cardboard) that are cut at an angle on the long edge. One piece is attached to the wall and the other in the design of the shelf. It will allow the shelf to be moved slightly left and right for aesthetic positioning. If you attach one on the top and bottom edge, it may allow the shelf to hold more weight.

I attached a diagram but a quick Google search will give you more info.

Great job. I'm thinking of building one for next to my desk.

[Loshanagan]

I like it...

[technofossil]

Since posting it I have been giving it some thought. I don;t think the french cleat will work with a floating shelf. It may pull off the wall. However, you are holding it on with just finishing nails. It may be worth a shot but I think it will need vertical braces coming down to steady it.

[Blue Mark]

For a stronger shelf, just stack together layers of cut-out corrugated cardboard together. They can be glued together with contact cement or spray adhesive into a super lamination. Leave the surface uncovered to celebrate the cardboardness of the material. Laminated corrugated cardboard is incredibly strong - you can make furniture with it. http://www.igreenspot.com/gruff-an-eco-friendly-furniture/

[Loshanagan]

That is neat, but I didn't have enough cardboard for that type of construction.

[pop88]

Hello '
How to stick on the wall
thank you

[Loshanagan]

Check out Step 9

[pop88]

thank you

[Loshanagan]

No problem.

[uukay]

yay i just got an ipod touch 4 days ago

[Loshanagan]

Good choice!

[uukay]

yeah it is Ipod Touch 4th Generation!

[Icalasari]

How large can you scale one of these before the cardboard couldn't support things?

Because it would be neat to make one large enough to act as a bookshelf, but I highly doubt that that would work

[Loshanagan]

Well if you made a shelf that rested on the floor, like a book case, then you would make it a little differently than my method. The way you hang it is important too. If you hang it with only nails, it won't support weight further out. However, if you use L braces or something different, it'll probably support more further out. (Assuming that the shelf is bigger)

[Noah972]

If you had to give a rough guess, what would be the dimensions of the cardboard you used?

[Loshanagan]

As in the total cardboard? Hmm... Maybe about 16" X 16", I'm not quite sure.

[Noah972]

Thanks! Great instructable, btw!

[Noah972]

I have a cardboard box that was holding a 16" X 20" portrait, so it'll work perfectly!

[willrandship]

I was thinking "wait a minute..." until I saw the iPod. :P nice build!

[Loshanagan]

Sorry, I don't follow....

[absolofdoom]

Probably was confused the way I was, I thought it was huge at first, until you just said the dimensions of your cardboard. (I actually thought that must be an ipad in my delusions, didn't check it very well)