It’s early in the year…and you know what that means. If you did a lot of your Christmas shopping online, you probably still have boxes lying around. Maybe you stacked a bunch of Amazon boxes in your basement or garage. Maybe they’re still taking up space in your kitchen or master bedroom (this is me). You’d love to get rid of them, but you keep thinking, “that’s a perfectly good box…why toss it? I’ll probably need it for something soon.” Am I right? Well, instead of waiting for a need to arise, take the chance right now to put those leftover boxes to good use.
1. Make Postcards
If you cut some 6″ x 4″ pieces out of those boxes, you can make postcards that you can actually mail. Let your kids decorate them however they want and send them to their friends or relatives. Grandma would love getting some artwork in the mail, wouldn’t she? Decorate them, write on them, then stick on a stamp and send them away.
2. Fight Weeds
Did you know that pieces of cardboard make fantastic weed barrier? It’s true. Flatten and lay out your boxes, then arrange them anywhere you don’t want weeds. Wet it down to help it stay, then cover it with mulch. It’s really effective, eco-friendly, and it’s free!
3. Make Costumes
Halloween is still a way off, but if you can store your boxes until then, you can make all kinds of different Halloween costumes and masks with cardboard boxes.
4. Protect Your Floor
Got chairs or tables on your nice wood floor? Don’t let sliding them around cause damage. Place the chair or table leg on a piece of cardboard, then trace around it. Cut out that piece and glue or otherwise stick it to each leg. It’ll keep your floors from getting scratched.
5. Cushion Your Knees
If you have a gardening or home project to do that requires kneeling, don’t let your knees get bruised. Grab a flattened cardboard box and put it between your knees and the ground. Double or triple layer it if you want. It provides great cushioning.
6. Plant Stuff
Yes, you can plant stuff in a cardboard box. Embellish if if you want, but all you really need to do is line it with a plastic bag with a few drainage holes poked in it. These can actually be really cute. Flowers and grasses look great in a cardboard box.
7. Build a Maze
If you have kids — and a lot of boxes — you can pretty easily build a maze that’ll keep the little ones entertained for a while. Let them decorate the inside while they look for a way out. Cut a doorway or two into every box and join them together with some good binder clips.
8. Make a Star
You know those large, rustic metal stars people love to hang on their walls? I paid good money for mine and it wasn’t cheap. Wish I’d seen this idea sooner! It’s easy to make your own with cardboard. Once it’s painted, nobody will know what it’s made of.
Make your home even MORE clutter free with these tips and tricks:
11 Ways to Reuse Paper Towel Rolls
12 Genius Ways to Store Christmas Décor
20 Hacks Every Shoe Owner Needs to Know
