Boxes with a seat on the balcony

If you want to equip a recreation area on the balcony and save on space for storing off-season items or home preservation, there is an excellent solution - to combine all this in one drawer, complemented by a seat. Such a design is not always sold ready-made, but it is easy to construct it with your own hands.

On the balcony, a box with a seat will not take up much space and will become a cozy decoration of the space, as well as an interesting option for its competent planning. The purpose of the box under the bench can be very different.... For example, it completely replaces a small cellar and protects vegetables from drying out and premature spoilage in a warm period. In cold weather, it will protect stocks from frost. But if you plan to store vegetable products in a box, you need to trim it from the inside with insulation with a reflector.

Instead of provisions, it is convenient to keep used cans, spare blankets, pots and everything that will certainly come in handy one day in a drawer on the balcony. In addition, the drawer can be turned into a comfortable sofa, which is especially beneficial on a spacious balcony. An extra bed with spacious storage will be useful in any apartment.

On top of the box there can be a hard bench or a soft seat made of foam rubber or pillows. A one-piece piece of foam is a budget solution, and pillows are practical since they can be used anywhere else.

The most popular design of a bench-box with a top loading and the presence of a folding lid. It is also used as a seat. Such boxes are equally advantageous to be built in the corner and in the end of the balcony. The high version of the chest-box is built up along the windowsill, increasing the useful area of ​​the structure.

The second type of drawer, more popular, is a compact couch with a drawer and doors. It is usually placed at the end of the balcony for storing small items. It will be convenient to equip the box with several shelves. Such a cabinet can be designed as an open rack with baskets.

Another option is a bench with a drawer. Comfortable seat on a sturdy base with internal storage. You won't be able to take a full nap on it, but lying down with a book or sitting down with a cup of coffee is quite comfortable.

The most convenient, but the most dimensional view of the balcony structure is a box-bed. It is a complete place for a relaxing break. If the balcony is glazed and insulated, the bed can be used all year round. And inside to store food supplies and everything that takes a useful place in the apartment.

A bench with a box on the balcony can be made from various materials.

• Edged board... It is preferable to take a thickness of 25-30 mm, since everything that is thinner is not particularly reliable, and boards with a greater thickness give a greater load. It is more convenient to use polished workpieces that do not require finishing, which greatly facilitates the process.
• Wooden bars. A suitable frame material has a cross section of 40x40 mm. When choosing quality bars, it is recommended to evaluate their geometry. During drying, they are often "led", which is undesirable during assembly. A smooth design will not work that way.
• Furniture board... Such material is perfectly processed, although its cost is higher than the price tag of a regular board.
• PVC or MDF panels, plywood boards, etc. can also be used. The main selection criterion is the purpose of the box, and what additional tasks it will perform.If only storage is planned, and there is no load on top, light PVC panels are also suitable. They can economically sheathe metal profiles.

Further, you will also need:

• Piano loop. It will be needed to attach a folding seat, which in parallel will act as a box lid. For a longer length, you will need to install a series of loops.
• Self-tapping screws for assembling the bench. Depending on what the frame is made of, self-tapping screws for wood or metal are selected. The length of the fastener is determined by the thickness of the selected board.
• If a soft seat is supposed to be installed, you will additionally need thick foam rubber and furniture upholstery made of fabric or leatherette. You do not need to waste time and effort attaching the upholstery, but put pillows. This option is simpler and looks modern. The pillows are easy to wash and use on chairs, indoor sofa, etc.

It is worth considering the presence of a backrest for the structure... If it is planned, then a larger stock of materials is required. If the bench is stationary, it is advantageous to mount the back on the wall, regardless of the base. This version of the bench looks good and is easy to complete when the main frame is assembled.

To cut materials, you will need a power tool or a simple hacksaw. It is more convenient to use a jigsaw, which allows you to cut quickly and accurately. In this case, it will be possible to round off the edges or make curly elements. It is also effective to use circular saws, and as an option, the so-called parquet floors, which are very easy to use. But they can only cut straight.

To screw in the screws, you need a screwdriver. The main thing is to prepare the bits of a suitable configuration. To prevent cracking of the board, you need to drill holes with a drill with a diameter of 2 mm.

For sanding an untreated board, it is more convenient to use a sander. For this purpose, absolutely any model is suitable. If it is not possible to acquire a power tool, you can use a block with sandpaper. It will take longer, but the result will be no worse.

It is not at all necessary to have professional carpentry skills to create a storage box on the balcony with your own efforts. Enough inspiration, desire and ability to use elementary tools. All work is divided into two stages: preparation and assembly.

Before starting construction work, it is necessary to outline an exact plan of action and subsequently follow its points exactly.

• Choose a suitable area for the location of the drawer... To attach the box to the desired part of the balcony, it is recommended to choose the colder one. Usually, finding it is not difficult. But when they appear, the structure is located in the most empty area in the room.
• Carry out the necessary measurements. Using a tape measure, you need to measure the height, width and depth of the box. If a non-standard design is planned, measure each bend. At this stage, it is necessary to take into account the thickness of the material for the manufacture of the box, especially when it is planned to put it right next to the balcony walls.
• Determination of design parameters. This step is very important - it depends on it whether this box becomes just a storage or will serve as a seat. In the latter version, it is preferable to build a wide and low version.
• Site preparation. The balcony must be freed from useless things and structures, if any. Having cleared the area for the future seat, you can begin the main front of work.

• Assembling the structure... It is quite simple to build a box yourself, provided that the preliminary steps have been completed, and the material has been prepared, as well as the layout plan.The most elementary option is to make a box without a bottom, when the floor serves as it, and the walls of the balcony become the side walls of the box.

• For a comfortable sitting position, you do not need to make a box with a height of more than 60 cm. With regard to the width, it should vary between 40-70 cm, otherwise it will not be very comfortable to sit on it. As for the length, it is determined individually in each case. Don't build a 3 meter box. If space permits, it is wiser and more practical to make a couple of benches with boxes.
• Once the basic parameters have been determined, you can create a sketch of the desired creation. You don't need to be a specialist draftsman to do this. You will need a diagram with the designation of the main parameters and features of the selected design. This will help to clearly formulate a presentation of the final result and an understanding of the progress of current work.

For the idea of ​​\ u200b \ u200bmaking a box with a seat on the balcony, see the video below.