Cardboard furniture is an economical and ecological solution

Cardboard chairs and tables can be the answer for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money on traditional furniture, either because they move a lot or because they will outgrow them in a few years. Although it may be gaining popularity with the recent push for more eco-friendly living, the idea of ​​cardboard furniture has been around for several decades. Designers are now using it to stylistically accent homes and more people are learning about its many uses.

Architect Frank Gehry is believed to have been the first to use cardboard when creating a line of furniture in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is said that he wanted to take basic materials and use them to create items that were visually striking yet also functional.

While many environmental groups have been promoting cardboard furniture for its benefits to the planet by using recycled materials, the advantages of using cardboard furniture go far beyond the “green” movement, especially when compared to regular furniture.

Traditional tables and chairs can be quite expensive, especially when transportation costs are considered. This high cost often means that once a furniture set is chosen, new homeowners are forced to keep it even if they have new ideas on how to decorate their home. A change of heart can be an expensive proposition. For those who move frequently, regular furniture transportation may require hiring a moving company or at least renting a large truck. Even for those who do it themselves, bringing regular furniture often means finding several friends willing to help out.

Cardboard furniture, however, overcomes many of these hurdles while still offering an attractive option for decorating a living space. It is often cheaper to buy it in advance because it is made from relatively inexpensive and often recycled material. Shipping is often less expensive as well because it can be shipped flat and doesn’t weigh as much as traditional furniture.

Once at home, cardboard furniture is easily assembled. Many pieces are designed to fold flat when not in use, making them easier to store in small places. Despite this portability, cardboard tables and chairs are made to support hundreds of pounds.

Cardboard furniture suits a variety of people groups compared to normal furniture. College students and their parents can take advantage of the low cost and ease of use of cardboard furniture. Students do not want to invest in an expensive furniture set that they will only have for a couple of years. Cardboard furniture can solve this problem since it doesn’t cost as much. Buying a couple of chairs and a table that can be recycled at the end of four years makes more sense than buying furniture that will have to be sold or stored after graduation.

Since many students live near their college only during the school year and then move home for the summer, transporting regular furniture can be a lot of work. Cardboard furniture, however, can be folded, laid flat, and then stored for the summer. It can be reassembled next year.

Standard furniture maintenance or repair can be expensive. The part may even have to be sent somewhere for repair. Fixing a cardboard chair or table can be cheaper because the material is readily available. Also, even replacing the entire drive may be a better option due to the low cost. For a money-conscious student, this can be a considerable savings if something should happen to the furniture.

For many of the same reasons, members of the military may find cardboard furniture an asset. With the ability to be moved from base to base at any time, having traditional furniture can become almost a burden. Again, there are the high costs of transporting it from a new home to another home. Also, a single active duty member of the military who may be sent overseas on an extended tour of duty may not want to leave behind expensive furniture to sit unattended for several months in an empty house.

While many of the people in the above groups may move quite often or not have a lot of money to spend, cardboard furniture may also appeal to those who plan to live in the same place for the rest of their lives.

Families have long struggled with children outgrowing furniture, first cribs and then toddler beds. There are also high chairs that will only be used for about a year. Even if they hold on to the expectation of another child, storing a high chair or crib can be difficult. These items are also expensive.

Cardboard furniture intended for young children can solve these problems. Cribs are available for less than $100. As with cardboard tables and chairs, assembling cardboard children’s furniture is often a matter of fitting cardboard pieces into tight slots in other pieces. Also, disposing of a cardboard crib or child’s chair is as easy as recycling it.

The low cost also means that you can buy a set of children’s cardboard chairs without worrying about whether they will last for several years. In fact, cardboard furniture can serve two purposes for children: the usual role of tables and chairs, but children can also “decorate” the furniture on their own. Children love to draw and can be encouraged to use their own creativity to draw or color cardboard furniture without parents worrying that the pieces will lose their potential resale value.

Cardboard furniture can also be safer than traditional furniture. It is smoother and has no sharp edges. Because of their easy portability, cardboard tables are often in demand for green groups working at trade shows or other booths, or for community bake sales or other events where they will be set up and then removed. They are not heavy enough to move but will still hold materials for display.

When traditional furniture becomes outdated or wears out, if it cannot be resold, it often has to be thrown in a landfill. However, cardboard furniture is more environmentally friendly because when it has served its purpose, it can be recycled along with normal boxes or containers.

For someone who lives on a tight budget or moves frequently, cardboard furniture may be the answer to outfitting a living space without breaking the bank or causing too much pain on moving day. It is less expensive than traditional furniture, can be easily assembled and disassembled for storage and transport, and is more environmentally friendly because it can be recycled when no longer needed.

With so many benefits over its traditional counterpart, cardboard furniture is worth at least a second look for someone wanting an economical and eco-friendly solution to home design.

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