I know what you’re thinking. Cardboard furniture? Is he havin’ a laugh? But the answer is no. Aussie company Karton has released an entire suite of self-assemble furniture that consists of nothing more than cardboard. It even looks pretty good.
Okay, I’d never actually furnish my home with cardboard furniture, but students looking for a cheap bed could do worse than the $188 Paperpedic bed, or the $72 Barista’s table as a place to eat their daily intake of 2-minute noodles.
All products are (obviously) 100 per cent recyclable, and the company’s Q&A page says the cardboard plays nice with water-based polyurethane and paints for waterproofing. While that’s not going to make it impervious to the inevitable mishaps associated with a big night drinking, it might help the product last more than just a couple of days.
The upside is that if something does get damaged, it shouldn’t be too expensive to order spare parts. And the whole assembly process is sure to feel like mega-origami, when you think about it…
[Karton]
Rastus Oxide
Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 8:19 PMHoly shit. Why is it so expensive?
a quick look at super A mart shows a queen size bed for $250, made out of wood and metal.
I love the concept here, but not the prices. Students would get a better deal at a salvos.
VanWijk
Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 10:25 PMThe high price may reflect paying for local wages and more sustainable manufacturing processes. a lot of cheap imported goods are only cheap because of poor wages and working conditions for the laborers in whatever country we are currently taking advantage of. That and borrowing from the earth. I am not a greenie. Just a concerned product designer. Shopping second hand is usually the best option for affordable and sustainable practice. That doesn’t keep designers, marketers and retailers employed though.
Dani
Friday, June 3, 2011 at 10:00 AMI have done a little research on cardboard products back in my uni days and have purchased the equivelant of $250 super A mart bed before.
The equivelant super a mart bed i bought was horrible making a noise everytime i rolled in my sleep and the bolts were continuously coming loose.
These beds are not only sturdy and with mattress on top a comfortable “no noise alternative” but also provide additional storage space and are $70 cheaper.
Our research at uni actually found that cardboard furniture is a great alternative!
Rhys
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 6:37 PMHahahaha, you so did not buy a cheap bed when you went to uni, you work for the company. It’s so obvious…
James
Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 4:48 PMOh wow. An employee from the company straight out lying. “Our research at uni actually found that cardboard furniture is a great alternative!”. Oh yeah, definitely.
You really suck at lying. The fact that Karton hired someone like you is embarrassing for Karton. Me and my friends are going to have the biggest laugh at your ridiculous company which sells overpriced cardboard.
nick
Friday, June 3, 2011 at 12:09 PMHonsest question…How well would the cardboard hold up against two people having some fun?
Deb
Friday, June 3, 2011 at 2:26 PMYeah seems a bit expensive for cardboard furniture.. seriously… it’s cardboard…
Also what happens if it gets wet!? You’re STUFFED.
James
Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 4:46 PMWell – what happens if it catches fire? It’s far more flammable than any other material in the house (wood takes a while to catch on fire) and damn, if your whole house is made of this WAY OVERPRICED JUNK, you will lose all the furniture very quickly, as opposed to a slow moving fire. Don’t buy Karton.
Gill Jewell
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 6:43 PMThis furnature would be great for low income people having to move house often, cost is ok for most and it can be an Artists dream to paint and kids could help in this.
James
Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 4:50 PMThis stuff is junk.
Get a bit of water on it, it’s over. A small flame, and it goes down.
If you want to pay half the price for something that’ll last a lifetime and isn’t overpriced junk, please, visit eBay. http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_nkw=bed
Students, don’t fork out two weeks savings for this crap. Karton clearly is run by a bunch of clueless snobs who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. This – is – cardboard. Overpriced cardboard.
Buy real stuff. Not this crap.
j
Monday, May 7, 2012 at 1:15 PMNah, they tested the beds here in Australia; managed to physically fit only 22 people on the bed and it didn’t even shift one bit. you can waterproof them; it’s no different to owning nylon clothes that are just as flammable in case you haven’t thought of that. The price I can justify for one good reason; you’re purchasing a single, double, queen and King bed in one; it’s interchangeable.