Most often, a whole lot of items, necessary things are stored on the balcony. In order to make the most optimal use of space, it is worth installing a wardrobe on the balcony.
Such a solution will help to use the space in a practical way, free from unnecessary workload.
In order to figure out how to choose the right cabinet, read the selection criteria and recommendations.
Criterias of choice
They are essential when buying, because not every model is suitable in size, or service life. So, important selection criteria.
The size
With a small balcony, the wardrobe should be selected in accordance with this. Measure the height and width in advance so as not to miscalculate. Thanks to timely measurements, you will save yourself not only time, nerves, but also money.
Consider protruding window sills. This will help to competently approach the issue of installation and placement of the cabinet. Just a few millimeters can play a trick on you.
A corner cabinet for a balcony is a great option for placing a cabinet in the corner. Thus, it will take up part of the space, compactly fit all the necessary items.
Term of use
The temperature regime of the balcony is different than the apartment. Therefore, due to weather changes, furniture suffers. Therefore, it is so important to take this fact into account when choosing.
Depending on your location, the weather that is typical for the region, they choose such a built-in wardrobe on the balcony that will withstand temperature fluctuations and instability. The material must be well tolerated by moisture.
materials
For the manufacture of suitable wooden materials, MDF, chipboard. These are quite popular materials in the manufacture of furniture.
Before buying directly, pay attention to the properties of the material, its resistance to high moisture and low temperature conditions.
Note! A properly selected item, as seen in the photo of the wardrobe on the balcony, will not only become a place for compact and functional arrangement of things, but also decorate the space, become an interesting interior decoration.
DIY wardrobe
If you have ever thought about how to make a closet on the balcony, then you should familiarize yourself with the following points.
If you have the necessary amount of material and basic skills, you can easily do it yourself without the help of specialists.
It is also worth saying that buying separate materials for the manufacture of a beautiful wardrobe on the balcony, you will save a lot of money.
Think over a sketch of future furniture in advance. Consider the dimensions, weight that will fall on the cabinet.
Having selected all the necessary materials and tools, proceed with the assembly. For this process, you will need nails, or screws.
The first option is quite convenient when disassembling the structure, accessible to everyone. The second one is more aesthetically pleasing, but they require special tools to use.
If it's easy for you to create a blueprint and then do a good job, then you can certainly do it.
If you are doing this for the first time, it is better to ask for help, or still buy a ready-made wardrobe for the balcony.
The positive side of the choice
There are several positive aspects of choosing a cabinet:
- you save space. After all, the design of the cabinet itself implies a compact room for many items for comfortable operation;
- low price, it all depends on the model you choose, or the independent execution of the product;
- suitable for absolutely everyone, because you can make a wardrobe on the balcony to order. This choice is suitable for those who want to add their own zest to the furniture, to complement it;
- from the aesthetic side, the right combination of colors will decorate your interior.
Minuses
It is also worth talking about the disadvantages of choosing:
- difficult location. It is necessary to calculate in advance the dimensions, height, width to be able to fit the cabinet on the balcony;
- the ability of the material to withstand high or low temperatures, the presence of high moisture and resistance to heavy loads must be taken into account.
conclusions
To choose the right cabinet, it is worth considering its dimensions and criteria such as moisture resistance and resistance to temperature extremes. It is not necessary to buy, you can make a piece of furniture yourself.
A cabinet selected according to all criteria will serve you for a long time without creating unnecessary inconvenience.
Photo cabinets for the balcony
According to an old tradition, things that could not be found in the apartment are stored on the balcony and loggia. And so that these small-sized rooms do not turn into a dump, a good storage system is needed. The most practical option is a built-in wardrobe on a balcony or loggia. Often all that is required is to make construction sites on which shelves will be held and put doors. With such a task, you can easily cope with your own hands, even with a minimum of skills.
Materials and designs
The design of the built-in wardrobe can be divided into two parts: a frame and doors. Sometimes, if a side stand is needed, there is also a sheathing.
What is the frame made of
Racks for the cabinet are most often made of timber. Section approximately 40*40 mm or 50*50 mm. The option is not bad, but there can be high humidity on an unheated balcony. And wood is a material that changes size depending on humidity. There is one more point: timber is not cheap in all regions.
There is another option - to assemble a frame on a drywall profile. Any sheet material of the type, etc. is perfectly attached to it. If you take galvanized, then no problems with humidity are terrible.
What to make shelves
The easiest way is to cut the shelves to size from sheet material. It's still the same chipboard - plain or laminated, thick plywood, sometimes you can use it, but shelves for weights should be desired on a wooden frame.
You can mount them on the places prepared on the frame - installed bars or on self-tapping screws. There is an option - corners directly to the wall. But it is good if the walls can be drilled with self-tapping screws right away, otherwise it will take too long to put each shelf on the dowels. Then it is easier to assemble the frame and attach it to it.
There is an even easier way to make shelves on a balcony or loggia: use metal rails and brackets for them. These systems are used in stores, but for this case they are more than convenient: the height changes easily with a fairly small step. Just hang the brackets on other holes.
With such an organization, all that is needed is to put doors. So the closet is ready on the loggia or balcony.
By the way, you can do something similar from wooden bars: recesses for shelves with a certain step. You can make cuts with a saw, and then remove with a chisel.
Often shelves are made from cut pieces of boards. Since the width of the balcony is usually small, all sorts of trimmings come into play. Only in order for them not to lose their appearance for a long time and to be easily wiped off, they need to be covered with something. And although the glazed balcony and loggia are more related to interior spaces, take paint and varnish products for outdoor work, as well as protective impregnations. They contain substances that protect against ultraviolet radiation. Without them, in a couple of years, the wood will look miserable.
So that when working in the apartment it doesn’t “smell” too much, you can take a water-based varnish. It does not create a film, but dirt is not absorbed into the surface.
What are the doors
Three types of doors are made in a closet on a loggia or balcony:
- ordinary swing;
- sliding - by the type of wardrobe;
- roller shutters.
All these doors can be the entire height of the cabinet, but it is more convenient to divide it into two or three parts, and hang your own doors on each.
The most inexpensive are swing doors. You need the doors and hinges themselves, and it’s easy to “put” them in place on your own. Sliding systems are more expensive. We need guides - top, bottom and side, as well as a system of rollers that is installed on the door leaf. But this option is attractive because it saves space.
The most expensive are roller shutters. But they are attractive because they come as a ready-made kit, and the installation is basically "attached" to the purchase.
Watch the video on how to assemble sliding doors for a balcony cabinet. Much will become clear.
How to make a balcony cabinet on a wooden frame
First, cut 4 racks to the desired height of the cabinet. If you plan to make it to the very ceiling, measure each one separately, and do not cut the same ones. The height is often quite different. The cut racks are attached. The distance between them determines the depth of the cabinet, but most often depends on the available space. How much is, so much is used.
If there are three blank walls, there is no problem. The bars are attached to dowels. They put the bar against the wall, check its verticality, drill through holes for fasteners in the right places. The bar is removed, plastic plugs from dowels are inserted into the holes in the wall. After setting the bar in place, screw it to the wall with screws.
If you make a closet on the balcony, one side is attached to the wall, and the second - to the frame elements or only at the top and bottom - to the ceiling and floor (we use reinforced metal corners).
Another option for such a case - if you need to close the window glass with something - put a wall near the window (for example, from chipboard), fix it at the bottom and top with corners to the floor and ceiling, and then attach it to the wall (and to the flow and floor) frame bars.
Then transverse bars are nailed to the racks. They give the whole system a high degree of rigidity and the shelves will rest on them.
In order not to “walk” a place near the glass, this part is also occupied by shelves. Since the width of the furniture is different, they often make two separate small cabinets: on the lower and on the upper halves. Often they also differ in depth: the bottom one can be made wider and more heavy and bulky things can be hidden there. The upper cabinet in this case can be made less deep. In this case, the top of the lower cabinet can be used as a countertop.
Corner wardrobe on the loggia: photo report
At first, the loggia was lined with clapboard. Immediately after that, a cabinet was made from the same lining. It was decided to want a corner, so as not to close the window so much. On the opposite side, the closet occupies almost the entire width, slightly short of the balcony door.
Racks were not attached. They nailed the bars on the ceiling and to the floor, to them the walls. They turned out to be short - three planks. Planks were nailed to the lining of the walls, on which the same lining, cut out according to the resulting cabinet shape, was laid.
At the top and bottom of the doorway, a clapboard was stuffed across the opening. We measured the remaining distance, subtracted 1.5 centimeters for inaccuracies, and cut the lining on the door of this length. They needed six. Shot down with the help of four cross bars shot down in the door. Hung using regular hinges.
In the free space between the cabinet wall and the balcony sheathing, two shelves are nailed. A little later, they added a little higher with rounded edges. At the last stage, they nailed the plinth under the ceiling and on the floor (to close the cracks), then they polished the lining with sandpaper and painted it with wood stain.
Drawings and diagrams
It is impossible to talk about any standards regarding wardrobes for balconies. And the size and configuration, and the glazing is different for everyone. Therefore, even with the size of the shelves, it is necessary to determine “in place”. But here are a few examples that you can change as you need.
Photo of finished cabinets on the loggia and balcony
Not exactly a closet - a seat with a drawer at the bottom
If this corner of the house reminds you of a dump of the unnecessary, then it's time to build a closet on the balcony, and we will tell you about the photo in the interior and how beautiful it is to make it with your own hands. We will also show more than 50 interesting ideas and give diagrams for almost each of them.
What material is better to make a wardrobe on the balcony
No matter how the balcony is insulated, it's all the same This is a high humidity area.. So the material for the manufacture of the cabinet is needed choose according to this factor..
That is, you understand, budget chipboard immediately falls out of this list, since it will swell in 3-4 wet seasons. The doors will begin to open poorly, the shelves will sag and the fungus will settle inside. What remains?
- Tree
- Plastic
- metal-plastic
- Moisture resistant drywall
Let's take a look at each of them in detail and find out all the pros and cons of each option.
Wardrobes on the balcony made of wood
Wood is undeniably the best choice. Let a good board be expensive, but the product will be of high quality, strong and durable.
By the way, you still won’t have to go broke on building materials, since balcony cabinets are usually very small in size.
Look at several types of wooden cabinets on the balcony and appreciate how great they fit into the interior, giving a special touch and comfort.
Please note that the options presented are made of lining. It's not that expensive and it's quick to assemble.
It does not need to be further cleaned, which is also a big plus. It is only necessary to cover the finished cabinet with stain or paint. In the photo above, natural-looking wooden cabinets, but examples of painted wood.
It looks much more elegant and this material can be combined with almost any frame and wall decoration. And, if the design of your house is “Provence”, then this is generally the only right decision.
- Be sure to treat the wood with a special moisture-resistant varnish or paint, this will greatly extend the life of the cabinet.
- You should not take ready-made, lattice doors-blinds. They use too thin strips and over time they are deformed under the influence of temperature differences and moisture.
There is nothing more to add, in general. Wood is a wonderful option both visually and from a practical point of view, and the smell on the balcony will be pleasant for many years.
Plastic
We mean plastic panels. They often sheathe the balcony from the inside and make cabinets to match. It looks like this.
Not to say that it is very good, but not entirely ugly. But, the point here is not only how such a cabinet looks externally. It's a matter of impracticality.
Despite the fact that the plastic is moisture resistant, it is not very suitable for a balcony. Why?
Because it is deformed from direct sunlight and is not shockproof. It is worth accidentally pressing down such a door with something heavy and a gaping hole forms on it.
Metal-plastic cabinets
You can buy individual elements for such a cabinet (doors, shelves) in building supermarkets.
In fact, this is the same material from which windows are made. That is, he is not afraid of anything at all: neither the bright sun, nor heat, nor cold, nor moisture, nor blows.
And, if your apartment is decorated in some modern style, then making a metal-plastic wardrobe on the balcony is quite logical. For the price, it will not come out too expensive and it will serve you for a long time.
The only thing is that you need to be very careful at the assembly stage and drill holes for fittings very carefully.
It's not a tree and you can't fix a mistake so that it's not visible. The tree was puttied, painted and as if nothing had happened. And then the extra hole remains for life. This is how such cabinets look in the interior of the balcony.
Moisture resistant drywall
Also not the best solution, despite the fact that it is moisture resistant. Drywall tends to break from impacts, the construction of such a cabinet requires a lot of profile ... Yes, and the doors still need to be made from a different material.
A plasterboard base is chosen when they want to make a cabinet that merges with the color and texture of the main wall.
And, if you have just such a case, then it is better to take the thinnest, facing brick and build a cabinet out of it, then putty and paint.
It will be much more durable and reliable.
By the way, wood can also be covered with a special putty and painted. And it will look like an ordinary wall.
On which side of the balcony to place the wardrobe
On such a cabinet, you can put flowers or something else on top, maybe even an aquarium.
And here is the cabinet, which was assembled from ready-made elements of kitchen furniture. It is very functional, but on the balcony you will need to lay one wall with a brick in this case.
If you have a loggia, then you can place such a cabinet without any problems.
And here is a wardrobe with doors that are customary to equip wardrobes in a room. It also looks good and is roomy. It also stands, near a blank side wall.
In this photo you can see that the lockers are all around the bottom of the balcony. Beautiful, but the downside is that they are too shallow.
Here are the cabinets. You can sit on them and store vegetables. Convenient and doesn't take up much space.
The corner wardrobe on the balcony is not 100% functional.
It can be done in the event that the shape of the balcony you have with a corner and otherwise place the cabinet does not work out in any way.
You can see for yourself that there is very little usable area inside this option.
Which door system do you prefer?
Balcony space is usually narrow and very limited. And no matter what location you choose, it will not always be comfortable to open the doors wide open.
But the sliding system is often not an option here, since the cabinets are already narrow.
For example, if you put sliding doors on such a cabinet option, as shown below, then when you open the half will be tightly closed, forming a dead zone. Getting something out of it will be very, very inconvenient.
In this case, a much more correct solution would be to make swing doors.
Moreover, one of them already opens towards the window and it does not matter at all what will block it for some small moment. You can also make accordion doors, as shown below.
But, frankly, there is not much to gain here. The closet opens and so towards the window, and what difference does it make whether 20 or 40 centimeters of glass will be covered? But accessories for an accordion cost money and there is no point in overpaying.
So, our advice: everything ingenious is simple. And on the balcony, we do not recommend all kinds of bold decisions. The simplest door is what you need.
Examples of design and schemes of various cabinets
We have made an extensive selection, attaching diagrams. If you wish, you can use any of them and independently build a wardrobe on the balcony.
Simple storage cabinet
He does it very simply and there is only one scheme here, which material you would not prefer. The main thing is to make the shelves of the correct width and height so that you can conveniently place cans in them.
It is better to make many small shelves than one or two, on which you will put the preservation one on one, shifting it with plywood sheets, for example. Getting something in this case is terribly inconvenient: sometimes you have to disassemble all the supplies, and then put them back.
This is what the storage cabinet looks like in the interior:
And here is his diagram. Doors can be set to your taste, here it is not so important.
Cabinet for storage of vegetables in the form of a bench with upper shelves
Such cabinets can be made in two ways. In the form of a chest, with a lid that opens up or in the form of a bench, the door of which is at the bottom. We give you examples of both options.
Closet-chest. Scheme and view in the interior:
Of course, the dimensions here are approximate and you must adjust them yourself to fit your balcony.
A wardrobe bench is also a great option for a small balcony. This photo shows one of his examples.
There is no point in giving a diagram here, since everything is very simple. Make a box, and hang doors on it.
An important note: if you plan to store vegetables in it, then do not forget to drill small holes for ventilation with a drill. If you don’t, potatoes and other root crops will rot.
Multifunctional cabinet with table
There are a lot of options in this case. You can make a closet with a desk, and instead of a balcony you will get a wonderful office.
And a computer table can be put, and a table for needlework. In general, anything!
We offer you to look at our photos and we really hope that the options we have chosen will be to your taste.
Seedling rack with removable doors
The secret of this cabinet is that it is equipped with removable doors and lamps. How exactly to fix them, you yourself will figure it out, since there are many options.
We give you only a good idea. In summer and autumn, you can use this structure to store conservation, and in spring and at the end of winter, when there are no more supplies, you can put seedlings there.
The main thing is to place such a cabinet closer to the light and make the shelves not from chipboard or fiberboard, but from metal. It must be durable and not be afraid of water.
This is what an empty metal rack looks like. It is very easy to assemble it, ready-made parts are sold in construction markets.
In principle, you can not even fool with removable doors, but simply hang the rack with some beautiful textiles. It will also look very good, especially since fabric curtains on cabinets are now in vogue.
This is where our review comes to an end. Choose any of the presented wardrobe on the balcony. Photos in the interior and how beautiful to make - we gave, and we are sure that everything will turn out in the best possible way!
A closet on a loggia or balcony helps to solve the problem of lack of space in the apartment for rarely used, but much-needed things. The right approach to the choice of shape and design will help maintain an attractive appearance of the balcony and maximize its usable area. The existing variety of materials allows you to create a wardrobe that is most suitable for the interior. You can make a closet on the balcony with your own hands quickly, efficiently and at minimal financial cost.
Balcony wardrobe options
Before you start designing a cabinet, you should understand the whole variety of configurations and choose the most functional option for yourself.
Loggias and balconies have different dimensions, so all dimensions on the diagrams are indicative. In each individual case, the drawing should be compared with the actual dimensions.
Embedded and hull structures
A built-in wardrobe is the most convenient and economical option. It occupies every centimeter of the area intended for it, even the space under the windowsill. The side and back wall can be left open, which significantly saves material. The disadvantage of such a cabinet is the impossibility of moving it to another place. But usually there is no need for this. The built-in closet is made from floor to ceiling so that it can fit as many shelves as possible for the necessary things.
You can install ready-made cabinet furniture on the balcony or use an old bookcase with a lot of shelves as a shelving unit. But the option is not ideal, since it is difficult to find furniture of the required size.
Corner balcony furniture
Corner cabinets are quite dimensional, but they can accommodate much more things. The advantage of such structures is the ability not to sacrifice part of the window opening and to maintain light access to the room.
In this version, the wide part of the cabinet occupies the side wall of the loggia, and the narrow part adjoins the front wall. In such cabinets, only sliding doors can be installed, which makes it possible to save the useful space of the loggia.
There is another version of the corner cabinet - more massive and voluminous.
Everyone determines the number of shelves and their location based on needs. Doors are provided for hinged, but you can use roller shutters.
Compact storage containers
Tall cabinets are well suited for loggias with blank side walls, as they allow efficient use of usable space. But such furniture is not suitable for balconies with full glazing around the perimeter of the outer walls. In this case, the best option would be a low cabinet under the window, which can be placed under one or both end walls at once or along the entire length of the balcony under the windowsill.
The choice of model depends on the size of the balcony and the purpose for which the cabinet will be used.
Non-standard ideas for arranging a boot balcony
Many are baffled by a boot-shaped balcony. There are a huge number of original ideas on how to turn an absolutely unnecessary, at first glance, “appendix” into a pantry or a full-fledged built-in wardrobe with a lot of shelves.
To do this, it is enough to install a frame for the shelves, the shelves themselves and sew up the facade. As a door, you can use roller shutters or a swing door made of a material suitable for the interior. Instead of a double-glazed window, you can install a sandwich package (plastic-insulation-plastic).
Video: beautiful do-it-yourself loggia furniture
Doors, frames, shelves - which options to give preference to
Doors - possible executions:
- sliding doors save loggia space, as they do not require free space to open. It is comfortable, beautiful and practical. The only negative is that this design slightly reduces the interior space of the cabinet;
- hinged doors make it possible to see all the contents of the cabinet at once, close tightly and are practical to use. The disadvantage is the need for additional space in front of the cabinet for free opening;
- accordion door with the right design solution can decorate the interior of the loggia. The advantage is saving space in front of the closet. The disadvantage of such a door is a loose fit and lack of full visibility, even with the door fully open;
- roller shutters have been used in the furniture industry not so long ago, but have already managed to find many fans. The only drawback is the high price. The advantages include easy installation, tightness, full opening, no need for additional space, immunity to sunlight and moisture.
Gallery: types of doors for a balcony cabinet
The frame can be wood or metal.
It must be remembered that if the balcony is unheated and has high humidity, the wooden beam may soon become unusable.
To avoid this, you should choose a beam of large cross-section and regularly treat it with special impregnations.
The best option is to use a metal profile with a galvanized coating. Moisture and temperature changes are not terrible for him, and any finishing material is attached to it quite easily.
To simplify the task, you can use metal guides with brackets on which the shelves are laid. The distance between the shelves can be easily changed using the holes in the rails.
The number and shape of the shelves depend on the size of the cabinet. The built-in closet under the ceiling is usually made two-section. One section contains a large number of shelves and is designed for small items or cans. The second - consists of a compartment for large items and one upper shelf.
In the corner cabinet you can fit a large number of shelves at different distances from each other. Window cabinets with a standard arrangement of shelves are mainly intended for cans or small items.
If you want to give the loggia a more aesthetic look, you can install a cabinet with corner shelves for flowers, decorative items or books.
Material selection
When choosing a material for a cabinet, one should take into account climatic conditions, the overall design of the loggia, the expected load on the shelves, and financial capabilities.
Possible options:
- wood is the most expensive material. Possesses excellent esthetic and operational characteristics at observance of a temperature condition and rules of leaving. Not recommended for use on cold balconies with high humidity;
- plastic is a cheap and practical material. Not subject to temperature changes, moisture resistant and not picky in care. The disadvantages are discoloration under the influence of sunlight and instability to mechanical damage;
- MDF (fine fraction) is an environmentally friendly material, similar in properties to natural wood, but much cheaper. The panels are resistant to moisture and high temperatures;
- Chipboard is pressed wood chips, but unlike MDF, harmful resins are used in the production, which makes the board environmentally unsafe. Poorly holds screwed parts, can crack. But the price is much lower than MDF boards;
- Fiberboard (wood fiber board) - not intended for facing work. In the manufacture of furniture, it is used to make the back. The disadvantage is the high hygroscopicity, causing deformation.
Gallery: types of materials used
When arranging a wardrobe on the balcony with your own hands, you can combine lumber with plastic and other finishing materials.
Gallery: photo of original cabinets made of wood, plastic, lining
Drawings and step-by-step instructions for making cabinets for a balcony
To equip a closet on the balcony is within the power of a home master who can properly hold a tool in his hands.
Before proceeding with the manufacture, you need to decide on the location, type, size and material. The next step is to create a sketch or drawing with precisely defined dimensions of the cabinet, the number and location of shelves and the design of the door.
When the configuration and material of the future product are selected, you can decide on the fittings and the necessary tools.
Tool you may need:
- electric saw;
- electric drill;
- hammer;
- plane;
- chisels;
- hydraulic level;
- screwdriver;
- hammer;
- roulette;
- screwdriver;
- square;
- pliers;
- construction knife;
- sandpaper;
- plumb.
There are three build options:
- built-in wardrobe. Has no internal walls. The structure for the shelves is assembled using wooden bars or a metal profile. Only the front part of the cabinet and the door is made;
- portable cabinet. The frame is taken as the basis, which is sheathed with drywall, clapboard, chipboard or plastic;
- body cabinet. The box is completely assembled from the selected material. Shelves and doors are attached directly to the assembled structure.
Consider all options.
The scheme and procedure for the manufacture of built-in balcony furniture
Such a cabinet is made from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall. Before starting the installation, it is necessary to remove the plinth, if any.
The best option for making a frame is wooden blocks. They are easy to cut and fairly easy to assemble. You can use a metal profile for drywall. This option, of course, is cheaper, but you can forget about the aesthetic appearance.
Before starting installation, you need to make a markup. To do this, in place of the facade, attach a square at an angle of 90º to the side wall and draw a line on the ceiling. Next, using a level or plumb line, continue the line to the side walls and connect on the floor.
Then we fix the frame as follows:
- We apply the bar to the surface.
- We mark the beam for fasteners in increments of 0.5 meters.
- We drill the bar with a thin drill along the marks so that traces remain in the surface of the wall or ceiling.
- We remove the bar and make holes in the base for fasteners with a puncher.
- We insert the dowels into the holes obtained.
- We fasten the bar with self-tapping screws to the surface.
Thus, the entire frame is assembled. First you need to install the rear pillars on a plumb line. If they cannot be fixed on the walls, then with the help of corners we fix them to the ceiling and floor.
The bars can be connected using figured cutouts, but fastening with corners is the most convenient.
It is better to carry out marking under the shelves using a hydraulic level. Of course, you can use the usual level, but it is more difficult to achieve horizontality with it. The assembly of the base for the shelves is carried out similarly to the assembly of the main frame.
After the frame is fully assembled, you need to sew up the shelves. For this, you can use chipboard or MDF boards, but board shelves look more aesthetic. Simple strips of small thickness are suitable, which are screwed to the frame with self-tapping screws.
Using this cabinet design, it is necessary to think over the cladding of the front part. In our case, this is the door.
A classic and convenient option - swing doors. If the inside of the cabinet is made of wood, then it is better to sheathe the door with clapboard. It is necessary to perform work according to the following algorithm:
- Take measurements and draw a sketch.
- Make a template for cutting the board.
- Cut the required number of boards of the same length.
- For each door, prepare three bars: two of the same length and one corresponding to the diagonal of the doorway. This is the frame of the future door, shaped like the letter Z.
- Lay the frame on a flat surface, lay the lining on top. If all dimensions match, you can proceed with the assembly.
- First you need to screw the end boards.
- All subsequent strips must be tightly screwed to the horizontal and diagonal bar.
For the manufacture of doors, you can use MDF boards, which will simplify the task. It is necessary to take accurate measurements and cut the plate to size. You can do it yourself, but it is better to order cutting in a special service with end lamination service.
The next step is to install the hinges and hang the door.
To properly install the hinges, you must first fix them on the doors, and then make markings on the racks.
Having made a preliminary markup, you need to cut through the wood with a chisel. The depth of the cavity must be sufficient to sink the metal part of the hinge. Then you should remove the remaining chips with a chisel. Too deep recesses will make it difficult to open the door.
Then you need to plant the loop in the resulting hole and secure with self-tapping screws. It is more convenient to first assemble such a design on the door, and then screw it onto the cabinet.
After assembly, it is necessary to eliminate distortions with the help of special adjustable bolts. After completing the installation of the door, you should attach the handles.
Video: making a built-in wardrobe with your own hands
The procedure for installing small cabinets
It is most convenient to make a low cabinet under the side wall of the loggia from sheets of chipboard or MDF. Initially, you need to draw a diagram with the exact dimensions and cut the plates to the specified dimensions. It is better to do this immediately when buying material.
Assembly process:
- Assemble the side walls and bottom with the help of corners.
- The back wall can be made of fiberboard. Secure with furniture nails.
- Screw the corners in the places where the shelves are attached.
- Lay shelves.
- Attach an MDF sheet or countertop on top.
- Install doors.
A very convenient option is a narrow cabinet under the window. It is beneficial to make such furniture if the window sill is too wide. So that the space under the windowsill does not disappear, it is better to take it with an additional container. It is easy to build from the bars on which the shelves are superimposed. On balconies of great length, intermediate bars should be placed. This is necessary to give stability to the shelves. Swing or sliding doors are installed on the front part.
Video: how to quickly assemble a cabinet from chipboard panels
Order of assembly of corner elements
You can draw up a diagram yourself or find a suitable one and put down the required dimensions.
This option can be assembled without a frame, observing the sequence of operations:
- Nail or screw (depending on the quality of the walls) the bars under the shelves.
- Make a markup for the front part.
- Fix a bar or a metal profile, depending on the intended type of cladding.
- Fix the planks to the ceiling and floor timber when cladding with wood. If you use plastic for cladding, then screw a special profile to the ceiling, with which the strips are combined into a single canvas.
- Attach the door from the lining to the four transverse bars, install the hinges.
You can make a built-in corner cabinet with sliding doors, which will save a lot of free space. Door installation procedure:
- Fasten the rails on the ceiling and floor along which the door rollers will move.
- Attach the hardware to the door panel.
- After assembling the fittings, check the smoothness of movement along the guides.
The disadvantage of sliding doors is the high cost of fittings.
Making a closet on the balcony with your own hands is easy. Instructions and recommendations will help in the installation of the selected design. The main thing is to choose the right model and make accurate measurements. A little effort - and the new wardrobe will please the eye for many years and help keep the apartment in order.
In apartments with a small area - a common occurrence, when there is clearly not enough space to store things that are not used in everyday life, before they should be within walking distance. Therefore, many apartment owners often enough for this purpose install cabinets on them, providing them with numerous compartments and shelves. Such a solution is possible only 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 hopeless task, since it is very difficult to choose the right model. Ordering a product from a master is a “pleasure” quite expensive. The way out is simple - to 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 first need to 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, the visitor of our portal will be able to choose the model that is most suitable for a particular balcony in terms of parameters, style, and creative potential of the home master.
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 owner of the apartment, the size of the balcony, as well as on the desired spaciousness of this piece of furniture. Next, we will consider options for models that make sense to pay attention to.
First option
This wardrobe, 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 departments. The advantage of such a piece of furniture lies in its aesthetic appearance and the ability to use the open top as a stand for flowerpots or decorative vases, as well as for other items decorating the interior of this room.
The cabinet doors are made of a narrow lining installed across, which visually expands the space. Such door panels can be decorated as louvre shutters - they are more difficult to make manually, but they look more impressive and interesting. In the version shown in the illustration, the paneling is additionally decorated with Japanese-style paintings, which sets the direction for the design of the entire room. Since the piece of furniture brought to your attention is quite voluminous, it can be used not only as a simple storage for things that are not currently needed or jars of home-made canned food, but also as a full-fledged wardrobe. The latter 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, install ordinary shelves.
Second option
A wardrobe made of chipboard and equipped with compartment doors sheathed with plastic panels can also be installed only on an insulated balcony. Dampness has a negative effect on particle boards - they begin to warp under the influence of excess moisture, and the cabinet will not last for a long time.
This model can also be used as a wardrobe, which will free up a significant area in the apartment. The convenience of sliding wardrobe doors is obvious, as they save space, and a similar piece of furniture can even be installed right next to the front door to the balcony. Such a cabinet is usually ordered from a furniture company, but if desired, it is quite possible to make it yourself by purchasing the necessary material and guides for sliding doors. As you can see, the cabinet is quite spacious, has a large number of compartments, including for things hung on hangers. Such a product fits perfectly into the area of \u200b\u200bthe balcony allocated for it, it looks very neat and compact.
Do you install wardrobe doors yourself? Difficult, but quite possible!
If you purchase a special kit in 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 of our portal.
Third option
Natural wood is the most popular material for the manufacture of balcony furniture, as it is easier and more pleasant to work with, and also because it is environmentally friendly, does not emit fumes harmful to humans, unlike panels made using various adhesives and binder resins. . In addition, wood treated properly will last much longer than chipboard or plywood.
A 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 moisture will be less trapped inside a product made from it.
In the proposed version, a cabinet model with four doors is presented, and it can be called quite complex in design, since not two panels will have to be adjusted 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 of it. Although, this moment is most often not fundamental, therefore, such a model can be chosen if you simply liked it in terms of its functionality. If there is no experience in carpentry, then it will be quite difficult to make such a cabinet and perfectly fit all its elements to each other.
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 blanks for the winter, and, of course, other things that could not be found in drawers and cabinets inside the apartment. If the balcony is completely sheathed with wooden clapboard, then the cabinet will fit perfectly into the interior of the room.
Fifth option
This balcony cabinet is perfect for a narrow room, or for the option when you need to make the window sill very wide, for example, if you plan to grow indoor flowers, and you need to prepare enough space for their installation. The upper part of the cabinet is expanded due to the width of the window sill, and it can be covered with a solid wall.
There is nothing wrong with this - you can see that the depth of the closed section of the cabinet is not too large, so objects can be placed in this area through the open door. This model is roomy and neat at the same time. Its doors and wall are sheathed with a narrow wooden clapboard, 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 the owners of apartments with a loggia or balcony of approximately this 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 complicated for self-production. Therefore, if you liked this particular option, then it is better to entrust it to professional craftsmen who will make it according to the exact dimensions taken from the installation site, and also assemble it into a single design. However, “not the gods burn the pots” - you can try it yourself.
Seventh option
Open shelves on the balcony are the simplest version of an impromptu wardrobe with several wide and roomy compartments, which will fit perfectly against the end wall of the room. The frame for the shelves is easy enough to fix on the wall, ceiling and floor, and after the vertical structural elements are fastened with horizontal jumpers - shelf supports, the whole 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 the building level. Otherwise, in case of an error, the shelves will go awry, and the whole structure will look extremely messy.
After the frame is ready, the flooring from the boards is fixed to the horizontal bars with the help of self-tapping screws or nails, which will form the shelves. The whole difficulty of mounting the prepared structural elements lies in the fact that all its parts are marked and set strictly vertically or horizontally before fixing them.
Find out which is better with the advice of professionals from our new article on our portal.
Even an inexperienced master can make such an open cabinet. The option shown in the illustration, rather, can be called not a cabinet, but a rack, but if desired, from the side of the window it can be closed with plastic panels or a curtain fixed in 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 flat panel. You will also want to close the front part of the rack over time, 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 for balcony
How can you curtain windows in an original and beautiful way?
The simplest materials and tools, maximum diligence and patience - and at no extra cost 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 of our portal.
We make a wardrobe on the balcony with our own hands
Drafting a cabinet
When the desired cabinet option is selected, it is imperative to draw up its drawing. Perhaps one of the developments presented below is suitable, since these pieces of furniture are designed specifically for installation on a balcony.
This cabinet does not involve the installation of doors, but if desired, you can calculate their size and installation. The doors in this case can be hinged or coupe, and both the first and second designs will be fixed to the front frame.
This closet 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, 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 close the top and bottom of the cabinet separately. Additionally, in each of the departments of the cabinet, removable shelves can be installed on the corners, which will allow you to place more things in it.
On the basis of the presented drawings, you can create your own project, supplementing it with the desired details, changing the cabinet parameters for a certain size of the balcony. it should be noted that even the standard width of the room can be changed due to the use of different insulation systems. Therefore, each version of the cabinet is individual in size, but it is quite possible to take one of the presented designs as the basis for it.
It is absolutely not necessary to carry out the drawing in accordance with all the rules - it is enough to make a drawing 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 details of the structure, indicating their parameters. With such a visual guide in front of your eyes, it will not be so difficult to make the necessary blanks, and then assemble them in the right order into the finished product. Of course, for this there must be at least a minimum experience 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 affect how many shelves are required and what distance should be provided between them.
If we talk about generally accepted dimensions, then 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 allotted for it.
The following dimensions can be called universal cabinet parameters, which can be adjusted for a specific room:
— height — 2400÷2500 mm;
— width — 1100÷1250 mm;
— depth — 450÷600 mm;
- the distance between the shelves is usually 340÷370 mm.
If you want to get a closet on the balcony that is comparable to that 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 milling cutter at his disposal, then these operations can also be carried out on their own.
Materials and tools
You need to know what materials may be required to build a cabinet. Their specific number will depend on the model chosen for the manufacture:
- For a wooden frame, a beam with a section of 40 × 40 mm is required.
- Instead of a beam, in some cases, a galvanized metal profile can be used, such as is used in the installation of drywall systems.
- If a wooden lining is chosen, then its thickness should not exceed 8 ÷ 10 mm.
- When choosing plywood and chipboard for sheathing, 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 are required - self-tapping screws, nails and dowels.
If it is decided to do all the work from start to finish on your own, then from the tools you will need to prepare:
- Electric jigsaw, hand-held circular saw or hacksaws with different tooth sizes.
- Electric drill with wood drill bits.
- To bring the details to the ideal - a manual milling machine and a grinding machine.
- Screwdriver or a set of screwdrivers.
- Hammer and chisel.
- Construction 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 seven times, cut once."
Cabinet making
The manufacture of the cabinet is recommended to be carried out on an already insulated and sheathed balcony with clapboard, therefore, when making a crate for wall decoration, 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 easiest and most affordable way to build a cabinet is to fix its parts on a common frame. Therefore, this particular version of the manufacture of this piece of furniture will be considered step by step:
| Illustration | |
|---|---|
 | The first step is to mark the place for installing the frame, according to the drawing of the selected cabinet model. The work is carried out using a ruler with constant control of the building level and plumb line. If the cabinet is planned to be installed to 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 marking points of the ceiling, and the weight is lowered to the floor, and thus the place on the floor is exactly indicated where the lower part of the frame structure will be fixed. Such marking is necessary in order for the base of the cabinet to turn out to be even, without skew. Further, the upper and lower markings are combined by vertical lines drawn on the walls - it would also be nice to check these directions with the help of a building level in order to completely eliminate the error. After that, marking and drawing lines for the horizontal parts of the frame - the crossbars. The intermediate elements of the crate are fixed at the desired height, at which the cabinet shelves should be installed. The future position of the horizontal parts is also carefully checked by level. Both the overall appearance and the strength of the cabinet depend on how evenly and securely the frame is installed and fixed, so marking on the spot is a very responsible process. |
 | Further, according to the drawing, frame details are prepared. Most often, a wooden beam is still used for it, but in some cases the master chooses a galvanized metal profile. The preparation of frame elements from a bar is carried out using an electric jigsaw, and they are cut from a metal profile using metal shears. |
 | The next step is to fix the ceiling and floor sections of the frame. Further, the resulting rectangles are connected by vertical posts, which are set at the building level and fixed to the walls with self-tapping screws installed in increments of 350 ÷ 400 mm. |
 | After that, the intermediate horizontal crossbars of the frame are fixed, along the marked lines and points applied to the walls and vertical racks. Horizontal elements are designed for laying and fixing shelves, and they also contribute to increasing the rigidity of the structure. |
 | Horizontal parts are usually fixed with self-tapping screws to vertical posts using metal corners mounted on the underside of the horizontal beam. The use of more complex connections, for example, a cut, is not required under these conditions. |
 | If for some reason there was no long beam that would rise to the entire height of the balcony, then the frame can also be assembled from shorter segments, fixed alternately on top of each other. In this case, the vertical and horizontal parts of the structure are mounted at the same time. Such a frame assembly system is acceptable if the prefabricated frame is fixed to the wall. If one of the sides of the frame is free, then it is imperative to use a solid beam for it. |
 | The next step is to attach the shelves to the frame. They can consist of boards that are tightly laid side by side and screwed flush to the timber with self-tapping screws, or of plywood 10 ÷ 12 mm thick. The edges of boards or plywood should be well processed with a router. |
 | Next, cabinet doors are made. Their size is calculated after measuring the doorway of the cabinet, taking into account the installation of hinges. If it is planned to install two doors that will be joined together when the cabinet is closed, their size is determined at the same time, and they are adjusted to each other by fitting. Sometimes the door leaf is made according to the type of blinds - this option looks quite aesthetically pleasing and original. How door trim is made in this technique will be described below. |
 | Doors can be assembled from boards fixed to the frame vertically or horizontally, or inserted into it according to the tenon-groove principle. To do this, a groove is selected in the guide boards with a milling cutter, and spikes are cut out on the boards. For such sheathing, lining is most often taken, having a width of 50 ÷ 60 mm. |
 | The door frame for the wardrobe on the balcony can also be sheathed with plastic clapboard. It will look especially good in a room completely finished with the same material. The plastic door turns out to be light, and it does not need a frame made of massive and heavy timber. A board with a thickness of 12 ÷ 15 mm will suffice. |
 | The connection of the elements of the door frame at the corners is made in half a tree or half a tree in the "darkness", that is, a groove for the spike is cut out deaf, not reaching the edge of the board. In this variant of docking, the spike rests against the edge of the perpendicularly installed frame board left without damage. When making the frame design, be sure to install a mullion, 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 of the right size are assembled on glue and pulled together in clamps until it dries completely. Then such a shield is reinforced with jumpers. |
 | To do this, on the inside of the glued lining, across the structure, two boards are fixed, which will more securely fasten the boards of the assembled shield together. At the same time, they recede 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. |
 | The doors can be fixed in the doorway of the building 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 choose a round groove into which the so-called cup of this element is installed. This socket is selected with a milling cutter or with a crown drill installed in a screwdriver or drill. It should be noted that such furniture hinge options are most often used for a cabinet made of chipboard. Any mounting loops are fixed to the cabinet parts with the help of self-tapping screws screwed into holes of a smaller diameter pre-designated for them. |
 | The last step is to mark and drill holes for fixing the handles, which are installed on the screws screwed in from 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 that are fixed to ordinary self-tapping screws. |
 | Most often, chipboard cabinets are ordered from a furniture company, according to the dimensions taken from the cabinet installation area on the balcony. In this case, the manufacturer usually takes over the work of assembling the piece of furniture. However, such a cabinet will cost much more than one that will be made independently. |
Production of doors for the cabinet according to the type of blinds
Louvre grilles, which are often used to decorate cabinet doors on the balcony, look aesthetically pleasing and original. In addition, they make it possible to constantly ventilate the interior space, which contributes to the preservation of the things placed in the closet, as well as the piece of furniture itself, in a normal state. It should be noted that according to the same principle, it is quite possible to make not only cabinet doors, but also shutters on the balcony windows, which will perfectly protect the premises from the hot sun, as well as create a comfortable atmosphere for relaxation.
The shown photo table gives a general idea of the phased work on the door, made according to the type of blinds. And below are more detailed recommendations for performing assembly operations.
| Illustration | Brief description of the operation to be performed |
|---|---|
 | This photo clearly shows the design of the frame with a grille-louver installed inside it. In this case, the frame is assembled on dowels mounted on glue, but here it must be borne in mind that the frame is assembled simultaneously with the installation of blind elements (lamellas) into it. The slats for the lattice are made by sawing the timber into slats with a thickness of 5 ÷ 6 mm. 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 carpentry glue. |
 | To calculate the number of lattice elements that will be needed to decorate the door of a balcony locker, you need to attach one of them with the 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. Further, the length of the internal opening of the frame must be divided by the resulting distance. The result should be the number of required slats that need to be prepared in order to cover the internal space of the frame with the selected frequency. When calculating the number of lamellas, a non-integer number is rounded up to a whole number up or down. |
 | After the required number of lamellas is found, the long sides of the frame are divided into it and marked with a pencil. According to the received markup, it is necessary to mill the grooves. To make them even on both sides of the frame, a special jig is used during milling, consisting of two bars, between which a side blank for the door frame is installed and clamped. A special frame is fixed on the fixing bars, which will limit the movement of the hand mill - 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 cutout of the groove for installing lamellas. As you can see in the photo, cuts are applied on the fixing bars, which allow you to shift the workpiece to be processed to the required distance, and then fix it for the duration of the groove milling. In order not to spoil the main part of the frame, it is necessary to carry out trial milling on a piece of any beam and thus make sure that the fixture is installed correctly. |
 | When the grooves for installing the lamellas are completely selected, all frame elements must be processed with a grinder by installing sandpaper with grit No. 400, and then 600 ÷ 800. If there is no grinder, then you can do this work manually by fixing sandpaper on a piece of wooden block. The next step is to assemble all the parts into a single structure using wood glue. After the entire door is assembled, it is pulled together in clamps until the glue is completely dry. |
 | 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 - so the paint will lie evenly over the entire surface of the product. If the texture of the wood is beautiful, then many craftsmen prefer not to cover it with paint, but use transparent furniture varnishes. |
As you can see from the foregoing, making a wardrobe for a balcony is not an easy task. However, if there is a desire to save money and try your hand at carpentry, then it is necessary to carry out all the work slowly, carefully marking, fitting each part to the established dimensions, carrying out general installation in accordance with technological recommendations.
At the end of the publication - a short video showing the manufacture of a simple wardrobe on the balcony using furniture chipboard panels.
Video: Wardrobe for a balcony sheathed with natural clapboard