The box is very convenient and useful in functional terms, and it will not take up much space on your balcony. Many owners of loggias or balconies use the room as storage rooms for storing old things and household supplies, and few people strive to create a home place for relaxation out of them. However, thoughtful arrangement of the space of a balcony or loggia can combine several functions in one room. Thus, a sofa or bench with a built-in drawer will not only add coziness, but will also provide excellent storage space.
Types of sofas for a balcony with a drawer
Today, almost all sofa models are equipped with a built-in drawer for storing various things. Therefore, choosing suitable furniture for a room of any size, in particular for a balcony or loggia, will not be difficult. The most important thing when choosing a sofa is to take into account the size of the room and installation location, as well as the type of sofa structure.
To determine the best option for upholstered furniture in a particular situation, it is necessary to take into account not only the size of the sofa, but also the layout methods, as well as simplicity and ease of use.
When choosing a sofa for a balcony with a drawer, you should consider the following rule: the shape and size should be optimal so that it does not seem too big or too small
Today the most common models of sofas can be considered:
- Sofa with a book folding mechanism . The owner of one of the simplest mechanisms for transforming a seat into a bed. To do this, just a little effort is enough to pull the lower part of the furniture forward and lower the backrest horizontally into the free space. This sofa will be a great place to relax, an extra bed and storage for a small number of things.
- Chair-bed . It will be an excellent alternative to a full-fledged sofa if there is not too much free space on the balcony or loggia. Most often, such furniture uses a “book” transformation mechanism, which is very easy to use. Unfortunately, it is not possible to fit several people on such a sleeping place, but the chair will serve as a wonderful place for reading or relaxation.
- Corner sofa . In the modern world, the angular shape of upholstered furniture is gaining increasing popularity. Moreover, the corner of the sofa is not necessarily made at 45˚; it can have a rounded shape, and even two corners instead of one. The presented design will fit perfectly into the setting of non-standard balconies, and will bring not only a practical, but also an aesthetic effect to the environment.
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Most people choose small and compact sofas with drawers, since the dimensions of standard balconies are not so large
- Soft bench . Of course, a bench cannot be considered a full-fledged sofa, but this type of upholstered furniture wins not only in its small size, but also in its ease of manufacture. Therefore, many people prefer not to choose a suitable sofa from furniture catalogs, but to make a bench for the balcony themselves.
When choosing a sofa from the list of proposed upholstered furniture options, you should pay attention that most, but not all, models have additional boxes or niches for storing various things.
If the availability of storage space is a mandatory factor in the purchased furniture, when buying or ordering a sofa from manufacturers, it is worth focusing on this point.
How to make a box on the balcony with your own hands
It often happens that the desired model of furniture is not available in the store or that nothing from the variety offered is suitable. In this case, you shouldn’t be upset, because you can build a box for the balcony with your own hands. To do this, it is not at all necessary to be a professional carpenter, just the desire and ability to work with tools is enough.
Before starting construction work, it is necessary to clearly develop an action plan and then try to follow it.
After all, it is much easier to follow the intended goal by doing small tasks.:
If you decide to make a box for the balcony with your own hands, you must remember that it should not be bulky
- Choose a location for the box . To determine the box in its place, it is recommended to choose the coldest part of the balcony. Usually, finding such a place is not difficult, but if difficulties arise with this task, then as an alternative you can choose the most empty area of the room.
- Take measurements . Using a construction tape, you need to measure three main parameters of the future box: height, width and depth. When planning a custom-shaped storage space, all curves and protrusions also need to be measured. When performing this overall step, it is necessary to take into account the thickness of the material from which the box will be made, especially if you plan to make it close to the walls of the room.
- Definition with dimensions . The basic parameters of the box play an important role - it depends on them whether it will be only a storage box, or in the future it will also become a place for sitting. In the latter case, it is best to make the box for the balcony or loggia low and wide.
- Choice of material . When making a box with your own hands, the material plays a very important role. For this, the following can be used: MDF panels, plywood boards, PVC panels and much more. The main criterion for choosing material is what will be stored in the box and for what additional purposes it will serve. If you only plan to store vegetables or homemade twists, and there will be nothing on top, then even panels made of polyvinyl chloride are suitable, with which you can sheathe the metal frame of the box. If the box for the balcony is also being built as a seat, the material should be much stronger.
- Prepare the place . The balcony must be rid of old structures, if any, and the space for the box must be cleared. Only after this can you begin the main work.
- Assembling the box . Assembling a box with your own hands is quite simple if the previous steps have been completed and you have the necessary materials and a plan for marking out the storage space. However, the simplest option is if the floor acts as the bottom of the box, and the three walls of the room act as side walls.
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The dimensions and shape of the box for the balcony should be determined based on its area
Thus, if you approach this matter correctly and in an organized manner, then building a box for a balcony with your own hands will not be difficult, and the results of your work will delight you for a long time.
How to make beautiful wooden boxes for storing things on the balcony with your own hands
In order to make a beautiful wooden box with your own hands for the balcony, not only for children’s toys, but also for other needs, you need to take:
- Boards.
- Bright fabric.
- Hammer.
- Nails.
- Glue "Moment"
The first thing you need to decide is the size of the box you need to make. It is desirable that its dimensions be within forty centimeters. In this case, it can not only be placed on the floor, but also placed in a closet. The height of its side should not exceed 10 cm, so that the box is convenient for all sorts of small things. Measure the dimensions on the boards, carefully cut the required length, and use nails and a hammer to connect the parts together.
Take fabric; a natural material, for example, cotton, will look good. Before working with it, you need to wash and iron the material. To correctly cut the required length, you should use calculations that assume: length - 2 cm, height - 2 cm, length of the box along the outer edge and 2 cm of the height of the side itself. After this, the box is placed in the middle to make an outline, the resulting area is outlined and cut out.
The resulting material is folded on both sides, Moment glue for wood is poured onto the wooden box and the fabric is pressed against it. The resulting structure should dry within 24 hours. It turns out that the bottom of the box remains “bare”. It is advisable to fill this space with a piece of fabric. Now the box, which was made with your own hands, is ready to please the eye.
Decorating a box on the balcony
A do-it-yourself box for a balcony does not look chic and is not comfortable to sit in, so it needs to be decorated to give it aesthetic functions.
To improve the appearance of your drawer, just add a few pillows and a small mattress
The structure can be covered with varnish, paint or self-adhesive film. A more original look can be given to the product using various ornaments and designs.
While improving your appearance, don’t forget about convenience. In this case, the top seat cover is equipped with a piece of foam rubber cut exactly to size, covered with upholstery fabric and, using an industrial stapler, secured to the inside of the box seat.
Decorating storage space on a balcony or loggia with your own hands involves not only varnish, paint and film.
It all depends only on imagination and available materials:
- Ordinary decorative lining can be used as cladding for the finished structure. In this case, the corners of the box are decorated with plastic corners matching the color.
- It is not necessary to use fabric only for the seat; you can cover the entire drawer with it, the main thing is that the selected fabric has increased wear resistance.
Such boxes are very convenient and compact, and their benefits are much greater than you think
Another decorative element of the manufactured structure will be the soft back of the seat. It can be made from a chrome pipe that is mounted on the wall behind the seat. Especially for it, pillows with large loops through which a pipe is threaded are sewn from upholstery fabric. In this way, you can give the seating area additional comfort.
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What tools and materials will be needed?
If you decide to assemble a bench with a drawer for the balcony with your own hands, check that you have all the necessary tools for this.
Indicative list of tools:
- ruler, angle (metal);
- building level, tape measure;
- pencil;
- sandpaper;
- plane;
- jigsaw;
- drill;
- sander;
- fasteners, drills;
- hammer;
- paint brushes.
Depending on the complexity of the bench-box design, the list may be supplemented or, conversely, reduced.
Next, if the box is being made from scratch, you need to buy materials for its manufacture:
- chipboard sheets of suitable thickness;
- bars measuring 4x4 cm for the frame;
- protective primer for wood;
- varnish, paint, etc.;
- fabric, leatherette, printed material - if you plan to make a soft seat.
The most convenient material for making furniture with your own hands is wood. Strong, durable, easy to process, it will help you create a real interior masterpiece.
Preparing an idea for implementation
The first thing you need to decide is where exactly on the balcony the bench will be placed. From here you can choose the optimal size and design of the product.
To ensure that the work goes smoothly, be sure to draw up a drawing that will contain:
- Placement of a bench in space;
- Number and sizes of boxes;
- Product dimensions (be sure to indicate each parameter on paper).
This scheme will help to avoid mistakes when cutting materials, assembling and installing the structure.
Scheme of a garden bench with an opening seat to the balcony:
Front end
Bench bottom Bench top
Think about what design of drawers will be most convenient in your case (pull-out, opening from the top or from the end, etc.), about the presence of a back and armrests. Any additional elements make the bench more difficult to implement and require more materials.
