In modern small-sized apartments, the owners strive to arrange furniture and interior items as compactly as possible in order to save free space. But even in spacious houses, such an important thing as an ironing board, sometimes there is nowhere to put so that it does not interfere, does not clutter up the space, but was at hand at the right time. The solution to this problem is an ironing board built into the cabinet. It does not take up much space, will be hidden from prying prying eyes, while it is convenient for her to use thanks to the folding mechanism. The hostess will not have to think about how to organize ironing in order to settle down comfortably and not to hinder anyone.
As the name implies, built-in ironing boards are embedded (integrated) in furniture or special niches. They are indispensable in small apartments, studios. Ready-made products of different manufacturers and brands are available for sale; sometimes they are made to order from furniture manufacturers. There are craftsmen making such devices on their own. Usually they are built into the compartments of the wardrobe or in the dressing rooms, sometimes they are hidden in a special niche behind a mirror or decorative panel, in chests of drawers, even in a kitchen set - there are a lot of options. In appearance, purpose and device, they are no different from traditional floor, except for the mechanism of fastening and folding. They are made of plywood, chipboard or a metal base and are covered with a durable fabric, resistant to high temperatures, with a layer of printed material.
Advantages and disadvantages
If we talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the built-in ironing devices, the advantages clearly outweigh. Among the pluses, the following are noted:
Rational use of living space: the built-in ironer takes up little space.
Ease of use: it is easy to take out, iron the sheets and fold them back; you don’t have to think every time where to put and connect the iron.
Harmonious combination with the interior of the room: you can decorate the ironing panel with a mirror, wall panels or just hide it in furniture.
Individual solutions: often ordered exactly to the size of existing furniture to optimally fit into the design of the room.
Functionality: often built-in models have sockets and supports for the iron, mirrors and other useful accessories.
There are also negative aspects to solutions of this type; of the shortcomings, the following are usually noted:
Lack of mobility - the design cannot be moved to another room.
A high price compared to traditional models, but it more than pays for all the advantages of this solution.
Varieties of designs
According to the type of construction, there are three main types of built-in ironing boards - retractable, folding and hidden. More details on their differences are presented in the table below.
Type of construction
Where is located
How to transform
Retractable
In cabinet / chest drawers
Pulls forward, can be additionally folded in half
Folding
Behind the door of the wardrobe / dressing room
By moving to a horizontal position from a vertical
Hidden
In a special niche in the wall, hidden by a mirror or decorative door / panel
Transfer to horizontal position from vertical by a hidden mechanism
Retractable
As a rule, retractable ironing devices are made to order, and are not common in stores. The cost is slightly higher than that of folding ones, but they are more compact and more convenient. The sizes of extendable ironers are limited by the dimensions of the drawer into which they are built: they must be placed there completely or folded in half. There are models with a rotary mechanism, they are much more convenient to use than static ones, but they also cost more. You can integrate a drawer into a chest of drawers or cabinets, there are options integrated into kitchen furniture. But here you should consider the comfort of use. In the kitchen, it is not always convenient to settle down with a heap of linen and an iron, in addition, you must carefully clean it before that.
Folding
Folding is easier to manufacture, it can be done with your own hands. Fastens usually to the metal frame fixed on a wall. You can hide the hinged platform in a sliding wardrobe in a special niche or attach it to one of the shelves inside. In the first case, the space is used less rationally, so this option is suitable when there is enough free space in the cabinet. The advantage of this option is that when ironing it is convenient to immediately lay out the clothes on the shelves, and store the iron in the same department.Put in a working position, and then put away for storage board obtained in a matter of seconds. By adjusting the position of the support, it can take several positions in height, which is sometimes very convenient: for bedding or curtains, a higher position is suitable, for small items an ideal low position.
Hidden
It is a kind of hinged structure, but usually hides in a special niche, closed either with a mirror or with a decorative door that is correctly inscribed in the interior. The mirror opens forward or moves sideways, like a sliding wardrobe door, and because of it, a panel fixed to the wall is removed. It all depends on the imagination of the owners or the designer's ideas, as well as on the availability of free space. Such a compact wall design will be the best solution for small apartments - the board is not visible behind it, and assembling and disassembling it if necessary is a matter of seconds. Guests will not guess what is hiding behind a mirror or a beautiful wall panel.
Fastening mechanisms
There are various options for mounting built-in boards, starting with the most basic support, ending with a complex transformer with the functions of rotation, height adjustment, etc. The main thing when choosing a mechanism is that it is strong and durable; options with flimsy hinges and staggering supports are better to immediately dismiss. In retractable variations, telescopic mechanisms are often used. They are undoubtedly convenient, but usually there are only imported ones that are not cheap. Installing them yourself is a difficult task; it is better to resort to the help of a specialist. For self-installation, they usually use door canopies or hidden hinges - the second is more difficult to install, and the price is higher. The choice of accessories is huge today, it is not recommended to save on its quality, because the product will last a long time.
Board Material
The material of the platform itself can also be different:
plywood, particleboard, fiberboard, MDF - are characterized by low price and ubiquity, but not very durable;
metal alloys (usually aluminum) - strong, durable, but prone to rust over time. Also, aluminum can bend and deform during operation;
thermoplastics - modern, lightweight, reliable, but relatively expensive.
The coating is a classic fabric (cotton, canvas, carbon fiber) and modern Teflon. Teflon case is fireproof and durable, but its price is higher. It is a fabric with a specialized coating that improves the quality of ironing and creates thermal protection: if you leave a hot iron on it for some time, the fabric will not catch fire. Between the base and the coating there is usually a layer of foam rubber, sintepon or batting.
Dimensions
The standard sizes of the models available for sale are 128x38 cm. Those who have enough free space in the cabinet can choose larger options - 130x35 cm or 150x45-46 cm. More compact options have dimensions 70x30 cm and a thickness of about 1 cm. You can iron panel and custom-made according to individual parameters, depending on the design features and free space in the apartment. The main thing is that it does not block the passage and does not cause inconvenience.
Selection Tips and Tricks
When choosing a built-in panel for ironing, you need to consider all the parameters: location, dimensions, base and coating material, reliability of the mechanism. It is necessary to make sure that in terms of dimensions it exactly fits into the niche, for this it is recommended to make the required measurements in advance. The mechanism must be reliable and durable, because, most likely, the thing will serve more than one year. Fixation must be strong - accidental fall of the iron often leads to serious burns and injuries. It is also necessary to take into account the weight of the ironing surface itself so that the furniture walls can withstand it.
Before you go shopping, it is advisable to view photos of various models in catalogs or videos with reviews, and determine the optimal placement option and the most suitable model. If you buy a completely ready-made device, it makes sense to give preference to already established brands. For example, Iron Slim, Shelf On Iron Box Eco, ASKO HI115T are widely known. Many models are equipped with built-in sockets, iron stands, mirrors, etc. These additional features add value to the product, but are of practical importance.
How to do it yourself
If you want and have the necessary skills, you can make a built-in ironing board with your own hands. It is better to entrust the retractable structure to professionals, but it is not difficult to cope with the hinged structure. The simplest option is a panel mounted on one of the shelves of the cabinet. It is easiest to fix it with door hinges. A support using the same loops is recommended to be attached to the wall. At the bottom of the panel hooks are placed under it. All that is required to bring the structure into working condition is to fold the lower support forward and then lower the ironing surface on it so that the support enters the hooks. You can make a wall box for the ironer a little more complicated (for this it is better to sketch out a schematic drawing in advance). You will need to first assemble a box of plywood 0.5-0.7 cm wide. Install a support horizontally inside it, a little narrower than the assembled box. Screw the panel to the support (for example, using door canopies). The support in this embodiment is attached directly to the base, again with canopies.
The built-in model will help to save space in the apartment and functionally use the living space. It is important to choose the right design so that it lasts for many years and can not only facilitate such housework as ironing, but also optimally fit into the interior and decorate it.When installing embedded structures, one should not forget about fire safety, because a hot iron can serve as a source of ignition. Therefore, it is better to take care of the stand for it from refractory material and the safe location of electrical wires and sockets.
In modern small-sized apartments, the owners strive to arrange furniture and interior items as compactly as possible in order to save free space. But even in spacious houses, such an important thing as an ironing board, sometimes there is nowhere to put so that it does not interfere, does not clutter up the space, but was at hand at the right time. The solution to this problem is an ironing board built into the cabinet. It does not take up much space, will be hidden from prying prying eyes, while it is convenient for her to use thanks to the folding mechanism. The hostess will not have to think about how to organize ironing in order to settle down comfortably and not to hinder anyone.
Content
Features of built-in ironing boards
As the name implies, built-in ironing boards are embedded (integrated) in furniture or special niches. They are indispensable in small apartments, studios. Ready-made products of different manufacturers and brands are available for sale; sometimes they are made to order from furniture manufacturers. There are craftsmen making such devices on their own. Usually they are built into the compartments of the wardrobe or in the dressing rooms, sometimes they are hidden in a special niche behind a mirror or decorative panel, in chests of drawers, even in a kitchen set - there are a lot of options. In appearance, purpose and device, they are no different from traditional floor, except for the mechanism of fastening and folding. They are made of plywood, chipboard or a metal base and are covered with a durable fabric, resistant to high temperatures, with a layer of printed material.
Advantages and disadvantages
If we talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the built-in ironing devices, the advantages clearly outweigh. Among the pluses, the following are noted:
There are also negative aspects to solutions of this type; of the shortcomings, the following are usually noted:
Varieties of designs
According to the type of construction, there are three main types of built-in ironing boards - retractable, folding and hidden. More details on their differences are presented in the table below.
Retractable
As a rule, retractable ironing devices are made to order, and are not common in stores. The cost is slightly higher than that of folding ones, but they are more compact and more convenient. The sizes of extendable ironers are limited by the dimensions of the drawer into which they are built: they must be placed there completely or folded in half. There are models with a rotary mechanism, they are much more convenient to use than static ones, but they also cost more. You can integrate a drawer into a chest of drawers or cabinets, there are options integrated into kitchen furniture. But here you should consider the comfort of use. In the kitchen, it is not always convenient to settle down with a heap of linen and an iron, in addition, you must carefully clean it before that.
Folding
Folding is easier to manufacture, it can be done with your own hands. Fastens usually to the metal frame fixed on a wall. You can hide the hinged platform in a sliding wardrobe in a special niche or attach it to one of the shelves inside. In the first case, the space is used less rationally, so this option is suitable when there is enough free space in the cabinet. The advantage of this option is that when ironing it is convenient to immediately lay out the clothes on the shelves, and store the iron in the same department.Put in a working position, and then put away for storage board obtained in a matter of seconds. By adjusting the position of the support, it can take several positions in height, which is sometimes very convenient: for bedding or curtains, a higher position is suitable, for small items an ideal low position.
Hidden
It is a kind of hinged structure, but usually hides in a special niche, closed either with a mirror or with a decorative door that is correctly inscribed in the interior. The mirror opens forward or moves sideways, like a sliding wardrobe door, and because of it, a panel fixed to the wall is removed. It all depends on the imagination of the owners or the designer's ideas, as well as on the availability of free space. Such a compact wall design will be the best solution for small apartments - the board is not visible behind it, and assembling and disassembling it if necessary is a matter of seconds. Guests will not guess what is hiding behind a mirror or a beautiful wall panel.
Fastening mechanisms
There are various options for mounting built-in boards, starting with the most basic support, ending with a complex transformer with the functions of rotation, height adjustment, etc. The main thing when choosing a mechanism is that it is strong and durable; options with flimsy hinges and staggering supports are better to immediately dismiss. In retractable variations, telescopic mechanisms are often used. They are undoubtedly convenient, but usually there are only imported ones that are not cheap. Installing them yourself is a difficult task; it is better to resort to the help of a specialist. For self-installation, they usually use door canopies or hidden hinges - the second is more difficult to install, and the price is higher. The choice of accessories is huge today, it is not recommended to save on its quality, because the product will last a long time.
Board Material
The material of the platform itself can also be different:
The coating is a classic fabric (cotton, canvas, carbon fiber) and modern Teflon. Teflon case is fireproof and durable, but its price is higher. It is a fabric with a specialized coating that improves the quality of ironing and creates thermal protection: if you leave a hot iron on it for some time, the fabric will not catch fire. Between the base and the coating there is usually a layer of foam rubber, sintepon or batting.
Dimensions
The standard sizes of the models available for sale are 128x38 cm. Those who have enough free space in the cabinet can choose larger options - 130x35 cm or 150x45-46 cm. More compact options have dimensions 70x30 cm and a thickness of about 1 cm. You can iron panel and custom-made according to individual parameters, depending on the design features and free space in the apartment. The main thing is that it does not block the passage and does not cause inconvenience.
Selection Tips and Tricks
When choosing a built-in panel for ironing, you need to consider all the parameters: location, dimensions, base and coating material, reliability of the mechanism. It is necessary to make sure that in terms of dimensions it exactly fits into the niche, for this it is recommended to make the required measurements in advance. The mechanism must be reliable and durable, because, most likely, the thing will serve more than one year. Fixation must be strong - accidental fall of the iron often leads to serious burns and injuries. It is also necessary to take into account the weight of the ironing surface itself so that the furniture walls can withstand it.
Before you go shopping, it is advisable to view photos of various models in catalogs or videos with reviews, and determine the optimal placement option and the most suitable model. If you buy a completely ready-made device, it makes sense to give preference to already established brands. For example, Iron Slim, Shelf On Iron Box Eco, ASKO HI115T are widely known. Many models are equipped with built-in sockets, iron stands, mirrors, etc. These additional features add value to the product, but are of practical importance.
How to do it yourself
If you want and have the necessary skills, you can make a built-in ironing board with your own hands. It is better to entrust the retractable structure to professionals, but it is not difficult to cope with the hinged structure. The simplest option is a panel mounted on one of the shelves of the cabinet. It is easiest to fix it with door hinges. A support using the same loops is recommended to be attached to the wall. At the bottom of the panel hooks are placed under it. All that is required to bring the structure into working condition is to fold the lower support forward and then lower the ironing surface on it so that the support enters the hooks. You can make a wall box for the ironer a little more complicated (for this it is better to sketch out a schematic drawing in advance). You will need to first assemble a box of plywood 0.5-0.7 cm wide. Install a support horizontally inside it, a little narrower than the assembled box. Screw the panel to the support (for example, using door canopies). The support in this embodiment is attached directly to the base, again with canopies.
The built-in model will help to save space in the apartment and functionally use the living space. It is important to choose the right design so that it lasts for many years and can not only facilitate such housework as ironing, but also optimally fit into the interior and decorate it.When installing embedded structures, one should not forget about fire safety, because a hot iron can serve as a source of ignition. Therefore, it is better to take care of the stand for it from refractory material and the safe location of electrical wires and sockets.