Ironing board built into the cabinet: types, materials, production

There are things that make a housewife's life easier. This is exactly what an ironing board is. It’s good if the apartment has a place for this item - a storage room or a convenient niche. An alternative to a massive portable stand can be an ironing board built into the cabinet. This ironing surface is very convenient. It saves space, is easy to hide, and when folded is completely invisible.

Retractable option

Types of built-in ironing tables

Folding models are mounted in cabinet doors. Boards with a simple mechanism turn into a ready-made workplace in a matter of seconds. To do this, they are lowered down from the wardrobe door.

The size of the folding ironer corresponds to the parameters of the cabinet door. You can choose a board model that will fit into the interior of the room and remain invisible.

The retractable design is hidden inside furniture drawers; it is considered the most compact. This table is ideal for small spaces, but the retractable mechanism is more delicate than a folding one and can be damaged if handled carelessly.

Hidden ironing surfaces are hidden behind mirrors, wall panels, paintings, and other interior decorations. The operating principle of the sliding mechanism is simple - the “camouflage” moves to the side, and behind it there is a compartment with a board. To prepare for work, simply pull it down from the opening.

Ironing board in the closet

Expert opinion

Svetlana Kolesnikova

Designer

A closed automatic ironing cabinet is a small unit that completely replaces an iron and steamer. You can place several items of clothing inside at once. Some time after starting the machine, the laundry is ironed.

Advantages and disadvantages^

Of course, a useful element built into furniture always has a lot of positive qualities:

• In a small room, sometimes there may simply not be enough space for additional pieces of furniture. This is where the built-in option comes in handy.
• The built-in board can be adapted to any piece of furniture. It will fit perfectly into a regular chest of drawers, a built-in closet or a modern wardrobe.
• Can be mounted on almost any door or inserted inside a drawer.
• The ironer takes up very little space inside the cabinet. When folded, it uses only 10 cm of internal space.
• It will not be conspicuous and spoil the appearance of the room.
• Very easy to use. Modern sliding mechanisms allow you to pull out the board either simultaneously with opening the door, or using a special lever. In any case, no physical effort is required for this.
• The built-in ironer is safe to use. It does not move, does not slide on the floor, but is securely fixed.

Is it worth buying?
Advantages and disadvantages of the company, customer reviews. Read how to choose a steam iron designed for vertical ironing.

It is immediately necessary to take into account the disadvantages of such a design, so as not to regret purchasing it later:

• The ironing area will be permanent. You will not be able to move the ironer to another location.
• The cost of furniture with built-in elements will be higher. The same applies to the cost of the board itself, since it can be equipped with a retractable mechanism.

It is not at all necessary to order furniture with a built-in ironing device, although this option is the most rational.
If you already have a cabinet without a board, then you can install such a device into it at any time.

The main condition is that the dimensions of the cabinet correspond to the dimensions of the ironer. Well, you'll have to get rid of a few shelves.

Ironing device in the closet

Built-in ironing boards in stores are not cheap. Their price ranges from 20–30 thousand rubles. In order not to regret the money spent, before purchasing you should pay attention to the dimensions and design features of the product.

The sliding board mechanism is quite complex. Self-tapping screws or self-tapping screws are used for fastening. They are screwed into the thick wall of cabinets and drawers. The presence of spring blocks ensures smooth sliding of the working surface. Furniture fittings stores sell mechanisms with the ability to rotate the ironing table up to 180 degrees. You can fix the board in a rotated state every 15 degrees.

Depending on the model, the mechanism consists of retractable guides on rollers or a structure made of metal tubes. To ensure that the sliding ironing surface does not sag and is stable, a folding stand-leg or stop is used. It is fixed below the attachment point of the main horizontal plane. Additionally, the boards are equipped with a metal stand for the iron.

Built-in wardrobe mechanism

What are they made from?

To make a built-in ironer, waterproof plywood with a thickness of 10–20 mm is most often used. The surface is insulated with heat-resistant foil and covered with decorative material.

For the manufacture of cheaper models, particle boards are used. The working surface of an ironing board made of this material quickly warps under the influence of high temperature, begins to peel, and creaks during ironing.

Boards made from perforated metal plates are particularly strong and durable. But such products are quite heavy. It takes a lot of effort to get them ready for work. Lighter and easier to use mesh metal plates treated with an anti-corrosion compound.

Mesh metal ironing board

Dimensions

If you are going to buy a ready-made transformer, you only need to select its model. But when it is necessary to integrate an ironing board into a ready-made cabinet, it is important to take into account the dimensions of the existing furniture.

The compact retractable design can be installed in a cabinet with a depth of 50 cm or more. For a more massive ironer, you will need a wardrobe up to 1 m deep.

The size of the box for a board fixed vertically in height should only be a few cm higher than the size of the ironing table. And it is 10–20 cm deep.

What are they? ^

All built-in ironing structures differ in several basic parameters.

Material of manufacture

• The working surface can be made of multilayer plywood. This is an inexpensive and practical option, characterized by moisture resistance and durability.
• The base is a profiled metal sheet or metal mesh. This design has virtually no shelf life, is lightweight, but is quite expensive.

Any model of a built-in board should be equipped with a cover that improves the quality of ironing.

Dimensions

When choosing the dimensions of the ironer, you need to focus on the internal dimensions of the cabinet itself. Typically, built-in models are small in size, but the options vary. Compact devices are usually installed in drawers, while larger ones are mounted on walls.

Layout plane

• The base is located in a vertical plane. When unfolded, the device is transferred to a horizontal position.
• There are models that first recline down 90 degrees and then turn face up.
• The base is initially located in a horizontal plane, for example, inside a drawer or on top of one of the shelves. During the unfolding process, the surface rotates and extends.

Most models can be unfolded simultaneously in several planes, which increases their ease of use.

Additional items

Built-in ironers can be additionally equipped with various additional elements that make the process of unfolding and folding the device easier:

• Closers. When using it, you just need to give the ironing platform an initial impulse of movement, and the closer will ensure its complete folding or opening.
• Thrust bearing for the main support. It protects the floor covering from damage when the support is lowered to the floor.
• Spring block. Facilitates manual work on managing the structure.
• A slide on which the working base slides out of the box.
• Additional hinges, thanks to which the structure can be folded.

Nuances of choice

Selecting a product to match existing furniture is not easy. For a built-in ironing board, it is better to go to a specialized store or order it from a specialist.

It is difficult to accurately choose a model for a cabinet with a corner location. Therefore, before purchasing, you should make accurate measurements of the niche parameters.

In homes where space allows, you can install a combination cabinet for storing a vacuum cleaner and ironing board.

It is important to pay attention to the quality of the materials from which the ironing board is made. The metal frame must be durable, and the working surface must be made of a material that will not deteriorate from exposure to high temperature or steam. The retractable mechanism should slide smoothly and silently. It should not swing during operation.

Before purchasing a built-in ironing table, you need to check the strength of the folding mechanism. Made of thin metal, it will quickly fail. The board will be unusable. The strength of the support is no less important. In order to withstand the load during ironing, and also not fall out of the cabinet, it must be equipped with high-quality fasteners.

Designer white board

You should ask the seller about the weight of the structure. The cabinet wall may not be able to withstand the load created by an overly heavy table. And the heavy weight of the ironer will cause trouble for the owners.

Location on the balcony

Advantages

Among the main advantages of built-in ironing boards are the following:

• special compactness, functionality and comfortable operation with regular use;
• reliable and simple fastening in both positions;
• the presence of a convenient transformation mechanism;
• possibility of fixation in separate positions and at different angles.

The only drawback of built-in ironing boards is still the relatively high cost. However, this minus is more than compensated by noticeable savings in free space, practicality, ease of maintenance and long service life.

In general, it does not matter whether the built-in ironing board will be used in an ordinary private house, a spacious country cottage or a relatively cramped city apartment. The fittings of this plan look relevant, an extremely successful solution, regardless of the conditions and nature of the room.

Popular models for built-in cabinets

There are many models of built-in ironing boards on the market from big-name manufacturers and practically unknown factories. There are three most popular companies that manufacture ironing board cabinets:

If you have a question about making a built-in board, you should purchase high-quality fittings. Among the best manufacturers of frames are Starax (Turkey), Hafele (Germany). Holders for folding and folding structures can be purchased in online stores and specialized retail outlets.

ASKO HI 1153T - ready-made design for installation in a cabinet

Case and backing

The working surface of the ironing board is covered with a cover with which the sole of the hot iron comes into contact. Cases are made from various materials:

• cotton fabrics are an economical option, they are easy to wash and there are no scorch marks on the surface;
• canvas - linen or half-linen fabric with a non-slip texture;
• heat-resistant synthetics - heat-resistant fabric based on silicone or with a metallized coating;
• felt is a dense material that tolerates high temperatures well and does not slip.

The lining for the cover is made of foam rubber, batting or padding polyester. All materials provide the substrate with resistance to steam and thermal influences.

On wooden ironing tabletops, the cover and backing can often be secured using nails and tacks. If the coating or lining is damaged, replacing them will be problematic and the entire board will most likely have to be replaced.

How to make your own built-in whiteboard

To become the owner of a convenient ironing device, you don’t have to shell out a significant amount of money at an Ikea or other furniture store. If you have the tools, you can make a built-in board yourself.

Making a wall cabinet with ironing board

You will need the following design components:

• support leg;
• frame for wall mounting;
• tabletop.

Separate outer cabinet for ironing board

The size of the device may vary depending on the dimensions of the room where you plan to install the ironer. You should prepare a drawing of the future design in advance and stock up on decorative elements for cladding the product.

Constructing a storage niche for an ironing iron with your own hands:

1. It is necessary to make a recess in the wall. Its size should correspond to the dimensions of the box and be several centimeters larger than the ironer itself.
2. The box is made from boards. Its lower part is fixed at a height of 80 cm from the floor. This is necessary for the stability of the ironing surface during operation.
3. The standard dimensions of a built-in folding ironing board are considered to be length 125 cm, width 40 cm. The product is cut out of plywood or furniture board.
4. Using a pencil and ruler, make marks on the prepared material. The front of the table should be narrowed and rounded. A compass is used to create a contour.
5. After delineating the contours, the material is cut. This is done using an electric jigsaw. Then the side surfaces are sanded with a machine or a block with sandpaper.
6. Hinges are installed where the smoother is attached to the wall. A metal or wood leg is attached to the bottom with a piano loop. At the base of the board, two wooden blocks 40 mm thick and 70 mm wide are mounted. They will provide reliable support for the table while working.
7. After installing the fasteners, the board is beaten. For covering, use a soft base (thin foam rubber, an old blanket), thick cotton fabric. The surface of the material should be taut. This will prevent wrinkles from forming when ironing.
8. Hinges are used to secure the board to the cabinet wall. For safety, it is worth fixing the rotary type stop. This device will prevent arbitrary opening of the structure. Then install the decorative door. It will turn the board invisible.

How to make an internal niche with an ironing board is clearly shown in the photo:

For an alternative option for making an outer cabinet, watch the video:

Download the parts list with explanations for this video

The importance of an ironing board in the household

Every housewife is accustomed to arranging her life for personal convenience and specific conditions. But how realistic is it to feel harmony and comfort when, in addition to a whole host of little things used in the household, there is a large ironing board in the middle of the room?

Ironing is one of the traditional responsibilities that most often fall on women's shoulders. A built-in ironing board allows you to ensure the convenience of performing such work, saving energy and valuable space in the room. Currently, housewives are offered a wide choice of such designs. Correct selection of the appropriate option makes it possible to facilitate the ironing process and significantly speed it up.