![[No kit required] Introducing an easy and fun way to make a DIY cardboard house!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/xNUGT00qcus/maxresdefault.webp)
[No kit required] Introducing an easy and fun way to make a DIY cardboard house!
Why not turn used shipping boxes into a sturdy cardboard playhouse you can actually climb into and play in?
In this article, we introduce plenty of DIY cardboard house ideas you can make without any special kits.
We’ve picked ideas that are perfect for adults who once dreamed of secret hideouts and kids who long for a space of their own—projects you can enjoy together from assembly to playtime.
It’s packed with beginner-friendly methods for first-time cardboard house builders, so be sure to check it out!
[No kit required] Easy and fun DIY cardboard house tutorial! (1–10)
Stylish roofed cardboard house
This is a cardboard house with a stylish patterned roof.
In this idea, the sides of the house are made from cardboard, and the roof is created from a separate piece of cardboard and placed on top.
The roof can be triangular or rectangular, but making it a bit larger will make the house look more impressive.
These days, DIY wallpaper sheets are sold at 100-yen shops, so why not use them to create a chic-roofed cardboard house? Depending on the pattern you choose, it might turn into a very unique cardboard house.
If you have time, you may also want to put some thought into the windows and door!
A large cardboard house that adults can enter
Have you ever had the awkward experience of building a cardboard house for your child, only to be invited to “come play together”? When you try to get inside, it’s cramped because it’s made for kids.
So why not make a cardboard house that adults can enter too? You’ll need slightly larger boxes, but the benefit of being able to play together is huge, and your child will surely be delighted! Cut the parts a bit larger and build it so that even when an adult sits inside, the ceiling doesn’t bump their head.
Stylish and cute cardboard house
Cardboard houses are easy to make and great, aren’t they? But if you’re particular about your home’s interior, you might feel they don’t look quite right just as they are.
So why not try copying this chic and cute idea? With wallpaper sheets applied over the cardboard, you’d never guess it was made from boxes, and the window fitted with a planter of faux greenery is super stylish! It looks just like a little gnome’s house in the forest.
This idea is made by cutting out and combining the side walls, roof, and base parts from three cardboard boxes of the same size.
Cardboard house with a window
With just a single large cardboard sheet, you can make a simple house! First, tape the bottom flaps of the cardboard box together with packing tape, leaving one flap sticking out.
Use the flap you left out and the flap on the opposite side to form the roof, and reinforce the edge of the cardboard that will be the entrance with vinyl tape or similar.
With the main body done, feel free to customize it by adding windows or making a tiled roof.
Adding stickers or drawing on it is also recommended!
A cardboard house made using a Saran Wrap core
This is a cardboard house with a doorknob made from a plastic wrap core.
Use cardboard to build a house in any shape you like, and make double doors on the side.
Cut the wrap core to a suitable length and cover one end with silver origami paper.
Then wrap it around the side, and make another one the same way.
Use these as doorknobs and attach them to the doors to finish! If you add a ribbon or star decoration to the covered end, it will look even cuter.
You could even make a keyhole if you like.
Dome-shaped cardboard house
How about making a dome-shaped cardboard house that’s like a planetarium? First, connect rectangular pieces of cardboard to form a ring, then attach triangular cardboard pieces on top to create the dome.
That’s all there is to it, but if you just stick pieces together at random, it won’t turn out well.
So it’s best to start by drafting a plan and then cutting the cardboard according to it.
If you make the entrance open and close, you might even enjoy a home planetarium.
Give it a try!
Giant cardboard house
It’s an idea to turn an entire corner of your living room into a cardboard house! The cardboard used is a large 220-size box.
Just seeing that number, you can tell it’s going to be a huge cardboard house.
The tricky part with this idea isn’t just assembling it—the first challenge is cutting the cardboard.
Using scissors is tough, so a cardboard cutter is recommended.
In addition to a door and windows, try cutting out the side so you can see the TV.
If you want to let in light, you can skip the roof!
A cardboard house that can also be separated
If the kids keep fighting over a single cardboard house, how about this idea? Amazingly, one house can separate into two! The basic method is to cut parts from cardboard and assemble them into a house shape, but first, make two houses.
Then, so they connect on the inside, cut large openings in the side walls of both houses and use hook-and-loop fasteners so you can attach and detach the houses.
If the openings bother you when the houses are separated, you could add curtains or some kind of cover to hide them.
cardboard house with a door
Here’s an idea for a cardboard house with a proper door that opens and closes! Once you shape a large cardboard box into a house, cut out the door section with a utility knife.
You’ll use the cut-out piece as the door, so make a clean cut.
After cutting it out, punch holes along one side of the door with an awl.
Make matching holes in the house, then secure them with zip ties, and your door is done! This version features a big bay window; if you turn the bay window into a counter, kids can even play pretend shop!
Foldable cardboard house
Let me show you how to make a simple cardboard house using cardboard.
Prepare a large box and lay it on its side, then cut off the top side panel and the flaps.
Reinforce the cut edges and corners with vinyl tape or similar, and attach a roof made from two pieces of cardboard joined together down the middle.
That completes the house, but if you want to make it foldable, make cuts in the bottom of the house, the side panel that will be at the very back, and along the edges where these two panels meet.
After making the cuts in the side and bottom panels, tape over them from the outside.
You don’t need to tape the corner cuts!