A Kid's Dream Cardboard Castle Made Out of Boxes

This is my second cardboard castle to build for my kids. The first castle I built was a hit, but after having another child it was time to expand. This castle contains a Main Room, Middle Room and a Tower Room inviting more guests to fit inside. I got an email from IKEA about getting more pictures for the popular Building a Cardboard Castle #1 and sadly that castle didn't survive our latest move to Austin. So I offered to build a new castle which is to be featured in an "Up Cycling" book for IKEA France.

I built a lot of "forts" when I was a kid from boxes, baskets, couch pillows, blankets or anything I could get my hands on. Most children love building "forts" and playing inside them. Whether they are hiding, playing pretend, or just cozying up and reading books, a fort is a perfect little space for a small children to feel secure in a big world.

Building this castle of course is a great bonding experience. The kids love participating in the construction. Just be extra careful with the hot glue and razors, which I had to supervise at all times.

Materials

• Lots of cardboard boxes (I used recycled moving boxes and some donated boxes)
• 1 each 24" x 20" x 46" Large Wardrobe Box (Left Tower)
• 1 each 18" x 18" x 28" Dish Barrel Box (Middle Room)
• 1 each 27" x 26" x 36.5" Chair Box (Main Right)
• 1 each 48" x 96" Double Wall Corrugated Sheet (Trim and Toppers)
• 4-6 Large moving boxes for trim and coin corners

Tools

• Razor Blade Knife
• Measuring Tape
• Straight Edge
• Hot Glue Gun
• Sandpaper (Optional)

Steps

1. Glue the three main boxes together
2. Cut out doors and windows
3. Cut and fold a ton of coin corner rectangles out
4. Decorative trim the Windows
5. Decorative trim the Doors
6. Add the 2 Toppers for Tower Left and Main Hall Right
7. Add the Slanted Roof for the Middle Room