An important stage in arranging a bathhouse is the selection and installation of furniture. High-quality furniture for a bathhouse should be practical and safe in order to create optimal conditions for comfortable relaxation and healing of the body. When choosing or manufacturing furniture, it is important to take into account the special microclimate in the steam room - temperature changes and humidity - in order to ensure a long service life of the finished products.
Features of bath furniture
The main difference between a bathhouse and all other rooms is the large number of wooden objects, regardless of the size of the bathhouse and the style in which it is made. The only exception is the shower or pool, where tiled finishing is mainly done.
The heat and moisture inherent in a bathhouse impose special requirements on the choice of material for furniture.
The reasons for the abundance of wooden elements are quite justified:
- Wood retains heat perfectly, does not burn at high temperatures and is pleasant to the touch during the cooling process. Unlike metal, which gets very hot and poses a risk of burns, or unlike plastic, which simply melts when heated too much.
- Spruce, pine, linden or cedar are easy to process. Furniture for a bath or sauna is manufactured in record time. And there is always the opportunity to make such furniture with your own hands.
- Easy to attach to wooden interior items. You can do without metal nails or screws. For example, during assembly, wooden dowels are often used to connect parts.
- Wood has a low volumetric weight.
- Environmental friendliness. Being in a bathhouse with a wooden interior is not only pleasant, but also beneficial for health.
The bathhouse needs a certain set of furniture, which should include a table, shelves, and wooden benches.
The main disadvantage of wooden furniture is its susceptibility to rotting and fungus. Therefore, not all types of wood are considered suitable. And, in addition, they use treatment with special compounds.
Based on the requirements, the most suitable material for a bathhouse is wood.
Colonial Rec Room Bench
If the appearance of the bench is not very good, you can change it and improve it. To do this, decide on the processing style and buy decorative materials. Go to visit your friends and take a photo of the benches in the bathhouse, and then choose a processing method. The colonial style allows you to make the bench noticeable and expensive. The work is performed in the following sequence. Brush the bench elements with a wire brush and apply a layer of white glaze to the surface of the wood. Wait until dry and re-brush the wood with a wire brush. The furniture will be bleached with grooved brush marks. Apply a layer of varnish to the surface; after drying, the furniture can be used.
Types of wood
The main criterion when choosing wood for bath furniture is not its natural beauty or density, but its resistance to moisture and temperature changes. Moreover, this matters both for the furniture in the steam room and for the rest room.
For the steam room you need breeds that respond well to humidity, for the locker room and rest room - any.
- Pine. One of the most popular types of wood for bath interiors. It is distinguished by its affordable price, natural aesthetics and ease of processing. Ideal for a relaxation room, but it is not recommended to use pine for a steam room - when the wood is heated too much, resin is released.
- Spruce. Also not an option for high temperatures and high humidity. In addition to the fact that it releases resin when heated strongly, it also differs in its tendency to rot.
- Larch. A unique breed that can withstand not only high humidity, temperature changes and extreme heating, but also looks very dignified and impressive in appearance. However, due to its high density, larch is very difficult to process. Making furniture will take a lot of time and effort. And it’s unlikely that a beginner can cope with this breed.
- Oak. One of the most expensive breeds. Its peculiarity is that under the influence of humidity and steam, the wood only becomes stronger and harder. Processing solid oak requires professional skills. And the finished products are very heavy.
- Aspen. Like oak, wood becomes stronger when exposed to moisture and steam. But only completely healthy trees have this feature. And finding them is very difficult.
- Linden. An excellent choice for DIY furniture made of natural wood for a bath or sauna. The wood is soft, not prone to rotting, and easily withstands temperature changes and exposure to steam. It has a pleasant hue, and when heated, it will also delight you with a delicious aroma. The only drawback is that linden is not as durable as, for example, larch.
- Cedar has been used for finishing rooms and making furniture, as they say, from time immemorial. The wood is very beautiful in appearance, resistant to humidity and temperature changes. An additional bonus for the lucky owners of cedar bath sets is a wonderful and truly medicinal aroma, the healing effects of which on humans have already been confirmed today.
PHOTO GALLERIES
Bath shelves with lighting (25 photos)
Here are the lighting options for the steam room with various ideas for lighting the shelves in the bath. We will also touch on lamps for the steam room here. As you can see in the photo, LED backlight kits are often used
Corner shelves L-shaped chambers in the bathhouse (24 photos)
Shelves that have corners in their design. Look at several options on how to do this and choose the one that suits you
The most unusual shelves for a bath 26 photos
This gallery contains photos of shelves that are difficult to make, but which look very nice, and, of course, will definitely surprise all visitors to your steam room with their unusual design.
Rattan furniture
This is a relatively new trend. Rattan is a type of liana palm. The main distinguishing feature is the unique structure of the stem: a hard top layer, a soft and porous middle layer and a very hard “core”. Thanks to this “structure,” the material bends very well, and interior items made from it are amazingly durable.
Rattan furniture is appropriate in a dressing room or relaxation room, but is not suitable for a sauna.
The natural color of rattan is almost white, but most often products made from this material are painted. Rattan palm has practically no wood pattern as such. And the process of making furniture is very interesting: a frame is made from thicker “aged” vines, and then they are braided with younger and more flexible ones.
Recently, rattan bath furniture has become increasingly popular.
Rattan palm furniture is ideal for a relaxation room, but not for a sauna. Because under the influence of high temperatures the material loses its shape.
Visually, furniture made from artificial rattan is almost no different from its natural counterpart.
Tips for caring for headrests
- After bath procedures, leaving the product in a heated steam room is not recommended. It is best to bring them in immediately before visiting the steam room. In this case, the headrest will not overheat, and the procedure will be comfortable.
- The accessory must be stored in a well-ventilated area.
- Headrests for a bath should be made from well-dried wood. Then the product will retain its original shape and last a long time.
- All metal fittings must be placed on the internal surfaces of the accessory or recessed deep into the wood.
- Every detail of the structure must be carefully polished.
- Do not use paints that release toxic substances when heated.
Handmade wooden headrests look very beautiful even without additional decoration. If desired, they can be carved or painted with enamel paint, which is not afraid of temperature changes.
Upholstered furniture for baths
It turns out that even soft sets can find their application in a bath complex. Of course, provided that they meet certain criteria.
A sofa for a bath is an integral attribute of comfort and the key to a good rest in a steam room.
Of course, we are talking about headsets for the rest room. If the furniture frame is completely hidden, then it can be made of any material. And in the event that any of its parts will be “visible”, the frame must be wooden. Otherwise, during the heating process, metal parts will be unpleasantly hot to the touch, and plastic parts will be close to melting.
Soft surfaces increase the comfort of using the products.
The upholstery material must also meet a number of requirements. Since the bathhouse is not always heated, the material must withstand temperature changes. And also be resistant to high humidity. After all, even in the dressing room the humidity is much higher than in an ordinary apartment or house.
Most of the furniture in the bathhouse is solid. However, in the relaxation room, sofas will not be superfluous.
- Genuine Leather. This is perhaps the best option for upholstering furniture in a relaxing bath room. The leather perfectly withstands temperature changes and humidity, does not absorb odors, is resistant to stains and retains its original appearance for a long time.
- Eco-leather or leatherette. The main thing is that this material is of high quality, then it is almost as good as its natural counterpart. The only difference between good leatherette is its shorter service life. And according to all other indicators, he does not lose in anything. If the substitute is of poor quality, then cracks appear on the surface very quickly due to temperature changes.
- Tapestry. High-quality material is strong and durable. For bath complexes, sofas with tapestry trim are additionally treated with special compounds to prevent moisture absorption.
Craftsmen, of course, will be able to make everything they need with their own hands.
Types of steam room shelf designs
Depends on the area and height of the room.
The standard placement of benches is along one or two walls, parallel, perpendicular to each other.
Stepped
They are of the stationary type. They are more common than other species.
The shelves are fixed to one wall where there is no window. A multi-tiered structure is created according to the principle of steps.
This arrangement is convenient because with each tier the degree of heating increases.
It is important to take into account that the distance from the ceiling to the top shelf must be at least 1.2 m. This distance will be comfortable for a person to sit or hover
In addition, the upper tier is attached above the line of the heating boiler or stove.
Folding
Another name is a compartment shelf. The principle of arrangement and operation is reminiscent of wall shelves on a train, which can be folded down when necessary.
Suitable for a steam room with a small area. The shelves are fixed on two opposite walls parallel to each other. The upper shelves fold down, the frame of which is formed from support legs with transverse crosspieces.
There is an option for fixing without racks, as if in a hanging position. Used for light weight loads. Requires competent calculations. Not suitable for DIY production.
To remove the pull-out bench, it is lifted towards the wall and lowered to its original position to open it.
Removable
They are also called collapsible, folding. This mobile design is convenient in steam rooms with a small area. Simplifies the process of drying the flooring.
The upper and lower benches are completely removable.
Corner (L-shaped)
For small steam rooms, corner benches are often installed.
They take up little space, but are not inferior in comfort to other types.
The upper and lower elements are adjacent to one partition along the longest wall, the middle ones along the short one, which is located nearby.
There can be 2-3 steps along each partition.
Bath set
Of course, a set of furniture for a bathhouse is selected depending on the preferences and financial capabilities of its owner. But the standard gentleman's set looks like this:
- Hanger. The shape and size can vary, but most often it is a wooden panel with several hooks. The calculation is as follows: per visitor 3 clothes hangers and a pair of hooks for bath accessories.
- Bench. This interior detail is intended not only for sitting, but also to provide a place where you can fold clothes. Often there is also a shelf under the seat. In some cases, chairs or armchairs are placed instead of benches.
- Closet. To be fair, it is worth noting that this element is not always present due to limited space. And yet, if the area allows, think about where you can install it. The closet can be used to store towels and cleaning supplies.
- Mirror. Ideally, the mirror should be full-length. But if this is not possible, then at least up to half.
What should be in the steam room? The entire “set” consists of a wooden shelf. Depending on the area of the bath and its shape, choose one of the following options:
- If the bathhouse is small, then the seating shelf is 60 cm wide, and the length, as a rule, is either determined by the usual number of people present, or by the length of the wall.
- If the sauna is spacious, then a recumbent shelf is installed. Then its width will vary from 80 cm to 1 meter, and the length should be comfortable for all visitors. For maximum convenience, organize 2 or 3 tiers. It’s just important to remember that on the third tier the temperature will be much higher than on the first.
- More rational use of space - L-shaped or U-shaped shelves.
Shelves are the most important component of a bathhouse interior and making them yourself is absolutely simple and inexpensive.
If there is a need and space allows, then additional stairs are installed for convenience.
Advantages and Benefits
Wooden bath chairs have a number of undeniable advantages:
The whole variety of chairs and stools made of wood for a sauna can be divided into separate types according to design and functionality. The most common varieties that are suitable for installation inside bath rooms (washing room, dressing room) are folding ones, basin stands and compact stools.
Folding
The best option for a small area. When you need additional space for new visitors, folding chairs can be put away in a closet or taken to a private home. If you need to add additional seating at the table, just take them out of storage and lay them out. The simplest, most common folding mechanism is the legs to the seat.
Basin stand
To place a large basin of water or a bucket in a wet room, you will need a low stool. It is important that it is of small height, without a back, and as stable as possible. Can be rectangular or square.
Stool
Standard bath accessory. Can be installed inside a washing room or dressing room. It is used for storing various things, bath accessories, resting people, and performing hygiene procedures. To strengthen the structure, in addition to horizontal supports, diagonal struts are installed between them.
How to make bath furniture with your own hands
Making a bath set with your own hands is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Some woodworking skills will be required, as well as diagrams and drawings for the job.
Let's look at the process of making bath furniture with your own hands using a shelf as an example. Since this is the main place in the bath compartment, the shelf should be as comfortable as possible and suitable for your height and weight.
Self-production will allow you to realize all your wildest fantasies and make optimal use of the bath space.
After the necessary measurements have been made, you can begin to work. First, a frame is mounted from wooden posts (the distance between the posts is 50 cm), which are fastened together. The racks are made of wooden beams. At this stage of work, you can use metal screws, since this part of the structure will not be in contact with the body.
The frame is attached to the wall. Then boards are attached to it. When installing this part of the structure, metal parts can no longer be used. Plan the placement of the boards in such a way that there is at least 1 cm between the adjacent ones. This will allow water to flow freely and the boards will dry faster.
When making furniture with your own hands, it is important to process the parts well: round the edges, sand the surfaces until they are absolutely smooth.
The bathhouse bench is made according to a similar principle. It will require planks (for the seat), timber (for the frame), and fasteners. By the way, an important point: when making furniture for a bathhouse, a grinding machine or sandpaper must be used. Surfaces must be well treated to avoid injury later.
The bars are cut and hammered together into a frame - this is the frame. Planks are placed on the frame at a distance of 1 cm from each other. Wooden nails are used as fasteners. After the structure is ready, carefully sand all the corners and once again “walk” over the surface.
The shelf at its base may have a lattice made of wooden planks. You can also make the back of furniture from it.
The furniture set for the bathhouse is extremely laconic: bench, table, shelves. An important nuance: interior items should not only correspond to the general style, but also create coziness, promote relaxation, comfort, and pleasure.
When assembling furniture for the bathhouse, the boards should be positioned loosely against each other, leaving small gaps.
Specification of material dimensions.
You can make a bath chair with your own hands using the following technology.
1.
We will make assembly parts from wooden blocks cut to size.
We round the outer corners of the outer boards of the seat and back with a radius of 25 (mm). We grind the back mounting posts on top at an angle of 5°, and the ends of the ends with a rounded radius of 35 (mm). 2.
Place four seat boards (3) on a flat surface. The gap between the boards should be 10 (mm). The end surfaces along the width of the boards must be on the same plane.
3.
We attach fastening bars (6) to the seat boards (3), with grooves from the center of the board.
4.
Insert the legs (5) into the grooves of the fastening bars (6) and secure them.
5.
Along the perimeter, to the legs (5) and fastening bars (6), we attach four drawers (4): two side ones; front and back.
6.
From the back of the chair, we attach the posts (2) to the back drawer (4).
7.
We attach the back boards (1) to the posts (2).
The following can be used as fastening elements:
• wooden dowels with subsequent installation with glue • confirmat screws 7 x 70 (mm) • wood screws • wood screws
To hide fasteners, you can use wooden plugs.
8.
After assembling the product, we will perform final finishing.
9.
Let's apply paint and varnish.
This is the kind of wooden bath chair we should get.
Now let's see how you can make a stool for a bath.
Source
Manufacturing technology for a bench without a back
The simplest bench without a back consists of a seat and legs and is made as follows:
- Develop a drawing of a bench for a bathhouse, in which you indicate the dimensions of the component elements.
- Make legs from 50x50 mm bars.
- On the inside of the legs, make grooves for the cross beam.
- Install cross bars into the grooves and secure with self-tapping screws. Sink the fasteners into the wood.
- Connect the legs with long beams, which are attached to the top of the legs using self-tapping screws. Boards will lie on the beams.
- Lay the boards on horizontal beams and secure with dowels or screws. Provide gaps between the boards so that water does not accumulate at the joints and flows freely.
- Make places for the dowels in increments of 30-40 cm, then hammer the boards into place.
- If metal fasteners are used for fastening, recess the head into the board. Mask the hole on top with a mixture of PVA and sawdust.
- Sand and sand the bench. This requires special attachments. Use coarse grits first, then fine grits. Work carefully, removing small layers of wood.
- Remove splinters and sharp corners from the structure using sanding discs.
- Treat the bench with a protective compound intended for baths, for example, special oil. Apply 1-2 layers of oil.
- Leave the bench to dry for the period specified in the instructions for the product.
- Do not use drying oil or varnishes; they emit unpleasant fumes when heated.