Repairing a balcony is not only an opportunity to find many forgotten things, but also a way to improve your life. After completing the main activity, you need to fill the balcony with the necessary furniture, which must have a small mass. A balcony cabinet made of lining is quite easy to make, and its service life is limited only by the owner’s desire.
If the balcony paneling is made of wood, then it will look good on it wooden cabinet, made of natural wood, i.e. linings.
Start of production
Tools and materials:
- wood hacksaw;
- beam;
- roulette.
Most balconies have a special niche into which you can build a cabinet, which greatly simplifies the process. But often you have to form the product out of the blue, which is much more difficult, although the result is more interesting (this option will be considered, since it includes both cases).
First you need to measure the area that the lining cabinet will occupy. It is advisable to take measurements at the maximum width (usually 90 cm). But the depth should be up to 60 cm, because otherwise it is very inconvenient to reach the end.
For the frame, a 50x50 mm block is used, which now needs to be sawn:
- vertical bars 190 cm – 4 pcs.;
- beams for forming a frame 80 cm – 14 pcs. 50 cm – 14 pcs.
The result is quite a large set. However, every last detail will be used. The frame in this case is not only the formation external features, but also the basis for each future shelf based on a height of 30 cm (height of a 3 liter jar - 23.6 cm + space for free movement of hands).
For doors, you can use a board or block. But since the wardrobe for the balcony is made of lining, then it will serve as a frame for the doors: 4 pcs. 189 cm and 4 pcs. 45 cm each. Oblique cuts (45°) are made at the ends so that the future joint has maximum reliability.
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Assembly and complete finishing
Tools and materials:
- beam;
- edged board;
- lining;
- roulette;
- screwdriver;
- jigsaw;
- galvanized hinges;
- screws;
- brush;
Now you can assemble the structure yourself. It should be remembered that the entire system is supported by 4 bars. No more than 1 element touches the floor, so the workflow looks like this:
- The vertical beams are installed in their places, after which 4 beams are laid between them from below (short on the sides, long in front and behind). The lower bars are at a height of 1 cm above the floor. For fixation, 1 long screw is enough, for which narrow holes are initially drilled to avoid splitting. If you really want to strengthen the structure to the limit, you can use 2 screws per joint.
- The upper part of the skeleton is fixed in a similar way, after which the future cabinet takes on its shape (there is no need to indent from the top).
- When the box is formed, you can begin to strengthen it. After 30 cm from the bottom beam, you need to fix a similar perimeter, after which the whole procedure is repeated until the very top. The top shelf will be slightly larger than the others, so you can use it not only for cans, but also for massive accessories.
Now the skeleton future design completely ready and the time has come to take advantage edged board or dense board (chipboard). At the borders, installation is carried out using medium-length screws, and the method remains the same as described above (a small hole is drilled, followed by fixation). Each board has 1 screw on each side (solely to hold the location). But if you need to save on everything, then you can fix only the front and back boards, and the rest can be corrected during operation or screwed in after.
Only now is the time to assemble the doors (the structure is assembled with screws in the manner described above) and attach them to the resulting frame. Fixation is carried out on furniture door hinges made of galvanized steel, which will not remind of themselves even 20 years after installation. The design does not need to be made massive or complicated, because this will not give anything.
And now the time has come for clapboard sheathing. The length of the lining is always identical (189 cm), since installation is carried out only with front side. If you want to sheathe the entire structure in a circle, you will have to stock up on as much clapboard as possible, but even here the length will remain until the last moment.
The most inconvenient thing is the installation of 1 board, because there is nothing to catch on. It is leveled, after which self-tapping screws are cut into the tooth in 30 cm increments. You can screw them in without pre-drilling (although it is still advisable), but certainly into the supporting beam. On the reverse side, clamps are attached, which are also screwed to the beams, but only at 4 points (on the doors - and only at the top and bottom), since more is not required for reliability.
Each subsequent board is inserted with a tenon into the groove until it stops, after which a block is placed on the reverse side and hammered to the limit with gentle blows of a hammer. The final fixation on the clamps is always the same.
Not all of us have wide and spacious apartments where all the necessary household items fit without problems. The people got used to this and learned to make good use of any free space. This is how they are created hanging shelves in the hallway, niches under window openings and various mezzanines.
But perhaps the best way rationally organize the space in the apartment ─ this is to make a built-in wardrobe from lining on the balcony or loggia. This way things won’t be scattered chaotically, and appearance will remain aesthetic. Let's look further at how to make a cabinet out of clapboard at home.
What tools will you need?
- anchor bolts;
- perforator;
- screwdriver;
- hammer;
- roulette;
- level.
Selection and calculation of materials
To make a convenient and neat cabinet, you should choose oak, linden or ash. These are hardwoods that have little wood glue, and therefore a minimum of released resin.
As for the class of material, it all depends on how much money you are willing to invest to build a cabinet.
The higher the class, the better and more solid the structure will look. And you need to remember that class “C” cannot be used for these purposes categorically, it is designed for technical premises.
For example, if the cabinet will fit into a niche in the corner of the balcony, then material will only be needed for the doors. This is despite the fact that the back wall should be made of laminated chipboard, since it is more moisture resistant.
If the structure is free-standing, then calculate required amount materials can be folded total area. Necessary:
- Multiply by 2 depth.
- Multiply by 2 width.
- Sum up the previously obtained amounts. This is how we calculate the area of the floor and ceiling of the cabinet.
- Multiply the height by 4 and get the total area of the walls.
Interesting ready-made options:
The result is a large capacity 
Balcony 
Closes with roller shutters
Video - we make shelves and doors ourselves:
Frame installation
In order to make a cabinet from lining with your own hands, you need to start by making a frame. The work is structured as follows:
- Taken wooden blocks, which correspond to the width and height of the future structure. They are connected by metal corners or special screws at 60 cm.
- The rear wall is attached to the back of the resulting frame and all together it is attached to the balcony wall with anchors.
- Long bars equal to the depth of the cabinet are attached to the rear frame at an angle of 90 degrees, and the front frame is attached to the end of the bars.
- The resulting structure is attached on all sides with anchors: to the walls, ceiling and floor.
- The locations of future shelves are marked, guides are installed and shelves are mounted. To ensure that the crossbars are even in the end, a level and tape measure are used.
Door installation
The cabinet does not require any specific type of door. You can make a single-leaf, double-leaf or even a coupe, for which you only need to install rollers and rails. The frame of one leaf is mounted as follows:
- A frame is made equal to one or half, if there are two doors, of the perimeter of the front wall.
- To make the frame more rigid, you can add another crossbar diagonally.
- Further .
- Doors are hung on pre-prepared hinges.
Video - DIY locker on the balcony:
Sheathing
In most cases, the cabinet only requires door trim, since the main structure is installed in a niche where the walls of the balcony or loggia become the walls of the cabinet.
In all other options, those places that remain visible are sheathed.
If you make a cabinet out of clapboard with your own hands, then you don’t have to worry, the lining takes very little time. You just need to measure out suitable pieces of material and attach them to the beams with self-tapping screws.
Additionally, you can use varnish, thus protecting the material from external influences and extending its service life. Read more about protection in the articles:
As a result, it turns out that arranging convenient and beautiful storage on the balcony is not so difficult. This requires a minimum of both tools and materials. At the same time, the appearance will be many times better than just shelves with pickles and sports equipment, which are usually in plain sight.
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. Everyday life, to should 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 strengths 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 the creative potential of the home craftsman.
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 unnecessary ones this moment things or cans of homemade preserves, 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 begin to warp under the influence of excess humidity, and the cabinet will not last for a long time.
This model can also be used as a wardrobe, which will free up significant space in the apartment. The convenience of sliding cabinet doors is obvious, as 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 from a furniture company, but if you wish, you can 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 treated in the right way, 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 an 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 narrow room, or for the option when it is necessary 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 will notice that the depth of the closed section of the cabinet is not too deep, 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 frame for the shelves is quite easy to attach to the wall, ceiling and floor, and after the vertical structural elements are 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 any special expenses 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 desired cabinet option is 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 on the corners, which will allow you to place large quantity of things.
Based on the presented drawings, you can draw up own project, complementing 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 The premises can be changed due to the use of different insulation systems. 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. With such a thing before my eyes visual guide, it will not be so difficult to make the necessary blanks and then assemble them into in the right order V 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 dimensions, the standard cabinet depth 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 selected wooden lining, 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:
- Electric jigsaw, manual a circular saw or hacksaws with different sizes teeth
- Electric drill with wood drill bits.
- To bring details to perfection - manually milling machine and a sanding 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. The frame depends on how smoothly and reliably the frame is installed and secured. general form, and the strength of the cabinet, so marking on site is a very responsible process. |
 | Next, the frame parts are prepared according to the drawing. Most often, a wooden beam is used for it, but in some cases the master chooses a galvanized metal profile. The preparation of frame elements from timber is done using an 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 marked lines and points marked on the walls and vertical posts. 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 the 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 system frame assembly is acceptable if the prefabricated frame is fixed to 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 door leaf They are made like blinds - 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 with inside glued lining, two boards are fixed 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 a large gap does not form between the opening board and the door, but at the same time, they do 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 make it possible to constantly ventilate the interior space, which helps keep the things placed in the closet, as well as the piece of furniture itself, in a normal state. 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 a general idea of step-by-step implementation work on a door made like a blind. And 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 at the same time as the elements (slats) of the blinds are installed 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 with its 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 required lamellas that need to be prepared in order to cover inner space frames 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 fixed to the fixing bars, which will limit the movement of the manual 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 sandpaper on it with grit No. 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
Wardrobe option on the balcony.
The relatively small spaces of our apartments encourage the efficient use of every square centimeter of residential and non-residential space. A balcony sometimes replaces a city dweller with a garden, a workshop, and a place to relax. A properly planned space of these 2-3 m 2 allows you to combine all these functions. Built-in wardrobes successfully cope with the task, and a do-it-yourself clapboard wardrobe turns an ordinary pantry into the main decoration of the balcony.
Where to begin
Often, balconies have niches for installing cabinets (example in the photo), but before you begin installing a modernized pantry, you should know:
- Glazing the balcony will save on long time attractiveness wood finishing, protects against dampness and direct moisture;
- Installation should begin with repairing the floor, if not then certainly the part where the bottom of the cabinet will be located;
- Elimination of all cracks and cracks, as well as additional insulation walls and floors will protect from drafts and sharp changes temperature conditions.
Such simple introductory instructions help to preserve wood paneling so that she will delight you with her natural beauty for many years.
Cabinet installation
What you will need
In order to install a cabinet on a balcony made of lining, you will need the following materials:
- pine beams 40x40 mm are suitable for making the frame of the future “storage”. Please ensure that the wood is dry and free of rot;
- beams of smaller thickness will be needed to create a door frame (can be replaced with non-wide boards);
- metal corner - for connecting wooden elements;
- For shelves, both boards and chipboard sheets, appropriate thickness;
- cabinet handles, hinges, latches, locks must be made of corrosion-resistant metal (so as not to spoil the appearance of the product);
- to connect lining strips together, it is better to use clamps, but wood screws and screws are also suitable;
- and of course, the lining itself (for cabinets and doors, you can take strips of different widths, textures and colors).
Important! The lining cabinet on the balcony, built into a finished niche, consists of two concrete walls, and long anchors will be required to attach the frame to them.
For ease of use I use the following tools:
- mounting level, tape measure, pencil;
- hammer, hacksaw, screwdriver;
- hammer drill.
Calculation and selection of lining
But everyone has their own preferences here, as well as financial capabilities. It should be noted that the price of the lining depends on its class and quality.
Important! Class C for lining is the lowest and is not suitable for insulating a balcony, or for making a cabinet or any other furniture.
To avoid unnecessary waste of both money and time (on additional trips to hardware store), we offer an example of the calculation of all materials.
Let's say your closet has the following dimensions:
- Bottom frame: 2x0.5 + 2X1.5 = 4 m/linear;
- Upper frame: 2x0.5 + 2x1.5 = 4 m/linear;
- Vertical posts: 4x1.8 = 7.2 m/linear.
Optimally, you will need 8 pieces of two-meter pine timber: 4 for vertical racks, and 2 each for the upper and lower frames.
Based on the size of the selected lining, as well as the design of the cabinet, the required number of panels is purchased (calculate in advance the area of all surfaces covered with lining).
Important! Sheet laminated fibreboard secure as the back wall of the cabinet. The water resistance and density of this material will serve additional protection from dampness, guaranteeing the durability of the structure.
Before you start building a cabinet on the balcony from clapboard, watch this training video, and then proceed to attach the frame to the walls of the balcony.
The first step is to assemble the back and front frames of the cabinet, connecting the corresponding beams with metal corners. We recommend making the flooring (bottom of the cabinet) from OSB sheet, chipboard or moisture-resistant plywood.
Attention! The photo shows that it is not used to connect the timber. metal corner. The connection is made with wood screws 60-75 mm long.
- As mentioned above, for back wall it is better to use a sheet of laminated chipboard, which is pre-attached with a construction stapler or self-tapping screws to the rear frame;
- The entire structure is secured with anchors to end wall balcony, in accordance with the previously made markings (for this we use the mounting level);
- 0.5 mm beams are attached to the frame and fixed with anchors;
- We first attach the front frame to the ends of the beams, then (to give rigidity) we attach it to the floor, ceiling and walls with anchors;
- The guides inside the cabinet also serve as a base for the shelves.
The interior of the cabinet is ready. Now let's move on to finishing the entire structure with clapboard.
Working with lining
The appearance of the entire balcony largely depends on how to make a lining door onto a cabinet.
Therefore, we will consider the entire plating process step by step:
- To create doors, we assemble a frame of appropriate dimensions from boards or thin timber. Doors should be both light and strong, for which we recommend choosing thinner lining;
- To add rigidity, a diagonal jumper is installed in the door frame;
- By placing the finished door frame on a flat horizontal surface using nails or Decorative trims in door trim
We place the finished door (or doors) on hinges pre-fixed in the frame. After the do-it-yourself balcony cabinet made from clapboard is finally assembled, clean the entire room. Vacuum all wooden surfaces and perform the final operation - coat the product with a protective varnish.
When purchasing varnish, pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions:
- for which premises the use of this product is permitted;
- the varnish can be either colorless or contain coloring pigments;
- Observe the recommended temperature conditions when working.
Conclusion
Don’t be afraid to experiment with shapes - a clapboard cabinet on the balcony should not only be a storage area for preserved food, tools or seasonal items. Whether the balcony will become a modern closet or a comfortable place to relax and work depends on its type and design solution.
Shelves on the balcony will help rationalize the space. If you close the hanging shelves with doors, you can get a closet that is practically built into the niche of the loggia. Wall-mounted or folding models, wooden, glass or original, the shelves differ from each other in the principle of openness: some of them can be open, others closed. Depending on the design of the balcony and its dimensions, it is worth choosing one or another model.
For an open balcony, folding structures or hanging ones, forming an entire rack, are suitable. A closed balcony gives more room for imagination, since weather conditions are unlikely to affect the products. By the way, if the balcony is closed, but not heated, that is, in the cold season the temperature in the room is much lower than at home, it is worth stocking up moisture-resistant materials for shelves – quality wood with machined or stainless metal.
Let's talk about these horizontal elements: materials, fastening methods, what you need to create shelves with your own hands and how to think about the functional and robust construction for the loggia.
Materials
- Chipboard famous for its low cost and practicality. Chipboard shelves are made very simply; the material, easy to process, allows you to create from the simplest designs to interesting collages with storage space. It’s easy to create a real closet on your loggia thanks to shelves: you can buy finished design or make it yourself. Chipboard is often used to create furniture for storage and especially in loggia settings. It is important that the material has a special coating against moisture and swelling, provided that the humidity on the balcony is high or there is a sudden change in temperature.
Wall-mounted pieces of furniture on a balcony made of chipboard are suitable for arranging any balcony in any style. If you are not doing justice to the interior design of this space, then install simple designs light wood color, and it will become not only a practical piece of furniture, but also a modern and laconic feature of your loggia.
- Metal is also used to create hanging shelves on the balcony. The main thing is to choose a strong and lightweight base for creating shelves on the loggia or purchase a ready-made structure. For open balconies choose stainless steel or aluminum; These materials are difficult to weather and do not deform from moisture, unlike wood or chipboard. However hardware can change shape due to too heavy things that are stored on the shelves; this determines the selection of a certain thickness of the structure and the material used to create it.
- Wood is used to make furniture, and balcony shelves are no exception. Natural wood capricious, so you should not install any furniture elements made from it on open loggias or those that are not insulated.
- Glass as a basis for hanging shelves is used no less often than the materials listed above. Glass shelves serve more as a decorative element than functional system storage
- Plastic is inexpensive and practical material, which is superior in quality to chipboard. The plastic shelves included in the rack perfectly withstand dampness, moisture, and temperature changes, so they are useful for arranging open loggia. However, plastic cannot withstand too heavy a load and does not always look stylish.
How to do it yourself
Balconies vary in their parameters, which requires an individual approach to creating furniture for it. If simple wall shelves can be purchased in a store, it is not difficult to choose their size, but designs with several shelves, like a cabinet, force you to look for an alternative. Great solution will be the creation of mounted wooden shelves on the balcony with your own hands.
First, it’s worth determining the location of the shelves: mark the location of the future piece of furniture directly on the walls, to facilitate the work and improve its quality, use a level: it will allow you to make the drawing as accurate as possible. After applying the markings, it’s worth stocking up necessary materials: bars, sheets (MDF, chipboard, wood, lining). By the way, this and the following paragraphs of the article are devoted to the production of small storage space on an open or closed loggia.
Nail 4 bars to the walls of the balcony, 2 bars on each side one below the other, which form a niche; they will serve as a base for fastening. If desired, you can install back and side walls for shelves; bars can be attached to these same walls and elements made of chipboard or wood can be hung. Next, we attach the sheets using self-tapping screws to the frame, having previously placed them in the place of fastening in order to make sure that the structure is correct and functional. It is important to determine the required height of the shelves and take correct measurements so that things simply do not roll off the shelf.
After attaching the sheets, you should think about their design: leave them open or enclose them with additional doors. To make doors you will need hinges, the doors themselves, handles and magnets. Here you can show your imagination: it is not necessary to make the closet completely closed; combine open and closed shelves and you will get an original and functional shelving unit.
It is also possible to make interior elements for storage from clapboard; more precisely, a balcony covered with this material with similar shelves will look good. By the way, lining is more practical in comparison with chipboard; it is better to take pine or spruce as a base - they are heat and moisture resistant, durable and practical. If you cut out the elements yourself, then each of them should be processed sandpaper or a sanding machine, they can additionally be treated with varnish or other coating of a predominantly transparent color, otherwise the natural shade of the wood will disappear.
Corner
Create corner rack in loggia conditions it is simple, and you can use wood or metal depending on preferences and climatic conditions in space. The corner design is incredibly functional and especially useful for closed balcony and even an open loggia, if you approach the issue wisely. With an open loggia, leave open those sections of the rack that are not exposed to direct sunlight and where the wind is unlikely to blow; the same recommendation will be useful when making a structure in a closed area.
Corner structures on the balcony do not necessarily form a rack; it is enough to place the finished elements on top of each other and secure them with an original carved or strictly designed bracket.
Wall shelves
Hanging shelves on the balcony, which do not form a rack, will be appropriate on the balcony in small quantities. It is convenient to place flowers, books, any other decor and useful things on such shelves. Their location does not require a classic installation on top of each other; show your imagination and place pieces of furniture like a staircase - at different levels.
photos
Thanks to the shelves on the balcony you can get original and practical interior premises, for example, as in the photo below. Rectangular structures arranged on top of each other in a scattered manner in compliance with proportions. Fig 1