Review of homemade furniture. Homemade furniture for home and garden

Each person seeks to organize their space in such a way that it feels maximum comfort. However, in addition to a decent aesthetic appearance, its functionality is important, so do-it-yourself cabinet furniture is made independently by many residents of country houses and summer cottages. Many in this matter do not have experience, so they often turn to ready-made instructions.

Before you start learning the assembly process yourself, it is first important to prepare the necessary tools:

1. Screwdriver. It will be needed in order to tighten various parts: bolts, confirmations, screws. With their help, the prepared parts of the fittings are necessarily attached. There is an alternative assembly method - using ordinary screwdrivers, however, in this case, the whole process can take a long time, and not every person has such an opportunity.
2. It is advisable to immediately purchase drills of various diameters. In many hardware stores, they are sold as a set (from 4.5 to 10 mm). It will also save time searching for all the necessary materials, especially since such a tool may come in handy in the future;
3. A drill for a confirmation is purchased separately. In this case, a hole of 5 mm can be drilled in a very short time. For a step at no extra cost, the hole expands to 7mm;
4. In order to tighten the confirmat with high quality and tightly, it is recommended to purchase a hexagon. As an alternative, some home craftsmen use a screwdriver equipped with special bits, but with this design it is impossible to climb into hard-to-reach places;
5. Everyone who wants to assemble cabinet furniture should have a Forsnel drill, since hinges and other fittings are twisted with it;
6. Marking accessories: ruler, pencil or bright felt-tip pen, metal square, tape measure, stationery knife;
7. Circular saw;
8. Electric jigsaw;
9. Hammer, preferably with a nail puller (you will need it if you need to dismantle individual elements);
10. Dryer construction.

If the furniture does not have any features, it is recommended to use universal schemes during assembly, which are designed for a drilling angle of 90 degrees. Unfortunately, such a device cannot be called a budget option, so such an acquisition is advisable only when assembly becomes a professional craft.

Manufacturing technologies

Answering the question of how to make cabinet furniture at home, we divide the whole process into several stages.

Cutting the parts that make up the overall design

When it is planned to work with chipboard, it is impossible to do without cutting. Using the machine, we saw chipboard, on which we distribute all the workpieces in advance. This will help reduce material consumption. It is recommended to use a high-performance machine, due to which an optimal sawing frequency is achieved, since a scoring saw is installed here.

It is easier to work with ready-made laminated chipboards. In stores, you can buy options covered with a decorative layer for every taste. Of these, it remains only to cut the necessary details. If the furniture is made from raw materials, then you need to paste over the already cut parts. Facing can be done with a self-adhesive film or special plastic.

We measure

Making a cut with a machine

Section processing

Before assembling the cut parts, you need to process the sections. For this, an adhesive-based edge tape is used. Before work, it is important to pay attention to the conditions in the room:

• The percentage of humidity should be as low as possible;
• It must be warm to avoid deformation of the material.

For pasting parts with an edge tape, a breadboard or construction knife and an ordinary iron are prepared. Most often, the edge is sold with an already adhesive layer, and additional surface treatment is not required.

You can use a professional iron. In the process of work, it is important to keep it at a certain distance from the surface in order to avoid displacement and tightly fix all parts in their places.

It is important to remember that the iron must be held on the edge for a short amount of time, otherwise it will overheat and blister. As soon as the edge is fixed and takes a certain position, we take a knife, cut the edge and clean all the bumps with sandpaper.

Trimming off extra parts

We glue the edge

Marking points for fittings

Finished parts must be laid out on a flat surface. Next, mark the attachment points of the fittings, in accordance with the plan of the finished product. Check all dimensions, an error of just 1 mm can provoke a distortion of the entire structure. Lockers will stop opening, doors will not converge correctly. Next, you need to drill all the holes of the required diameter in order to fix the fittings.

We lay out the details on the floor

Create markup

Drilling holes

We fix the fittings

Mounting

After the work with the fittings is completed, we proceed to the assembly of all elements. Many beginners in this business first turn to video instructions, which not only show the assembly order of a particular model, but also give practical advice on how not to confuse the whole process. Collecting nodes. This is the final stage when it is necessary to assemble all the prepared parts into a single structure. It is important to perform all operations sequentially.

Step-by-step instruction

First you need to determine what cabinet furniture is made of. The most common and affordable materials are chipboard, fiberboard or chipboard. Solid wood is more reliable and stronger, but it costs more and is more difficult to work with.

Design

All instructions for creating cabinet furniture can be divided into two stages. The first is the design of cabinet furniture. This stage implies an artistic or graphic representation of all elements (drawings of cabinet furniture). This is a complex undertaking, since a project scheme must be correctly developed to help visualize the necessary functionality of the furniture.

A few years ago, such a project could have been developed by an exceptionally qualified designer, but with the help of modern applications and programs, you can work on the task yourself. To draw up a clear plan for designing cabinet furniture with your own hands, it is worth determining what information it should contain:

1. On a separate plan, you need to draw the general design of the room in order to visualize the position and type of cabinet furniture;
2. All dimensions are entered into the project - dimensions of sections, height, depth;
3. All the details that will serve as the basis of cabinet furniture are being worked out, drawings of facades with the required dimensions are made;
4. Selected texture, color scheme.

On the Internet you can find special 3D programs with which you can recreate absolutely any furniture project. In the functions, you can set special parameters and even select the material from which you plan to create the desired interior items. The main advantage of such services is that there is no need to study information, how to calculate dimensions or draw “the old fashioned way”, especially since not every person has such skills. The finished version is printed on the printer as a photo project, and then it is a matter of technology and practical skills.

The graphic drawing of the overall project determines the success of the planned business, but the creation of details is no less important. First of all, everyone should think about what functions the furniture should perform and only after that proceed with drawing. The correct calculation of dimensions is the determining factor for the success of all further assembly. Otherwise, the part may not fall into place, which means that its shape will need to be adjusted, which implies additional financial costs. Even if the plans include the manufacture of an ordinary storage cabinet, each detail should appear in a separate perspective on the drawing:

1. Back wall;
2. Front Panel;
3. Side walls;
4. Each shelf;
5. Door.

As for the details that will be retractable, they are also drawn separately from the rest.

We create a common design

We apply measurements

We create a color scheme

Creating details

The manufacture of parts is carried out according to the general instructions:

1. The choice of material from which the parts will be formed;
2. Creating a project on a computer using a 3D program or drawing by hand on a Whatman paper;
3. Making patterns by printing on a printer or making a pattern by hand;
4. Transferring blanks to the material by tracing the patterns with a pencil or a bright marker;
5. Sawing with a high-performance machine;
6. Edge processing, if necessary grinding;
7. Drilling holes for fasteners.

Choosing the materials of manufacture

Making a project

Creating patterns and cutting materials

Carrying out chipboard cutting

We grind the coating

Making holes

Assembly

When moving from DIY furniture design to assembly, the whole process can be described in the following steps:

1. All the elements of fittings present (hinges, locks, ties, skids) are attached to the main parts;
2. Assemble the frame and the back wall, mount the mirrors;
3. They check the fittings, attach handles, plugs, install sliding elements in their places.

Depending on what piece of furniture you plan to assemble, the process may be slightly different, but the basic procedure remains the same. So that every person planning to create furniture with his own hands understands how he needs to act, you can analyze the whole process using the example of creating an ordinary cabinet.

We fix the fittings

Assembling the frame

We mount handles

We fix the plugs

Stage 1. Frame

The cut parts are connected according to the plan. To perform a screed, it is first recommended to prepare a screwdriver with special bits. Twisting will be much faster than with a screwdriver. In addition, the forces for such work will be spent much less. It is important to take care of the maximum strength of the structure, so it is not recommended to use nails to strengthen the bottom of the cabinet. The best choice would be self-tapping screws 4 by 16. The side surfaces, as well as the top and bottom, are connected at a right angle using furniture corners. You can nail the back wall of the cabinet to the finished frame with nails.

We collect the basis

Making holes

Installing the bottom of the frame

Stage 2. Sliding system

To ensure the correct movement of sliding doors, guides are first fixed. They are mounted parallel to the upper and lower plane of the cabinet. One of the best options would be to use a specially designed system called "Commander". Without much effort, you can not only move the doors to the desired position, but also easily adjust. As a rule, adjustment is needed if gaps are observed during the assembly process, which not only spoils the appearance, but also makes operation difficult. In most cases, for the first time after assembly, cabinet furniture shrinks, as a result of which cracks may also appear. This is considered normal due to the specific characteristics of the material.

Special rollers are screwed to the doors. The finished structure is installed in the guides and the progress is checked.

Installing the stopper

Installing the rubber pad

Installing guides

We regulate the system

Stage 3. Installation of fittings

At this stage, all shelves, drawers are inserted into their places, hooks for clothes and other small elements are attached. The closet is ready. Even a person who does not have experience in creating cabinet furniture with his own hands will not spend a lot of time creating a thing of excellent quality. The average assembly time is no more than three hours, excluding preparatory work. In addition, the cost of a hand-made product is much lower than the price of finished furniture in a store.

Do-it-yourself cabinet furniture assembly is a combination of an optimal design solution, the choice of high-quality materials, as well as the acquisition of new skills with which you can create entire furniture sets in the future.

We will send the material to you by e-mail

The design of any room involves not only the selection and floor, but also the arrangement of furniture. The latter largely determines how comfortable and convenient it will be to use a particular room. It is not always possible to immediately purchase a ready-made version, and custom-made production can be quite a costly undertaking. In such a situation, it is best to make furniture with your own hands from wood, choosing the right solution for configuration and design.

Homemade furniture can be beautiful

The choice in favor of wood is made due to the advantages of this natural material:

• Durability. Subject to the production technology and the formation of a protective layer, it is possible to guarantee a long service life of products made from solid wood. Adhering to certain recommendations for the care of a wooden surface, you can use it for half a century;
• Presentability. Products create a special atmosphere, becoming the center of attention of others;
• naturalness;
• Ergonomics. When developing furniture sets, the characteristics of specific people are taken into account;
• maintainability;
• Choice of finishes;
• Uniqueness. No one else will have exactly the same furniture.

The manufacture of wooden furniture is most often performed from wood panels, which can be:

• Solid, made of solid wood;
• Glued or pressed. In the production of such shields, thin wooden sheets are securely interconnected, forming a complete material.

Attention! Shields are indispensable in the manufacture of cabinet furniture for the kitchen, hall, nursery, tables.

For the manufacture of furniture with your own hands from furniture panels, you can use material of various colors. In the manufacturers' catalogs there is a tree of light and dark colors. This will allow you to choose the right option for a particular interior.

If the cost of ready-made shields seems too high, you can make furniture with your own hands from improvised means. In this case, you will have to show some imagination so that the found branch, snag, bough or pallets remaining after building materials become part of the future product.

If the square of the building is relatively small, and you want to dispose of it wisely, you should pay attention to folding products. When assembled, they take up little space. When unfolded, they allow you to comfortably accommodate.

Bench configuration and color may vary.

Options for making do-it-yourself furniture for summer cottages made of wood

It is easy to make a country house cozy. For this, it is not necessary to purchase new material. You can use wooden boxes. Having bought accessories, you can make a stylish one.

To have a place to sit, it is worth making upholstered furniture. The frame of the sofa should be cut out of durable wood so that it can withstand the operational load.

Making country furniture from wood according to the photo with your own hands, you should pay attention to the possibility of choosing upholstery and finishes. In this case, the finished chair can become a serious competitor to expensive products from elite manufacturers.

Options for making do-it-yourself furniture in a wooden bath

Given the special operating conditions, it is better to use hardwood for the manufacture of such products. Coniferous varieties should be immediately abandoned, so during operation, resin may appear on the surface of the finished product.

To store things in the dressing room, you can make a bench with drawers. The standard height will be enough to accommodate most bath accessories.

After the bath, many gather in. Having made a bench, table and high-quality wood, you can comfortably relax after bath procedures.

Advice! Apply a protective compound to slow down the rotting process in conditions of high humidity and large temperature fluctuations.

Options for making furniture for the kitchen

A kitchen set must have a number of properties. On the one hand, it should be beautiful, on the other - functional. For those who do not like ornament and sophistication, you should definitely make wooden kitchen furniture with your own hands without any decoration. Such a set would look appropriate in a private or country house.

If this option seems too simple, you can transform the set by decorating the facade for the kitchen with carvings with your own hands. What pattern will be formed, in this case, it does not matter. In any case, the finished product will turn out beautiful and non-standard.

If limited, it is worth considering the option of making a desktop with a special niche for the table at which the family will dine.

Do-it-yourself wooden furniture restoration: the procedure is curled from defects

No matter how carefully the owners treat their furniture during operation, minor mechanical damage will certainly appear on its surface, worsening the appearance of the product. If the strength characteristics of the product are not lost, everyone will think about how to update wood furniture with their own hands. The procedure will depend on the nature and depth of the defects that have appeared.

Remove scuffs and minor scratches

Small defects can be removed using special retouching markers and pencils. Such products are sold in specialized stores and come in different colors. To restore a certain surface, it is worth choosing a tool that is close in tone.

Manufacturers offer:

• Retouching markers, consisting of opaque quick-drying enamel in different shades. Such compositions are not afraid of exposure to detergents and allows you to do without applying a protective layer of varnish. If the desired shade is not commercially available, the desired color can be obtained by applying several layers of marker;
• Alcohol-based retouching pencils. Allow to leave visible texture of wood. Does not harm the base. The basis of the pencil is alcohol stain. To increase the durability of the formed coating, the restored surface should be covered with a layer of protective varnish;
• Retouching texture pencils. Created specifically for drawing the texture of wood. Thin rods allow you to repeat the contours of any defect, including those located in a hard-to-reach place. After application, wax or coat with a layer of varnish.

Get rid of deep scratches and chips

Deep scratches are characterized by a large extent. If you use a special wax, the damage will become almost invisible. Manufacturers offer various formulations that differ in color and hardness. When using a transparent composition, a subsequent application of a layer of enamel or tinting varnish will be required.

Advice! Before applying wax to the surface to be reconstructed, the composition should be warmed up well, and then rubbed in, making smooth movements.

More will be required to hide chips and dents. You should choose a composition close to the base color. The putty is applied in several layers, waiting for the previous composition to dry completely. After removing the defect, use fine sandpaper to level the bases. After that, an additional layer of varnish is applied.

We remove stains

Gasoline will certainly help to get rid of traces of unclear origin on a polished base. For this you need:

• Soak a rag in gasoline;
• Wipe the stain;
• Repeat the steps if there is contamination after drying;
• Wipe the base with a rag;
• Use denatured alcohol or linseed oil to restore damaged polish.

Attention! With the help of vodka or alcohol, you can get rid of stains left by hot objects.

Unusual wooden bed for a rustic bedroom

At first glance, making a piece of furniture yourself is very simple. Only when a person begins to do this, it turns out that it is not so simple. It is necessary to find a working material that is suitable in texture and color, process it correctly, manufacture and correctly assemble all the elements.

Unusual interior design in a wooden forester's house

By assembling furniture with his own hands, a person wants to give his home more individuality and unusualness. But there are other benefits as well.

Wood furniture for a country-style kitchen

• Environmental friendliness. Wooden elements fit perfectly into a children's room or bedroom, in all rooms where materials should be as safe as possible, natural, free of harmful substances. Inside the array can only be resins and essential oils. But they affect the human body more positively than negatively.
• Sustainability. Any wooden furniture serves at least 45-50 years. It is resistant to mechanical stress.
• Ease of repair. Despite the complexity of manufacturing, the repair of furniture elements is quite simple, requiring a minimum amount of effort, skill and tools.
• Ergonomics.
• The maximum degree of comfort. When creating wooden furniture with your own hands, you can immediately take into account all the features of the physique of the future owner.
• "Flight of fantasy". Any, even the most daring design idea, will look great on a wooden background. Hand finishing will give the furniture even more chic.
• Price. Furniture made from solid wood in industrial production is quite expensive. If you make it yourself, then the price decreases significantly.

A beautiful decoration of your interior - a solid beech armchair

In addition to all the above advantages of furniture elements, one more thing should be noted - accessibility. It is not necessary to buy them in luxurious, designer salons. It is enough to study the basic principles of its production and get down to business, working with your own hands, you can create a completely unique piece of furniture.

Large garden swing made of wood for a summer residence with your own hands

The main styles that have wooden furniture in their arsenal

Wooden kitchen furniture for a dining room or a cozy cafe

Many talented designers work with solid wood furniture. It is a mistake to assume that it can decorate only rooms decorated in a classic style. There are areas in which you can successfully fit wooden furniture:

• Country. Its distinguishing features are angularity, roughness in lines, and the absence of artificial surface treatments. Wood is an ideal working material for furniture that decorates a country-style room. These can be cottages, private houses, inside which you can easily create an atmosphere of primitiveness.

Spacious and bright rustic living room in country style

• Eco style. For admirers of this trend, it is not fashion trends that are important, but naturalness and naturalness. They are close to the country style, the only difference is the shades, in the first version bright and dark tones can be used, in the second, light, natural ones are preferred. Eco-style rooms suggest the presence of a large number of modern appliances, while wooden furniture will make the interior softer and more sophisticated.

Wooden table with carved legs for interior decoration in eco-style

• Provence. This direction is well known in the world of women's interior design. Its distinguishing features: a large number of flowers, silver, cute dishes. This is a "warm, cozy" style. You don’t want to leave such a kitchen and living room, so a wicker chair or a wooden table will fit perfectly into it. But the main thing here is not to overdo it, massive elements will attract too much attention and be perceived separately from all other thematic elements.

Interior in a romantic Provence style with wooden furniture

In other styles, you can also see wooden furniture, but in smaller quantities. For example, in the directions of minimalism and modernity, additional wooden accessories are very relevant: lamps, watches, figurines, vases.

Wooden interior design in the style of minimalism

General principles for creating wooden furniture

Beautiful and functional wooden kitchen

Before you start working with your own hands, you need to develop a project, on the Internet you can find a photo of the desired element.

Ready-made wooden facades for kitchen furniture

The next step is the selection of wood. It must be 100% tested and of high quality. This is what determines the lifespan of the item. It must be remembered that the working material is divided into soft and hard. The faster a tree grows, the softer its wood is considered.

Do-it-yourself wooden outdoor furniture

Oak is considered the most valuable and expensive. It is valued because of the ability to successfully dye in any color.

A set of furniture for a dining room in a house or cottage, made of wood with your own hands

Mahogany is considered just as valuable. Its advantages are high strength, moisture resistance. It is from this wood that the most chic and luxurious wooden furniture is obtained.

Do-it-yourself mahogany outdoor furniture for the site

Pine, spruce, cedar, maple, cherry, walnut are considered less expensive and affordable for the middle class of the population.

Beautiful massive and durable wooden dining table

After choosing wood, you need to purchase shields. It is better if they are monolithic.

Main stages of work

• Development of a drawing of a future product.

We develop a drawing of a garden chair made of wood for a summer residence

• Preparing a tree for sawing, drawing markings on it, sawing.

Marking and preparation for cutting

The process of drilling holes in the manufacture of furniture with your own hands

• Product coloring.

The process of painting a finished wood product

• Assembly of elements.

Assembling handmade wooden furniture

Necessary tool for work

• Screwdriver.
• Jigsaw.
• Plane.
• Furniture stapler.
• Hammer.
• Screwdriver.
• Furniture knife.
• Paint, varnish, brush.
• Necessary accessories.

Furniture making tool

In addition to all of the above, you will need hardware, additional consumables. If the master is experienced, he can use more complex working tools.

Finishing the finished product

Processing of the finished product by the method of chemical aging of furniture

When the manufacture and assembly of a furniture product is completed, it is necessary to give it a finished look. You can simply paint the element, apply decorative decorations on it with your own hands.

Basic processing options

• Toning.
• Painting.
• Lacquering.
• Resin removal.

To make high-quality tinting of furniture means to give it the most natural and beautiful shade. They can be very diverse, but naturalness will always be viewed first.

Varnishing a furniture element is the creation of a glossy sheen. Additionally, this layer protects it, increases wear resistance.

Do-it-yourself wood finishing with varnish

In the process of processing furniture elements, it is necessary to remove resin residues from all working surfaces. This is done with alcohol, gasoline, acetone.

The simplest and most popular method of finishing wooden furniture with your own hands is to cover it with a standard varnish. It does not require large expenditures and complex finishing tools. The undoubted advantage is the preservation of the original appearance and texture of the working material.

If the tree belongs to hardwoods, then it can be covered with colored paint. With this method, inexpensive wood can be painted to look like an expensive variety.

Painting methods

• Solid.
• Toning.
• Applying a layer of coloring element under the varnish.

It is necessary to apply paint very carefully and carefully, observing certain stages of work.

1. Cleaning of all irregularities, knots.
2. Resin removal.
3. Removal of cracks and chips.
4. Primer.
5. Coloring.

After the paint dries, a decorative pattern can be applied to it. This can be done with a brush, airbrush.

In most cases, there should be several layers of paint and varnish. After each of them dries, it is necessary to grind, sandpaper is used for this.

Particular attention should be paid to carved elements, they are more difficult to process.

Wooden furniture is "able" to fit into any interior, the main thing is to do it correctly. Individuals with a well-developed sense of style and imagination can create a whole small world in their home, unlike others, unique, with its own atmosphere and mood.

An excellent option for using wooden furniture in the interior of the kitchen-dining room

Video: how to make a wooden dining table with your own hands in a garage workshop

Today in furniture stores you can see a large assortment of sofas, armchairs, tables, chairs. All of them differ in materials of manufacture, color scheme, style, design. You can transform the interior not only with the help of products bought in the store. It is possible to make them yourself. Do-it-yourself furniture interesting ideas will be discussed further.

Handmade interior items have the following advantages:

• Budget - finished products will cost much less than furniture purchased in a store. The cost of its manufacture is equal to the cost of materials and the time spent. In some cases, you will need the tools necessary to create furniture;
• Strength, reliability - in the case of self-manufacturing of chairs, tables, sofas, its owner will know exactly what the product consists of, how reliable it is. When using high-quality elements, interior items will turn out to be strong and last a long time;
• Originality - homemade models are distinguished by their unusualness, they are made in one copy. There is an opportunity to translate into reality numerous ideas. Thus, you can decorate the room with exclusive products that will become the highlight of the room and attract the attention of guests.

Non-standard materials

For the manufacture of furniture with their own hands, they use interesting ideas that allow you to create tables, armchairs, chairs of a unique design. Materials for these purposes can be varied. Most often, improvised means are used to translate ideas, which are inexpensive. Thus, it will be possible to make an exclusive model and decently save.

Unusual materials for the manufacture of interior items:

• Wooden pallets;
• SIP panels;
• Various pipes;
• Car tires;
• Paper, newspapers, books;
• Branches, tree trunks.

This is just a small list of what is used to make furniture. The main thing in this business is the desire and the boundless imagination of the master.

Pallets are used to make original interior items that will be a wonderful decoration for a garden plot. In addition, benches, tables, sofas are easy to make. An excellent option for relaxing and sunbathing is a deck chair made of pallets. To make the deck chair even more original and comfortable, you can put a soft mattress or a few bright pillows on top.

In addition, unusual interior items from pallets will perfectly fit into the design of a loft-style room. It is characterized by rudeness, raw materials, so a sofa, armchairs or a table made of pallets will be an excellent option for a living room. In addition, this material is very convenient, since the height and width of the product can be adjusted by the number of elements. In the bedroom, you can install a bed, the frame of which will be made of this material.

SIP panels in the interior

SIP panels are used in the construction of houses. They are two sheets, between which there is foam. From SIP panels you can make interesting furniture for a house or apartment. Products are light and at the same time very durable. They do not harm human health. Even in the event of a fire, they do not emit toxins. Furniture from SIP panels is not afraid of ultraviolet rays, mold and mildew.

From plastic pipes

You can make a lot of interesting things out of plastic pipes. Such products will have a number of advantages, including:

• Moisture resistant;
• Reliability;
• Strength;
• Security;
• Low cost;
• Relative ease.

Plastic pipes are used to make chairs and deck chairs for summer cottages. Various lockers, tables, chairs are perfect for an apartment or a private house. A stylish coffee table made of plastic pipes will be an excellent option; you can put magazines and newspapers on it.

Wicker furniture

Wicker furniture is a stylish, original decoration of a country house. A set of several armchairs and a table is ideal for an outdoor terrace. Wicker furniture looks amazing, you can make a real work of art on your own. Interior items made using weaving technique:

• armchairs;
• Rocking chair;
• Sofa;
• Chair;
• Cabinet.

In addition, there are various stands for flowers and shelves. Wicker furniture is environmentally friendly, light, beautiful, not afraid of high humidity and does not require special care.

Over time, armchairs, sofas, tables and other interior items become unusable, lose the beauty of their original appearance. You can bring them back to life with the help of alteration:

1. Old wooden chairs, tables are repainted, and they become like new;
2. The upholstery of armchairs and sofas is changed to a new one;
3. Old cabinets, chests of drawers, cabinets are pasted over with wallpaper or self-adhesive film. You can also decorate them with acrylic paint and other compositions;
4. Do not rush to throw away old furniture, it can be perfect for giving. You can put flower pots in the chest of drawers. The cabinet will be a great place to store garden tools.

Alteration of old interior items will not take so much time. In addition, it will save money, since buying new furniture will cost much more. Another positive aspect of the alteration is the ability to create a unique design of armchairs, sofas, tables and other products to your liking.

A photo

The kitchen and wardrobe are almost the easiest types of furniture for beginners to assemble (not counting only bedside tables and shelves). In general, furniture for the living room and bedroom usually requires a more serious approach, the use of non-standard materials, glass. This article will help beginners understand how to make furniture on their own.

Wood in its pure form is almost never used in cabinet furniture; the array is considered an expensive elite material.

Now the tree is being replaced with a cheaper material - laminated chipboard (abbreviated chipboard). Most often, these plates have a thickness of 16 mm, on sale you can also find laminated chipboard with a thickness of 10 and 22 mm. 10mm sheets are commonly used to fill closet doors, while 22mm sheets are used for bookcases and shelves where high bending strength is required. Also, sometimes with the help of elements from chipboard 22 mm they decorate the structure.

Almost all furniture parts are made of 16 mm chipboard (except for doors and facades).

Laminated chipboard

The cutting of chipboard is carried out on special machines along the guides. Of course, you can saw it off at home with a jigsaw, but then there will be chips and wavy bumps on the edges. It is almost impossible to saw off a chipboard exactly with a jigsaw at home.

edges

The most vulnerable spot of chipboard is its cut. It is easiest for moisture to penetrate through it, therefore, with poor protection, the ends may soon swell. Therefore, the ends are closed with the help of edges, there are several types of them.

• • Melamine edge - the cheapest, but poor quality. You can stick it at home with an iron.

• • PVC edge 0.4 and 2 mm is the best option. It can be glued only on a special machine, so they make it immediately when ordering a cut. To save money, 0.4 mm is glued to invisible ends, and 2 mm to external ones, which will experience constant loads and friction.

PVC edge 2 mm

• • ABS edging - similar to PVC, only made of environmentally friendly material.
  • Mortise T-profile - inserted into a groove previously made by a cutter. Rarely used.

• • Overhead U-profile - can be easily glued at home on liquid nails. The main disadvantage is that the edges will protrude by several millimeters, so dirt gets clogged under it. On the other hand, this drawback allows you to hide a poor-quality cut.

facades

Kitchen facades and furniture doors are usually made of more elegant material. But if you are making a drawer door inside a wardrobe that no one will see, you can also use a regular 16 mm chipboard with a 2 mm PVC edge for it. But cabinets in the kitchen should look more presentable.

The facade is a separate furniture element. It is usually made to order. If the dimensions of the facades are non-standard, their production may take several months.

You can easily navigate by standard sizes: usually the facades are made 2 mm smaller than the cabinet itself on each side. Therefore, for a standard 600 mm cabinet, a 596 mm front is used.

The height of the kitchen cabinet also depends on the facade and ranges from 715 to 725 mm for floor cabinets (without legs) and low wall cabinets, and 915-925 mm for high wall cabinets.

Types of facades

Since the facades perform mainly a decorative function, the choice is huge, they differ in appearance and material.

• • Facades made of laminated MDF. This is a pressed material, more moisture resistant and dense, compared to chipboard. Most often, the surface is laminated "under the tree." But no matter how strong the film is, over time at the edges it can move away and crack. The main advantage of this material is its low price and fast production.

Facades from MDF

• • In addition to standard blank facades, there are also options with figured cutouts for stained glass. Glass is attached to the lining on the reverse side.
  • Softforming - such facades are similar to ordinary MDF, but have a characteristic two-color layout with a relief on both sides. They can only be used in dry rooms, bedrooms or living rooms.

• • Postforming - even better and more durable products. Thin plastic is wrapped around the edges by 90° or 180°, which eliminates unnecessary seams at the corners. Chipboard or MDF boards are used as the basis. Usually, postforming is done in a strict form, without unnecessary pretentious decorative elements.

• • Plastic facades are of high quality, but expensive. They consist of a base (chipboard / MDF), lined on both sides with thick plastic. They always have a strict design and a flat surface, glossy or matte. The edges of the slab are sometimes protected with ABS edging or aluminum profiles. Recently, super-gloss acrylic plastic has become especially popular.

Plastic facades in aluminum profile

• • Facades made of wood and veneer are suitable for lovers of natural materials, but they are expensive. In addition, there are long disputes about environmental friendliness: it is believed that there are so many varnishes and impregnations here that only one name remains from the tree.

• • Enamel painted facades. They have a significant drawback - the surface is vulnerable to scratches and deformations, has a low chemical resistance. They used to be popular for their rich color, but with the advent of glossy acrylic plastic, everything has changed.

• Aluminum facades with glass - suitable for a high-tech kitchen. They look modern, but are difficult to manufacture and install. For their fastening, non-standard fittings are used.

Back walls and drawer bottoms

The back wall and bottom of the drawers are most often made of HDPE. The smooth side of the sheet should look inside the cabinet / drawer. The thickness of the sheets is 3-5 mm, the color is selected according to the chipboard.

Some people prefer to attach HDF to a furniture stapler, but this cannot be done. Over time, the staples loosen and the structure can warp. It’s not worth talking about the bottom of the boxes - the stapler is clearly not suitable for fastening.

Furniture HDPE

Sometimes it is inserted into the groove prepared by the cutter, but all dimensions must match to the millimeter.

Most often, HDPE is attached to nails or self-tapping screws. It is better to use self-tapping screws with a press washer, but before screwing them in, you need to drill a hole, otherwise the product may crack.

In rare cases, for example, to create a "stiffening rib" in a tall cabinet or in drawers with high loads, fiberboard is replaced with chipboard. These materials can also be combined.

Countertops

A countertop is a horizontal work surface on which you can cook, eat, read, write, etc.

Most office and writing tables, as well as cheap dining tables, have a top made of the same chipboard as the main parts. The thickness is 16 or 22 mm, it is obligatory to frame the PVC with a 2 mm edge.

For the kitchen, special countertops are used. They are a sheet of chipboard with a thickness of 28-38 mm, which is covered with durable plastic on top using postforming technology. Moisture-resistant countertops are green on the cut, and ordinary chipboard is gray. A proper kitchen worktop should have a drip tray that will prevent dripping liquid from entering the fronts and drawers.

The weak point of such countertops is the saw cut edge. Usually they are covered with a simple melamine edge, so they become unusable in the first year of operation. To avoid this, it is recommended to protect the edges with special aluminum profiles (end plate), and to protect against moisture, pre-lubricate the saw cut with silicone sealant.

There are also other types of profile: corner and connecting strip, which are needed to join several cabinets with different countertops.

Corner, connecting and end strip for worktop

Another element is a decorative corner that closes the gap between the wall and the countertop.

A wall panel is sometimes used to finish the apron. Unlike tiles or mosaics, they are more practical due to the absence of seams and inexpensive compared to glass aprons.

The fastening of the tabletop to the cabinets is done from below with short self-tapping screws to the horizontal struts so as not to spoil the smooth front surface.

Countertops made of natural or artificial stone are of higher quality and more durable than others. Natural stone is heavy and requires special care due to its high porosity. And artificial stone does not have such shortcomings, it can be given any size and shape. The main disadvantage of stone countertops is the high price; for a small kitchen, they cost from 40 thousand rubles. and more.

An alternative option is a tile or porcelain stoneware countertop. You can make it yourself, but the tiles cannot be mounted on ordinary plywood or chipboard. Previously, the base must be sheathed with cement-fiber sheets.

Location of parts

A detail is any element of cabinet furniture: covers, countertops, walls, facades, shelves. Each item can be either nested or invoiced. Choosing the right type of location is very important.

Consider examples of two kitchen cabinets: one of them will stand on legs, and the second will be suspended.

Floor cabinet:

As you can see in the photo, the operating voltage in the floor cabinet is directed downwards from the cover and in the first version is naturally transmitted through the parts to the legs of the cabinet.

In the second, incorrect version, the load is transmitted through the confirm (furniture screw), and because of this, it will be pulled out of the part for a break.

Wall cabinet:

In the second example, the opposite is true: the load will go to the bottom shelf, and the attachment point will be on top.

If we apply here the same fastening scheme as in the floor cabinet (option 1), all 4 bolts will be constantly under load to pull out of the wood. Therefore, it is better if the confirmers experience a fracture load (see the “correct” diagram).

Furniture fasteners

Furniture fasteners are hardware (metal products) that are used to connect parts. Most often, the connections are made at right angles.

• • Wooden dowels - inserted into pre-drilled holes in both parts. They are used for pre-fixing and strengthening the load "on the cut", then the parts are fixed in a more reliable way.

• • Furniture corners are a popular but outdated type of furniture fastening. Among the minuses: appearance, loosening over time and bulkiness.

furniture corner

The main disadvantage of this type of fastening is that the caps screwed flush remain in sight. To hide them, use plastic plugs in the color of chipboard.

furniture fittings

• • Handles - everything is clear here. Usually fastened with screws.
  • Legs - convenient in rooms where wet cleaning of the floor is often done, for example, in the kitchen. From daily contact with water, any wood, and especially chipboard, will quickly deteriorate. In addition, due to the legs, furniture can be leveled on uneven surfaces.
  • A silicone damper is a cheap but very useful part that can reduce the noise of impacts from cabinet doors. Sticks on the top and bottom of the door or cabinet end to soften the impact.

• • Furniture hinges. Round cutouts for them (additives) in the facades can be made in any furniture workshop, if the manufacturer has not made them in advance. The hinges differ in the degree of opening of the doors. Standard hinges have an opening angle of 180° and a closed angle of 90°.
    The hinges have a special mechanism that allows you to adjust the doors in height and landing depth. Separate hinges are sold for glass doors, glass can be clamped into them without drilling a hole.

Furniture hinges

From inexpensive manufacturers of accessories, we can recommend the Chinese Boyard, from serious world manufacturers - the Austrian Blum.

Drawers and guides

There are many ways to make furniture boxes. The easiest of them is to assemble the perimeter from chipboard. If a beautiful facade is required, it is screwed on top of the main frame from the inside (like the countertop). Also, the facade can be mounted on eccentrics as the fourth wall of the box.

But the main thing is not to assemble the drawer, but to fix it correctly.

Guides for boxes are divided into roller or ball.

• • Roller guides are usually attached to the bottom of the box. He will ride on them on two rollers. A pair of such guides costs about 150 rubles, but it is highly not recommended to use them. The main disadvantage is that they do not allow the drawer to be pulled out completely, a heavy drawer in the more than half open position can simply fall.
  • Ball guides, or as they are also called, “full extension telescopic guides” are capable of exactly doubling the length. They have many balls inside, like in bearings, so they provide a smooth ride.

Roller and ball guides for drawers

• In addition, Blum has metaboxes and tandemboxes. These are ready-made side walls of boxes with installed guides. It remains only to install the facade, back wall and bottom.

Doors for wardrobes

The sliding wardrobe can be separate (with side and rear walls), or built into a niche or corner (with one side wall). The internal filling can be anything: ordinary shelves and mezzanines, drawers and baskets, clothes rails, special hangers for trousers, ties, etc.

The main element of the wardrobe is sliding doors. You can’t save on them, you need to buy high-quality fittings, otherwise then you will be tormented with falling and jamming doors. It is not a problem to find domestic Aristo sliding systems in almost any city in specialized stores.

The sliding wardrobe usually has 2-3 doors. They consist of a profiled frame, inside which decorative elements are inserted: mirrors and glass, laminated chipboard, rattan, bamboo, artificial leather sheets (on the basis). Each door can be assembled from a combination of several of these materials, which are separated by an aluminum profile. In width, it is not recommended to make doors more than 1 m.

Standard profiles are designed for a web thickness of 10 mm. But how to insert a 4 mm thick mirror into it? To do this, a silicone sealant is put on the edge of the mirror. So that in the event of a blow, broken glass does not hurt anyone, you need to order a mirror with a film glued to the wrong side.

The movement of the doors goes along the guides, they are installed from above and below. The lower doors provide forward and backward movement, and the upper ones fix the door relative to the depth of the cabinet.

The bottom rollers are usually made of plastic, have a shock-absorbing spring and a height adjustment screw. The top rollers have a rubberized surface.
With the proper approach, home-made furniture turns out to be cheaper and better than those exhibited in stores. But besides this, it will be exclusive, precisely suited to the needs of the owners and the features of the room.