Features and manufacturing of built-in ironing boards

The ergonomics of the living space of a modern person requires a rethinking of the use of many everyday things. All this happens only because we are not ready to sufficiently clutter up the free space of our apartments, and in the daily rhythm of life, it is necessary to always have everything you need at hand in order not to fall out of the tight work rhythm.

eogrnomics of modern space
In modern housing, you need to have everything at hand, without cluttering up the space.

An ironing cloth is just one of these tools - you need it almost every day, but not everyone is ready to sacrifice free space for it. Therefore, in recent years, buyers increasingly like the built-in ironing board.

saving space in the room
The built-in ironing board saves space in the apartment.

Let's figure out what such devices are and how to make the right choice in the wide variety of options offered.

Built-in ironing board mechanism

At its core, the built-in type is no different from the usual one, while this accessory can be easily mounted in kitchen furniture, a wardrobe and even a niche in the wall.

built-in ironing board in the kitchen
The ironing board can also be built into kitchen furniture.

All built-in boards used should only fulfill their main purpose with high quality - to help in ironing things.

built-in ironing board
The built-in ironing board can be easily installed in any room.

Types of built-in ironing boards

At the moment, there are three main types of built-in boards:

  • folding;
  • retractable;
  • built into the closet.


The folding boards get their name from the corresponding fixing mechanism in the interior. In storage, the canvas can be hidden in an upright position parallel to the wall, and, if necessary, leans back and takes its working position.
folding board in the dressing room
A cabinet or any niche in the wall is suitable for mounting a folding board.

The advantages of a wall-mounted ironing board include the possibility of using any wall niches.

folding board in brown cabinet
Folding boards are the most popular

This mechanism is appreciated for its reliability and durability, the main rule is not to overload it too much. The folding canvas can be decorated with a mirrored door, thus combining not only the laundry, but also the fitting room in one place.

the presence of an outlet next to the built-in board
When installing a built-in ironing board, you should take care of the presence of an electrical outlet nearby.

Also, do not forget that a source of electricity for the iron should be located near the place for ironing things.

folding board behind a mirrored door
The folding ironing board can be hidden behind the mirror.

It is not recommended to build sockets into the surfaces themselves due to the high fire hazard - although the mechanism is reliable, it does not guarantee complete isolation of metal and wooden elements from electrical wires.

built-in folding ironing board
The folding ironing board is reliable and durable.

Pull-out ironing boards are often made in furniture workshops and are designed for a specific project. Hence, one of the main disadvantages of this type follows - it is worth forgetting to plan a built-in board when designing furniture, and after the final collection it is unlikely that it will be possible to allocate free space for it.

pull-out ironing board in the chest of drawers
A pull-out board in a dresser should be planned for a specific project.

It is also worth remembering that in order to unfold the dimensional board, you will need a furniture chest of drawers of an appropriate size, which in terms of ergonomics is not always possible to achieve. If you need a compact folding surface, any free cabinet can handle this.

compact folding board surface
The compact ironing board can be placed in a free cupboard.

Since the pull-out ironing boards can be folded inside the furniture drawers, they can be placed almost anywhere - from the closet in the bedroom or living room, to the kitchen unit, and sometimes even the bathroom cabinet.

pull-out built-in ironing board
The retractable board can be placed almost anywhere.

The ironing board built into the cupboard is closely intertwined with the pull-out ones. However, this is a very conditional similarity, because in the conditions of a furniture cabinet, it is possible to build in a board for ironing things without using chests of drawers, cabinets or drawers. You can simply attach the mechanism to any furniture wall, and due to the horizontal arrangement inside the furniture, the board will be considered built-in.

built-in board
The board built into the closet has a conditional similarity to sliding ones.

The main question is where to get the electrical power for the iron. This issue should be well worked out due to the increased fire hazard of both the cabinet itself and the textiles stored in it.

ironing board built into the wardrobe
A built-in ironing board requires thoughtful thinking.

How to choose the right ironing board

Here, first of all, one should start from the availability of free space and convenience for a person. Indeed, thanks to the great variety of types, the board can be located anywhere.

availability of free space in the apartment
The choice of an ironing board should be based on the availability of free space in the apartment.

If you want to be able to iron things immediately after washing them, choose the pull-out type in the bathroom furniture. I like to try on ironed things - the folding option, closed by a mirror door, is perfect for you.

Note! The main factor is the presence of an outlet nearby. After all, an ironing board, to which meters of extension cords stretch, cannot be called convenient.

How to do it yourself

The easiest way is to make a folding type. Firstly, because of the availability of mechanisms for it, and secondly, because there is no need for additional work on the organization of electrical power supply. We chose any free wall next to the outlet - all that remains is to make a rectangular box and fix the folding mechanism on the wall.

do-it-yourself folding board
A do-it-yourself folding board is the easiest to make.

Each mechanism has its own maximum load limits, this must also be taken into account. Sometimes you can do without a decorating element, but this option is not very aesthetic.

Ironing board fixing mechanism
Without a decorative element, the board fastening mechanism does not look very aesthetically pleasing.

As a mechanism for attaching the canvas, you can use a simple U-shaped pipe, to which the base of the board will be attached. On the one hand, such a canvas can be fixed even with magnets or hooks sold in every hardware store.

fixing the ironing board
You can fix the ironing board in different ways.

The folding canvas should rest against the wall, and for the reliable implementation of this possibility, a stop connecting the base of the board and the wall is sufficient. It is better that for the duration of ironing, this stop is fixed to both contacting surfaces.

Important! The retractable option can only be assembled if the dimensions of the device can be fit into the existing furniture areas.

The same rule applies to the ironing cloth built into the cupboard. It can only be installed if the size of the furniture matches the ironing sheet itself in an upright position and there is a mechanism.

do-it-yourself retractable built-in board
When creating a sliding board, you should take into account the size of the furniture.

Features of folding ironing boards

From a mechanical point of view, for the normal functioning of such a board, a mechanism is required that can perform two functions:

  1. fix the surface in an upright position;
  2. support the structure and the things and household appliances placed on it during ironing.

And if both conditions are met, then the board will be able to perform its functions for a long time.

choosing the right ironing board
If you choose the right built-in ironing board, it will delight you for a long time.

As you can see, the main thing when choosing a built-in ironing board is to understand your needs and compare them with the existing ergonomics of the room in which it is planned to be placed. Decent planks can be found easily at the many furniture stores in the neighborhood.

Video: do-it-yourself built-in ironing board behind a mirror

Furniture

Kitchen

Life hacks