Cardboard boxes are a common feature in our homes and our businesses. You will find them in almost every room, lying around or just stacked up in the garage. For businesses, corrugated cardboard plays a large part in packaging and other retail or industrial functions. Simply put, cardboard is an essential part of our everyday lives.
Many of us see them as part of the trash to be thrown away with the rest of the waste. Before you throw away that cardboard box, consider the various ways you can recycle it and extend its use. Below are seven most creative cardboard box recycling ideas that you can use:

1. Cardboard Tube Lamp

This is one creative and fun way of recycling cardboard boxes. It’s also easy to make. To come up with the perfect cardboard tube lamp, you need a basic glass hurricane. At the base of the glass is where you make attractive designs using your cardboard.

You could use the natural beige colour of cardboard. However, to give it a bit more personality, you could get creative by painting the cardboard in different colours. The more creative you get with your cardboard box recycling ideas, the better your cardboard tube lamp will look.

2. Cardboard Tube Napkins

If you have a restaurant, this is a cost-effective way to get creative with your cardboard box recycling. Basically, tube napkins are paper towel holders. To make one, cut out small round cardboard papers and decorate them with old fabrics. You can style them to your taste, perhaps a classy or an African-theme. So, the next time you are hosting a dinner party in your home, these delightful, beautiful cardboard napkins will definitely impress.

3. Cardboard iPhone Dock

iPhone docks don’t come cheap. An iPhone dock is simply a holder. Instead of buying one, why not make yours using cardboard. This way, you save money and also put your creative mind to work. If you don’t know how to make one, many online tutorials will take you through the motions step-by-step.

4. Cardboard Fabric Storage

If you’re into design and tailoring, chances are you have fabrics stacked somewhere in your closet. Instead of letting them cramp up your wardrobe, making it unsightly, why not store them in a cardboard box and neatly get them out of your way? To create cardboard fabric storage, all you need are a pair of scissors and cardboard paper, and you’re good to go.

Cut the cardboard into square or rectangular shapes and then neatly place them on a shelf. Use the cut cardboard to section your storage container to make it easy to pick out your fabrics.

5. Cardboard Drawer Dividers

You’ve probably, at one point, had a drawer where everything is shoved inside in no particular order. Not only does this make it hard to locate stuff when you need it, but it also makes you appear messy. With cardboard drawer dividers, you can change this perception.

Cut your cardboard into pieces and place them vertically in your drawer. Depending on the number of items to be stored inside, create enough sections using the cardboard to separate one section from another. This is a beautiful way of recycling your cardboard. Now, you’ve no excuse to be messy.

6. Make Cardboard Sculptures

There’s this famous guy called Chris Gilmour. He is popularly known for his ability to transform cardboard paper into creative and extremely stunning sculptures. If you’re looking to accessorize your home in a unique, beautiful way, you might want to study the art of Chris Gilmour.

The best thing is you can hardly ever go wrong with art, which may not be as good as Chris’s, but I’m pretty sure you will come up with something unique and highly creative at the end of the day. So, whether you want to make animal sculptures or anything else you fancy, your ‘useless’ cardboard boxes can suddenly be transformed into objects of art.

7. Making Kids’ Toys

If kids have no toys to play with, they quickly get bored. It’s when they’re idle and bored that they can get destructive. Luckily, you can make simple toys for them using your cardboard boxes. Cardboard toys are unique and fun. To make the activity even more exciting, involve the kids in making cardboard toys to give them a sense of accomplishment.

Using a toy they’ve made or were part of the team that made it makes the kids feel good about themselves. Besides, instead of spending copious amounts of money on toys, using cardboard boxes to make toys costs nothing; or next-to-nothing. Among toys you and the kids can make out of cardboard boxes include a box TV, a conveyor car belt, a house, a car, and costumes, among many other creative ideas.

Evidently, there is so much your cardboard box can do for you. Before you think of trashing it with the rest of your household waste, consider the various creative ways you can transform it into and extend its use. By doing this, you play your role in preserving the environment. Who knows, your efforts could save a tree and conserve the environment.