DIY balcony table: drawings with instructions + photos and videos

how to make a table on the balcony

Private outdoor space is the dream of most city apartment dwellers, even if it's just a small balcony. If you are lucky, you need to make the most of the free space, and the best idea is to make a table for the balcony with your own hands . No matter how tiny it is, any balcony has great design potential. When it comes to furniture, it all depends on what you want to do with your balcony space. If you use it for dining outdoors, then make a table on the balcony and place a couple of chairs. If you just want to relax, a couple of sun loungers and a folding balcony table are what you need. In general, folding tables for balconies are the most suitable idea. Balconies come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter the size or location, you should make smart use of the space you have. The most convenient thing is to make removable or folding tables for the balcony with your own hands , although there are other interesting solutions. Perhaps some of the ideas presented in this article have never even occurred to you, such as a hanging bar counter or a table that folds into the balcony floor.

Advantages and types of balcony tables

Space saving.
Rational use of small-sized premises.
Increasing the usable area of a balcony, loggia.
An ideal place to work, eat, relax.
Can be used to hide communications (pipes, batteries).
Minimum expended effort, materials and money.
A successful design move - provided that the materials and color palette are correctly selected, a self-made table will be in harmony with the interior of the room.
Huge variety of shapes, sizes, configurations and design solutions.

The most popular types:

removable hanging table on the railing;
folding;
transformer (folding);
stationary, fixed directly between the walls.

Making a table from chipboard

It is very easy to make a table from chipboard. It consists of four parts: a table top, two rectangles and a triangle.

Step-by-step production is as follows.

The first stage is making the countertop.

Markings are made on the chipboard. For example, choose a semicircle with a width

400 mm, length 800 mm;

use an electric jigsaw to cut out the workpiece;

the sides of the workpiece are smoothed with a file and then with sandpaper;

The cut areas are coated with a protective compound, varnish or paint.

We paint our blanks with white enamel in 2 layers

The second stage is making the support.

The reliability of the structure depends on the condition of the support. When folded down, the support is covered by the tabletop.

The support elements are made from the same chipboard to fit the dimensions of the tabletop in the following sequence:

cut out a rectangular blank 880 x 100 mm long. It will be the base to which the hinges for the tabletop will be screwed;

cut out a rectangular blank measuring 200 x 600 mm. A folding support element will be attached to it;

cut out a triangle with sides 300 x 600 mm. It will be a support for the tabletop;

The workpieces are polished and then coated with protective compounds.

The third stage - assembly of the structure.

This is the final stage, which includes:

attaching a rectangular base to the wall under a vertical support;

installation in the upper part of the base of a rectangular blank for fastening the tabletop;

attaching hinges to the tabletop and support;

fastening the tabletop with a loop to the upper rectangular workpiece, and with a support loop to the rectangular base.

The table is ready and waiting for its guests

Expert advice

On an unglazed balcony, materials that absorb moisture and are exposed to ultraviolet radiation should not be used. Plastic or glass are the best options for open spaces. You can also use natural solid wood with a special impregnation that prevents the material from deforming when exposed to water and sunlight.
The more metal parts, the more reliable and durable the design. Standard (factory) mechanisms must be used as components for folding and folding products.
The thickness of the working surface should not be less than 10 mm. Otherwise, the tabletop may bend, deform, or break.
The preferred height of the dining table and desk is 75 cm. Products assembled with your own hands must also meet the generally accepted standard. An exception may be designs made for people with physical disabilities (too short or too tall, disabilities, furniture for children's institutions, hospitals).
The depth of the tabletop should be 50...150 mm greater than the supports under it, and at the same time not exceed the total dimensions of 600 mm.
When the table width is more than 90 cm, it becomes necessary to use several support bars or legs.

Buying a ready-made table in a store

Owners of balconies who love factory furniture need to contact the retail chain for a folding table. Here you can choose high-quality furniture for various purposes.

Folding table from Ikea

In order for a table to fit a specific balcony, in addition to the shape and size, the following features of the models are important.

Type of material.

High-quality models for balconies are made from materials that are resistant to sudden changes in temperature and moisture. The choice of model depends, first of all, on the style of the balcony space and its condition.

Folding table from kitchen countertop

For a glazed balcony, furniture made from any environmentally friendly material is suitable.

On an open balcony, the material must be resistant to the harmful effects of the environment.

Transformation method.

The ease of use of any model, as well as the safety of the family, depends on the folding method.

You can buy folding tabletop brackets

A table with a retractable leg that folds easily is dangerous for small children. An awkward movement is enough for the tabletop to fall onto the support. Folding furniture must have reliable fixation.

Easy to attach.

High-quality folding tables are sold assembled. The only requirement is to mount the product on the wall. The kit should include fasteners and instructions.

Table folding wall fastening - IKEA - burst

Fastening should not cause any difficulties for the user, and should take little time.

Original solutions: photo gallery

A stationary narrow table on the balcony and a compact folding or folding design help to rationally use the narrow space. Independent development of drawings, manufacturing and installation of furniture with your own hands will save the family budget, especially if assembly is planned from scrap materials. A creative approach will be the key to creating a practical and comfortable corner for work and relaxation.

Making a wooden table

Any shape can be chosen for a wooden tabletop. The side that will be adjacent to the base is made in a rectilinear shape. This design is made in stages.

The first stage is making the tabletop.

The dimensions and shape are determined before work begins. As a rule, a semicircular shape is chosen. A strong, durable table is made from wooden cloth up to 3 cm .

Preparing wood for installation

Dimensions 2000*800*400
To make a wooden rack, well-dried bars are used, since wet wood will warp after drying. As a result, the structure may become askew, the fastening points will become loose, and the shelves will have to be reinforced again.

The bars are inspected, and if necessary, they are sanded: irregularities, burrs, and peelings are smoothed out. Sandpaper is attached to the sanding block, and the wood is sanded manually. Instead of a manual sanding block, you can use a grinding machine (preferably a belt or vibrating one). It is not necessary to sand all the wooden elements; it is enough to sand only the shelf boards and bars that will be on the front of the rack.

Important. Sanding is carried out only along the grain of the wood. First, the treatment is carried out with the coarsest sandpaper, then medium-grain, and finally the finest.

The tree has a significant drawback - it is attacked by wood-boring insects. It is also susceptible to rotting if kept in a humid environment. Since it is not always possible to create favorable conditions for wood on the balcony, it should be hidden with preventive antiseptics. The wood is treated with an antiseptic twice, but a second layer is applied only after the first has dried.

Requirements for shelving on the balcony

Before making a rack, you should calculate the load that will fall on the shelves and take into account the conditions under which the structure will be used. This will help you adapt the rack to your needs.

Design requirements:

Safety. The joints must be reliable, and the shelves must be spacious enough so that the items stored on them do not fall out;
The shelving should not block the window or interfere with the flow of sunlight into the room;
Fire safety. If heating devices are used on the balcony, the wooden rack is not located near them;
Dimensions. There should be enough space on the balcony, the rack should not interfere with movement;
Stability and strength. The structure should not be shaky, and if there are doubts about its reliability, you need to additionally fix the rack to the wall.

Please note: Chair for a balcony or loggia: ready-made option or do it yourself

In addition, you need to choose the right material for the rack. For example, chipboards, even after treatment with impregnating compounds, easily swell under the influence of dampness, so it is better not to use them on open and uninsulated balconies.

The problem of choice or the torment of creativity

At one time, I set out to bring my loggia into proper shape. And as it turned out, insulation, exterior and interior decoration are only part of the overall process. It is equally important to properly furnish the room.

You can install a cabinet or a standard desktop on the P44T loggia without any problems. For those who are not in the know, P44T is a designation for the design of modern houses with an open plan. But my apartment, like most people living in our country, was built according to a standard design back in Soviet times.

Furniture and desk on loggia P44T.

Almost everyone knows that the dimensions of such a loggia are quite modest, so a standard tabletop, even from a small kitchen table, will look like a bull in a china shop. A small, compact and preferably retractable table was required. Of course, now you can order any furniture, but I’m used to making such small things myself, this is my hobby.

As strange as it may sound, the first problem I encountered was choosing a model. It seems like a small thing, but there are many options. Here you immediately need to decide for what purpose you need such a table. And what balcony are you going to put it on?

Hanging plastic table.

I examined in detail many options and came to the conclusion that the hanging option is best suited for an open balcony . As a maximum, you can install a retractable table, but here you already need to look at what it is made of. After all, in fact, the product will be outdoors all year round and not every material can withstand this;
A cabinet table is more suitable as a work option for those who like to tinker . Its beauty is that such a compact design can be easily moved wherever you want. Plus, as you understand, there is additional space for storing many useful things;
A computer desk is essentially the same as a work desk, but for some reason it is generally accepted that on a balcony it should be located in some corner . And be, if not completely stationary, then at least folding;

Computer desk at the end of the loggia.

But the most popular in this niche is a small folding table for the balcony . The secret of such popular love is that it is quite simple to manufacture, and most importantly, when folded, it takes up practically no space.

Metal rack

Metal shelving is stronger than wood and can support very heavy objects. They are designed for storing large power tools and other metal objects. Structures welded from water pipes are especially reliable.

Frames are assembled from the profile according to the same principle as from wooden blocks, and shelves are laid on the crossbars. Instead of a profile, you can use metal corners. Only the supporting frame is made of metal, and it is better to make the shelves from wood. This will lighten the weight of the structure and reduce the cost of its manufacture.

If pipes are chosen as the material for the rack, only a portable structure can be welded from them. When the frame is welded, it should be treated with anticorrosive and painted. If gaps remain under the first layer of paint, after it has dried, the pipes are painted again. When the metal rack is installed on the balcony, boards or chipboard sheets cut to the size of the shelves are laid on the crossbars.

Making a table from clapboard

Very often, after covering the walls of a balcony with clapboard, unused material remains. It’s easy to make an original folding table with a stop from leftovers and scraps.

The manufacturing process is divided into stages.

Scheme for manufacturing a table with an emphasis

Drawing of a table with a support frame

The first stage is making the countertop.

To make a rectangular tabletop measuring 70 x 60 cm, you need:

connect 4 lamellas 70 cm long with a tongue and groove system into a single whole. For reliable fixation, the joints are lubricated with glue and reinforced on the underside with furniture staples;

round the corners of the structure. Cut off the side tenon;

Cover the sides of the tabletop with a protective compound and varnish.

The second stage is the production of supporting parts.

6 cm thick slats are used as supporting elements, or blanks are cut out of the lining.

There should be ten such blanks:

base for vertical wall mounting 75 cm long;

base for horizontal mounting to a wall 60 cm long;

4 vertical posts 75 cm long;

4 horizontal bars 30 cm long.

All workpieces are cleaned with sandpaper and then coated with a protective compound and varnish.

The posts and crossbars are connected with self-tapping screws to create 2 frames.

If you want a larger table, make two supports

Stage three - assembly of the structure.

using anchors, a vertical and horizontal base is attached to the wall;

2 frames are attached to the vertical base on furniture hinges;

The tabletop is attached to the horizontal base on furniture hinges.

Thanks to the hinges, the tabletop can be easily tilted back and rests on the extended frames.

In the video there is an option with a support leg:

How to make a table on a balcony window sill

Modern designs of window sills allow them to be used as comfortable and functional tables. Upgrading a window sill on a balcony does not require any special financial costs, and wood, chipboard or MDF can be used as a material for the future table.

The optimal time to arrange a window sill table with your own hands is to replace the windows. However, if such events are not planned in the near future, but the table is needed now, you can do the following:

Choose the appropriate panel color.
Take into account the thickness of the tabletop, which should not interfere with opening the window.
Purchase metal chrome legs, self-tapping screws and polyurethane foam.
Apply marking lines to the original material.
Use an electronic jigsaw to cut out the tabletop along the outlined contours.
Determine the location of the radiator.
Using a feather drill, make holes with a diameter of about 36 mm. for air circulation and heating of the glass unit.
Carefully remove the existing window sill.
Install the product in the window opening.
Fill the voids with polyurethane foam.
Let the foam dry.
Seal the joints with gel sealant.
Make legs of the required length from a chrome tube.
Install the legs by attaching them to the tabletop with self-tapping screws.

Thus, you can solve the problem of limited balcony space in an original way. Using homemade compact furniture will not only help you save money, but will also allow you to maximize space where there is none by definition.

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Models

Furniture manufacturers offer a wide range of tables, which differ in tabletop shapes, design types, sizes, fastening features, the presence or absence of certain components (for example, legs), and materials. In addition, the models differ in design: color and texture of the countertop surface. There are expensive options made from natural materials (solid wood or glass) and more budget ones that imitate natural stone or valuable wood species (most often plastic or veneered surfaces). Some tables are complemented by decorative inserts from other materials, carvings, inlays, and furniture fittings.

Forms

Folding tables are available with four tabletop shapes:

Square. Ideal for a small family of three.
Rectangular. The tabletop of the model is more spacious and can be used even for modest feasts with guests. Such folding tables are fixed both across the wall and along it.
Semicircular. Tabletops of this shape have a small capacity and are therefore rarely used. Although the option looks original and suits classic interiors and Art Nouveau furnishings.
Round and oval. The rarest variations. It looks stylish and unusual, but is rarely used due to its small capacity. The option is optimal as a dressing table in the bedroom or a workspace for one person.

In rooms with complex configurations, tables of non-standard shapes can be used. They are usually made to order.

Construction type

By type of design, folding tables are classified into the following types:

Transformers. They can be wall-mounted or wall-mounted. The main distinguishing feature of the design is its versatility. If desired, it can turn into a compact workplace, replacing a desk, or into a full-fledged dining area.
Folding table. A simplified version of the transformer, which does not have additional features. When folded, the tabletop assumes a vertical position, but at the same time a static “piece” remains against the wall, so the model is not completely assembled. Can be wall-mounted or wall-mounted. A striking example of the second option is a book-table. It became the first prototype of a folding table, which was familiar to every person from Soviet childhood. It was a tall “coffin” with two tabletops on either side of a narrow board in the middle. The “wings” are usually in a lowered state. When you need to set the table for a holiday, they are raised and fixed in a horizontal position. This piece of furniture really saved large feasts, since its area when unfolded increased several times. At a time when the model did not fold out, its narrow static tabletop was used as a shelf. When assembled, the “book” takes up very little space, but is still inferior to folding tables built into the wall.
Folding. The simplest and most popular model. The table can be mounted on any vertical surface, be it a wall or the front of a cabinet. In addition to the tabletop, such models are usually equipped with a number of shelves. If the table is located in the kitchen, then they are filled with dishes. When the model is used for work, books and writing materials are stored in the shelves. The design is designed for heavy loads. As a rule, it has no legs, so the fastening to the wall must be reliable so that the table does not collapse at the feet of the owners. The tabletop does not rise, but folds down. This is its main difference from the folding model.
Mobile folding table. The model is in many ways similar to the previous one, but differs in mobility. The tabletop moves along a guide mounted into the wall. This folding table is convenient for small apartments with a non-standard layout.
Hanging. Tables without legs. They are compact, as they are not designed for heavy loads.
Folding bar counter. It features a narrow, elongated tabletop. Ideal for small kitchens. Fixed high, like a classic bar counter. Often complemented by the same high chairs.

Although transformers and folding tables belong to the folding category, in classic models the tabletops are lowered during folding, and not raised, as happens in the two cases described above.