We have proven more than once that anyone can make an original and beautiful table. Just look at a coffee table made from scraps of boards, or at a table consisting of shelves and a tabletop, and you can even make a small table from a wooden reel. But today we will not stop there and praise already implemented projects, we will go further and do DIY folding table.
Cutting boards for the base
Making a hanging box for the table. To do this, take 2 boards 2.5 cm thick and 20 cm wide and 130 cm long. Cut two boards of similar length and width to a length of 76 cm. Stepping back 1 cm from the edge, we make three holes into which we will screw screws and connect boards. But before twisting the boards, you need to apply glue to the ends.
We twist the base for the table
As you can see, in addition to the main hole for the screw, we slightly deepen and widen the hole for its head. This way the head can be easily sunk into the middle of the board. We twist all the boards in a circle and get a rectangle that will hang on the wall.
Forming a hinged lid
Using a circular saw, we cut 4-5 boards (depending on their width) to a length of 125 cm. We connect them together using the technique described in the process of building the bed. Before twisting the boards together, we also apply glue to the ends. Carefully sand both sides of the folding tabletop.
Door lock
The next step will be to install a door stop that can open 180 degrees and will fix the hinged table cover in a horizontal position. We try on the clamps with the lid closed and fasten them with screws.
The hinged lid will fit completely into the table box. To prevent it from falling inside, we will glue two limiters from edged boards, on the left and on the right. In the photo they are sandwiched at the top. As soon as the glue glues them securely, cut off the rear protruding parts.
Hinged lid frame
To beautifully decorate the closed lid, take a board 5 cm wide and cut the corners at 45 degrees, having previously measured the dimensions of the box. We nail the 4 cut boards to the hinged lid.
Folding table legs
From boards 5 cm wide and 2.5 cm high, cut out 4 boards. We measure the internal size of the hinged lid, which is framed by the frame, and cut 2 boards to these dimensions. We cut two more boards of the frame to 40 cm in length. By analogy, we make another frame for the other side.
We screw our frame legs to the frame of the hinged lid, and in the middle we nail a decorative analogue, frames.
Screw it to the wall
It is very important to choose the correct height for mounting this folding table. It must strictly correspond to the height of the legs. Once you have screwed the table to the wall, check that it is installed correctly, open and unfold it.
Ready table
The internal organization can be absolutely anything. And the sizes of the departments can also be different, so we will not dwell on this issue in detail. Our façade is painted with black paint, but inside there is an untouched pattern of the wood structure. This table will help you properly organize the space in your children's room and will save a lot of space, as well as delight you with a high level of functionality.
Interesting video.
A great idea for a folding table that is easy to implement on your own
Today, not every young family manages to initially purchase a luxury apartment or a spacious apartment. Many married couples live in one-room apartments, studios and dormitories for a long time.
In such cases, it is customary to minimize all necessary areas (bedroom, kitchen, recreation area) in order to functionally use absolutely the entire space.
It is for these purposes that it is customary to install in the kitchen some products that are attached to the wall, which are easily removed and folded.
Application of wall-mounted products
Non-standard solutions for folding furniture help save usable space Most people have the same needs, only the living space for their implementation can be different and differ significantly, so in small apartments you have to resort to non-standard solutions for arranging the premises yourself, or with the help of designers, arranging all areas very compactly.
The simplest and most functional option for creating additional space is to use fasteners on the walls of the room.
Fasteners for folding furniture must be reliable The use of such a folding mechanism allows certain furniture or products to be used only when necessary. The rest of the time, the interior detail does not take up any space and does not interfere with the passage of people, and also does not limit access to various objects in the room.
Kitchen and desk tables, chairs and benches, beds and even armchairs are used as folding furniture. Some furniture is quite difficult to create on your own with your own hands; to do this you have to invite professional designers and craftsmen who work with them in pairs. They will complement your idea and create the most comfortable folding furniture.
Such complex folding devices include:
- sofas;
- beds;
- tables of complex shape.
Building a reclining sofa or bed (that has wall mounts) involves a lot of requirements. The product must not only have a securely attached structure, but also not spoil the interior when folded; do not forget about the requirements of comfort.
Quite often, to arrange the interior of a small room, shelves with a dual function are installed on the back side of a sofa or bed that is mounted on the wall. When the bed is folded, they serve their intended purpose, and when the furniture is unfolded, they serve as legs.
Folding tables: their advantages and disadvantages
Folding structures are very often used in Russian apartments The most popular and frequently created version of folding furniture, which successfully competes with folding and sliding structures, are tables. Indeed, the table often takes up a lot of space and interferes with the passage to the refrigerator or other household devices. The most noticeable shortage of space appears in small kitchens, in old-type houses - “Khrushchev”, where the size of the kitchen space does not exceed 6 m2.
In such rooms, using a wall-mounted table is simply a necessity. A folding table is a fairly popular design and is available for free sale in various furniture stores. It, like ordinary furniture, can be made from various materials and valuable types of wood, and is also equipped with metal, wooden supports or folding legs.
Canopies and clamps are used for fastening Folding tables are attached to the wall using canopies and clamps that prevent the structure from unfolding spontaneously. Regular hooks and latches can serve as fasteners.
The price of a folding small-sized semicircular table will pleasantly surprise every owner. This product has a lower price than its conventional counterparts. So instead of 4 legs, the structure has one support or two folding legs. In addition, many furniture manufacturers, so that the folded structure does not spoil various kitchen interiors, stick an image on the back of the product on PVC film, which will match the decor in the room.
A significant disadvantage of this design is its small dimensions. A wall-mounted table may not be large enough for a family of 5 to 8 people. Folding tables are most often produced as a piece of furniture designed for 2-3 people, which is best secured by yourself to be sure of the strength of the product.
An example of the design of such a table can be seen in the diagram below.
Making a folding table
It is not necessary to buy a folding table for the kitchen at a furniture store; you can create such a product yourself. The materials most often chosen for the countertop are chipboard, MDF or laminated plywood. Wall hanging structures are made from plywood with special water-repellent impregnation. To learn how to make a homemade folding table, watch this video:
Many owners further decorate this material, giving it originality. You can make an unusual edge of the tabletop yourself by cutting out an ornament using a jigsaw according to a prepared template. All surface edges must be sanded.
Don’t think about making your own folding table from glass or solid wood. Since both materials require specialized processing, which is very difficult to do at home.
Folding brackets are very convenient for mounting After choosing a tabletop, you should purchase a special lifting and lowering mechanism for the table, with which the tabletop is attached to the wall. The most popular and simplest option for attaching a dining surface is a bracket.
After preparing the surface, treating it with an antiseptic and choosing a lowering mechanism, you can begin installing the structure.
Initially, the brackets are installed to the wall. This process is carried out using self-tapping screws and dowels. The mechanisms are mounted in the projection of the tabletop onto the wall (6-7 cm from the edges of the surface). In this case, it is necessary to strengthen the attachment points by creating additional pads. For an overview of the folding furniture bracket, watch this video:
The main thing is not only to secure the countertop properly, but also to set it at the proper level so that it is convenient for all family members to eat at it. In addition to the tabletop and brackets, an important design detail is the legs or support. The choice of support structure depends on the permissible weight load of the brackets. A heavy support should not be installed on a light surface.
Concluding the material presented, it is worth saying that the trend towards popularizing functional folding furniture is spreading at a rapid pace not only among young people who have modest small living spaces, but also in the general environment.
Since every person wants to create as much free space as possible in their home without compromising their needs.
In modern Russian apartments, the kitchen is often of such a size that it can barely fit 2 people. In such conditions, it is necessary to save free space. And the way out of the situation could be a folding table for the kitchen, made independently. If necessary, such furniture is removed into a special niche on the wall, and when unfolded, 6-8 people can fit behind it.
An indispensable solution for a kitchen with a small area is a folding table.
Making a kitchen table with your own hands is not at all difficult. Even a novice master can handle this work. But before starting work, it is necessary to draw up a competent drawing of the future product, indicating all the necessary dimensions.
Product on a stationary frame
For a small folding table, you can use only one support in the form of a frame.
Before you start assembling the folding table, you need to decide on the type of fastenings for the tabletop and legs. They depend on the dimensions of the future furniture. If you are going to make a small table, then you can get by with ordinary furniture hinges and 1 support. This piece of furniture can be used as an additional tabletop, which can be removed as soon as it is no longer needed. If you want to make a full-fledged dining or kitchen table, then it will need more reliable supports.
When preparing preliminary drawings of such a design, you can take into account your dimensions. But the assembly principle itself and the proportional ratio of the sides should remain the same. Otherwise, the furniture may become unstable.
Before making a folding table for the kitchen with your own hands, check the location of the existing wall cabinets in the room. The fact is that the basis of the tilting structure is a fairly large frame (90 * 147.5 cm). It is assembled from timber, whose thickness should not be less than 2 cm. Otherwise, the frame will not support the weight of the structure. Therefore, the wall cabinet should not interfere with folding or disassembling the table.
In order for the tabletop to be light enough and not sag under the weight of objects placed on it, it is additionally reinforced with a frame, which is fixed from below along the perimeter of the product. This element is assembled from timber with a cross-section of 5*2 cm. The tabletop itself is attached to the supporting frame using a regular piano hinge.
When assembling such kitchen tables, the greatest attention should be paid to the legs. In this case, they are 2 bars (70.5 cm long and 4*4 cm in cross section). The supports are attached to the tabletop using the same hinges. To fix the legs in the unfolded state, use a standard folding steel strut or a straight special furniture tie. In this case, it is enough to place the clamp on only 1 leg.
When folded, these elements are held in place by vertical pins passed through drilled holes in the frame. But this same role can be taken on by an ordinary hook or furniture latch.
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Kitchen table "invisible"
Drawing of a folding table “invisible”.
The disadvantage of the previous model is that the external frame mounted on the wall will always be visible. But you can make a kitchen table with your own hands so that when assembled it will resemble a decorative panel.
When folded, the legs of the furniture are retracted behind the tabletop, and its inner side, painted or covered with finishing plastic, remains visible. To assemble such a table, you need to prepare 4 main parts:
- wall fixing frame;
- table top;
- supports – 2 pcs.
The table is attached to the wall using piano hinges. But this model has 1 significant drawback. The countertop area cannot be made large, otherwise the structure will not support the weight. Therefore, such a table can only serve as an additional work surface. And you can fix it at any convenient height. Usually it is mounted at a distance of 70-80 cm from the floor.
But making such a kitchen table will take a little more time. Since it is necessary to form grooves in the frame boards into which the holding rod fits. It is attached to the tabletop at one end and has a diameter of 25 mm. For this model, it makes more sense to provide not folding legs, but a V-shaped support, which is supported by a strut in the folded position.
In this case, the fixing wall frame must be thick enough. Then, when folded, the support will “hide” between the wall and the tabletop.
A folding table on the balcony is a very convenient and multifunctional thing. It will not take up much space and will become your indispensable assistant in everyday use. Making a folding table with your own hands is quite easy and simple. To do this, you need to stock up on the necessary materials and tools in order to safely get to work. In our article we offer you detailed instructions for making such a design. Your task is to choose a more acceptable method. From our material you will learn not only how to make a folding table on the balcony with your own hands, but also get acquainted with the pros and cons of this structure, with basic recommendations and selection criteria.
Advantages and disadvantages
What is the mechanism of a folding wall-mounted table? This is not just an attached bar, but a self-sufficient structure that acts as a table in rooms with a small area.
Important! This piece of furniture is often used for a balcony, loggia or kitchen, but some skillfully use a folding table in the room, thereby saving space.
It's time to find out the pros and cons of a folding table. This will help you decide for yourself whether to make it or not. Let us immediately note that the advantages of the design many times outweigh the disadvantages, which can be avoided by following our recommendations, which you will learn about a little later.
Pros:
- Compactness. Folding structures do not take up a large amount of space in the room and do not interfere with moving around the balcony while performing various everyday activities: hanging washed clothes to dry, going to the desired shelf, watering flowers, and so on. In a word, the most important advantage of a folding structure is great space savings. The assembled table is the best way to cope with this task.
- Attractive appearance. A folding table will become the highlight of a simple balcony, give the room originality and emphasize the special style of the interior. And by completing this design according to your drawing, you are guaranteed to receive an original creation that only you will have.
- Low cost. When making a folding table with your own hands, you will significantly save your budget. Buying even the most expensive wood will cost you much less than purchasing a finished product. It is for this reason that many men take on the production of such a universal and budget design, trying their hand at arranging their apartment.
Important! Building a wall-mounted folding table is a fun activity for those who love creative processes. With a little effort, you will make something very useful for your home with your own hands. Your family will appreciate your efforts, and your guests will be delighted with such a beautiful product!
Minuses
Against the background of the above advantages, we should not forget about the disadvantages of this type of table mounting:
- Size limitation. Since the folding table is a miniature structure, it will be comfortable for one, or maximum two, people. Of course, such a piece of furniture can accommodate three people, but you must agree that in this case it would be better to use a regular large dining table.
Important! If you make the wall structure large in size, then you will be uncomfortable constantly putting it up and putting it back down due to its bulkiness and heavy weight.
- Limitation in form. The folding mechanism is a specific installation, so not every shape you like will look good. Thus, the most successful and popular shapes of a folding table include a semicircle and a square.
Important! Some owners want to build a round or rectangular wall-mounted table for their balcony, which, when used in a narrow room, can be extremely uncomfortable.
- Construction limitation. Not every table can be fixed to the wall. For example, if the area is too large and the weight of the structure may sag significantly if the room is of small height. Not every wall can support a wooden table, which is often placed and folded back.
- Limitations in the material of manufacture. Many people think that such a structure can be made from absolutely any raw material - metal, wood, glass or plastic. Believe me, this is not entirely true. For example, is it beneficial to use a folding glass tabletop? One careless movement of yours can cause small cracks to appear, which will lead to breakage of the table surface. This option should not be considered by those who have small children.
Application area
Let's take a closer look at how you can use a folding table with your own hands. As we already know, the main feature of the folding design is functionality; it can be easily unfolded and folded at any time. That is why the folding table is very compact, stable, durable, and can be used in the following ways:
- For work. If you do not have a personal office in your apartment, and you want to retire from prying eyes in order to concentrate for work, a folding structure on the balcony will suit you just right. You can safely put your laptop on it and work with documents and other important information. Teachers can check their students' written work in a quiet environment.
- For breakfast. Sometimes, when you wake up in the morning, you really want to spend time in the fresh air, listen to the birds singing, have breakfast and drink a cup of aromatic coffee. As an additional pleasure, you can enjoy the beauty of the city waking up in the morning. Having breakfasts outdoors without leaving home with your significant other is another great advantage of the folding design. By laying out a wall table on the balcony, you can make your desires come true.
- For your favorite activities. With such a comfortable piece of furniture, you can safely engage in your favorite hobby. So, for example, if you like to make wooden crafts, this option will be the ideal solution for you - sawdust will not be scattered around the house. A DIY wall-mounted folding table is very convenient for other hobbies: embroidery, drawing, handicrafts, or just playing board games with friends. The only rule that needs to be followed is to install good lighting if the table is used in the evening and at night.
DIY folding table for the balcony - master class
If you want to make your own wall-mounted table for the balcony, then do not forget to take into account that it should be as compact as possible and light in weight. Most often, a more expensive and heavy material is used for its manufacture - wood, or a more affordable and lighter one - plywood or chipboard. You will learn further about how to make a folding table against the wall with your own hands, what is needed for this and how to complete each stage of the work.
Materials and tools:
- Wooden board, chipboard or durable plywood sheet.
- Jigsaw.
- Hammer.
- Drill.
- Screwdriver.
- Screws and dowels.
- Emery machine or sandpaper.
- Wood paint.
- Varnish for wood.
- Antifungal impregnation.
- Connecting fasteners for table top and support.
The folding table will consist of the following parts:
- Folding, central and support part.
- Top beam.
- Racks.
- Ties.
- Milling machine.
- Stand legs.
Preparatory work:
- We choose a model, decide on the shape, size, color and mounting of the wall table. We check whether the desired design matches the interior of the balcony. We make sure that the folding table is conveniently located when unfolded.
- We cut out the tabletop to the required size.
- We take a pre-cut rectangle of chipboard, equal to the length of the table base and about 12 cm wide.
- We clean the cut sides of the folding structure and the rectangle with sandpaper or on a milling machine (if you have one).
- We saturate the workpiece with an antifungal agent, and then coat it with wood varnish.
Carpentry work:
- We attach a metal corner strictly horizontally, which will be completely invisible under the cover against the wall, since its dimensions are very small.
- We make marks and install sleeves to secure the corners with screws. We attach metal holders to the wall in three places, and in the case of a large table - in four.
- We attach the hinges to the tabletop. They can be purchased at regular hardware stores. Piano hinges are also good for attaching a small table.
Important! If you will use the table for everyday work with heavy material, then it is better to take high-quality hinges, which are used for attaching window frames.
- We fix the structure when unfolded using a support paw, which you can make yourself from a metal pipe. We make a small groove for attaching the stop when the folding table is folded.
Important! If your tabletop is rectangular or large, we recommend making two such support legs on both sides of the structure.
That's all the work! The table on the balcony is ready for use!
Important! By attaching a folding tabletop under the window of the adjacent room, which is adjacent to the balcony, you can seat several people at the same time. The only important condition is to make sure that the table does not block the passage.
DIY balcony table
Let's look at another simple way to make a wall-mounted countertop for a balcony. To manufacture it you will need a minimum amount of materials and tools, namely:
- Two identical chipboard boards (you can take plywood) with a thickness of at least 20 mm.
- Four metal hinges for connecting the canvases together and for fixing the door, which will serve as a stand for the table.
Step-by-step algorithm of actions:
- Using a jigsaw, cut out two identical sheets from the selected material. You determine the size of the base yourself; we settled on the parameters, which were 500x400 mm.
- We carefully process the edges of the panels using a file with various notches or a framer. We go around the perimeter of the material with sandpaper: first coarse, and then fine-grained.
- We mark and draw a “door” on the wall base, which we will cut out a little later and install on the right side on the inner area of the resulting frame. In a word, we remove the core from the chipboard sheet so that we get the shape of the Latin letter U. All other three sides of our frame must have a width of at least 120 mm.
- We process the edges of the wall frame and the previously cut “door” in exactly the same way as described above.
- Drill four holes in the frame to secure it well to the wall
- We cut off the lower left corner of our “door” for convenient opening.
- We put the “doors” into the frame, mark the places along the line of its joint where we will attach the metal hinges. We repeat similar actions with markings on the tabletop and the upper edges of the frame at the places where they are connected to each other.
- We combine all the parts with loops, screwing them to the previously drilled holes.
- We set the frame to the building level in the area where it is located. We fix it on the wall using anchors or dowels.
Now you have your own table on the balcony! It will not be difficult for you to unfold and assemble such a structure - all you need to do is lift the tabletop a little and pull the “door” towards you.
- Before installing a folding table, carefully consider its location. It should not interfere with everyday life, be compact in size and be combined with the overall picture of the interior.
- If the tabletop is intended only for work, then consider installing good lighting, or install the structure close to a window that will provide you with natural daylight.
- Don't assume that the most popular factory-made wall table models are the highest quality and most durable. This is not entirely true. The guarantee of high quality is, first of all, the raw materials from which the furniture is made.
- Before making a purchase, pay attention to the level of glazing and insulation of your balcony: will the table suffer from atmospheric and temperature influences throughout the year (especially in winter)? So, for example, for a warm balcony you can safely make a wooden tabletop. But for a non-glazed room - a table made of metal, plastic or aluminum.
Now you can easily make a folding table with your own hands, because you are already familiar with all the nuances of its manufacture. Enjoy the fresh air with a cup of aromatic coffee with great pleasure!
