What is the best material to make a wardrobe on the balcony from? Wardrobe for the balcony - a good choice of functional lockers on the balcony (70 photos)
By old tradition On the balcony and loggia things are stored that have no place in the apartment. And to prevent these small-sized premises from turning into a landfill, it is necessary good system storage The most practical option is a built-in wardrobe on a balcony or loggia. Often all that is required is to make constructions that will hold the shelves and install doors. You can easily cope with such a task with your own hands, even with a minimum of skills.
Materials and designs
The design of a built-in wardrobe can be divided into two parts: the frame and the doors. Sometimes, if a side stand is needed, there is also trim available.
What is the frame made of?
Cabinet racks are most often made of timber. The cross-section is approximately 40*40 mm or 50*50 mm. The option is not bad, but on an unheated balcony it may be high humidity. And wood is a material that changes size depending on humidity. There is one more point: timber is not cheap in all regions.
There is another option - to assemble the frame on a drywall profile. Any sheet material like , etc. can be easily attached to it. If you take galvanized one, then there are no problems with moisture.
What to make shelves from
The easiest way is to cut the shelves to size from sheet material. This is still the same chipboard - regular or laminated, thick plywood can sometimes be used, but shelves for heavy objects should be on a wooden frame.
They can be attached to places prepared on the frame - installed bars or with self-tapping screws. There is an option - the corners are directly against the wall. But it is good if the walls can be drilled with self-tapping screws right away, otherwise it will take too long to install each shelf on dowels. Then it’s easier to assemble the frame and attach it to it.
There is an even simpler way to make shelves on a balcony or loggia: use metal guides and brackets for them. These systems are used in stores, but for this case they are more than convenient: the height can be changed easily in fairly small increments. The brackets are simply moved to other holes.
With such an organization, all that is needed is to install the doors. Now the closet on the loggia or balcony is ready.
By the way, you can make something similar from wooden blocks: recesses for shelves with a certain pitch. You can make cuts with a saw and then remove them with a chisel.
Often shelves are made from cut pieces of boards. Since the width of the balcony is usually small, all sorts of trimmings are used. Just so that they do not lose their appearance for a long time and are easily wiped off, they need to be covered with something. And even though glazed balcony and the loggia are more related to interior spaces, take paint and varnish products for outdoor work, just like protective impregnations. They contain substances that protect against ultraviolet radiation. Without them, in a couple of years the wood will look pitiful.
To prevent the apartment from smelling too much when working, you can use a water-based varnish. It does not create a film, but dirt is not absorbed into the surface.
What types of doors are there?
There are three types of doors for a closet on a loggia or balcony:
- ordinary swing;
- sliding - like a wardrobe;
- roller shutters
All these doors can be the entire height of the cabinet, but it is more convenient to divide it into two or three parts, and hang its own doors on each.
The most inexpensive are hinged doors. You need the doors and hinges themselves, and it’s easy to “put” them in place yourself. More expensive sliding systems. You need guides - top, bottom and side, as well as a roller system that is installed on door leaf. But this option is attractive because it saves space.
The most expensive are roller shutters. But they are attractive because they come as a ready-made kit, and installation is basically “included” with the purchase.
Watch the video on how to assemble sliding doors for a balcony closet. Much will become clearer.
How to make a balcony cabinet on a wooden frame
First, cut 4 racks to the required height of the cabinet. If you plan to make it all the way to the ceiling, measure each one separately, rather than cutting identical ones. The height is often quite different. The cut racks are fastened. The distance between them determines the depth of the cabinet, but most often depends on the available space. As much as there is, so much is used.
If there are three blank walls there are no problems. The bars are attached to dowels. Place the block against the wall, check its verticality, and drill holes through for fasteners in the right places. The plank is removed and plastic plugs from the dowels are inserted into the holes in the wall. Having installed the bar in place, screw it to the wall.
If you are making a cabinet on the balcony, one side is attached to the wall, and the other - to the frame elements or only at the top and bottom - to the ceiling and floor (we use reinforced metal corners).
Another option for such a case is if you need to cover the window glass with something - put a wall near the window (for example, from laminated chipboard), fix it at the bottom and top with corners to the floor and ceiling, and then attach it to the wall (and to the flow and the floor) frame bars.
Then cross bars are nailed to the posts. They give the whole system high degree rigidity and the shelves will rest on them.
To avoid wasting space near the glass, this part is also occupied by shelves. Since the width of the furniture varies, two separate small cabinets are often made: for the lower and upper halves. They often also differ in depth: the bottom one can be made wider and heavier and larger items can be hidden there. In this case, the upper cabinet can be made less deep. In this case, the top of the lower cabinet can be used as a tabletop.
Corner wardrobe on the loggia: photo report
At first, the loggia was covered with clapboard. Immediately after this, they began to make a cabinet from the same lining. It was decided to go for a corner one so as not to cover the window so much. On the opposite side, the cabinet occupies almost the entire width, slightly short of the balcony door.
The racks were not attached. They nailed the bars on the ceiling and to the floor, and the walls to them. They turned out to be short - three planks. Planks were nailed to the wall paneling, on which the same paneling, cut to the resulting cabinet shape, was laid.
At the top and bottom of the doorway, clapboard was placed across the opening. We measured the remaining distance, subtracted 1.5 centimeters for inaccuracies, and cut the paneling on the door to that length. It took six of them. They knocked it down using four cross bars and knocked it into the door. Hung using regular hinges.
Two shelves are nailed in the free space between the cabinet wall and the balcony paneling. A little later they added a little higher with rounded edges. The last stage They nailed plinths under the ceiling and on the floor (to close the gaps), then sanded the lining with sandpaper and painted it with stain.
Drawings and diagrams
It is impossible to talk about any standards regarding cabinets for balconies. And the sizes and configuration, and the glazing is different for everyone. Therefore, even the size of the shelves has to be determined “on the spot”. But here are a few examples that you can change as you need.
Photos of finished cabinets on the loggia and balcony
Not quite a closet - a seat with a drawer underneath
In apartments with a small area, it is a common occurrence when there is clearly not enough space to store things that are not used in everyday life, but they must be within walking distance. Therefore, many apartment owners quite often install cabinets for this purpose, providing them with numerous compartments and shelves. Such a solution is only possible if the balcony is protected from precipitation and wind, otherwise such furniture, alas, will not last long.
Buying furniture for a balcony is an almost futile task, since it is very difficult to choose the right model. Ordering a product from a craftsman is a rather expensive “pleasure”. The solution is simple - mobilize your own strength and skills. And in order to figure out how to make a wardrobe on the balcony with your own hands, you must first consider several options for this piece of furniture, and then study the step-by-step instructions for its manufacture. We hope that after reading this publication, a visitor to our portal will be able to choose the model that is most suitable for a particular balcony in terms of parameters, style, and creativity home handyman.
Examples of cabinet models for balconies and loggias
There are many models of cabinets for placement on the balcony, and which one to choose depends on the taste of the apartment owner, the size of the balcony, as well as the desired capacity of this piece of furniture. Next, we will consider model options that make sense to pay attention to.
First option
This cabinet, which has three compartments, is installed in a fairly wide room, but if the balcony or loggia is narrow, then it can be reduced to two compartments. The advantage of such a piece of furniture is its aesthetic appearance and the ability to use the open upper part as a stand for flowerpots or decorative vases, as well as for other objects decorating the interior of this room.
The cabinet doors are made of narrow lining installed across, which visually expands the space. Such door panels can be decorated to look like louvered shutters - they are more difficult to do manually, but they look more impressive and interesting. In the version shown in the illustration, the lining is additionally decorated with paintings in Japanese style, which sets the direction for the design of the entire room. Since the piece of furniture offered to your attention is quite voluminous, it can be used not only as simple storage for things that are unnecessary at the moment or cans of homemade canned goods, but also as a full-fledged wardrobe. The last option is possible if, and there is no risk of dampness penetrating it.
The internal design of this cabinet model is arranged according to the preference of the master. For example, in a large compartment you can make a compartment with hangers, and in narrower ones you can install regular shelves.
Second option
Wardrobe made of chipboard and equipped with compartment doors, lined plastic panels, can also only be installed on an insulated balcony. Dampness negatively affects particle boards - they are exposed to excess humidity they begin to warp and the cabinet will not last long.
This model can also be used as a wardrobe, which will free up significant space in the apartment. Convenience sliding doors cabinets are obvious, since they save space, and such a piece of furniture can even be installed right next to front door to the balcony. Such a cabinet is usually ordered in furniture company, but if desired, it is quite possible to make it yourself by purchasing required material and guides for sliding doors. As you can see, the closet is quite spacious and has a large number of compartments, including for things hung on hangers. This product fits perfectly into the designated area of the balcony and looks very neat and compact.
Install wardrobe doors yourself? Difficult, but quite possible!
If you purchase a special kit from a furniture store and follow the technological recommendations for manufacturing, then everything should work out. Detailed illustrated instructions for calculations and - in a special publication on our portal.
Third option
Natural wood is the most popular material for the manufacture of balcony furniture, since it is easier and more pleasant to work with, and also because it is environmentally friendly and does not emit fumes harmful to humans, unlike panels made using various adhesives and binding resins. In addition, wood, processed correctly, will last much longer than chipboard or plywood.
The cabinet, made of wood impregnated with special moisture-repellent compounds, is not afraid of temperature changes, so it can be installed even on open balcony. Wood is a breathable material, so less moisture will be retained inside a product made from it.
The version offered to your attention is a model of a cabinet with four doors, and it can be called quite complex in design, since you will have to adjust not two panels to each other, but four. However, the advantage of this design is that you can open only one part of the cabinet without “showing off” what is in another section. Although, this point is most often not fundamental, so it is quite possible to choose such a model if you simply liked it for its functionality. If you have no experience in carpentry, then making such a cabinet and perfectly fitting all its elements to each other will be quite difficult.
Fourth option
This cabinet is also a cabinet with an open surface, which can serve as a convenient table or stand for indoor flowers. In addition, a cabinet installed in this way will not cover the windows. The lining of the cabinet doors looks very aesthetically pleasing; it is made like a blind, which makes it possible to ventilate its internal space.
Despite the fact that the cabinet compartments differ in their height, it is quite spacious and can be used to store preparations for the winter, and, of course, other things that do not have a place in the drawers and cabinets inside the apartment. If the balcony is completely covered with wooden paneling, then the cabinet will fit perfectly into the interior of the room.
Fifth option
This balcony wardrobe Perfect for a narrow room, or for the option when you need to make the window sill very wide, for example, if you plan to grow indoor flowers and you need to prepare enough space for their installation. Top part The cabinet is expanded due to the width of the window sill, and it can be closed with a solid wall.
There is nothing wrong with this - you can notice that the depth closed department The cabinet is not too large, so items can be placed in this area through the open door. This model is roomy and neat at the same time. Its doors and walls are covered with narrow wooden paneling, fixed horizontally, which contributes to the visual expansion of the room. In this case, the area of a narrow room is used quite rationally, so owners of apartments with a loggia or balcony of approximately the same proportion should pay special attention to such a piece of furniture.
Sixth option
Another cabinet model that can be made entirely of plastic panels mounted on a wooden frame mounted from timber. The product is divided into upper and lower parts, which have their own sliding doors.
The design of this model is quite complex for self-made. Therefore, if you like this particular option, then it is better to entrust it professional craftsmen, who will make it according to the exact dimensions removed from the installation site, and will also assemble it into a single structure. However, “it’s not the gods who burn the pots” - you can try it yourself.
Seventh option
Open shelves on the balcony are the simplest option for an improvised closet with several wide and spacious compartments that will fit perfectly at the end wall of the room. The shelf frame is quite easy to attach to the wall, ceiling and floor, and after vertical elements the structures will be fastened with horizontal jumpers - shelf supports, the entire structure will acquire the necessary rigidity.
The main thing is to set the support bars for the shelves perfectly horizontally, and at the same height relative to each other - this process is controlled by construction level. Otherwise, in case of an error, the shelves will go awry, and the entire structure will look extremely sloppy.
After the frame is ready, a flooring of boards is attached to the horizontal bars using self-tapping screws or nails, which will form the shelves. The whole difficulty of installing the prepared structural elements lies in the fact that all its parts are marked and aligned strictly vertically or horizontally before fixing them.
Find out which one is better with professional advice from our new article on our portal.
Such open cabinet Even an inexperienced master can do it. The option presented in the illustration can rather be called not a cabinet, but a rack, but if desired, on the window side it can be covered with plastic panels or a curtain attached to the upper part of the structure. Usually, for this purpose, the Roman design of curtains or blinds is chosen, which from the street will look like a smooth panel. Over time, you will also want to close the front part of the rack, since all the things stacked on the shelves will create a feeling of disorder. For this purpose, it is easiest and cheapest to choose curtains, but you can also use blinds made of aluminum.
wardrobe on the balcony
How can you curtain your windows in an original and beautiful way?
The simplest materials and tools, maximum effort and patience - and without special costs your windows will be decorated with pleated blinds, Roman or Venetian blinds. How to make it yourself is described in detail in a special publication on our portal.
Making a wardrobe for the balcony with your own hands
Drawing up a cabinet drawing
When the right option cabinet will be selected, it is necessary to draw up its drawing. Perhaps one of the designs presented below will be suitable, since these pieces of furniture are intended specifically for installation on the balcony.
This cabinet does not require the installation of doors, but if desired, you can calculate their size and installation. The doors in this case can be hinged or compartment, and both the first and second structures will be attached to the front frame.
This wardrobe drawing is suitable for a wider balcony, and is designed to use its larger compartment for storing clothes placed on hangers. This option can only be installed on a well-insulated, or better yet, heated balcony.
And this is a drawing of a model that is well suited for a narrow balcony or if you plan to install a cabinet or table next to the cabinet. The drawing shows the dimensions of all compartments, as well as the doors that cover the top and bottom of the cabinet separately. Additionally, in each of the cabinet sections, removable shelves can be installed in the corners, which will allow you to place more things in it.
Based on the presented drawings, you can create your own project, supplementing it with the desired details, changing the parameters of the cabinet to a certain size of the balcony. it should be noted that even standard width premises may be changed due to application various systems insulation. Therefore, each cabinet option is individual in size, but it is quite possible to take one of the presented designs as a basis for it.
It is absolutely not necessary to carry out the drawing according to all the rules - it is enough to make a drawing that is understandable to the master and put on it all the dimensions determined by the parameters of the balcony. In the same figure, it is necessary to list all the design details indicating their parameters. Having such a visual guide before your eyes, it will not be so difficult to make the necessary blanks, and then assemble them in the right order in ready product. Of course, for this there must be at least minimal experience working with carpentry tools, as well as with the materials from which the cabinet will be made.
Using a ready-made or hand-drawn drawing, it is quite possible to make a cabinet from wood, chipboard, plywood, or use several of these materials in combination.
When drawing up a drawing, it is necessary to determine not only the dimensional parameters of the balcony, but also what exactly will be stored in the closet, since this factor will influence how many shelves are required and what distance should be provided between them.
If we talk about generally accepted sizes, then standard depth the cabinet is usually 600 mm, and the width should correspond to the width of the balcony. In order for the cabinet to be stable and have good rigidity, it is best if its height is from floor to ceiling, where its frame should be fixed. In addition, such a cabinet will allow you to rationally use all the space allocated for it.
The following dimensions can be called universal cabinet parameters, which can be adjusted to suit a specific room:
— height — 2400÷2500 mm;
— width — 1100÷1250 mm;
— depth — 450÷600 mm;
— the distance between shelves is usually 340÷370 mm.
If you want to get a cabinet on your balcony comparable to what was made by professionals, then it is best to entrust the manufacture of its parts to craftsmen who can carefully process all the edges, cut out the necessary grooves and recesses for the hinges. However, if the owner has a manual electric router at his disposal, then these operations can be carried out on his own.
Materials and tools
You need to know what materials may be needed to build a cabinet. Their specific quantity will depend on the model chosen for production:
- For wooden frame You will need a beam with a cross section of 40×40 mm.
- Instead of timber, in some cases a galvanized metal profile can be used, such as is used when installing plasterboard systems.
- If wooden lining is selected, then its thickness should not exceed 8÷10 mm.
- When choosing plywood and chipboard for cladding, it is necessary to purchase moisture-resistant panels with a thickness of 10 ÷ 12 mm.
- You will need metal corners for assembling the frame and furniture corners for assembling wood and chipboard blanks.
- Fasteners required - screws, nails and dowels.
If you decide to do all the work from start to finish yourself, then the tools you will need to prepare are:
- An electric jigsaw, a hand-held circular saw, or a hacksaw with different sizes teeth
- Electric drill with wood drill bits.
- To bring parts to perfection, use a manual milling machine and a grinding machine.
- A screwdriver or a set of screwdrivers.
- Hammer and chisel.
- Building level and square, plumb line, metal ruler, tape measure, pencil.
In order not to spoil the material prepared for the cabinet, it is necessary to take measurements very accurately, that is, literally follow the proverb - “measure twice, cut once.”
Making a cabinet
It is recommended to manufacture the cabinet on a balcony that has already been insulated and lined with clapboard, therefore, when making lathing for finishing the walls, it is necessary to foresee the location of the cabinet and its design in advance - then the frame of the product will be fixed more securely.
The simplest and in an accessible way building a cabinet is a technique of securing its parts to a common frame. Therefore, this particular option for manufacturing this piece of furniture will be considered step by step:
| Illustration | |
|---|---|
 | The first step is to mark the location for installing the frame, according to the drawing of the selected cabinet model. The work is carried out using a ruler with constant monitoring of the building level and plumb. If the cabinet is planned to be installed at the entire height of the balcony, then first of all the markings are applied to the ceiling and then transferred to the floor. |
 | The lower lines of the frame are determined in accordance with the upper markings using a plumb line. To do this, the plumb line is held at the ceiling marking points, and the weight is lowered to the floor, and thus the place where the lower part of the frame structure will be fixed is precisely marked on the floor. Such markings are necessary to ensure that the base of the cabinet is level, without distortion. Next, the upper and lower markings are combined by vertical lines drawn on the walls - it would also be a good idea to check these directions using a building level to completely eliminate errors. After this, marking and drawing lines are carried out for the horizontal parts of the frame - crossbars. The intermediate elements of the sheathing are fixed at the required height at which the cabinet shelves should be installed. The future position of horizontal parts is also carefully checked by level. Both the overall appearance and strength of the cabinet depend on how smoothly and securely the frame is installed and secured, so marking on site is a very important process. |
 | Next, the frame parts are prepared according to the drawing. Most often it is used for wooden beam, but in some cases the master chooses a galvanized metal profile. Preparation frame elements made from timber using electric jigsaw, and from metal profiles they are cut using metal scissors. |
 | The next step is to secure the ceiling and floor sections of the frame. Next, the resulting rectangles are connected by vertical posts, which are aligned to the building level and secured to the walls using self-tapping screws installed in increments of 350÷400 mm. |
 | After this, the intermediate horizontal crossbars of the frame are fixed along the intended lines and points marked on the walls and vertical racks. Horizontal elements are designed to lay and secure shelves, and they also help to increase structural rigidity. |
 | Horizontal parts are usually fixed with self-tapping screws to vertical posts using metal corners, mounted on the underside of a horizontal beam. It is not necessary to use more complex connections, for example, tapping, under these conditions. |
 | If for some reason there is no long beam that will fit the entire height of the balcony, then the frame can also be assembled from shorter sections, fixed alternately on top of each other. In this case, vertical and horizontal structural parts are mounted simultaneously. Such a frame assembly system is acceptable if the prefabricated frame is mounted on the wall. If one of the sides of the frame is free, then it is necessary to use a solid beam for it. |
 | The next step is to attach the shelves to the frame. They can consist of boards, tightly laid side by side and screwed flush to the beam with self-tapping screws, or of plywood 10÷12 mm thick. The edges of the boards or plywood should be well processed with a router. |
 | Next, doors for the cabinet are made. Their size is calculated after measuring the cabinet doorway, taking into account the installation of hinges. If you plan to install two doors that will fit together when closing the cabinet, their size is determined at the same time, and they are adjusted to each other by fitting. Sometimes the door leaf is made like a blind - this option looks quite aesthetically pleasing and original. How door trim is done using this technique will be described below. |
 | Doors can be assembled from boards fixed to the frame vertically or horizontally, or inserted into it using the tongue-and-groove principle. To do this, a groove is selected in the guide boards with a milling cutter, and tenons are cut out on the boards. For such cladding, lining with a width of 50÷60 mm is most often taken. |
 | The door frame for a cabinet on the balcony can also be covered with plastic lining. It will look especially good in a room completely decorated with the same material. A plastic door is lightweight and does not require a frame made of massive and heavy timber. A board 12÷15 mm thick will be enough. |
 | The connection of the door frame elements at the corners is made in half a tree or in half a tree in the “dark”, that is, a blind groove is cut out for the tenon, not reaching the edge of the board. In this joining option, the tenon rests on the undamaged edge perpendicular to the installed frame board. When making a frame structure, be sure to install a middle section, which will make it more rigid and reliable. |
 | Often, a different design is chosen for the cabinet door on the balcony - thin tongue-and-groove boards or even lining the right size They are collected with glue and tightened in clamps until it dries completely. Then such a shield is reinforced with jumpers. |
 | To do this, two boards are fixed on the inside of the glued lining, across the structure, which will more reliably fasten the boards of the assembled panel together. At the same time, they retreat from the upper and lower edges of the door by 150÷170 mm. With this approach, the installation of horizontal parts must be calculated so that they do not rest against the already installed cabinet shelves. |
 | Doors can be fixed in doorway construction with ordinary “butterfly” hinges, which will need to be deepened into the wood to the thickness of the plate. This must be done so that there is no formation between the opening board and the door. big gap, but at the same time, they did not interfere with each other when closing and opening the door. |
 | Another option is furniture hinges, for which it will be necessary to select a round groove into which the so-called cup of this element is installed. This socket is selected with a router or a core drill installed in a screwdriver or drill. It should be noted that such furniture options hinges are most often used for cabinets made of chipboard. Any fastening loops are secured to the cabinet parts using self-tapping screws, screwed into holes of a smaller diameter pre-designated for them. |
 | The last step is to mark and drill holes to secure the handles, which are installed on screws screwed into the back of the door. |
 | If the walls and shelves of the cabinet are made of chipboard panels, then they can be fixed to the frame or connected to each other using furniture corners. They are fixed with screws screwed into special metal inserts with internal thread, for which holes of the required diameter are drilled in the cabinet panels. Another, simpler option is to use special plastic or metal furniture corners, which are fixed with ordinary self-tapping screws. |
 | Most often, cabinets made of chipboard are ordered from a furniture company, according to the dimensions taken from the area where the cabinet is installed on the balcony. In this case, the manufacturer usually takes on the work of assembling the piece of furniture. However, such a cabinet will cost much more than one made independently. |
Making cabinet doors using blinds
Louvre grilles, which are often used to decorate the doors of cabinets on the balcony, look aesthetically pleasing and original. In addition, they provide the opportunity to constantly ventilate the internal space, which helps maintain in good condition things placed in the closet, as well as the piece of furniture itself. It should be noted that using the same principle it is quite possible to make not only cabinet doors, but also shutters for balcony windows, which will perfectly protect the premises from the hot sun, as well as create a comfortable atmosphere for relaxation.
The photo table shown gives general idea about the step-by-step implementation of work on a door manufactured as a blind. Below are more detailed recommendations for performing assembly operations.
| Illustration | Brief description of the operation performed |
|---|---|
 | This photo clearly shows the design of the frame with a louvered grille installed inside it. In this case, the frame is assembled using dowels mounted with glue, but here you need to take into account that the frame is assembled simultaneously with the installation of the elements (slats) of the blinds into it. Lamels for the grating are made by cutting timber into slats 5÷6 mm thick. Their length is calculated by the width of the frame, taking into account the depth of the grooves into which they will be inserted on both sides. The grooves usually have a depth of 6÷7 mm, and the lamellas are fixed in them with wood glue. |
 | To calculate the number of lattice elements that will be needed to decorate the door of a balcony cabinet, you need to attach one of them end side to the frame at the desired angle of inclination, and then measure the distance that the lamella occupies from the total length of the opening. Next, the length of the internal opening of the frame must be divided by the resulting distance. The result should be the number of necessary lamellas that need to be prepared in order to cover the internal space of the frame with the selected frequency. When calculating the number of lamellas, a non-integer number is rounded up or down to a whole number. |
 | After the required number of slats has been found, the long sides of the frame are divided into it and marked with a pencil. Based on the resulting markings, it is necessary to mill the grooves. To ensure that they are even on both sides of the frame, when milling, a special jig device is used, consisting of two bars, between which the side blank for the door frame is installed and clamped. A special frame is attached to the fixing bars, which will limit movement hand router– it is fixed at the angle chosen for installing the lamella. The guides are installed at a distance in width from each other, corresponding to the width of the base (platform) of the router, and their length limits the size of the groove cut for installing the lamellas. As you can see in the photo, cuts are made on the fixing bars, allowing you to move the workpiece to the required distance, and then secure it while the groove is milled. In order not to spoil the main part of the frame, it is necessary to carry out test milling on a section of any timber and thus make sure that the device is installed correctly. |
 | When the grooves for installing the slats are completely selected, all frame elements must be processed grinder, installing on it sandpaper with grit number 400, and then 600÷800. If you don’t have a sander, you can do this work manually by attaching sandpaper to a piece of wood. The next step is to assemble all the parts into a single structure using wood glue. After the entire door is assembled, it is tightened with clamps until the glue dries completely. |
 | The final stage of work is painting the door in the chosen color. It is best to carry out this process using a spray gun - this way the paint will lie evenly over the entire surface of the product. If the texture of the wood is beautiful, then many craftsmen prefer to cover it with paint and use transparent furniture varnishes. |
As you can see from the above, making a cabinet for a balcony is not the easiest task. However, if you want to save money and try your hand at carpentry, then you need to carry out all the work slowly, carefully marking, adjusting every detail to established sizes, spending general installation in accordance with technological recommendations.
At the end of the publication, there is a short video showing the manufacture of a simple cabinet on a balcony using furniture chipboard panels.
Video: Wardrobe for a balcony covered with natural clapboard
A whole lot of items and necessary things are most often stored on the balcony. In order to make the most optimal use of space, it is worth installing a closet on the balcony.
This solution will help to use the space practically and will free you from unnecessary workload.
In order to figure out how to choose the right cabinet, read the selection criteria and recommendations.
Criterias of choice
They are essential when purchasing, because not every model is suitable in size or service life. So, important selection criteria.
Size
For a small balcony, the cabinet should be selected in accordance with this. Measure the height and width in advance so as not to make a mistake. Thanks to timely measurements, you will save yourself not only time, nerves, but also money.
Consider protruding window sills. This will help you competently approach the issue of installing and placing the cabinet. Just a few millimeters can play a cruel joke on you.
A corner wardrobe for a balcony is an excellent option for placing a wardrobe in the corner. Thus, it will take up part of the space and compactly fit all the necessary items.
Term of use
The temperature regime of the balcony is different from that of the apartment. Therefore, due to weather changes, furniture suffers. Therefore, it is so important to take this fact into account when choosing.
Depending on your location, the weather, what is typical for the region, choose a built-in wardrobe for the balcony that will withstand temperature changes and instability. The material must tolerate moisture well.
Materials
Wooden materials, MDF, laminated chipboard are suitable for production. These are quite popular materials in the manufacture of furniture.
Before purchasing, pay attention to the properties of the material, its resistance to high moisture and low temperatures.
Note! A correctly selected item, as can be seen in the photo of the cabinet for the balcony, will not only become a place for compact and functional arrangement of things, but will also decorate the space and become interesting decoration interior
DIY wardrobe
If you have ever thought about how to make a wardrobe on the balcony, then you should familiarize yourself with the following points.
if you have required amount material and basic skills, you can easily do it yourself, without the help of specialists.
It is also worth saying that by purchasing separate materials to make a beautiful cabinet for the balcony, you will significantly save money.
Think over a sketch of future furniture in advance. Consider the dimensions and weight that will fall on the cabinet.
Selecting all necessary materials and tools, proceed to assembly. For this process you will need nails or screws.
The first option is quite convenient when disassembling the structure, accessible to everyone. The second one is more aesthetically pleasing, but its use requires special tools.
If it's not difficult for you to create a drawing and then do a good job, then you can certainly do it.
If you are doing this for the first time, it is better to ask for help, or still buy a ready-made cabinet for the balcony.
The positive side of choice
There are several positive aspects of choosing a cabinet:
- you will save space. After all, the design of the cabinet itself implies compact placement of many items for comfortable use;
- low price, it all depends on the model you choose, or independent execution of the product;
- Suitable for absolutely everyone, because you can make a custom-made wardrobe for your balcony. Such choice will do for those who want to add their own flavor to the furniture, complement it;
- from the aesthetic side, a correctly selected combination of colors and appearance will decorate your interior.
Minuses
It is also worth talking about the disadvantages of choice:
- difficult location. You need to calculate the dimensions, height, width in advance to be able to fit the cabinet on the balcony;
- it is necessary to take into account the ability of the material to withstand high or low temperatures, high moisture content and resistance to heavy loads.
conclusions
For the right choice cabinet, it is worth considering its dimensions and criteria such as moisture resistance and resistance to temperature changes. You don’t have to buy it, you can make a piece of furniture yourself.
A cabinet selected according to all criteria will serve you for a long time without creating unnecessary inconvenience.
Photos of cabinets for balconies
Very often balconies or loggias in apartments are not just usable area– you can arrange a real pantry on them. It is there that many housewives store their stocks of pickles and jams for the winter and “store” unnecessary things. And the best budget solution is to make a cabinet on the balcony with your own hands. In this case, the design can be made both cheaply and beautifully, taking into account the individual wishes of the owners.
Why a closet? Because ordinary racks with shelves, although they require less expense for their manufacture, still do not look very aesthetically pleasing. But a full-fledged design with closed doors is the most best option for the balcony. Especially if you build the cabinet yourself.
Cabinet Types
There are only two of them: a free-standing one and a built-in wardrobe for the balcony. A free-standing cabinet is assembled into a single whole, has hinged doors and does not occupy all the usable space on the balcony or loggia. But built-in wardrobes (or wardrobes) are more of an option for installation according to individual project. Built-in wardrobes can be placed on a balcony of any size, size and layout.
Before you start making and installing a cabinet on the balcony, you should consider several important points:
. Here you will have to think about what exactly you are going to store in your closet and select boards for the shelves of the required thickness.
The wooden cabinet fits perfectly into the interior of the balcony and loggia. Wooden cabinets have a more aesthetic appearance and higher strength characteristics, which plays an important role when securing boards to the walls of the balcony. However, their disadvantages include more complex assembly of parts (this is true for a free-standing cabinet) and their fastening. In addition, the tree has more weight than drywall, therefore, the load will be greater.
From advantages of drywall we can note the ease of processing the material, the speed of installation and assembly, light weight, resistance to deformation when mounted on metal frames. But the disadvantages include low impact resistance, less ability to withstand loads than wood.
- Design. Yes, yes, the type of furniture should be in harmony with general view interior of the balcony, so you will have to take this aspect into account. Today you can assemble cabinets various designs, everything will depend on the size of the balcony you have. Thus, narrow balconies require built-in wardrobes, mainly at the end of the room, “decorated” with a pair of sliding doors - such designs significantly save space, leaving more free space.
If the ceiling height allows, you can arrange a closet with four doors with mezzanines. On wide loggias, free-standing cabinets with rounded side shelves will look beautiful - you can place all sorts of cute trinkets, framed photographs, houseplants in pots. Extra charm general interior The structure will be finished to match the balcony frames, doors or flooring.
In any case, the choice of material, production and installation of the cabinet on the balcony remains with the owner.
How and with what to properly lubricate plastic window fittings
Stage 3: covering the frame with plasterboard sheets
Perhaps this is the simplest of all assembly stages - gypsum boards are simply attached to the frame using self-tapping screws (a kind of cladding), a screed is installed in the places where the sheets touch (so that the boards do not “move apart” after the first loading of things onto the shelves). When the entire frame is completely sheathed, you can begin next stage– finishing.
Stage 4: finishing
We glue and then putty the joints of the plasterboard sheets This includes the processing of joints and the final finishing of the cabinet. Despite the fact that drywall is considered an ideal material when constructing cabinets, it also needs to be processed. If you are planning to paint your cabinet, this can be done using water-based paint. However, before painting, the surface must be primed, joints and gaps must be puttied, and sealed with reinforcing tape.
The putty should be applied in two layers, allowing the previous one to dry thoroughly, cleaning the surface and sanding it. Finishing layer(painting) should be applied when the putty is completely dry.
Important: Marking and installation of shelf fastenings should be done before puttying and painting.
In some cases, cabinets are simply covered with wallpaper - “to match” the overall interior of the balcony. Wallpapering surfaces is the most a budget option. Before applying glue to the surface of the plasterboard, it is necessary to clarify what type of glue will be needed for gluing. Some types of wallpaper can only be applied to special types of adhesives.
After graduation finishing works You can install shelves that are also painted/pasted to match the cabinet and doors.
Stage 5, final: installing doors
The most optimal - installation of sliding doors. If you have already installed a frame with hangers on which the guides are attached, installing a sliding door is as easy as shelling pears. To do this, you can also use a gypsum board sheet with counter rollers attached to it for sliding doors (hardware kits for sliding doors can be purchased at any construction department or department for the manufacture and sale of doors).
This is how you can make a wardrobe on your balcony yourself - quickly and not very expensive!
DIY wardrobe on the balcony photo
This section presents photographs on the topic of our article “How to make a wardrobe for a balcony.” All photos are clickable.
Furniture can only be installed on glazed balconies. No, even the most reliable, protection wooden structures will not allow them to be used for a long time outdoors. Within a few years, the furniture will have to be thrown away and new ones made. This is the first condition that everyone who wants to install corner cabinets on the balcony needs to know. Second important condition success of the business - you must have at least minimal practical experience working with wood and a set of tools. And the third condition is patience, attentiveness, accuracy and perseverance. If all three requirements are met, then you can begin making your own corner cabinet for the balcony.
We won't consider original options making cabinets from aluminum, stainless steel and glass; making such furniture is expensive and difficult. To make it yourself, you need to be fluent in several specialties and have a professional set of tools for working on glass and metal. And the balcony is not the place where it is advisable to install cabinets made of aluminum and glass. Let's consider cheaper and easier to process materials.
- . Excellent material in every way. As for the relatively high price, this is not a problem; a corner cabinet requires only a few boards, any consumer can afford to buy them. To increase service life and improve appearance lumber is treated with special compounds and varnishes; the front surfaces can be decorated with individual decorations.
- . The cabinet will be made quickly and with minimal costs. Plastic does not rot, is easy to clean, and does not require periodic “refreshing” of the outer surface. Disadvantage – low strength indicators.
- . Excellent material, plywood does not warp as a result of changes in humidity. The material is universally used and has many different types and grades. There are laminated sheets available; they are used by specialized companies to make furniture. A cabinet made of laminated sheets will look great. The cost of the material is above average.
- OSB and chipboard boards. In all quality indicators, the material is inferior to natural lining. Another problem is that the rather large weight significantly complicates the manufacturing process and requires durable fittings. External surfaces must be additionally finished to improve the design appearance. We do not recommend using fiberboard boards to make cabinets; they are too short-lived.
- . There are recommendations for making corner cabinets from this material. We strongly advise against using drywall to make any furniture. Even for production construction work This material is in last place in all respects. Construction companies use it because of its low price and manufacturability. Drywall has no other advantages.
The article will give step-by-step instruction making a corner cabinet from natural lining - the highest quality and most beautiful material.
Preparing to make a cabinet
Choose a basic model of a corner cabinet.
- The furniture is stationary, the frame is attached to the ceiling, floor and side surfaces; only the doors need to be made. This option greatly simplifies the work; you do not have to separately make the frame and cover it with clapboard on all sides. The doors can be made hinged or sliding. These cabinets must be made before upholstering the balcony; it is impossible to move them to another place.
- The furniture is mobile, a full-fledged corner cabinet is being manufactured. It’s more difficult to do, but the possibilities are greatly expanded; the cabinet can be installed not only in different angles balcony, but also used for interior spaces.
We'll focus on the second one universal version. For the work you will need a 50x50 mm block, lining, corners, screws and fittings. The tools you need to have are a hand-held power saw or jigsaw, a plane, a chisel, a wood chisel, a hammer, a screwdriver, a tape measure and a pencil.
Step-by-step manufacturing instructions
Step 1. On a piece of paper, make several sketches of the bedside tables. Search successful examples on the Internet, adapt them to your conditions. Do not rush to accept the final version, try to look not only at today, but also into the future. The more universal a bedside table is, the more convenient it is to use, the more various items can be placed. It is recommended to take into account not only the height and width, but also the number of shelves and the distance between them. Another important point - for each element, make a safety margin; do not count on storing only light items.
Step 2. Once the final option has been selected, you can determine the nomenclature and quantity of fittings, hardware and assembly fixtures. It is recommended to fix the frame with corners, it is much easier than making a tenon/groove or half-tree connection. Although, of course, this is a matter for the master; everyone must decide for himself what to do.
Step 3. Take measurements of the cabinet. Take measurements from the walls and ceiling, but when calculating the frame elements, these values need to be reduced by double the thickness of the lining plus another centimeter or two for the gap.
Practical advice. Be sure to draw sketches of all frame elements and check the dimensions again. Count the number of parts, some of them will have the same length parameters.
Prepare a template for each element; you should use it to cut out all the others. Pay attention to the corners; it is better to cut bars at angles using a special device. If it is not there, then use a square. The more tightly the frame bars fit together at the joints, the stronger the frame will be. Don't expect that all mistakes can be corrected with corners, this is not true. If the fixation density is violated, the stability of the frame will significantly decrease.
Step 4. Start assembling the frame. First, the upper and lower parts are connected. Place them next to each other, they should be completely identical. Fix with corners on self-tapping screws, tighten tightly. The length and diameter of the screws are selected in such a way that they provide the required strength of the connection and at the same time do not split the bars.
Step 5. After the top and bottom are assembled, you can attach the side vertical posts to them. It is easier to do the work on a flat surface; it is advisable to have an assistant. Together, it is much easier to control the strength and accuracy of the frame assembly. Once the uprights are secured, place the frame in place and check the position and shape again. Don't forget about the gaps between it and the walls for the lining. Problems have been discovered - it’s not too late to fix everything.
Step 6. Screw the horizontal bars for the shelves to the frame. It is better to make the distance between them different; it will be possible to store objects of various sizes in the closet.
Step 7 Now you can start covering the top, bottom and sides with clapboard. If you did everything correctly, the dimensions of the lining will be the same. You need to make legs in the lower part, the surface should be ventilated. The legs can be made from pieces of wood or bought ready-made.
Practical advice. Work only with sharp and serviceable tools, otherwise the cut of the lining will be fuzzy and you will have to sand it manually.
If due to lack practical experience the ends of the lining turned out to be ugly and uneven - not a problem. Buy thin decorative wooden or plastic strips at the store and use them to frame the cabinet.
Below is a gallery of photographs of clapboard cabinets. Illustrative examples will help you choose the best option for your balcony closet.
Making doors
Step 1. Take measurements and draw a sketch. It will take two identical doors, although the sizes can be changed at your discretion.
Step 2. Cut the required amount of lining to size, use the template. Check the height of the cut pieces. To do this, place them on a flat surface; if there is a difference in height, then correct the mistakes.
Step 3. For each door, you should prepare two horizontal bars of the same length and one bar for the diagonal. The frame will have the shape of the letter Z, this configuration ensures the strength of the connection, the door will not disturb geometric shape during lateral loads.
Step 4. Check the length of the horizontal bars; they cannot protrude beyond the perimeter of the door. Place them on a flat surface, carefully fold the prepared lining blanks on top. Check the dimensions and angles again, if everything is fine, then you can start fastening.
Step 5. Fix the outer boards first. If the structure moves a little during operation, adjust it to the correct position. After this, you can fasten all other sections of the lining.
Step 7 Try on a diagonal block and mark the cut points with a pencil. Fit it as closely as possible to the horizontal elements. Everything is fine - screw each panel to a diagonal beam. The second door must be made identical to the first.
Step 8 Cut the boards for the shelves to size and install them in place. There is no need to screw them, the main thing is that they lie tightly to each other.
Now you can start varnishing the bedside table. The operation is simple, but has its secrets.
Varnishing rules
Buy only high-quality varnish; low-quality varnish raises lint as it dries. You will have to grind it, but doing this on lining is long and difficult, it has an uneven surface. Every groove and protrusion must be carefully sanded. Some profile turns have a small radius, which requires manufacturing special devices for grinding. Before applying varnish, surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned of dust and, if necessary, dried. You can varnish on both sides or only on the front.
Work with a brush, making sure that no drips appear on vertical surfaces. If traces remain from the brush, the varnish should be diluted a little. You need to cover it at least twice. If there is no practical experience in applying varnish compositions to wooden surfaces, then it won’t be superfluous to cover it in three layers. Each subsequent one is applied only after the previous one has completely dried. If desired, the lining can be impregnated with stain before varnishing.
It is recommended to place the doors on a horizontal surface before varnishing; this will greatly simplify the work and make it possible to cover with a thicker layer of varnish. Just don’t get too carried away, the varnish can accumulate in the recesses of the lining. If the balcony is cold, then you should purchase varnish external works, it can withstand sub-zero temperatures and does not react to condensation.
Installation of hinges and fittings
Remember that hinged hinges can be left or right; choose the appropriate pair for each door. In order for the doors to close tightly, the metal plates of the hinges need to be recessed. You will have to make markings first.
Practical advice. It is much easier to first install the hinges on the doors, and then make markings on the vertical posts.
Along the marked lines, slightly cut through the wood with a chisel, using a chisel, carefully remove the wood over the entire area. The chisel must be held in such a position that the part sharpened at an angle is directed towards the wood being removed. If this is not done, then the edges of the recess will be wrinkled, and this is a cosmetic defect indicating a low qualification of the craftsman. The depth of the notch should correspond to the thickness of the loop. Constantly check the depth, do not go too deep, otherwise opening/closing the doors will be difficult.
The handles are attached according to the instructions supplied by the manufacturer. If you wish, you can install a lock; it should only be a surface lock; the thickness of the lining does not allow for a mortise one. The fittings are already fixed on installed doors. Today in implementation there are many different decorative elements made of plastic and wood. You can use them to give corner cabinet completely exclusive appearance.
