How to Make a DIY Cardboard Play Kitchen: Recycle, Craft, and Play!
Build a DIY cardboard play kitchen with recycled boxes! Budget-friendly, kid-approved, and easy to assemble with Makedo tools!
DIY Cardboard Play Kitchen: Fun and Budget-Friendly Craft for Kids
Looking for an affordable and eco-friendly way to bring playtime to life? A DIY cardboard play kitchen might be the perfect solution! Not only does it recycle all those cardboard boxes you’ve accumulated, but it also gives your kids a fun space to pretend, cook, and play—without spending a ton of money on a store-bought version. Plus, it’s a great way to test if your little ones will actually use a play kitchen before you commit to buying a more durable one. We even got creative with a real working sink (though, fair warning: water and cardboard don’t always mix!), stocked the fridge with pretend food, and added some fun tools like pots, pans, and a kid-friendly knife set. And with a cool tool kit from Makedo, you won’t even need tape or scissors to assemble it all—just some creativity and a few handy “scrus” to bring it together. I’ll link everything below!
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Fun Items to Add to Your DIY Cardboard Play Kitchen
Here are some of the key items we used to bring our DIY cardboard play kitchen to life. These tools and toys make the setup more functional and fun for your kids!
Makedo Tool Kit
The ultimate cardboard building kit that lets your kids cut, screw, and connect without needing tape or scissors.
Play Sink
A real working sink that recirculates water, adding a fun and interactive feature to the kitchen—but remember, put down some towels because cardboard & water don’t always mix!
Pots, Pans, Knife, Cooking Tools, and Play Food Set
This kid-safe set includes everything your mini chef needs—pots, pans, knife set, essential cooking tools, and play food to stir up some fun in the play kitchen.
A to Z Play Food Set
This educational play food set features items labeled from A to Z, where each letter phonetically matches the item it represents—like M for milk, D for donuts—making it a fun way for kids to learn letters while they play!
How I Made My DIY Cardboard Play Kitchen
Building your own cardboard play kitchen is not only eco-friendly, but it’s also fully customizable depending on the types of boxes you have at home. Here’s a general guide on how I created ours, but feel free to adapt based on what materials you have on hand!
1. Create the Refrigerator
Start by saving a large box that will serve as your fridge. Cut down the center to create two doors and add handles using Makedo scrus. Inside, I added two shelves made from extra cardboard to hold play food, but you can add as many or as few shelves as you want!
2. Build the Stove
For the stove, use a box about half the size of your fridge. I drew four stovetops using paint sticks and used the Makedo scrus as the stove’s controls, giving it a fun, interactive feel. For the oven, cut an opening in the front of the box. I decorated the front of the oven with black cardboard and added a handle. On the side of the stove, I fastened more scrus in a row so I could hang kitchen utensils within easy reach.
3. Set Up the Sink and Cupboard
Next to the stove, I used a similar-sized box to create the sink and cupboard. Cut a hole in the top of the box to place your real working play sink. Below, I cut the front of the box to open like a cupboard and added cardboard handles to make it functional.
4. Add a Microwave
Above the sink, I attached a small box using Makedo scrus to act as the microwave. I cut out an opening so the door can swing open, then added a cardboard handle for easy use. To balance the microwave, I created a cardboard backsplash and an overhang fastened with scrus for extra support.
5. Create a Counter Seating Area
Lastly, I had some extra cardboard, so I made a counter seating area for baby dolls. I used a long, narrow box as the base, then added a cardboard top as the counter itself. This extra space is perfect for pretend mealtime!
Customizing Tip:
The best part of this project is how customizable it is! You can make adjustments based on the sizes and types of boxes you have at home. Whether it’s adding more shelving, creating new features, or scaling the size up or down, this play kitchen can be designed to fit your child’s needs and your available materials. Just use your imagination!
How I Made My DIY Cardboard Play Kitchen
Building your own cardboard play kitchen is not only eco-friendly, but it’s also fully customizable depending on the types of boxes you have at home. Here’s a general guide on how I created ours, but feel free to adapt based on what materials you have on hand!
1. Create the Refrigerator
Start by saving a large box that will serve as your fridge. Cut down the center to create two doors and add handles using Makedo scrus. Inside, I added two shelves made from extra cardboard to hold play food, but you can add as many or as few shelves as you want!
2. Build the Stove
For the stove, use a box about half the size of your fridge. I drew four stovetops using paint sticks and used the Makedo scrus as the stove’s controls, giving it a fun, interactive feel. For the oven, cut an opening in the front of the box. I decorated the front of the oven with black cardboard and added a handle. On the side of the stove, I fastened more scrus in a row so I could hang kitchen utensils within easy reach.
3. Set Up the Sink and Cupboard
Next to the stove, I used a similar-sized box to create the sink and cupboard. Cut a hole in the top of the box to place your real working play sink. Below, I cut the front of the box to open like a cupboard and added cardboard handles to make it functional.
4. Add a Microwave
Above the sink, I attached a small box using Makedo scrus to act as the microwave. I cut out an opening so the door can swing open, then added a cardboard handle for easy use. To balance the microwave, I created a cardboard backsplash and an overhang fastened with scrus for extra support.
5. Create a Counter Seating Area
Lastly, I had some extra cardboard, so I made a counter seating area for baby dolls. I used a long, narrow box as the base, then added a cardboard top as the counter itself. This extra space is perfect for pretend mealtime!
Customizing Tip:
The best part of this project is how customizable it is! You can make adjustments based on the sizes and types of boxes you have at home. Whether it’s adding more shelving, creating new features, or scaling the size up or down, this play kitchen can be designed to fit your child’s needs and your available materials. Just use your imagination!
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