With countless packages crisscrossing the United States daily, used shipping supplies can easily stack up in your home or business. Why not put them to good use? There are plenty of inspirational blogs on how to transform used shipping equipment into something extraordinary.
Whether you’re freight shipping containers, shipping furniture, or even smaller fragile packages like art shipping, we’ve put together our top 4 most interesting things made from shipping equipment from large to small.
1. Extra Large - Shipping Containers Into Modern Homes
Image: Home DSGN
Mother Nature Network has a fantastic collection of wildly original shipping container homes, and there’s plenty more inspiration across the Internet. If you’re looking to go big with creative recycling, a DIY shipping container home or studio may be for you. Used shipping containers are surprisingly easy to obtain if you don’t have one of your own, and while making a home from scratch may seem like a daunting task, you (and your wallet) might be surprised at how easy and affordable it can be.
2. Large - Furniture Boxes Into Amazing Kids' Forts
Image: Hello Lucky
What’s great about furniture boxes is their versatility. Whether you want to create huge cardboard wonderlands or simply save it for future crafts, it’s the perfect medium for creative kids. iVillage has put together a great post titled “18 Amazing DIY Kids’ Toys You Can Make With A Cardboard Box”, and since we think bigger is better, our favorite is the adorable neon castle from Hello Lucky. Making a kids-only cardboard fort has never been so fun or easy!
3. Medium - Wooden Pallets into Herb Gardens
Image: Passyunk Post
No matter what color your thumb is, anyone can create a lush garden of herbs with a wooden pallet. Any size pallet will work, and we recommend treating it with a water seal beforehand to combat rot before it starts. Another hip idea is to paint the pallet with chalkboard paint so you can write the name of each herb right above it (and look very cool at the same time). Huffington Post has even more recycled wooden pallet ideas to inspire you – the opportunities are endless.
4. Crates Into Funky Shelves
Image: Discarded Development
Who says record players are out? Nostalgic music lovers are always on the prowl for creative record storage solutions and wooden or plastic shipping crates are a great and sturdy solution for them. If vinyl isn’t your thing, crates can add a DIY flair to your bedroom or living room storage. Design Squish even recommends transforming them into side tables, wall shelves, or bicycle baskets. Whether you have one or several shipping crates at your disposal, there are a variety of ways to incorporate them into your daily life.
By Steve Goble, VP of Marketing Communications for Navis Pack & Ship. When he's not spilling packing and shipping secrets, he's spending time with his family at a San Diego Padres or Chargers game. Connect with Steve on Google+ and LinkedIn.
