DIY balcony chest • pkvitrina.ru

How to make a box seat for a balcony with your own hands

Many owners of small apartments are faced with the issue of expanding the space of their homes.
Quite often, a balcony is the backup option that can solve the problem of missing square meters. A reasonably equipped and decorated balcony will not only be a wonderful place to relax, but can also solve the storage problem. This requires a little imagination and craftsmanship. An acceptable option would be a bench with storage space, which is easy to construct yourself. How to make a box for sitting on the balcony with your own hands? To carry out such creative and useful work, it is necessary to develop an action plan, select and prepare material, and collect the tools necessary for the work.

Material selection

To make a box with a seat for a balcony with your own hands, it is better to use:

lumber, 25-30 mm thick. To facilitate the process, it is advantageous to choose sanded edged boards or perform sanding in advance;
wooden beam, with a section of 40x40 mm, for better strength of the entire structure;
piano hinges that will be used to secure the lid to the seating box on the balcony;
leatherette fabric and foam rubber for upholstery.

In order to save money, you can use old furniture by disassembling and preparing the material needed for construction.

When starting the work process, you should remember that the classic version of a box with a bench consists of the main parts:

two walls (back and front);
two sidewalls;
box lid;
bottom for the box.

After determining the parameters of the spare parts, you need to make a drawing of the product design. It will serve as a guide for the further creative process.

Sequence of work execution

The first priority is to prepare the elements for the base of the structure.
To do this, you should cut four beams, which will subsequently be located from the inside at the corners of the frame. Prepare material for all types of walls in the same way. The main condition for this work is the accuracy of measurements and careful cutting.
Assembling the side walls. To do this, you need to attach boards with self-tapping screws to two horizontally located bars placed at the appropriate interval. The result is two folded side walls. The point is to make them even; for this we must not forget about the level of each board.
It is better to fasten the sides with outside help. The fastening must be done based on what the seat box will be used for in the future. The boards can be attached either end to end or at a distance. It is important that the gaps between the boards are the same. This will give the box a neat appearance.

A simple option for fastening the bottom would be to fasten two bars from the inside of the lower part of the structure, then cross boards are nailed to them.
The lid should be assembled separately by attaching two boards from the inside. For complete reliability, it is advisable to install a diagonal spacer between the crossbars, this will avoid distortions of the shield. This simplest version of a lid for a box can be thoroughly used as a seat on the balcony.

To complete the work of fastening the cover, a piano hinge is attached to the transverse side of the shield and connected to the main structure. For better functioning of the lid and precise fixation of the hinge, washers can be installed on the sides. For convenience, it is advisable to stick seals on the upper edges of the structure; they will soften the sound when closing the lid.
For long-term operation of the product, it is advisable to use metal corners at the junctions of elements.
It is advisable to install a footrest from the front side to the bottom of the box to prevent dust from getting under it, as well as to absorb additional load.
After the seat for the balcony is built, you can move on to decorating.

DIY chest bench. DIY bench-chest

Multifunctional furniture is always in demand. Its main advantage is the rational use of space in your home. One of these interior elements is a bench-chest. As a place to relax and store things, it will find its use in a nursery, on a balcony or in a hallway.

What you need to create a chest shop with your own hands

Initially, a do-it-yourself chest-bench was made from natural wood. There is no need to change traditions - now all kinds of wood are presented in stores. There is an alternative in the form of chipboard, laminate, plywood;

Important! Carefully approach the issue of choosing building materials, because the durability of your product, ease of use and its estimated cost will depend on it.

2. Wooden block. Depending on the materials you have chosen, we determine the type of product construction: frame and frameless. For durable boards and chipboards, a frameless design is suitable. A frame of slats or timber will have to be made to strengthen thin materials such as plywood and laminate (their thickness must be at least 16 mm);

3. Piano loop. Piano hinges will allow you to easily create a folding top in the bench, which will serve as a seat. If the lid is long, several hinges may be needed;

4. Self-tapping screws. With their help we will assemble our bench. The length of the fastener depends on the thickness of the board. To ensure the reliability of the frame, choose self-tapping screws approximately 25–30 mm longer than the board.

5. Furniture upholstery and foam rubber. Will be needed if you are making a soft seat on a bench;

6. Tool kit for assembly:

tools for cutting wood: jigsaw (the advantage is that it can round edges and make curved parts), hand saw, circular saws (popularly called parquet saws, they cut only in a straight line);
screwdriver for screwing in self-tapping screws;
A sander will come in handy if the board is not finished. You can use sandpaper for cleaning, although it will take longer;
To take measurements, you will need a tape measure, a ruler, a carpenter's square and a pencil.

Advice! The board can be sanded in advance so as not to waste time on this work later.

Product assembly stages

Preparatory work for creating a bench-chest with your own hands:

take measurements of the place where the bench will presumably be located in order to understand how much space you have;
decide on the size. For comfortable sitting, a product 60 cm in height and from 40 to 70 cm in width is suitable;
sketch out a sketch of the product, a schematic image will be enough, this will help to visualize the final result and facilitate further work.

Assembly process:

cutting all necessary elements. We cut 4 bars for the frame (they will be in the inner corners of the chest) and a board for the entire product;
assembly of side walls. Two bars are placed on the surface, after which boards are screwed on top;
fastening the front and rear walls. Please note that the front board should hide the block and the end of the side board;
bottom fastening. Two bars are attached inside the lower part, and transverse boards are nailed to them;
installation of supports. The legs will allow the board not to absorb moisture;
assembling the lid of the chest. It is assembled using two boards from the inside. You can add a diagonal brace to strengthen the seat;
We attach the piano hinge to the end side of the lid.

At the end of the work, it would be wiser to cover the chest with stain to extend the life of your product. If desired, you can make upholstery or sew several pillows, decorate with painted patterns or burn out an ornament.

In a word, a chest bench can become a useful item in your home, providing a place for relaxation and storage. And by making this item with your own hands, you will also receive a unique designer item.

Decoration

You can use any method to decorate the seat.

A less labor-intensive and affordable method is painting and varnishing. Thematic drawings or ornaments applied to the box will add individuality.

To decorate a seat on a balcony, it is better to use the soft upholstery method. To do this, you will need to cut leatherette and polyurethane foam fabric to the size of the lid of the supply box, and use a furniture stapler to secure it to the inside of the tire.

To decorate a seat on a balcony, you can also use a regular cladding board. It can be sheathed on all sides of the product, and the ends can be decorated using self-adhesive film to match the skin.

To simplify the work, the box can be decorated with pillows sewn for this purpose. It will be comfortable but practical.

Building a box seat with your own hands is not difficult, but the result of your labor will bring a lot of pleasure. Such an impromptu bench on the balcony will be able to constructively solve several issues, such as storing things and household items that cluttered the balcony structure, preserving preserved food and vegetables, and will also provide a cozy and comfortable place for rest and privacy.

The working process

All work can be divided into two parts - preparatory and assembly. We will analyze each of them separately to make it easier for you to understand all the operations performed.

Preparation

Work begins with the following activities:

An example of a simple bench with a backrest

Assembly

The instructions for carrying out the work are not complicated, to make it even clearer, first I will show a diagram with the sequence of work, and below I will describe each of the points in detail:

The workflow consists of such operations

Accurate cutting is a prerequisite for a quality bench

The front board should cover both the block and the end of the side board, remember this

This is what the simplest version of the lid looks like, which will also serve as a bench seat

Fastening must be done carefully and accurately

The finished box can be used, but it is much wiser to pre-coat it with a protective compound. This could be paint, or maybe varnish, which will give the surface the desired shade, without hiding the structure of the wood. If you wish, you can paint the surface with patterns or ornaments; it all depends on your wishes and preferences.

It is better to coat the finished box with a protective compound

If you decide to make upholstery on the seat, then the easiest way to do the job is to use a furniture stapler; with it you can quickly secure the material from the inside of the cover . In order for the surface to be soft, the layer of foam rubber must be at least 5 cm; thinner material is pressed very hard.

You can not attach the upholstery, but sew several pillows; this option is both simpler and looks very stylish. In addition, if necessary, the pillows can be washed or used in another place.

This folding bench for the balcony looks very stylish

And one more tip - if you store potatoes or other vegetables in a box, you can line the inner surface with insulation with a reflective layer. This will ensure better preservation of vegetables.

This bench is great for storing vegetables

How to make a chest-bench for the balcony simply and inexpensively with your own hands

The chest is an ancient piece of furniture that has not lost its popularity. The secret of its success lies in the fact that one product combines several useful functions at once. First of all, it is a closed storage box, secondly, the chest can be used as a bench or table, thirdly, a little imagination - and it becomes a decorative object. In the living room or bedroom, such a box can be used as a coffee table or bedside table, but in the hallway, in the children's room, on the balcony or in the kitchen, a bench will be more needed.

Seat with storage for the balcony. How to choose the right chair for the balcony

Furniture for a balcony must meet certain criteria, this also applies to balcony chairs. For this room, there are some restrictions related to the weight of the interior items placed in it - the base plate of the balcony may not withstand heavy loads. And the limited space is unlikely to accommodate a full-fledged leather chair or a wide rocking chair.

That is why it is worth paying attention to:

chair sizes - if the balcony is very narrow, it is better to refuse chairs with wide armrests, and if the room is small and wide, then you will have to choose a chair that will not interfere with free passage;
furniture weight - heavy wooden or forged parts will give the chair more weight, which means the load on the balcony floors will increase.
If the building is old and the floors have not been repaired for a long time, this can be dangerous for the residents of the house; Light plastic furniture imitating rattan comes to the rescue
purpose of the balcony - if the balcony or loggia will be used exclusively as a place to sit in a comfortable chair, you can give free rein to your imagination about the shape and size of the furniture. But if you also want to add storage boxes, organize a sports corner or an apartment greenhouse, you should think about mobile chair models.

But these are not the only criteria for choosing a chair for the balcony. Difficulties may also arise when trying to harmoniously fit a suitable size option into the interior of the balcony. If the room has already been renovated, it is better to think through a suitable furniture design immediately upon purchase.

A few more criteria for choosing a chair for a balcony:

combination with the interior - if the balcony is decorated with wood, you should pay attention to chairs made of wood or other natural materials; for more modern styles, metal or plastic is suitable.
Rattan chair
It is also important to correctly select the color, texture and shape of the product;
type of balcony - special attention should be paid to this criterion. For glazed and insulated rooms it will not be difficult to choose a good chair, but for open balconies the furniture must have high performance characteristics.

When choosing the design of a balcony chair, it is better to focus on those options that immediately catch the eye. Unusual materials, non-standard shapes - such furniture will become not only a functional addition to the room, but also an excellent decorative element.

Making a universal chest

We propose to make a chest that, thanks to its small size and flat lid, can be placed on the balcony, in the nursery, or in the hallway. It is universal, has a reliable design, and everyone can choose the finishing option depending on their own taste and interior requirements.

What do you need for work?

To make a chest for a balcony, you should prepare tools and finishing materials:

hacksaw;
jigsaw;
screwdriver;
piano loop;
folding or telescopic brackets to hold the lid in the open position;
self-tapping screws;
clamps;
paint;
paint brush;
masking tape;
hot glue, construction gun;
a grinding machine with attachments or sandpaper;
wood glue.

We recommend choosing veneered chipboard (16 mm) or thick plywood as the main manufacturing material.

You need to cut it yourself or order cutting of the following blanks:

2 pcs. for the front and rear walls (in diagram A) – 26x85 cm;
2 pcs. side walls (B) – 26x37 cm;
1 piece for the bottom (E) – 37x82 cm;
1 for cover (G) – 42.2x87.2 cm;

For supports, use a wooden beam with a section of 15x15 mm:

2 parts (C) 820x15x15 mm;
2 parts (D) 340x15x15 mm.

You need to cut out the following from a 15 mm board:

mounting rail (F) with parameters 696x15x33 mm;
4 leg blanks 350x15x92 mm;
4 leg blanks 350x15x77 mm.

In the presented version, square-shaped wooden frames made of boards (9x33 mm) are used as decorative elements. You will need:

12 planks of 13 cm;
8 planks of 10 cm each.

You will also need 1 mounting rail (in diagram H) - 80 cm.

The diagram below clearly demonstrates all the components to make a chest for a balcony.

You will also need 3 linear meters of wooden slats (16x4 mm) to make overlays - finishing the box lid. If an edge strip or a special profile is used instead of a strip, the parameters of the cover (G) should be reconsidered and the thickness of the strip should be increased.

Work order

Prepare the workpieces for work: sand their surfaces and ends with emery cloth. After that, start assembling:

Attach support bars D and C to the inner parts of the box walls using glue and self-tapping screws. This should be done in such a way that they become flush with the lower edges of the sidewalls. The bottom of the box will be mounted to these bars.
Drill holes for self-tapping screws (53x3.5 mm) in the walls of the box for assembly. Connect the parts, having previously coated all contact surfaces with glue. The overhead legs will hide the screw heads.
We put the bottom inside the box and screw it with self-tapping screws to the installed supports. The bottom is an important part of the entire structure, ensuring its rigidity.

We cut down one of the parts of the paired legs to the thickness of the joint, so the leg will be symmetrical. Glue the parts together in pairs. We fix the connections with clamps and leave until the glue dries completely.
Afterwards we cover all the parts with stain. To achieve a darker color on the legs, apply several layers of the product.
When the processing is completed, the stain has dried, we begin to open the parts with varnish. To get a glossy shine, you need to apply the varnish in 3 passes. Apply each subsequent layer only after the previous one has dried.
We install the box sideways to install the corner legs. We carry out the work from the inside using self-tapping screws. Don't forget to further strengthen the connections with glue.
We install the mounting rail F using adhesive. We fix the connection with 3 screws. The latter should be screwed into the box from its inside. We postpone the work until the glue has completely dried.
We attach a piano loop to the rail for further hanging of the chest lid.
Let's move on to finishing the lid. Glue the lining to the ends. We fix the glued strips with masking tape until they dry completely. If you consider it necessary to trim the upper edges of the walls with edging, you should pay attention to the position of the F strip; the piano hinge must be in the correct position.
We hang the lid on the finished box.
To be able to hold the upper part in the open position, we will install brackets (folding or telescopic). Sometimes, to simplify the design of boxes, brackets are not used - the chest is placed in a room or on a balcony near the wall. Therefore, when opening the lid leans against it.
You can start decorating the chest on the balcony with your own hands. We cut the ends of the planks at an angle of 45 degrees to form squares. We collect the elements using a mustache and glue them together. We tint the installed decor in the desired color using stain, and after drying, coat it with varnish. The product will look harmonious if the tone of the finish matches the tone of the legs. Using glue, we decorate the box (front panels) with wooden squares as shown in the photo, or choose our own option for placing the finishing.

Options for arranging a soft bench-chest seat

The box will be more comfortable for sitting if you sew a soft mattress with your own hands. To do this, measure the parameters of the cover and cut out a similar rectangular piece of thick foam rubber. Then you should cut out and sew a cover for it from the fabric. Recessing the stitches into the filling, additionally sew the mattress. This will allow it to better retain its shape. Attach the soft seat to the lid of the chest in a way that is convenient for you. We suggest drilling two holes in each corner to thread the laces that secure the product.

Simple seat on the balcony

At this site we made a cabinet from lining. The customer asked if we could make him a built-in nightstand. You can put things inside and sit on it. We offered him this option.

The frame was assembled from slats with a cross section of 20*45 mm. The front wall was made of clapboard. The top cover was also mounted from clapboard. The ends were covered with a decorative corner.

The seat cover was secured with 2 hinges. The hinges are screwed to the front, so the structure opens to a person. This is the simplest option, it is done faster than others. To make the lid rigid, we reinforced it with 3 slats.

The customer liked sitting on our furniture. He said - I’ll throw pillows here and read books, otherwise there’s nowhere to hide from the TV in the apartment.

Locker made of furniture board

When we arrived at the site, we saw the frame for the locker had already been completed. The customer installed it himself - the job stopped halfway. He asked us to do everything again. Then there would be holes left from the old nails. So People's Windows came up with another plan to convert the old locker into a new one.

We thought of a neat chest for storing camping equipment. Everything should fit here - my pot, grill for meat, skewers, folding table. That's what the customer wanted.

Also, make me a smooth lid. I want to sit, smoke and chat on the phone with friends. Yes, you need a place to put your laptop.

All the owner's wishes were fulfilled.

We made the top cover from solid wood 18 mm thick. This locker lid is smooth. It is convenient to move the fifth point. This chest is very similar to a shop in terms of functionality.

As a result, this furniture can accommodate one person of any weight and build.

We made and installed a folding table close to the seat.

The laptop will be located here. The table was set at a height for a specific person.

All the customer’s wishes were taken into account. He was pleased and undoubtedly spends more time on his favorite balcony.

Full bench (bench) on the balcony

The owner wanted a full-fledged shop. I want a wide bench so that I can sit down and smoke, so that there is room for the cat, just me and my son, so that I can sit down and discuss business. That's what he said. But of course, so that there is no wasted space, make a luggage compartment inside.

We offered our own option. Make the frame from 40*40 mm timber. Install a rib inside to distribute the load over the lid area. Make it yourself from 28 mm solid wood. The sides of the bench were covered with clapboard.

Work was in full swing. We bought the best material, put a cabinet in one corner, and made a desk from solid pine in the other corner. Then we set to work on the bench. The frame was installed quickly in 0.5 days, measurements were taken, the radii of curvature were approved and the dimensions were passed on to the guys in the carpentry. The next day the bench was completely assembled.

Thick base (28 mm) – gives greater strength to the structure. Using a milling table made it possible to carefully round the corners and chamfer them. The lining was screwed on with “invisible” screws (some of it went under the baseboard, some of it was invisible under the cover).

The customer received everything he wanted. A durable, neat product that will last for many years. Here, you can sit alone with your son, discuss plans, look into the distance.

Chest of drawers on the balcony

Built-in lockers on balconies are not suitable for everyone. Therefore, at our next project, we made a cabinet chest of drawers that you can sit on. The material was laminated chipboard. The tabletop was made thick, 24 mm thick. They made two huge boxes inside.

To make it comfortable to sit on the chest of drawers, the owners asked for a backrest. We made it hanging. The back does not come into contact with the chest of drawers and serves solely to support the back.

We were also asked to make a folding table from the same material.

As a result, we occupied the entire left side of the balcony with furniture. It is not only pleasing to the eye but also functional. You can put school notebooks and textbooks in the boxes. Now it will be more pleasant to study your lessons while enjoying the beautiful view.

DIY balcony bench

Almost all owners of city apartments have loggias or balconies. But many people use this room as storage rooms, where they store supplies or old things. For a balcony to become a comfortable place to relax, it needs to be equipped. This concept includes not only repairs and insulation of the premises. The balcony must also be furnished. But you can install full-fledged furniture only on a balcony with a large area. Not many can boast of such parameters. But a bench for the balcony will be an ideal solution for a small space. And if there is also a hidden drawer inside, the bench on the balcony will become practical and multifunctional.

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.

Today the most common models of sofas can be considered:

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.

Choosing a bench design

A bench for a balcony can come in different variations, but it should be light and elegant enough so as not to visually burden the small space of the balcony. The bench can be made comfortable by upholstering it with soft fabric, or you can simply place pillows on the seat.

There are two types of benches according to their functionality:

Ordinary, intended only for recreation. To make such a bench with your own hands you will need a minimum amount of materials. This type is easy to assemble.
Multifunctional benches are designed not only for sitting. A bench for a balcony with a box for storing any items requires more time to manufacture.

The bench should not take up much space on the balcony, so its width and length are selected individually for each room. The bench can be of a very simple design, or you can equip it with armrests and a backrest.

A bench with a drawer on the balcony is not only useful, but also a beautiful piece of furniture

The advantages of folding and folding benches are obvious; they unfold only when necessary, and when assembled they take up very little space. The disadvantage of these structures is less strength.

Tip: When building a bench for a loggia, take care of its versatility. It should be a simple, but reliable and strong element of the interior.

Model overview

Today there is a wide selection of models on sale , among which you can find the best option for various needs. A chest bench can be located both in an apartment or house, and on the street. Many people buy such products for their garden. Typically, garden models are made of metal. But for home use, a wooden model is ideal.

A bench with storage box combines the functions of a bench and a chest of drawers. You can store things in it, thereby saving space in the apartment. Therefore, this solution is characterized by practicality.

If you need to purchase a model for a balcony , then you should definitely take into account the dimensions of the balcony, because this thing should not interfere and take up a lot of space. It should become a stylish addition, an unusual decoration. A bench-chest can be intended for a hallway . In this room it will primarily perform a practical function, but do not forget about the decorative one.

Preparatory work

To begin with, the location of the bench is selected and its drawing is drawn up. These steps will help determine:

Dimensions of the future bench. They can be individual, but some generally accepted parameters will have to be taken into account: the height of the backrest (if necessary) is 350-500 mm, the distance from the balcony floor to the seat should not exceed 600 mm. Regarding the length of the seat, it can be equal to the width of the balcony, so the bench will fit well between its two long sides. This option provides for the absence of armrests. The width of the bench is optional.
The method of placing the bench on the balcony, as well as its appearance.
Calculation of required materials.

Homemade bench on the balcony with a soft seat

To make a bench for a balcony with a drawer, you can purchase chipboard sheets at any hardware store. But this issue can be solved in a more practical way. You can get the necessary material from old unnecessary furniture. To make the frame you will need 40x40 mm bars.

Necessary tool

metal ruler and square;
roulette;
pencil;
sandpaper;
plane;
jigsaw;
self-tapping screws, nails, screws;
drill;
drill;
Grinder;
hammer;
building level;
paint brush.

Choosing the right sofa for the balcony: analysis of the main criteria

Choosing a sofa for a balcony involves not only taking into account factors such as the length and width of the room. It is very important to take into account both the interior design of the balcony and its purpose.

The first criterion is the purpose of the area

The design of no room can be thought out and worked out to the smallest detail, without taking into account the purpose of the area being designed.

So, for example, if the balcony is designed as an additional bed, then it is better to give preference to a folding sofa. These models are installed at the end wall so that the folding is carried out along the room.

But, before choosing one or another model, you need to take into account that the length of the bed for each of them is different, so you should first measure the length of the balcony from wall to door. Such actions are carried out in order to prevent possible blocking of the entrance by the sofa in the unfolded state.

Let's start making a bench with our own hands

Answering the question of how to make a bench with your own hands, it should be noted that a bench for a balcony with a drawer consists of the following main parts:

back and front walls 2 pcs.;
sidewalls 2 pcs.;
top cover 2 pcs.;
bottom for box 1 pc.

First, the main parts are marked on chipboard sheets. The dimensions of the front and rear walls should be the same, exactly as the sidewalls should be the same dimensions. The same applies to the dimensions of the bottom and lid.
Next, using a jigsaw, all the workpieces are cut exactly along the marking contour. The edges of each part must be sanded.
Next, you need to mark the locations of the planned fastenings. Holes for fastenings are drilled using an electric drill.
When all the parts are processed, the holes are drilled, the assembly of the bench begins. For better stability of the future structure, the back wall of the box can be mounted on the balcony wall.
The frame is assembled from bars and, using screws, is upholstered on all sides, except the top, with chipboard parts.
Lastly, the top seat cover is attached to this structure. Since the lid must open and close, it must be hinged.

To make the bench last a long time and be more durable, metal corners can be used at the joints of structural elements. To attach the lid, it is better to choose piano hinges .

Ready-made bench with drawer

At each stage of work, the correct position of each element must be checked with a square and level. The bench for the balcony was assembled with your own hands. Now you can safely start decorating it.

An interesting solution is a closet with roller shutters for the balcony. It does not take up much space, looks aesthetically pleasing and you can also make it yourself.

Along with the bench, it will be useful to have a small folding table on the balcony. Instructions for making this piece of furniture are here.

And if you need to decorate your windows beautifully, roller blinds day and night are one of the modern solutions.

Bench chest for the balcony. A bench with a storage box for the balcony - convenient and functional!

A balcony is a rather limited space, which means you need to use every centimeter wisely.
In recent years, there has been a tendency to renovate balconies and loggias into a recreation area, while cluttered shelves, old furniture and seasonal items are no longer stored “outside” the apartment. But what to do if you want to have a modern renovation on your balcony and set up a lounge area, but there is absolutely nowhere to put some things or seams away? Multifunctional furniture will come to the rescue, namely benches with built-in drawers. This is an ideal solution for both a small balcony and a spacious loggia, and it is quite possible to make such a piece of furniture with your own hands.

Corner version of a bench with niches

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.

The easiest option is to use old furniture like shoe boxes, bedside tables, chests of drawers, etc. as a base. In some cases, you can simply process the outside of a long cabinet, attach a seat to it and - voila! The comfortable bench is ready!

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.

Pay attention to piano hinges for attaching doors or drawer lids - this is the most convenient option for small spaces.

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

Bottom of the bench

Bench top cover

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.

The process of making a bench with a drawer for the balcony

The simplest bench-box for a balcony will look like a box made of chipboard with an opening top lid on hinges. The entire interior space of the bench will serve as storage space.

This bench consists of several elements:

two side walls;
front and back walls;

For more convenient storage organization, the internal compartment of the box can be divided into two parts by a partition and the lid can be made of two independent parts.

Decorating a bench

There are various options for improving the appearance of a bench. The structure can be coated with varnish or paint. The product can be given special originality by applying an ornament.

Using, for example, foam rubber and upholstery fabric, the seat can be made soft. To do this, the foam rubber is cut exactly to the size of the bench cover. The upholstery fabric is cut with a margin so that its edges can be secured with a stapler on the inside of the seat.

You can decorate the bench differently - cover the manufactured structure on all sides with the most ordinary clapboard. It is necessary to cover all ends with a self-adhesive film that matches the color of the lining. The corners of the structure can be decorated with plastic corners.

In this case, the seats can also be covered with leatherette, faux fur or soft fabric. It is possible to make seats soft not only with the help of foam rubber. For these purposes, polystyrene foam is perfect, which is glued to the surface of the seat using double-sided tape.

To make the back soft, you can attach a canopy from an old tubular cornice to the balcony wall at a convenient distance from the seat. Soft pillows of the required size are sewn from upholstery fabric. Wide loops are made from the same fabric at the top of the pillows, into which the cornice tube is threaded.

Decor options for a balcony bench

The easiest way is to simply cover the balcony bench with a layer of oil paint. You can decorate it with ornaments or drawings in the chosen style. For convenience, it is advisable to make the bench seat soft. This will bring comfort and coziness to the interior of the balcony.

Ways to design a box:

place sofa cushions of a suitable size on the bench cover;
make your own soft cover with elastic bands at the corners to fix it on the seat and remove it for washing;
cover the seat with dermantine or soft fabric, use thick foam rubber as a filler;
equip a comfortable support by attaching pillows to a metal rod, or make a backrest and cover it with the same material as the seat.

The upholstery of the back and seat made of fur, velsoft or velor looks very cozy and atmospheric. Wooden surfaces can be painted in a suitable shade or a thematic design can be applied using stencils.