The pride of the master: do-it-yourself bathhouse furniture

A bath bench is a mandatory piece of furniture for every bath room. Its design and manufacturing materials must fully comply with the functional tasks. The interior of any bathhouse or sauna is complete without comfortable, strong benches, benches and trestle beds made of high-quality and properly selected wood.

Making a bench for a bathhouse with your own hands: design options

There are many types of benches for a bath - stationary, movable, folding. For each bath room, specific benches are made, suitable only for a given place, shapes and sizes.

During bath procedures in the steam room, it is customary not to sit on a bench, but to lie down, and the number of lying places depends on the capacity of the room. Therefore, in order to increase the possible number of people steaming at the same time, benches of special systems are installed here.

Options for bath bench designs:

• A simple mobile bench without a backrest on two legs, used in the washing area, in the rest room or in the steam room, including as a footrest.
• A rustic-style bench with four legs is a strong, stable option for installation in a dressing room.
• A portable bench for a steam room, its length can be from 90 to 151 cm, width approximately 50 cm;
• Stationary single-tier shelf for the steam room. Its length is 150 - 185 cm and width 40 - 65 cm. The lower step should be at least 20 -25 cm from the floor for air circulation.
• Two-tier wall shelf for steam room. It is installed if the room is not very large.
• Three-tier shelf. The upper tier of shelves is made approximately 90 cm wide and 180 cm long, which allows an adult to sit comfortably. The distance from it to the ceiling should be at least 120cm. The lower shelves, 45–60 cm wide, are provided for seating.
• Folding benches that have a special mechanism for turning the seat into a vertical position and tightly fixing it to the wall. Allows you to increase the usable area of ​​a small room.
• Portable benches with backs and armrests or trestle beds. Used in the rest room, installed near the table. They are usually large in size so that you can not only sit freely at the table, but also relax while lying down.

For the rest room, you can use furniture made of any wood and any design. The main thing is that it provides a comfortable and safe rest after the procedures.

Features of arranging a kitchen in a bathhouse

Such projects are very popular for the following reasons:

• General heating system and oven
  . If you have a small steam room, then the kitchen can be arranged in the dressing room. At the same time, the wood-burning stove for heating the steam room will also be used for cooking.
• Diversity of arrangement
  . When equipping a kitchen area on the terrace, it is possible to build a small barbecue. In small rooms you can limit yourself to a refrigerator, microwave and kettle.
• Versatility
  . Having made a kitchen-living room, you can invite a large group of friends and set the table right in the bathhouse.
• Comfortable location
  . Having arranged a kitchen area under the same roof as a bathhouse, you can immediately return from the steam room to the feast without going outside. If the dimensions do not allow you to equip a full-fledged kitchen in the relaxation room in the bathhouse, then you can add it additionally in the form of a veranda or terrace.

How to make a bench for a bath: choosing materials

If a bathhouse building can be constructed from a variety of building materials, then bathhouse benches and other furniture can only be made of wood.

The benches of each bath room are made of wood specifically intended for it. No other materials other than wood are allowed for the manufacture of bath furniture.

When choosing materials, they simultaneously select the type of construction that would be combined with the style of the building. But in any case, there are certain rules for choosing wood based on experience and many years of practice.

Criteria for choosing wood for a bathhouse bench:

• The steam room uses benches made of hardwood that can withstand high temperatures and humidity - oak, linden and larch. The aroma of these trees has healing properties.
• Benches made of aspen and larch can be used in the washing room, since these materials tolerate high humidity well at relatively low air temperatures.
• Furniture made from linden, aspen, larch, maple, oak or birch can be used in the relaxation room, however, due to increased moisture, all bath benches must be treated with special impregnations.

Benches and benches made of pine are never installed in the steam room, since under the influence of high temperatures, resin is released from the wood, which leaves marks on the body, but most importantly, it can cause a burn to the body.

There are increased requirements for the material of bath benches:

• Moisture resistance, allowing the furniture to be used for a long time in conditions of high humidity.
• Low thermal conductivity, in which the bench does not overheat in high temperature conditions, threatening burns.
• High density wood so that it does not quickly become saturated with water, otherwise cracks will appear on the bench during use, it will rot and warp.
• High drying speed. The bath bench should dry quickly and be easy to clean.

Linden is the best material for making bath benches, especially for use in steam rooms: it tolerates high temperatures well and is resistant to moisture, easy to process and emits a pleasant aroma. Aspen has also proven itself well, but over time, the furniture in the bathhouse begins to rot from the inside.

Self-production: from a set of tools to the finished product

Before you make a table for a bathhouse with your own hands from wood, you should definitely take care of the availability of high-quality raw materials and a minimum sufficient set of tools.

The choice of raw materials consists of selecting boards, timber and slats. Lumber must meet a number of requirements:

• Have acceptable geometric parameters regarding straightness and absence of signs of warping and torsion;
• A sign of good quality material should be the absence of through knots, the so-called “nails”;

Important! When purchasing lumber made from larch, you should know that the wood of this species very often has “knots and nails” and purchasing a board that is absolutely free of such defects is a real success.

• The wood should not show signs of damage by insect borers, fungi, molds or other biological defects.

The list of tools needed to make a wooden sauna table with your own hands is also not particularly sophisticated. The minimum set includes:

• Tape measure or carpenter's ruler. Provides preliminary and assembly marking of workpieces;
• Bubble building level. Allows you to control the straightness of the structure, both at the cutting stage and during assembly;
• A wood hacksaw or circular saw, the so-called parquet type. Will help in cutting blanks into the necessary individual structural elements. When making a table with a large number of radius curves, it is worth taking care of the presence of an electric jigsaw equipped with a blade for figured cutting;
• A screwdriver, corded or cordless, or a screwdriver with a Phillips-shaped working part;
• Sanding paper on a wooden block or belt sander. Necessary for finishing the external surfaces of the structure;
• Hand router with collet chuck and set of wood cutters. It is not a mandatory tool, like a jigsaw, but it will significantly improve and decorate the product by milling edges and applying decorations of a different nature;
• Fastening elements. These include self-tapping screws, wooden nails - spikes, bolts, studs, nuts. In the case of merging parts using a classic tenon joint, high-quality wood glue will be required;
• To eliminate defects, wood putty is a good help. Often such material is tinted to match the color of solid wood of a certain species.

Bench for a bath: features of development and application

Benches for baths and saunas are used for both sitting and lying, so it is necessary to take into account the height and build of a person when designing them.

For a person of average height, the following dimensions of a bath bench are recommended:

• Bench for sitting: their width is within 40 cm, height 50 – 95 cm.
• Benches for saunas, on which they are placed in a semi-sitting position: at a height of 50 – 90 cm and a backrest height of 110 cm.
• Benches for lying down: the width of the structure should be 90 cm, with a height of 50 cm. Such benches are made without a footrest.
• The length of the bench per seated person is taken to be 90 cm. When using the bench by several people at the same time, the standard increases by 60 cm for each person.
• When making a bench, it is necessary to provide for an arrangement of the legs of the bench that will not allow it to tip over when there is a load on the edge.

When creating benches for a bathhouse, you must pay attention to the dimensions of the room and not clutter it with unnecessary furniture that interferes with movement.

Designing a kitchen in a bathhouse

Depending on the size of the room and personal preferences, the kitchen compartment can be arranged in any style.
It is advisable to think about a place for its location at the construction stage. It’s better to start by selecting a project for a bathhouse with a kitchen. The kitchen in the bathhouse can be equipped in various rooms:

• Waiting room
  . For the most efficient use of usable space, tables and benches can be made folding.
• Restroom
  . In this case, the room can be divided into a kitchen and a kind of living room. A good option for large companies.
• Terrace
  . If it is open, then you can additionally install a barbecue oven. So you get the option of a summer kitchen in a bathhouse.
• Attic
  . In a two-story bathhouse with a kitchen there is enough space to equip the rest room and dressing room separately.

If the place for arranging the kitchen area has been chosen in advance, then during construction and finishing you need to take care of high-quality hydro- and vapor barrier of the room. This will reduce the humidity in the room, especially if we are talking about a traditional Russian wet bath.

The simplest bench for a bathhouse or sauna with your own hands: manufacturing technology

The simplest bench without a back consists of a plank seat, four timber legs and crossbars for stability.

The sequence of making a bench for a bath (sauna) is as follows:

• We develop a drawing of the bench indicating all the structural elements of the product.
• We cut the legs from 50 by 50 mm timber.
• We cut grooves for attaching the cross beams on the inner sides of the legs.
• We install the transverse bars in the grooves of the legs and fasten them with dowels.
• We connect the legs using long bars, attaching them to the top of the legs with dowels.
• We lay the boards on horizontal bars and secure them, leaving a gap of 1 cm.
• We carefully process the bench with sanding discs, first with coarse-grained, and then with fine-grained abrasive. We round all the edges and sharp corners of the product.
• We treat the bench with a special protective oil composition in 2 layers.

Leave the bench until the coating is completely dry. After the coating has dried, the bench can be installed in a sauna or bathhouse.

Choosing wood for making bath furniture

The operational parameters of finished pieces of furniture depend on the materials used for their manufacture. The best furniture for a bath is made of wood. This choice is quite logical due to a number of advantages that the material has, such as:

• high density;
• low thermal conductivity;
• aesthetics;
• pleasant aroma;
• practicality and durability;
• safety and environmental friendliness;
• ease of machining.

The following wood species meet the stated requirements:

• coniferous – cedar, pine and spruce;
• deciduous - linden, aspen, alder and oak;
• exotic – abashi.

Coniferous wood

Coniferous trees are used to make functional furniture that can be used in the dressing room and rest room. In some cases, such wood must be de-resined, which increases the final cost of the material.

Products made from cedar are especially popular due to the low resin content in wood fibers, aesthetics and resistance to high moisture. Cedar furniture can be used in a steam room; when heated, it has a powerful therapeutic effect on the body.

Most often, linden, aspen and oak are used to make steam room furniture. Wood has an attractive appearance, inertness to high humidity and overheating.

Aspen is resistant to fungi and mold, easy to machine, and allows you to imitate the original pattern of expensive tree species. The main requirement for aspen is high-quality drying and the absence of knots. The only drawback of aspen is the low wear resistance of wood fibers, which leads to the appearance of dents and abrasions on the surface of finished products.

Linden has a pleasant aroma that has a healing effect on the respiratory system. It is resistant to rotting, deformation and temperature changes. The main disadvantage of wood is its susceptibility to mold, so it requires preliminary antiseptic treatment.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Sauna stove made from wheel rims

Oak is the most practical and sought-after material used for the manufacture of a wide range of bath furniture and accessories. It is distinguished by its visual appeal, durability, resistance to mechanical damage and deformation.

Another type of wood for making bath furniture is African abashi oak. It is attractive because it is resistant to overheating and temperature changes, and has an excellent appearance and smell. The high cost of abashi makes it an exclusive material that not every bathhouse owner can afford.

Preparation of material and working tools

Once the assembly drawing for a specific piece of furniture has been developed and the appropriate material has been selected, you can proceed to the next stage - preparing the lumber for the manufacture of the structure.

In order for wooden bath furniture to be functional and safe, it is necessary to thoroughly clean and process all the constituent elements of the structure. The dimensions of each part are maintained strictly in accordance with the drawing, and the connecting elements are identical to each other.

Taking into account the special operating conditions in the bathhouse, lumber is treated with protective antiseptic and polymer compounds that prevent rotting and destruction of the wood.

The work will require hand and power tools, which will allow you to quickly prepare the main structural elements and perform high-quality assembly. These include:

• grinding machine;
• screwdriver;
• jointer for leveling surfaces;
• plane;
• electric jigsaw;
• screwdrivers;
• ruler, square, construction pencil.

How to do it yourself?

Even if you don’t have much experience, you can make simple bath furniture with your own hands.

Tools that will be needed along the way:

• hammer;
• plane;
• drill;
• a circular saw;
• pliers;
• roulette;
• square;
• Grinder;
• clamps;
• set of cutters;
• hacksaw.

First you need to make a table. You will need:

• boards 30 x 145 mm and 40 x 250 mm;
• wooden slats 40 x 40;
• bolts and “curly nails”;
• antiseptic primer.

Assembly is carried out in a simple sequence:

• Saw boards measuring 30 x 145 mm into four pieces of 1.2 m each. Make flanks on them on the right and left at an angle of 45 degrees. Stepping back 10 cm from the end of the blanks, cut off the excess material.
• Sand the workpieces properly. Coat everything with an antiseptic and let the boards dry.
• Fold the blanks crosswise.

• Attach our blanks with bolts. Place the legs at a distance of a meter. From the boards that are left, make and attach two spacers.
• From boards of a different size, cut or saw three pieces measuring 1.75 m in size. Process the prepared pieces for the tabletop with a sander. Apply antiseptic and allow to dry.
• The slats should be divided into two parts measuring 77 cm. Treat with an antiseptic primer. Connect all the boards of the tabletop.
• Turn the finished tabletop over. Place it on the legs of the future table. Use self-tapping screws to secure the result.

Now you can safely use your handmade creation in your bathing life.

Console table

Materials required for work:

• five boards 30 x 200 mm, 0.8 m long;
• block 40 x 50 mm, length should be 1 m;
• two bars 40 x 50 mm, 0.75 m long;
• self-tapping screws

Assembly must be carried out in the following order:

• Choose a place where you will place your future table. Make a mark approximately 0.7–0.8 m from the floor level. Using it, when using a level, the width of the table surface is determined and measured.
• Process the bars with a sander thoroughly, without missing a detail. Coat the boards with an antiseptic primer. Dry the materials thoroughly.
• You need to create a tabletop from the existing boards. Fasten the boards using 0.75 m long bars. One of them needs to be attached to the table top with a distance of 7 cm from the end. The other is attached exactly along the edge.
• Place the assembled tabletop against a mark on the wall. The crossbar should be as close to the wall surface as possible. Attach the tabletop with self-tapping screws.
• We make the installation. Place the block under the table surface. Mark the locations of future cuts and make notches at an angle of forty-five degrees. This is necessary to completely press the bar against the wall. We install the support in the intended place, securing it with self-tapping screws.

Comfortable bench

Naturally, a bathhouse needs seating. Therefore, the next thing you should learn to make is a bath bench.

Materials for production:

• three boards 30 x 45 x 1500 mm;
• two wooden planks 1460 x 10 x 20 mm;
• two wooden boards 420 x 260 x 30 mm;
• one wooden board 1240 x 30 x 200 mm;
• glue for working with wood;
• self-tapping screws

Progress:

• In the first board from the list, use a cutter on the side to make a groove 10 mm deep. Do this work with all the boards. On one of them, grooves need to be made on both sides.
• Lay out the already milled boards in a row, placing a board with two recesses in the middle. Coat all existing grooves and strips with glue. Place them inside each other. Press the boards tightly against one another and secure the resulting “shield” with clamps.
• When using a jigsaw, we make semicircular cuts fifty millimeters deep. We do the same work with the second stand.
• On a board 1240 mm long, stepping back ten centimeters from the edges, we draw two parallel lines across. Draw a perpendicular from the middle of the lines. We will get a square. It must be cut out using a hacksaw.
• Sand the stands and the resulting beam. Treat them with an antiseptic and let them dry thoroughly.
• Assemble all the elements and fasten them with self-tapping screws.

The main attribute of any bathhouse or sauna, the shelves, can be made with your own hands, having previously made accurate calculations and made the necessary drawings. It is important to draw up a plan for your homemade structure in advance and decide on the number of benches. The width of the bench should not exceed 90 cm.

Let's consider the stages of work.

• Preparatory. It is necessary to prepare a hard surface on which work will be carried out. To do this, you will need a tabletop or solid table. You need to take a drill, hammer, plane, and grinding tool. You also need to prepare pliers, a tape measure, a level, screws for fastening, a saw, a hacksaw, and wooden beams.
• Main works. Wood blanks are cut according to the drawing. The edges are carefully sanded and dried. Then the frame is assembled using bolts. Boards are laid on it.
• Final. The surface is cleaned of dust and shavings, and the holes are sealed with putty. The finished shelf is attached to the wall.

To learn how to make shelves for a bathhouse with your own hands, see the following video.

Design

If you want to create a country style in your bathhouse, then you can and should use antique furniture. To give the headset the solidity of its age, simply clean it of the old coating. After this, it is worth covering the “cleaned” furniture with paint or glaze. Using a sponge, we randomly remove a layer of paint to create a worn-out feeling.

After all the above steps, we coat the set with varnish to protect it from external influences.

Add some design flair: scatter some elements around the bathhouse area in the form of birch brooms for the steam room and bunches of dry herbs.

The minimalist style is currently at the peak of popularity. Wooden furniture and a minimal number of accessories will give the bath an ascetic style. This design is well suited for small baths, because with a minimal amount of furniture, the space will visually expand.

The design of furniture in a bathhouse or sauna can be made in various styles. The most common types of furniture in the rest room are:

Bench

The bench is often made of wood or brushed wood. There are various forms, differing in size and height. An antique bench is characterized by the presence of simple, rough lines. If there is a back, then carvings are made on it in the form of beautiful ornaments. As decoration, you can also use painting of various colors - red, pink, yellow, brown.

Modern benches have simple straight shapes. The classic version can be presented in the form of a bench with a high back, arched design, and the presence of stucco. A bench made in the Japanese style will have a simple shape without a back.

A table made in a rustic or old Russian style has straight, simple shapes. The main material used for production is hardwood. The table legs can be decorated with carvings. The classic style is characterized by large dimensions and decorations in the form of stucco on the legs.

Modern structures are made of any material, for example, stone, metal, wood. A combination of them is allowed. There are no restrictions on shape or size. In Japanese style, the main distinguishing feature is low height.

Chairs

Designs in a rustic or old Russian style are made of wood. Brushed wood is often used. The simplicity of the lines is emphasized. To decorate the back or legs, patterned carvings or paintings are used. The classic version is distinguished by its large size, deep backs, and the presence of decoration on the arms and legs in the form of stucco or something like columns.

Modern design is characterized by the presence of any models, sizes, where all variants of seating shapes are present. Chairs can be made of any material. Combination is possible. Leather and durable textiles are used for upholstery. The color scheme depends on personal preference.

Japanese style seating is low in size. Typically, they have simple geometric rectangular or square shapes without a back. Can be made from any material. Leather is often used for upholstery.

Shelves

Shelves are antique or rustic designs that have a simple rectangular shape. The main material is wood. As decoration, wicker branches or carved decorations are placed along the edges. The classic version is characterized by strict lines.

Modern designs have various shapes and sizes. The materials used are wood and metal. Japanese style is characterized by small sizes and simple geometric shapes.

Sofas

The sofas are made from environmentally friendly wood. Upholstered furniture can be presented in different sizes and shapes. Leather and thick fabrics are used for upholstery. There are no restrictions in choosing a color palette.

The classic type is characterized by large sizes. Exclusive expensive materials are used for upholstery. The use of monochromatic tones of neutral shades is typical.

Japanese-style sofas, as a rule, have a regular geometric shape, low dimensions, and a wide seating area. Leather material is used for upholstery.

The steam room or sauna area is often small in size. They try to arrange the premises with maximum functionality. The main furniture is the shelf, which is usually made of wood and has simple, convenient shapes. In addition to the shelf, the sauna can have shelves, a set of headrests, buckets, and footrests.

Wood for benches

The benches are made only from wood, since this material is not damaged by high temperatures and does not damage the skin. Boards used to create benches must have the following properties:

1. Ability to withstand temperature changes and high humidity. That is why hardwoods are usually used for baths, which do not crack with prolonged use.
2. No damage. The boards should not have chips or knots. Such defects contribute to reducing the strength of sauna products.
3. High drying speed. It is because of this property that boards made of linden, oak and aspen are often used. You should not use pine boards, as they are resinous.

When choosing wood, it is worth considering that aspen boards have a significant drawback: they rot from the inside, so damage can go unnoticed for a long time while using benches. But such problems do not arise if high-quality materials are purchased.