Cohesion Guide

Materials and Style Guide for Cardboard Space

2026-07-09 · 4 min

How to make all the decorations feel like they belong together: one colour palette, repeated shapes and gloriously obvious recycled materials.

Start with this tiny plan

  1. Pick one surface you control: a window, bin, porch, plant pot, doormat-adjacent sign or garden patch.
  2. Write one large line people can understand in three seconds.
  3. Add one silly official-looking label, then make the unofficial joke obvious.
  4. Use removable materials and photograph it without private details.
1

Pick a tight palette: silver foil, plain brown cardboard, black marker, white paper and one accent colour such as red or green. The images feel cohesive because almost every object uses that same low-budget space vocabulary.

2

Repeat five shapes: stars, ringed planets, moons, rockets and bunting triangles. You can change the size and surface, but keep the shapes recognisable. A planet on a window, a planet on a fence and a planet on a bin should all look like cousins.

3

Let the handmade texture show. Creases in foil, marker lines, visible cardboard edges and slightly uneven stars are part of the charm. Do not over-polish it; the point is public cheerfulness, not aerospace procurement.

4

Use signs sparingly to explain the scene. One bold placard can name the whole display, while smaller labels can add jokes. If every object has a paragraph, passers-by will need a reading list instead of a smile.

What this could look like

  • Nervous beginner: one A4 window sign saying “This window has been democratically upgraded.”
  • Bin owner with 20 minutes: one speech bubble and a shoebox lectern for a wheelie-bin briefing.
  • Garden person: one plant pot, one foil moon, one tiny sign marked “Front Garden Lunar Authority.”

Copy-paste phrases

  • “Officially unofficial.”
  • “Temporary Ministry of Bins.”
  • “This window has been democratically upgraded.”
  • “Local area now 14% more constitutional.”
  • “Please form an orderly queue for nonsense.”
  • “A small but important victory for cardboard.”

Do this

  • Start tiny.
  • Use cardboard, paper, foil, string, tape and pens.
  • Keep it obviously unofficial, independent and unaffiliated.
  • Ask permission for shared, rented or business spaces.
  • Remove it before it becomes mess.

Don’t do this

  • Do not stick things to public property.
  • Do not block pavements, roads, doors, safety notices or bin collections.
  • Do not impersonate officials, councils or Count Binface.
  • Do not show private details in photos.
  • Do not buy special kit unless you already wanted to.

Useful next clicks

If you are unsure about boundaries, start with the Tiny Rulebook or read the guide. If you want to make something immediately, try one of the related ideas below.

Related ideas you can actually make

Windows & Fences

Recyclon Planet Cutouts

Make Saturn-style planets from cardboard circles and oval rings for windows, fences, bins or garden stakes.

Suggested slogan: Recyclons Welcome

Difficulty
Easy
Cost
£0
Time
30 minutes

Tiny rule goblin says: Attach planets only to surfaces you control, using removable tape, string, pegs or ties.

Read idea →
Signs

Count Binface Support Placards

Paint the friendly cardboard signs from the fence scene: one bold slogan, one simple icon, and a few foil stars.

Suggested slogan: Vote Binface / Make Your Vote Count / Earthlings For Binface

Difficulty
Easy
Cost
£0
Time
35 minutes

Tiny rule goblin says: Place signs only in your own garden, planter or window, and avoid anything that could be mistaken for an official notice.

Read idea →