Rational use of additional square footage of the balcony space can be ensured not only by modern repairs and insulation. An important part of the furnishings will be suitable furniture, in particular storage systems, for example, a shelving unit. This is practical and very stylish, because you can make a shelving unit for a loggia or balcony yourself, adapting it to the decor and size of the room.
Types of shelving for balconies
Racks are usually presented as open shelves of a kind of mini-cabinet. In fact, this is a correct definition, but this does not mean that throughout its existence this piece of furniture has not undergone some modifications.
What types of racks are used:
- With open shelves.
- With hinged doors.
- With a sliding door.
- Corner models.
The choice of a suitable option must be coordinated with the possibilities of its placement. It is also important to immediately determine the areas of use of such structures, the maximum load and operating conditions.
To the nursery
While the child is very small, I want functional shelves, but with children's drawings. But where can you get these? Do it yourself. Any shelf of the configuration you like can be covered with non-woven wallpaper or thick wrapping paper (glued with PVA). After drying, coat twice with water-based varnish. Such shelves can be washed, but what’s most interesting is that the shelf can change with the child. You tear off the old decor, glue on the new one. The idea is simple, it works perfectly.
Here's what can happen
For children, the shelves are not very different in design. If we talk about floor or shelving, then they must be strong, taking into account the fact that older children will definitely want to climb on them. Therefore, often even those shelves that stand on the floor are additionally attached to the wall: so that they do not collapse and crush young climbers. Based on these considerations, they are not made tall: even if they fall, it’s not scary.
The shelves in the children's room also differ in color - they are brighter, can be made in the form of letters, and boxes for toys can be installed in them: this makes it easier to keep them in order. In general, functionality and security must be combined.
Advantages of shelving on the balcony
You can equip the free space of the balcony in different ways. Even though its use is no longer considered solely as a storage space, a balcony shelving unit is essential. Such furniture will not only fit organically due to its small size, but will also become a practical addition to the decor, because there are many ways to use such shelves.
Advantages and application of balcony rack:
- Small dimensions allow you to squeeze the rack even into limited space. Due to the open shelves, such furniture does not visually overload the room.
- Corner shelving is usually less practical and is suitable for very small spaces. As an option, you can use corner shelves.
- Along with open shelving, you can also use mini-cabinets with doors. To do this, there must be free space on the balcony to allow easy access to the shelves.
- Original countertops - shelving is often used in limited space. You can install a tabletop on top of them and use them as a dining group or parapet.
Balcony racks are used to store various items that do not have a place in the apartment. Most often these are tools, canned goods, fishing and other special equipment that is used infrequently.
DIY hanging shelf-shelf
A charming hanging shelf for the kitchen with your own hands will allow you to rationally use the space. It will look great in a colonial living room, a nautical-style children's room or a Mediterranean-style bathroom. Anyone can handle this kind of work, since you can make a shelf with your own hands in just a few simple steps.
how to make a shelf with your own hands. Master Class
Wood blanks are aligned both in shape and size.
Mark the locations for the holes and make them with a drill with a feather drill. To avoid problems in the future, the diameter of the drill is chosen larger than the diameter of the rope by which the bookcase will be suspended.
It is easier to mark using a template in the form of a 4x4 square cut out of paper. The template needs to be placed on the corner of the board and marked at the point of intersection of the diagonals of the square.
Paint the boards.
There are many options on how to make a shelf more interesting. You just need to show a little imagination, for example, paint it only from the ends.
Now the structure can be assembled. The rope is folded in half and, retreating approximately 30 cm, a knot is tied on each half. The ends are pulled through the holes on one side of the board and secured with another knot. The board thus becomes motionlessly fixed between two nodes. The process is repeated with each shelf, positioned in the required increments.
Do the same with the other side. The main thing is that the nodes on both sides are located at the same distance from each other.
The remaining free ends of the ropes are cut and unraveled to form tassels.
All that remains is to hang the finished bookcase on the wall.
This DIY shelf has several advantages:
- the design will be exclusive, you won’t find one like it anywhere else;
- You won’t have to spoil the wall with too many holes for hooks to hang so many shelves.
Requirements for shelving on the balcony
The specific conditions of the balcony space impose strict requirements on its organization. Most finishing materials and pieces of furniture will not fit here. Even on a glazed and insulated balcony, it is possible that precipitation, as well as more dust and dirt, can get inside. That is why balcony furniture must meet the following requirements.
What should a balcony rack be like:
- Practical and roomy enough, does not take up much free space.
- Durable, all fastenings must be designed for the total weight of the stored items.
- Aesthetically attractive and also fits into the overall interior of the room.
- Moisture-resistant, because on the balcony there is still a risk of moisture getting inside. Often this is not only precipitation, but also accidentally spilled water after watering plants.
- Easy to clean, as dust will accumulate on the shelves.
- Resistance to temperature changes, especially in uninsulated rooms.
- The most commonly used materials are wood and metal, and both options have advantages and disadvantages.
When decorating, you should choose the lightest colors possible so as not to overload the space with a dark accent. It is also necessary to consider the location of lighting sources and the direction of the light flux from the windows so that the rack does not interfere with the illumination of the room.
Manufacturing
When making a rack, the base of which is on the floor on the balcony, the supporting surface must be leveled.
Debris must be removed from the work site. For beauty, you can sew up the back and side walls with laminated plywood.
Wooden rack
To make a simple wooden rack for a balcony with your own hands, you will need the following tool:
- Hacksaw. An electric jigsaw or grinder will make the work easier.
- Screwdrivers (screwdriver).
- Electric drill.
- Measuring tools – ruler, tape measure, building level.
- Consumables and hardware - screws, dowels, metal clamps (corners), nails.
- Wooden blanks.
Creating a wooden shelving for a balcony begins with the installation of vertical posts. The support bars are connected by a board, the length of which is equal to the intended width of the shelves. The first board is attached at the level of the upper cuts of the support bars. The blanks are knitted with one screw.
The resulting letter “P” is installed on a flat surface. The level checks the horizontal position of the jumper.
After making sure that the elements are strictly perpendicular to each other, we fix the position with two additional screws. In the same way (control by building level) we install the required number of jumpers. The step size should correspond to the size of the items that will be stored on the shelf.
The finished element resembles a wooden ladder. Let's make another similar copy.
We connect the vertical posts with boards. Their side surface should not extend beyond the plane limited by the sides of the wooden blocks. Compliance with this requirement will allow, if desired, to improve the design. For example, sew up the sides with decorative material, or hang the doors on the facade of the rack.
Some of the bars will be in contact with the wall. We attach metal corners to their ends.
We install the finished product in the desired location. We mark the points where the holes in the corners face the wall. We take away the rack and drill a hole for a dowel-nail or dowel.
This measure will prevent tip-overs and make the storage area for household items safe.
In order to hide the contents of the shelves, doors are often hung on the structure. Carrying out this work (manufacturing and subsequent fitting) is one of the most complex elements in furniture manufacturing.
Using blinds is a great alternative.
They cover shelves on glazed balconies and loggias. You can install blinds - roller shutters. But it’s even easier and cheaper to use ordinary aluminum blinds. You only need two screws to secure them to the top wooden header. A variety of colors makes it possible to choose the desired background.
In the case of using similar products on the balcony frame, a harmonious ensemble of elements complementing each other is created.
Metal rack
The main requirement when working with iron is compliance with personal safety measures. For work you will need safety glasses, a respirator and headphones.
Metal parts are cleaned of rust. A mechanical method (brush, sandpaper) and a chemical method (rust converter) are used.
For the manufacture of racks, a rectangular profile with a wall thickness of at least 2 mm is used. The task is simplified when using a perforated mounting profile.
The basis for placing shelves can be a profile and a corner.
The product is installed by bolting or electric welding. A design in which the parts are welded together looks more aesthetically pleasing. There are no protruding elements.
Depending on the connection method, the sequence of painting the rack depends. When used to connect bolts, paint is applied to the parts; when using electric welding, paint is applied to the finished product.
Installation of the metal structure begins with the side walls. Jumpers are attached to the posts. If a corner is used, the internal corner is directed towards the inside of the structure.
It is necessary to weld something like a ladder. A plumber's angle is used to control the position of the jumpers.
Two finished parts are connected to each other by long jumpers - the base for the shelves. If the material for the shelves will be thin boards or plywood, an additional stiffening rib is welded at an equal distance from the side edges.
How to make wooden shelving
With minimal woodworking skills and the availability of tools, building a balcony rack is not difficult. To do this, it is necessary to design in advance the dimensions and configuration of the future cabinet, as well as cut and prepare wooden elements. After this, you can safely proceed directly to assembling all the parts.
Preparing wood for installation
The easiest way to make a rack on a balcony or loggia with your own hands is from wood. For this purpose, chipboard, which is sensitive to moisture and temperature changes, is not used. It is easier and more reliable to use a laminated board, or pre-treated boards and beams.
The finished drawing is adjusted to size
Stages of preparatory work:
- According to the dimensions of the future rack, cut the materials.
- Clean the cut areas, remove burrs and polish the surfaces.
- Treat all exposed parts with a deep penetration antiseptic solution.
- Paint the wooden parts of the structure.
Review of designs, choice of material
A lot depends on how much free space can be allocated for the installation of such a piece of furniture. Accordingly, the rack on the balcony will differ in configuration:
- Open;
- Closed.
The second option involves arrangement inside a niche. Such racks installed on the balcony are also called built-in. In addition, there are straight and angular designs. And according to their dimensions, they are divided into two groups: high (up to the concrete slab of the loggia); low (to the level of the window sill).
Depending on the type of material, the racks installed on the balcony are:
- Made of metal;
- Wooden;
- From chipboard/chipboard;
- Plastic;
- A combined option, for example, shelving on a balcony made of aluminum and glass.
Chipboard sheets are the least durable in damp conditions. However, if the option of a loggia with almost ideal operating conditions (glazing, thermal insulation, heating) is being considered, then the racks on the balcony can be made of any material.
Glass shelves have their drawbacks - they are an easily breakable and traumatic material. Metal has the highest strength, so it can withstand increased loads. However, the most common option is wooden racks installed on the balcony:
Scheme of a simple wooden shelving unit
An example of a more detailed sketch of the main structural elements of the product:
A more detailed diagram of the connection of elements
The recommended maximum length of the shelves is 800 mm. If you use longer boards, they will sag under the weight of things placed on top. To strengthen this structure, balcony racks of this type are equipped with supports at the central points of the shelves.
There are several mounting options to choose from: nails, screws and metal corners. To secure the structure, it is recommended to secure the side elements to the load-bearing wall of the loggia.
Various shelf options and configurations
It is not necessary to adhere to the above scheme; racks on the balcony can be varied in configuration, type of material, method of fastening: without a back wall, free-standing and built-in, mobile and fixed.
Door arrangement
Closed shelving models have many advantages over open ones. At the same time, the organization of such storage systems requires more space for maneuvers, as well as the construction of beautiful and practical doors.
Three assembly options are usually considered:
- Conventional hinged doors, fastened using furniture hinges and opened using pre-installed handles.
- Sliding doors based on the principle of wardrobe doors - compartments. The most popular and practical option for modern balcony design. At the same time, a lot of space is saved, and the rack itself looks stylish and attractive.
- Combined designs, when open shelves alternate with doors. Most often, the lower and upper compartments are closed, and an open space is left in the middle for unhindered access to the items located there.
The option of opening doors using closers is not considered in our article, because this is quite expensive and impractical for infrequently used furniture groups.
shelves on the window for dishes and assorted displays:
This idea, as a rule, appeals to those who are fascinated by 2 solutions: (1) open shelves + (2) tableware in plain sight. If you have blind windows in your kitchen, feel free to implement this non-standard move. Here are 12 options for similar decor in real American homes:
displays for beautiful things: If you don’t want to limit yourself to just dishes or just plants, create an interesting composition on shelves suspended from a blind window. Check out some ideas for inspiration:
several windows in one line: If there are several windows “in a row” on one wall, try installing long shelves or combining several into a single structure. For example, like in these photos:
Racks for flowers and growing seedlings
Balcony shelving is often used for flower gardens and even mini-vegetable gardens. Despite the limited space, the practicality of this option is very high. The main conditions are maximum illumination and resistance to moisture. To do this, you can place rows of shelves along the parapet, as well as make the end parts of the balcony.
It is preferable to use painted wood or moisture-resistant boards, as well as plastic shelves that can withstand sufficient weight.
Where to begin
Before you start building a rack with your own hands, you need to carefully calculate everything, choose the right place and material. The shelving structure should be strong and the shelves should be wide and spacious to provide ample storage space. The cabinet must be stable; it is important to correctly calculate the load and, if it wobbles slightly, additionally secure it to the wall.
In no case should the rack block the natural light entering through the window, and its dimensions should correspond to the area of the balcony in order to leave enough space for movement. Fire safety rules should be observed, and if there are heaters on the balcony, then the wooden shelving should be placed away from it.
Before you start building a wooden shelving unit, you need to properly treat the wood so that it is not exposed to moisture or dryness. You also need to sand the wood very well and make sure it is dry before use. If you use unfinished material, the quality of the shelf fastenings may suffer and then you will have to start the work all over again.
Photo ideas for design and placement of shelving
It’s easy to make a balcony rack with your own hands from available materials, for example, an old wardrobe or other furniture. After appropriate processing and reliable fastening of the elements to each other, such a design will withstand all the hardships of “street” use and become a practical element in the interior. The main points of using racks, as well as the stages of self-assembly, are discussed in the information provided.
Materials
When developing a shelving plan, one of the primary tasks is choosing the appropriate material. They differ from each other in cost, performance characteristics and appearance.
What are the racks made of:
Wood. An environmentally friendly material that does not emit harmful substances into the air, is resistant to temperature changes and high humidity. Excellent external characteristics allow you to place wooden furniture in almost any interior. To extend the life of wood racks, it is recommended to coat them with special antiseptic solutions.
Shelf made of plywood (MDF) for flowers or souvenirs. Scheme drawing
A flower shelf made of plywood for the wall, which you can easily make with your own hands according to the drawings given below.
1) Cut out 5 shelf blanks from plywood (See drawing). To do this, it is convenient to make a template from hardboard or durable cardboard and trace it on plywood, then cut out the parts.
2) On the vertical posts at the back, we mark the location of the hinges and, using a groove cutter (chisel, etc.), carefully cut out grooves for them, all the time checking the accuracy of their location and compliance with the metal hinges.
3) We cover the outer ends of the plywood with veneer edge tape.
4) We assemble the entire structure using PVA glue and self-tapping screws, first check whether the angle is 90 degrees. 5) We cover our wall shelves with stain or varnish and screw in the hinges.
This shelf would also look great if it was made of solid pine or another type of wood. The main thing is interest and desire.
Photo from Woodmaster magazine
Beautiful design ideas
Minimalistic shelving with a minimum of details is distinguished by its versatility: they can be placed in almost any interior. If the owner of a balcony wants to create a unique, eye-catching interior, he can opt for furniture of an unusual design. Gardeners will love racks with holes cut into the shelves for pots.
The solution not only looks original, but is also characterized by high functionality.
Models with asymmetrical shelves are an option for those who want to furnish a loggia in a modern style. You can choose materials in bright colors, play with contrasts, place souvenirs, books, photo frames or decorative elements on the shelves. Such furniture will look advantageous with colorful walls.
A narrow shelving unit mounted into the wall will be appropriate in conditions of limited space, when every centimeter counts. The choice of wood as a material will give the model a conceptual and deliberate simplicity.
An original solution would be a shelving unit constructed from square cubes attached to the wall. Alternating open and closed shelves will create the illusion of a checkerboard pattern. In plain sight are figurines, flowers, table clocks, and small candlesticks. And behind the doors you can hide items that are not used every day.
Varieties
When choosing a cabinet, take into account its purpose, the presence of niches and glazing on the balcony, the width of the loggia. The specified criteria will allow you to make a rack of the required size, characterized by maximum functionality.
Depending on the design features, several models are distinguished:
- Built-in. Rack equipped with hanging shelves. It is mainly installed on those balconies where there are niches. The model allows you to make the most efficient use of the available space. The width of the rack will be limited by the size of the niche.
- Angular. The corner cabinet is attached to the wall on both sides. Brackets are used as mounting elements. The advantage of the model is its spaciousness and compactness. The model will take up less space and will not block the passage.
- Open. A shelving unit without doors is installed against the wall and can be of any height and width. The model is well suited for storing seedlings, since this way the plants will have enough sunlight. If you make it in the form of hanging shelves, there will be space below for storing large items. In particular, a bicycle can fit under the cabinet.
- Closed. Model with doors. In such a rack they store items that need to be kept in a dark place, as well as things that the owner of the balcony wants to hide from prying eyes. The doors can be located along the entire height of the cabinet or cover only a few shelves. When choosing such furniture, it is important to leave free space for unhindered opening of the rack.
