Cardboard Cubbies

Do you have a lot of stuff, and not a lot of space to store it in? Do you lack the cash flow required to hire an organizer or find that perfect storage system? I have stumbled upon the perfect (read: free) cure for clutter.

I was trying to clean around my sewing stuff one day. I recall trying to shove things behind a bookcase just to get them out of the way, but I was having a hard time. I went around to the other side of the bookcase to pull out the guilty obstruction, and found 4 (of many) flattened boxes. It was at this time, I heard a ringing in my ears, and everything went white. I had the sensation I was floating, and I heard a voice all around me booming, "Cubbies!"

I awoke several hours later with a slight headache and a mission. That mission was to build...

Cardboard Cubbies.

Step 1 Supplies

OK, so here are the supplies I used:
X-acto knife with a bigger rounded blade, for cutting cardboard
A ruler, or solid straight edge, for cutting straight lines
A Glue Gun, for gluing box flaps
Many, many glue gun sticks, ammunition for the glue gun
Spray paint, for the inside of box
Any sort of paint, for outside of box
Paint Brush, for obvious reasons
A solid surface you don't mind getting paint on, to protect your rented floor, I used...surprise! flattened boxes.
A frightening amount of sh...stuff.
An iPod to keep you entertained. I listened to Jello Biafra and the Melvins...It was motivating and very diy appropriate.
A curious cat that should not be so close to knives, spray paint, hot glue guns, etc.

*Cat can be replaced with any domesticated animal, or clingy person.

Comments

[iamrusky]

 i like your sexy furry chair.

[deofthedead]

Haha! I was hoping that staring at the antifreeze boxes (boxes with a 'shelf' in the center to balance the heavy bottles, also doubly strong than normal cardboard, and you don't even usually have to modify them much aside from cutting the top flaps off!) at work and getting the idea to use them as modular shelving was a novel one, however you have beaten me, my dear genius! Regardless, this is brilliant, as I was sort of trying to figure out how to.. un-boxify them in appearance. Mmmyess.

*strokes her chin and ponders* XD

[shooby]

What happened to people using milk crates? Free, reusable, and you don't need to spray paint, which makes for a healthier solution all in all.

[forced_to_make_an_account]

"free" = easily stolen, LOL

[shooby]

too true! But, they're also easily returned. If I were to move to a different city, I'd definitely drop my collection off somewhere appropriate, and "find" some at my new destination.

[freckleface]

I really like this instructable. Not only very useful and adaptable, it was entertaining, too! I see my office space / craft table having some modular box shelving in its near future!

If you want to make lids for your box-shelving, I saw another instructable here that shows how to make boxes. You could easily make lids using his methods. http://www.instructables.com/id/A_Faster_Easier_Way_to_Make_Boxes/

[collegedesign]

where would you be able to get milk crates...for free?

[annievone]

This is my favorite instructable yet!!!

[blacknkhak]

I looked at your instructable because i like your picture

[Punkergal]

Photo courtesy of Shotinthedarkphotography.com...Artana's amazing

[blacknkhak]

wow, the link you sent is very cool. thank you.

[canyonmn]

"Curiosity killed the cat" was the theme sog for "Peeping Penguins" .. Gotta love Max Fleischer. :-)

[Punkergal]

Not the reference I was looking for, but what the heck, I still love you.

[Valche]

Iggy Pop? He's the man. The Stooges are great too.

[Punkergal]

And we have a winner!! You get free instructions on how to make cardboard cubbies and the confidence that comes with being able to identify a random iggy pop song!

[rcdiugun]

Thank you! You have just given me an idea on how to arrange my wardrobe closet! :D

[Punkergal]

right on! You can come organize the rest of my room when yer done! ;)

[kellimaier]

I think this is a great idea. I love the gold but i might cover mine with fabric.

[Punkergal]

That's a great idea...I plan to make curtains for mine at some point...

[Punkergal]

AAAHHH!!! Hooray!! I'm glad you guys are enjoying my instructable...Thanks for your wonderful comments!!

[hedgiehog]

love the name, cubbie, u should sell it, cubbie, sounds awesome,

[kzaaaaa]

cubbie is a pre-existing term, actually

[GorillazMiko]

"Do you have a lot of stuff, and not a lot of space to store it in?"

Yes, I do.

Great Instructable, I might really need to do this, too much stuff in my room. :-/

But wow, nice Instructable, and I like your cat! :D

[SpinWard]

WHoa, thanks for the great instructable. We have lots of boxes at work and I was looking at having to apend $50+ to organize my kids room! Ahhh, this will save me money and I too will be able to play with spraypaint! Thanks!

[PKM]

"please lemme know if I left anything vital out or committed some heinous faux pas..." No, I don't think you did. A good list of materials, clear instructions, useful photos and humour are pretty much a winning combination. Some people with a more child-centred approach may take slight exception to mild bad language, but the thought police aren't going to come knocking at your door because you used the word "damn". I try to make a point of making positive comments on first instructables just because I was so encouraged and pleased by the strong positive response to my own first submission, but in this case I would have said "good job" anyway because- it is a good Instructable :) Keep it up!

[canida]

Sweet! Love the gold paint, too.