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.
Facts for those who decided to make shelves for a bathhouse from linden
Sometimes you look at the technical characteristics of wood and think: where does the good opinion about this species come from? On the other hand, if the sellers did not come up with the legend, but the fame of this or that wood comes from practice, from centuries-old traditions, then the technical characteristics fade and lose significance, because the ancestors knew better.
What we mean is that linden with something very kind and pleasant - linden honey, linden blossom, linden bathhouse shelves... But what actually lies behind this reputation, is linden really so good, and Are we only interested in its applicability in the bath?
Well, since you’ve asked the question, let’s figure it out.Next
Bath boards, Shelves
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.
Which material to choose?
If we talk about furniture for a steam room, it should be able to withstand high temperatures and humidity, have low thermal conductivity, be safe and not emit toxic or potentially hazardous substances when heated. Despite the presence of a large number of different types of materials, only wood meets these requirements, and even then not every one.
Conifers
For example, wood containing a large amount of resin can cause burns: at high temperatures in the steam room, the resin heats up and softens, so it can burn and stain, and scrubbing off the resin and treating burns is not why we come to the sauna. Therefore, pine and spruce are rarely used to make furniture for a steam room - these are resinous woods.
In the steam room you should use non-resinous wood.
Luxurious wooden furniture for saunas and baths will be made from cedar. Its wood contains little resin, the texture is one of the most attractive, but the price is very high. But if you make steam room furniture from Canadian cedar, you will also get a significant healing effect: when heated, its wood releases essential oils into the air, which are an excellent disinfectant and deodorant.
Deciduous
Of the variety of species, aspen and linden are most often found in the steam room. Their wood has a pleasant light color, reacts well to changes in humidity, and almost does not warp. Linden also has a pleasant smell; its soft wood is easy to process. The disadvantage of linden is that it is often affected by rot and fungi, and it is very difficult to fight them without chemicals (and what kind of chemicals are there in a steam room).
Aspen is also initially light in color, but its disadvantage is that it darkens over time. Although some people even like it... Aspen wood tolerates high humidity very well - the crowns of wells were made from aspen: despite the fact that it darkens, it almost does not rot. Aspen wood has one drawback - its fibers are easily erased, which leads to dents and scuffs appearing on pieces of furniture. But aspen lumber costs much less than from the same linden.
Exotic
There is another wood option for steam room furniture - abashi. This tree grows in Africa. It is attractive because it is impossible to get burned on it at any ambient temperature - it always feels like body temperature to the touch. Its color is also attractive: initially milky or light yellow, but after exposure to high temperatures it becomes dark brown. This exotic also has a high price.
Furniture for the rest room
The choice of material for the remaining rooms of the bathhouse is a little simpler: the furniture in the washing room should tolerate humidity well, the furniture for the dressing room or rest room can be made of any wood. But you need to pay attention to ensure that the wood is not subject to rotting, and also does not crack due to changes in humidity, which are inevitable in a bathhouse.
The requirements for materials for furniture have already been indicated in the first section of the article. Therefore, it is worth highlighting those raw materials that are considered unacceptable for arranging a sauna:
- Plastic – when heated, it releases harmful substances into the atmosphere;
- Metal – under constant exposure to moisture, corrosion occurs and rust appears;
- Leatherette – not suitable due to constant exposure to wet human skin.
The best material option is natural wood. For the dressing room, you can use chipboard or MDF, from which countertops and cabinet door fronts are made.
If the choice fell on coniferous species, it is worth taking a closer look at Canadian cedar - it emits less resin than its coniferous counterparts, and at the same time has a beautiful texture. Let's consider the main tree species, their colors and features in order to choose the material for furniture in the bathhouse.
Breed | Colors | pros | Minuses |
Pine | Light shades: cream, yellow, sand | Pine contains a large amount of resin, which makes it moisture resistant. When resins are released, the surface of the tree is covered with a protective coating. When cutting this coniferous log house, you can see beautiful curved patterns that will be appropriate on any bathhouse furniture. | Do not use pine for a steam room: when exposed to high temperatures, the tree releases a lot of resin, which causes skin burns. |
Spruce | White Red | Quick and easy processing is the main advantage of this breed. On a cut of spruce you can find a large number of fancy rings and patterns. Spruce has an affordable price. | The presence of knots and a tendency to rot will not allow items to be installed in a washroom or steam room. The material is great for a rest room. |
Larch | Yellow | Larch is protected from the negative effects of ambient temperature. It has a beautiful pattern and high density. | The wood of this species is heavy and difficult to process, so larch furniture will be expensive. |
Oak | Rich palette from light gray to brown shades | The tree is resistant to aggressive environments, it has an unusual texture and color variations. Oak has high strength, so furniture made from it is strong. | The complexity of processing increases the cost of products; in addition, oak is too massive. It is optimally used for dressing room furniture. |
Ash | White or olive | It has high wear resistance, does not crack, and is flexible. Its structure allows you to create furniture from log houses with a pattern. | Not resistant to temperature changes and high humidity |
Poplar | Sand | It is light in weight and easy to handle. | It rots quickly. |
Aspen | Yellow | The breed is moisture-resistant, but large furniture cannot be made from it - it will quickly become unusable. Aspen is ideal for tubs and basins. | Over time, furniture greatly changes color to dark shades. |
Linden | Beige | Bath furniture made from linden has a pleasant smell. Linden is resistant to moisture and can be processed well. | It is considered the most suitable breed for bath furniture. |
We suggest you familiarize yourself with Ventilation in the basement - doing ventilation correctly
Having studied the information, it is worth concluding that furniture made from linden wood is the most suitable for a sauna. It is distinguished by a healing linden scent, which, combined with high temperatures, has a beneficial effect on the human body, giving freshness and youth to the skin. Photos of linden furniture are presented below.
Poplar
Larch
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.
Make shelves from abasha or aspen? Review of the properties of wood for shelves - from species to cut shape
The choice of wood for shelves in a bathhouse should be made clearer and more rational.
And not the way it usually happens with us - we focus on someone’s opinion, on the price in the store. What do most people know? A shelf made from abasha is cool, but a shelf made from aspen is extremely cheap. But, firstly, there are other options, and, secondly, you don’t want to find out what, exactly, are the advantages and disadvantages of different types of wood? Continue Bathhouse furniture
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.
Oil for bath shelves and other compositions appropriate in a steam room: all about the dangers and benefits of impregnations in a steam room
We have already said more than once that everything in a bathhouse, without exception, is a cause for controversy.
Now we’ll figure it out: how to treat the shelves in the bathhouse? And immediately a counter-question: is it necessary? Well, since we’ve already started, let’s go to the end, look for the arguments “for” and “against”, and at the same time learn something useful about the composition of various impregnations, the scope of their application, methods and much more. Next Shelves, Bathhouse design
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.
Kinds
What comes to mind first? Shelves and benches, benches. But that's not all. What modern bathhouse would be complete without a relaxation room? And to arrange it we will need a table, benches, or chairs, and how many people will add a soft sofa to their wish list? We need shelves and hangers in the washing room the dressing room. In general, you will need a lot of bath furniture.
Benches
A bench or bench (we wrote about the differences here, but few people attach importance to them) is a universal item, one is useful in the steam room, the other in the washing room, several more can be placed in the rest room, in the dressing room, on the veranda... Wherever you can sit - a bench will do.
Bench against the wall in the wash compartment
With such demand, it is not surprising that carpenters have invented many different designs, each of which seeks to simultaneously simplify and make the ordinary bench more convenient.
about which designs can be found most often in the article about the types, materials, shapes and sizes of benches.
For craftsmen and carpentry enthusiasts, we recommend an article that contains drawings of benches and instructions for making this wooden bathhouse furniture with your own hands.
A bench differs from a bench not in the presence or absence of a back, but in the freedom of movement of this piece of furniture, which is otherwise no different from a bench.
types of benches and tips on choosing them for a bath in this material.
Instructions for making your own bench can be found at this link.
Wooden beds (shelves) for Russian baths and Finnish saunas
Often, even avid lovers of bath procedures do not think about whether there is a difference between the shelves in a Finnish and Russian bath. The roughest division is whether such a shelf is intended for lying and sitting or just for sitting.
But dividing this way is not entirely correct. The loungers for the Russian bath are designed for steaming with brooms, in which two people participate - the steamer and the steamer. So, the Russian shelf is designed to make both of you comfortable. The height and width of the shelf are calculated for their convenience.
ATTENTION! To make it comfortable for the sailor to place his feet, the shelves are not sewn up!
And wooden sauna furniture is distinguished by a large number of tiers - the Finns like it hot and make three shelves (Russian regiments may have one with a footstool for the steamer). The third tier is for the “steel workers”.
You can find out more about the designs here and a large overview here, about the sizes here.
For those who are looking for instructions on how to make bath furniture with their own hands, we recommend that you read this article.
Also, some of you may need information about wood that is more or less suitable for making shelves, as well as comparative characteristics of abasha and aspen . In addition, there is a separate article about shelves made specifically from linden wood.
For those who are already going to the store to buy boards for shelves, we recommend that you look through the article about the sizes and types of boards that are usually used for these purposes.
And finally, when the owner looks at brand new shelves, he inevitably decides for himself the question: is it worth treating to protect them from moisture, dirt and darkening? Those who are new to the issue should read our material about oil and other impregnations allowed in the steam room.
Hangers and shelves for dressing room and washing area
Place the same bench a hanger next to it - this is the main thing that may be needed in this room if used for its intended purpose.
If you decide that rather than buy it, it’s better to make a hanger yourself , we recommend that you read this article, it describes different designs of hangers and has video instructions.
And, of course, we can’t help but mention the shelves. They can be useful anywhere where small items accumulate, but first of all you think of them in the washroom, because they are so convenient for storing soap, shampoo, towels, and with hooks, washcloths.
We have a material that describes both corner and straight wall shelves, what kind of coating they need if they are used in wet rooms and a lot of other useful information.
Table and upholstered furniture: for the rest room
The relaxation room in the bathhouse is a direct analogue of the hall or living room. There are feasts there, they relax there, they watch TV, so it is arranged with the same zoning as an ordinary living room - a place for a feast and a place for relaxation.
In the first case, you need a table for a bath, in the second, some upholstered furniture for a bath and sauna.
Table
So, which table should you choose? They come in different shapes and sizes, folding, folding. Of course, wood remains the preferred material , and the style is determined by the style of the interior.
The size of the table is selected according to the number of people who should fit at it to the maximum. Round and oval due to the lack of corners, accommodate more people.
Folding tables are convenient if you rarely receive many guests, and for your own needs a smaller table is suitable. In general, folding is a good way to increase space.
A folding table is a solution for those who have a very small recreation room.
However, if you want to learn much more about the criteria for choosing a suitable table, we recommend that you read this article on our website.
We also have instructions for making a table yourself, as well as drawings of various designs, which you will find at this link.
Cushioned furniture
WARNING! In all bath rooms, humidity increases during procedures, so upholstered furniture will inevitably become damp. This won't be a problem unless you have good ventilation. Otherwise, limit yourself to removable soft elements - pillows, for example. They can be dried outside.
Few people are able to make upholstered furniture with their own hands; it is more complicated than a stool or even a table. Therefore, you have to either buy it or adapt one that once stood in a house or apartment, but has fallen out of use. In the latter case, you can, of course, renew it by reupholstering, but this also requires skill.
Sofa
ADVICE! If you have a habit of sitting on the sofa in the bathhouse without drying yourself, cover it with waterproof fabric, leather or leatherette. And lay a cloth on top that will dry quickly. This will get rid of stains on the furniture.
In principle, if the room is of sufficient size, you can put not only a sofa, but also armchairs, and even make the corner of the table soft. The question is: is so much “softness” needed in a bath? But here everyone decides for himself.
Furniture for public baths
The arrangement of a public bath will not be complete without a design project, because in our time the entertainment side has become more prevalent. Therefore, furniture for a public bath is selected in accordance with this project - it must maintain the overall style.
If we talk about the composition of furniture sets, then they will not differ too much from individual bathhouses, backyard ones - these are the same shelves in the steam room, the same benches in the washing room, the same comfortable upholstered furniture in the relaxation room.
Only the quantity and design changes, plus you also need to think about materials that are hygienic, easy to clean, and durable with frequent use.
For example, in a washing room you can use stone benches, or benches covered with mosaics - both are durable, easy to keep clean, etc.
A public bath can be quite intimate, accommodating a maximum of several dozen people, or large-scale, designed for hundreds of visitors - depending on this, the furniture is chosen. Chamber baths are very similar to individual baths, where the emphasis is on comfort. The big ones look like palaces and tend to amaze with their splendor.
For a small public bath, furniture that can be bought in stores will do. In a large project, everything can be made to order.
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.
Shelves in the bathhouse: height and width dimensions for different types of bathhouses and design options
We devote this page entirely to the analysis of one single practical question: what size should we make shelves in a bathhouse? And, as usual, we will not be able to give you universal numbers, because the dimensions of shelves in a bathhouse usually depend on three things: the type of bathhouse, its size and, say, the height of the steamer. But knowing the patterns is enough to choose the optimal size for a particular steam room.More
Shelves
50 design and decoration options for bath furniture
How to choose a suitable bench for a wooden sauna? A complete description of the types of wooden benches
There is a lot of confusion about bath furniture. Everything is thrown into one pile - benches, benches, shelves, deck chairs. Yes, of course, if we proceed from the logic “this is a chair, they sit on it, this is a table, they eat at it,” then we can simultaneously describe all the seats in the bathhouse as such a conditional one type. However, we believe that a bench, a bench and a shelf are different things that require different descriptions.
Therefore, on our website various materials are devoted to them. Let's clarify. Bench
can stand anywhere, including along the wall,
the bench can always be placed along the wall, perhaps even with a fastening on it. Shelves are places for sitting and lying in the steam room.
In this material we will talk exclusively about the first type of bath furniture.More
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