Cute cardboard shelters are not easy to find, as this type of material is usually associated with garbage and storage. However, using cardboard to make a makeshift abode is actually easier than one might think.
Designers have come up with an array of plans made from cardboard, including pop-up shops for fashion-lovers to check out the latest collections from local artisans, as well as practical office spaces. Using this material does not guarantee protection from the rain, but it does offer a great area to avoid the wind.
Cute cardboard shelters offer people a different option when it comes to space. For those looking to promote certain products but don't have a room, start piecing together leftover cardboard and create your own area for showcases.
20 Cute Cardboard Shelters
20
Cardboard Box Pop-Up Shops
Naver App Square is a Cool Temporary Store by Urbantainer
19
Odd Recyclable Offices
Alrik Koudenburg & Joost van Bleiswijk Design the Nothing Cardboard Bureau
18
Portable Personal Bubbles
MMASA Architects & Cipriano Chas Let You Be a Bubble Boy (or Girl)
17
Coiled Cardboard Structures
The Living Nature Pavilion Explores How Space and Light Interact
16
Miniature Paper Cities
The 'Paper Metropolis' by Kiel Johnson Redefines Building Blocks
15
Simple Pop-Up Shelters
Atelier OPA Creates Simple Cardboard Havens That Takes Seconds to Make
14
Recycling Box Dwellings
Recycled Student Housing Saves Space and Environment
13
Cardboard-Constructed Shelter Homes
The Leo Burnett Raising The Roof Campaign: The Street House
12
Cutout Cardboard Walls
The President Design Shop is Made Entirely of Recycled Paper
11
Cardboard Maze Exhibits
Michelangelo Pistoletto's Mirror of Judgment is Divinely Disorienting
10
Cardboard Constructed Interiors
The Bloomberg Meeting Space by Lazerian is Paper-Made
9
Feline Wigwams
The Cat Tepee Gets Your Cat off of the Couch and into a Place of Its Own
8
Cardboard Churches
The 1864 Cathedral in New Zealand Will Be Rebuilt Out of Cardboard
7
Disaster Housing Designs
The Octagon Post-Earthquake House
6
Medieval Cardboard Chambers
The 'Hidden Lines' Guest Room by Jeroen van Mechelen
5
Towering Cardboard Castles
Nina Lindgren Creates Super-Sized Eco-Art
4
Mini Taj Mahals
The Water Tank Palaces Provides Children With Playful Abodes
3
Temporary Reflective Shelters
The Hexayurt Geodesic Dome is the Perfect Nomad Desert Refuge
2
Insect-Inspired Office Additions
The Pupa Pavilion is a Creative and Green Meeting Space
1
Cardboard Critter Carriers
Transformational Shoeboxes by Zooligans Will Blow Your Mind
Related Ideas
52 Pop-Up Establishments
Temporary Biz, from Pop-Up Fashion Restaurants to Pop-Up Nightclubs
30 Disaster-Proof Homes
From Post-Quake Container Houses to Inflatable Micro Homes
Sustainable Shipping Shelters
The Container Guest House is a Cozy and Eco-Friendly Home
31 Creative Cardboard Spaces
From Cardboard Cat Houses to Luxury Paper Pop-Ups
Bite-Sized Olympian Diets
The 'Meals of Athletes at the Olympics' Photo Series is a Mouthful
Sustainable Stackable Shelves
The Dany Gilles 800g Library Makes Interlocking Eco Storage
Sturdy Refugee Residences
The NIDO Portable Shelter is an Efficient, Effective Homeless Refuge
Modular Cubed Pop-Ups
Illy Temporary Shop by Caterina Tiazzoldi Can Be Adapted to Different Areas
Cardboard Origami Shelters
The Tine Hovsepian 'Cardborigami' Unfolds for the Homeless
Real Life Hobbit Havens
The Habitable Polyhedron is a Family Retreat Playhouse
53 Colossal Castles and Mansions
From Hillside Party Mansions to Cardboard Castles
Abstract Cardboard Art
Toby Horrocks Designs Flat Pack Pieces That Represent Four Magazines
Puppy Teepees
The Pup Tent by Slade Architecture Lets Your Dog Sleep in Comfort
Hopeful Origami Typography
Kyosuke Nishida Created 'Words Can Fly' to Encourage Japanese People
Fluttering Stationary Sculptures
The Bourrasque Light Sculptue Lights Up the Night in Lyon
Vacation Teepees
The Pre-Fabricated Peak Series by Visiondivision
Domed Camping Enclosures
The Spherical BubbleTree Tent is a Futuristic, Pneumatic Abode
Cardboard Cars
Chris Gilmous Adds to his Amazing Cardboard Art with the McLaren M8B Replica
Ingenious Eco Displays
Coca-Cola Green Initiative Set to Spark Green Arms Race
On-Demand Housing
Portable Shelter for Environmentally Conscientious Disaster Relief
Eco-Friendly Folding Packaging
Timberland Earthkeepers Shoebox Encourages Reuse
DIY Corrugated Creatures
The Herokid Magic Box is an Easily-Assembled Box Buddy
Panoramic Transparent Pavilions
The Pavillon360 by Glas Marte Offers Users an Unblemished Vista
Biblical Phone Covers
The BookBook for iPhone Will Make You Seem Holy
Livable Sculptural Installations
The Eco-Desert Retreat is Part Art and Part Sustainable Abode
15 Creative Kyle Bean Creations
From Eggstreme Chicken Sculptures to Beard Typography
Bulbous Honeycomb Sculptures
HEXigloo is an Intricate Exploration of Parametric Design
Chaotic Paper Sculptures
The Prisoners of Conscience Exhibit is Inspired by Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Simple Gesturing Stationary
The Mondolfi 'Enough Said' Cards are Straight to the Point
Art Museum Skate Shops
The Nike Bowery Stadium 'The Wave' Exhibit is a Surf and Skate Oasis
Luxury Paper Pop-Ups
Hermes + Shigeru Ban Pavilion is an Eco-Friendly Design
Thunderstorm Interiors
This Sculpture by The Glue Society is Dripping With Meaning
Comfy Waffle Seating
The Intricately Designed Cardboard Chick 'n' Egg Chair
Stunning Corrugated Sculptures
Vally Nomidou Makes Perfect Paper People
Inky Music Icon Ads
The DCS Audiophile Equipment Campaign Urges People to 'Save the Music'
Advantageous Transit Shelters
The Solar Stop Will Entertain You Until Your Bus Arrives
DIY Dried Fruit Decorations
The 'Annie's Eats' Pineapple Dessert Flowers are Surreal
Iconic Pet Character Ads
The HKAAC Animal Adoption Centre Campaign Encourages Experiences
Camouflaged Cardboard Boxes
The Art of Cayetano Ferrer Plays Hide and Seek
16 Clever Cardboard Chairs
From Cinema Seating to Bar Benches
Geometric Cardboard Seats
Lazerian Studio Reveals Recycled Cardboard Furniture in Milan
Eco Minimalist Shoeboxes
The Clever Little Bag from Puma is Captain Planet-Approved
Surreal Silk Vortexes
Akiko Ikeuchi's Knotted Thread is Intricately Delicate
Cutting-Edge Corrugated Lumber
Corelam Wood Offers Improved Material Strength
Otherworldly Replicas
A Handcrafted Duct Tape AT-AT Model Excites Jedis
Bicycle Rack Homes
Joseph Bellomo's 'House Arc' Redefines Prefab Housing
Spikey Seed Sanctuaries
The Rosebud Orthodox Church Burgeons Like a Modern Bulb
Simple Pop-Up Shelters
Atelier OPA Creates Simple Cardboard Havens That Takes Seconds to Make
Domed Sea Creature Structures
This University of Stuttgart Pavilion was Inspired by Biology
Feline Friendly Tents
The Native American Cat Teepee is a New World of Fun
3D Pork Packaging
D-Torso's Cardboard Box Houses a Ham Within a Pig
Dangerous Retro Playhouses
Playgrounds from the 70s are Modern Bad Ideas
Wearable Portable Shelter
The Lullatic Portable Home is a Haute Life-Saving Apparel
Paper Crane Decor
The Dottir & Sonur Origami Collection is Playful and Vibrant
Prefab Playhouses
Modern Cabana Takes Its Prefabrication Skill to the Kiddo Cabana
Forest-Embracing Abodes
Dutchess Country Residence is Made of Wood and Passable Glass
Search Engine Pop-Up Shops
The World's First Androidland Opens in Australia
Roof Top PreFabs
EcoMobi: Modular Housing System Alleviates Urban Density
Cardboard Garbage Containers
The Hobnob Pop-Up Party Bins are Made for Get Togethers
Crooked Playhouses
Whimsical Play Homes You Can Customize With Paint & Porches
Human Bubbles
Defy Gravity and Play Like a Hamster with Waterwalkerz
Huge Holy Houses
Old Church Remodeled into the $7.5 Million 601 Dolores Street Home
Scenic Panoramic Pavilions
The Norwegian Wild Reindeer Center is a Fun-Filled Site
Cultured Travel Campaigns
The Hong Kong International Airport Advocates 'Art in Airport'
Alluring Digital Designs
These Ryan Rachmanto Works Feature Seductive Iridescent Women
Protruding Sculptural Stores
The Lake & Stars Popup Shop by SOFTlab is Enlightening
Angular Arboreal Sanctuaries
The Ecumenical Chapel by AOA Architects Branches Out to All
Rope-Knit Canopies
The Netscape Pavilion Takes on a Nautical and Futuristic Form
Playhouse-Styled Schools
Block X is an Unusual Learning Institution
Paper-Crafted Critters (UPDATE)
Diana Beltran Herrera Creates New Bird and Wildlife Ornaments
A-Maze-ing Salt Exhibits (UPDATE)
These Salt Mazes by Motoi Yamamoto Will Blow Your Mind
Cardboard Office Pranks
The Cardboard Office Prank is the Ultimate Workplace Joke
Origami-Riddled Tannenbaums
The World Tree of Hope is Filled With Well Wishes for the Future
Paper Money Piggy Banks
The B.B. Billosaur Accepts No Coins and Only Notes
Medieval Retail Developments
The Weilburg Rathaus Terraces Will Replace Parking Spaces
Clustered Cardboard Soundscapes
The Zimoun + Hannes Zweifel Installation Sounds Like Raindrops
Disposable Disaster Photography
Aichi Hirano Gives Japan's Tsunami Victims Disposable Cameras
Pencil-Shaved Portraits
Kyle Bean Uses Writing Utensil Scraps for These Caricatures
Eerie Facial Wallpaper
The Cole & Son Fornasetti Collection Makes a Bold Decor Statement
Artificial Catchment Architecture
This Subnature New York Proposal Accrues Clean Water
Alchemy Marionette Sculptures
Antonio Barros Carvalho Creates Stringed Puppets With Lab Equipment
Flowing Facade Structures
The Wavescape Pavilion Mimics the Waves and Tides of the Ocean
Dual Purpose Packaging
Juan Regueiro Crafts a Cheese Container that Doubles as a Cutting Board
Curvy Contemporary Cathedrals
The San Josemaria Escriva Church Brings New Shape to Church Design
Glossy Mag Mane Ads
The Estetica Magazine Campaign Promotes a Hair Designer's Tool
Feuding Family Campaigns
The Sprint Meeting Commercial Shows the Downside of Sharing
Midas-Touch Church-Toppers
The Arch-Group and Sade Sarl Design a Futuristic Russian Church
Pixelated Box Heavens
Cardboard Cloud Installation by Fantastic Norway Reaches for the Stars
Fallen Log Seating
Toby Horrocks' Freefold Furniture Features a Seat-Bookshelf Hybrid
Petite Plant Installations
Luzinterruptus 'Implanted Nature' Nurtures the Environment
Blooming Jewelry Boxes
Nue Gallery Competition Winner Creates New Package for Diamonds
Teepee Towers
The Swedish Ski Resort is a Little Boy's Fantasy Playground
Modern Faceted Mausoleums
The Panteon Nube Looks like a Contemporary Ice Cave
Clever Coffee Cup Connectors
Smart Holder is a Modular Sleeve for Multiple Styrofoam Cups
Pop-Up Paper Refuges
The Origami Shelter Provides Easy Emergency Protection for the Elements
Recession-Friendly Rooming
The Unit3 Housing Concept Changes Based on Needs
Behemoth Arcade Games
The Giant Google Xoom Labyrinth Steals the Show at Google I/O 2011
Cardboard Cat Houses
The Kitty Dome is a Sustainable Space for Your Furry Feline
Tech Teepees
The Abilmo Solar Wifi Teepee Lets You Camp (and Surf the Internet) in Style
Sketch-and-Text Branding
Greenpharma Packaging Incoporates Simplicity and Intricacy
Triangular Teepee Art
Steven Harrington Signed Prints Released on Arkitip
Cardboard Churches
The 1864 Cathedral in New Zealand Will Be Rebuilt Out of Cardboard
Physical Search Engine Shops
Google Chrome Zone Pop-Up Opens in London
Western Noir Liquor Commercials
Bulleit Bourbon 'It's a Long Story' Film Tells a Dark Tale
Vintage Sneaker Speakers
The Nike Boombox Shoebox is a Unique DIY Project With Retro Qualities
Bookworm Bus Shelters
Read While You Wait for Transit at the Magazine Kiosk Bus Stop
Virtual Skater Enviros
Take a Ride in the Electroland 'Skate 1.0' Skateboard Park
Temporary Herd-like Shelters
Winnipeg Skating Shelters Mimics Buffalo's Back to the Wind Strategy
Moody Automobile Ads
The Fiat 500 Twinair Campaign is Fun Only in the Car
Towering Cardboard Castles
Nina Lindgren Creates Super-Sized Eco-Art
Portable Burlesque Bars
My Cointreau Travel Essentials Lets Users Create Cocktails Anywhere
Destructive Edible Weapons
The Series 'Soft Guerilla' by Kyle Bean is a Fresh Take On Corruption
Sustainable Clothing Pop-Ups
Nike, Hurley & Otis College 'Considered' Exhibit Centers on Salvation
Thermoformed Decor Wallpaper
The Elitis Vases Series is Contemporary and Unconventional
Encased Paper Doll Displays
The 'Paptertoy Ladies' Hermien Verstraeten Series
Thoughtful Disaster-Warning Ads
The FEMA/Ad Counceil 'The Day Before' Spot is Emotional
Wizard Visage Labyrinths
The 'Maize Maze' is Shaped Like Harry Potter's Famous Face
Bamboo Biofilter Teepees
West Coast Green's Pollution-Protecting Wooden Structures
Homeless Cocoon Shelters
This Nifty Hwang Kim Design Offers Discrete, Portable Outdoor Protection
Playhouse Publicity
Broadway Talk-Backs New Method for Luring in Crowds
Deconstructed Cardboard Art
The ‘Studies Sleeping Reorganization' Series by Anne De Vr
Coaling Coop Communities
Social Housing for Miners Proves to be a Great Investment
Fish Irony Commercials
Bundaberg Red 'The Catfish' Spot Demonstrates How Life is Rough
Spaceship Playhouses
The 'Star Wars' TIE Fighter Playhouse is Perfect for Children
Oversized Hat Exhibits
Erwin Wurm Creates a Giant Police Hat for Vienna's Law Enforcement
Abstract Spaghetti Branding
iPates Pasta Packaging Appeals to the Young and Hungry
Inflatable Churches
Transparante Kerk is a Pop-Up Church That is the First of its Kind
Complimentary Communicating Dispensers
Kenneth the Talking Vending Machine Gives Out Free Coffee
Sculptural Religious Sanctuaries
The Martin Luther Church Focuses on Light and Transparency
Multi-Purpose Kids' Centers
The Deskhouse is a Children's Playhouse and Art Desk
Tranquil Desert Eco Enclaves
The Banyan Tree Al Wadi Luxe Resort Cohabitates on a Nature Reserve
$4,000 Reflections
The Commonwealth 'Smolten Mirror' is an Elegant and Unique Work of Art
Garden Gnome Merchandizing
Norsk Ol Packaging Includes Fetching Folklore Refrences
Lab-Approved Candelabras
The Minerals Collection by Lazerian Looks Like a Set of Beakers
Toothy Beverage Branding
Kido Milk Packaging Smiles About Calcium for Your Pearly Whites
Perfectly Staged Lamps
Confused Direction Sets the Scene for the Melle Lamp