Introduction
You probably don’t think much about the protective foam in your Amazon boxes besides the fact that it’s really, really great at keeping your fragile items safe during shipping. But have you ever thought about what else you could use it for? Think again! Packing foam can be reused to make a whole bunch of things, from soundproofing material to homemade slippers and even art. Here are some ingenious ways that you can reuse packing foam around your home:
Use it for storage.
At the end of the day, packing foam is cheap and easy to find. If you’re looking for a storage solution, this stuff is perfect! It’s lightweight, so it won’t take up much room in your house or apartment. Plus, if you have a few boxes lying around that need to be repurposed (because let’s face it—we all do), then this could be their new home.
Packing foam is also very easy to cut and mold into whatever shape you want—so don’t feel like the only way that you can use packing foam for storage purposes is by making pillows! You can easily carve out cubes and rectangles from larger sheets of packing foam; these pieces could make great containers for storing things like toys or office supplies.
If coloring isn’t your thing but decorating with wall decals sounds more up your alley, then there are plenty of great options available online too: from stickers depicting geometric designs to artwork depicting urban landscapes or nature scenes–there’s something out there for everyone!
Make a sound-proof interior with packing foam
Soundproofing is a great way to make your room more comfortable. Whether it’s your bedroom, garage, van or trailer (or even your car), soundproofing will make all the difference when it comes to privacy and quiet time.
Packing foam is a great option for soundproofing because it’s easy to cut and lightweight. You can also use it in other DIY projects like furniture or even a water fountain!
When choosing packing foam for your project, consider its thickness: the higher number on the packaging label means that the material is thicker. Our favorite brand has an R-value of 7 and comes in three different thicknesses: 1/2 inch — good for light-duty applications; 3/4 inch — great for medium-duty applications; 1-inch — heavy-duty applications such as recording studios or construction sites where extra insulation is needed
Mold it into art.
In addition to its other uses, packing foam can also be used to make art. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, this item is perfect for sculpting and molding into various forms. You can use the foam to make a sculpture or mold, or even pour in liquids that will harden over time—such as concrete!
Or if you’re feeling really creative (and have some extra time), try using packing foam as part of your next project:
Make a comfortable seat cushion.
- Make sure to use a thick piece of foam. You want your cushion to be as comfortable as possible, so if it’s too thin, it won’t provide much support for your back or legs.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the foam into the shape of your seat cushion. For example, if you’re making a chair with an armrests and backrests like I did, then try to make two different shapes that can be glued together later on (like this). If you’re not sure how big or small you should make them yet because you need more measurements before committing yourself 100%, just do whatever seems comfortable for someone sitting on them first! Just remember: don’t glue everything together until after we’ve gotten our measurements right (see step #5 below).
- Make holes using an electric drill somewhere near where each edge connects with another part (for example: where my armrest meets up with its neighboring sides.) This way when we eventually attach these parts together later on using screws or bolts instead of glue alone—which will give our structure much more stability—then there will still be room left over between said edges so they don’t interfere with one another while being attached together.”
Build a kids’ fort.
One of the easiest ways to use packing foam is for building a kids’ fort. Try using an empty cardboard box as the base and then cover it with packing foam to make walls, a roof, and doors.
You can also use packing foam to make furniture for your little ones’ play room. Just cut pieces of packing foam out into shapes like tables or chairs so they’re easy for your kids to sit on!
Build your own organizer
You can create an organizer out of packing foam. The most important thing to remember is that the foam has to be compressed and held together by a base material, like cardboard or wood. If you use a base material that’s too thin or flimsy, there’s a chance that it will bend and break under the weight of your items. Here are some ways you can build your own organizer using packing foam:
- Create compartments by cutting holes into the foam and then attaching dividers made from cardboard or wood. For example, if you want to organize toys in your child’s room, cut out holes for each toy based on its shape and size—and then cover those holes with thicker pieces of cardboard or wood so they won’t break under pressure (this trick works especially well when dealing with oddly-shaped objects).
- Create a lid for any container by cutting two circular pieces of foam large enough for whatever needs storing inside it; then glue one piece at an angle over top another piece so both sides form an inverted cone shape (the shorter side should line up with where both ends meet). If desired, cut out tabs along bottom edge where these two edges meet so they can slot together tightly when closed securely above contents within container below them (this method makes sure no moisture gets trapped between layers).
Let kids use it to create art.
Let kids use it to create art.
Let’s be honest: the packing foam that comes with packages is a godsend for parents of small children, who could spend forever ripping open cardboard boxes just to get at the merchandise inside. It’s also great for teachers and camp staff members who want to keep their classrooms or camp cabins organized and free from hazards—but what about all those scraps left over?
Packing foam can be used to create 3D art, mosaics, sculptures and paintings; you can even make your own paper mache! You can also use it as a base layer in collages and dioramas. Packaging foam can also be used as fodder for puppets (just add glitter).
Try it as a campfire starter.
You can also use packing foam to start fires. It’s a great way to reduce the amount of charcoal you use when starting a fire, and it can help get your grill going faster. You don’t need much either – just a few pieces of packing foam and some kindling. Once the flames have died down, replace the packing foam with larger pieces of wood or coal and let them burn until they become embers. This is especially handy if you’re going camping or are planning on having an outdoor barbecue with friends!
Recycle it into new packaging material.
If you’re not convinced that foam is the best packing material out there, consider the following:
- It’s waterproof. How many times have you bought something with a tight seal on it that ended up leaking? The foam can be made into new packaging that is completely waterproof and airtight.
- It’s easy to recycle. If your package has been damaged during shipping or storage, all you need to do is cut away the damaged parts and recycle them back into their original form.
- It’s light weight. Foam can be compressed into small sizes for moving around easily or storing in large quantities if needed
Make it into dog toys.
Next, use the packing foam to make a dog toy. This is one of the easiest ways to reuse packing foam! You can use it to make a tennis ball or chew toy for your dog. You can even use it as a tug-of-war toy or tossable ball for your favorite furry friend.
To make your own chew toys and fetching balls, follow these steps:
- Cut out shapes from the packing foam using scissors or an X-Acto knife
- Place treats inside each shape before sealing with hot glue (optional)
- Let dry overnight
You can make so many different things out of packing foam!
Packing foam is an easy material to work with. It’s cheap and easy to find, it is easy to cut, shape and glue. It can be painted or left natural, recycled, reused and repurposed in many different ways.
In fact, there are so many things you can make out of packing foam that I decided to write this article specifically on DIY projects with packing foam!
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our list of ideas for making use of your packing foam. While we were only able to scratch the surface of possibilities, we hope that this helps you get started with all kinds of fun DIY projects!