Furniture made of plywood - who would have thought 10-15 years ago that anyone would be interested in such a thing in our country. This possibility was only considered for arranging garages or storage rooms, but not for a home. But the trends of new times dictate their own rules. The abundance of furniture made from all kinds of materials on display in stores today already causes a certain degree of rejection. But bold experimenters do not sleep and often introduce familiar things into everyday life, but in a new role. The next creative innovation of designers was furniture made of plywood.
It is worth saying that slowly but surely this trend is winning more and more hearts. And not only because of creativity, but also for many other reasons.
For people who like to experiment in their own workshop, this opportunity will be to their liking. Furniture made from plywood can be easily made with your own hands. In addition, you won’t have to spend a lot of money on this, because plywood is a rough material, so it’s inexpensive. For the same reason, it is psychologically easier to work with her. After all, if the experiment fails, it’s okay - the losses will not be great. Maybe for this reason, quite fancy furniture is often made from plywood.
Well, one more plus: plywood is, although glued together, still wood. Agree, if you compare plywood and laminated chipboard, the former still exudes more environmental positivity.
Plywood chairs
Making a chair like the one in the photo below is quite easy with your own hands. It is possible that you will have to tinker a little with the zigzag, but when working with a stationary jigsaw this is not a problem, except that you will need a little patience. But not everyone dares to install such an option in their home. But for a dacha it’s just right.
But on this model you can see that the designer put in a lot of effort. A chic option for placement in a recreation area.
General information
Of course, it is much easier to place an order and receive ready-made plywood furniture, but there are also plenty of reasons to make it yourself. We are one hundred percent sure that no store can offer you such budget and original interior items! Moreover, in order to make furniture, put your soul into this process and show creativity, it is not at all necessary to turn into a carpenter or joiner.
Advantages and features of plywood
Before you start making furniture parts, you should familiarize yourself with some of the features and properties of plywood sheets:
+ special expensive tools are not required for plywood processing- + its price is so attractive that absolutely everyone can afford such a plywood table, chair or even a kitchen set
- + plywood board belongs to the category of environmentally friendly materials, therefore it is allowed for use in children's rooms
- + it takes paints, enamels and stains well, which allows you to fit furniture into an interior decorated in any style
- + finished products are durable and resistant to moisture
- + it bends easily, which allows you to implement the most daring design solutions based on it
- + plywood is ideal for creating pieces of furniture at home, since its processing does not require highly specialized knowledge
What are plywood sheets made of?
Plywood is made from a wide variety of wood species. Traditionally, birch, pine and spruce are used. Moreover, both coniferous and deciduous wood species can coexist in one leaf. A layer of pine or spruce is laid in the middle, and the side walls are made of birch veneer.
The structure of the material is a multi-layer “pie” of the thinnest layers of wood, bonded together with an adhesive composition. During its production, each layer of veneer is laid perpendicular to the previous one and sent under a press, thanks to this trick the plywood is quite strong.
The manufacturer cuts the finished plywood board into sheets of different sizes.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: The most expensive and high-quality plywood is made from hardwood.
Which plywood to buy for homemade furniture?
Before choosing material for plywood furniture, you need to familiarize yourself with the markings and designations that divide plywood into types.
Plywood grade
This parameter indicates the level of moisture resistance of the sheet and possible areas of its application. To make furniture, you need to choose the FK, FKM or FOF marking.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: The abbreviation FOF refers to sheets of laminated plywood. It has a higher price than the usual one.
Plywood grade
The breakdown into grades according to GOST is carried out in accordance with the appearance of the sheet surface. On the label it is indicated by Roman numerals from I to IV (each layer is sorted separately).
THIS IS IMPORTANT: The letter E marks the highest grade material.
Top layer processing quality
On the label it is indicated as follows: Ш1 - sanding only on one side of the sheet, Ш2 - sanding the sheet on both sides. The combination of letters ШН means that this sheet was not processed with a sander.
Degree of environmental friendliness
It is indicated on the label as the letter E with a number from 1 to 3. Indicates the level of formaldehyde contained in the material.
Sheet thickness
Another indicator is the thickness of the sheet. When choosing, focus on what function the part being created will perform. For example, to make a rigid frame or shelves, plywood no thinner than 1.8 cm is suitable. It is recommended to make plywood facades no more than 1.2 cm thick. Cabinet doors, reinforced with stiffening ribs, can be made of 6 mm material.
Tips for choosing
When purchasing plywood at a hardware store, examine the sheets from all sides, evaluate the quality of gluing the layers, and check all the markings. Each piece has a unique wood pattern that can be played well in the interior. When purchasing, it is better to choose plywood made in Russian factories. Many years of production experience only affects the quality of products for the better.
Plywood bed
Have you ever thought that a bed made of plywood can be luxurious? Proof of this is the photo below.
The amazing thing is that you don't have to overpay for these things. They literally cost pennies. And if you also have skillful hands, then by using your imagination you can make things that are perfect for you. There is nothing more joyful than creating for yourself, then everything turns out as it should and life takes on meaning.
Stages of self-production
There is no fundamental difference between the technology for making a chair or stool from a flat sheet of plywood. First, the drawing is transferred to plywood or the outline of an already prepared pattern is done. Next is cutting the sheet and sawing out all the elements. The next stage is sanding all surfaces. Assembling the frame of a stool or chair. Painting or varnishing.
However, if it is planned to paint only individual elements, for example the seat and back, then first comes painting, and then assembly.
Simple stool
An example of creating a homemade product from plywood is the simple design of a stool on four legs.
- After transferring the drawing, the lines are additionally outlined with a pencil for ease of cutting with a jigsaw.
- Using a jigsaw with a special blade for curved cuts, the stool leg is cut out.
- An outline is made of the first cut leg - it is used as a template. After this, the remaining 3 legs are cut out.
- The resulting parts are processed with a grinding machine over the entire surface.
- The stool cover is cut out.
- The ends of the lid are processed using a grinder.
- A milling machine is used to give the desired shape to the edge of the lid.
- To facilitate the assembly of frame parts, holes are made with a drill for self-tapping screws in the upper part of the legs.
- The legs are assembled using self-tapping screws.
- Holes are made on the lid for self-tapping screws according to the markings of the connected structure of the legs.
- Self-tapping screws are screwed into the holes of the cover.
- Final assembly of the stool.
And this is the result of work before the final painting with putty screw heads and two layers of primer applied.
Folding chair
Folding chairs made of plywood, unlike a stool, require more skill in working with tools. But this is not the main thing; it is much more important to choose the right drawing.
And of course, it is worth remembering that when assembling folding chairs, hinge units occupy an important place; for them it is better to choose durable metal elements.
This version of a folding chair was taken as a basis.
Here are its dimensions and breakdown of parts.
- The drawing is transferred to a sheet of plywood.
- A drill is used to make holes to insert a jigsaw.
- A saw is inserted into the jigsaw to cut curved lines.
- All elements are cut out.
- The ends of the parts are processed with sandpaper.
- Furniture hinges will be used as hinges in the design. The hinges will be installed using furniture nuts and bolts.
- For preliminary fixation, ordinary nuts are used.
- Using a Fostner drill, holes are made to fix the structure when unfolded.
The result is a folding chair like this.
High chair
Working on a children's chair made of plywood is in many ways similar to the modeling process. It seems to be life-size, but everything is so miniature, just like a model of a large chair or armchair.
- First, the legs are marked.
- All elements must have a rounded shape.
- The sidewalls are cut out using a jigsaw.
- The roundings are carefully cut out.
- How to trace a chair leg on a sheet of plywood.
- The jumpers, back and seat are cut out.
- Everything is carefully processed with a sander.
- Markings are made for the screws.
- Holes are made at the marking points.
- The back and seat are first primed and then painted.
- After drying, the assembly of the frame begins. Markings are made for the holes.
- Using a drill, holes are made for the screws.
- To prevent the plywood of the crossbars from cracking, markings are made for the holes. And a hole is drilled with a thin drill.
- The structure is first assembled without a tie, simply tightened 2-3 turns. And after checking, it is finally tightened with self-tapping screws.
- The seat is screwed onto furniture corners with short self-tapping screws. So, the structure will be more stable and reliable.
This is what a finished chair for a little fidget will look like.
Screen
This is more of a decorative option, but it deserves attention. You can take the idea of the author of this copy and make a screen for yourself.
Using the same technology, you can make a partition stationary or mobile. For example, for zoning a studio apartment.
Wardrobe hangers
If your closet is made of plywood, then don’t stop there, why not also make hangers from it. The whole family will definitely enjoy this creative process: dad saws, mom sands, and the children draw.
Isn’t happiness hidden behind such simple things?!?!
Painted furniture
If you think that even a skillfully carved plywood ornament is not aesthetically pleasing enough for your home. Or you need bright furniture for the nursery, you can always use paint. And then the faceless plywood furniture is transformed, as if by magic. This way you can add the missing colors to the interior. Agree, such creative freedom when decorating your own home with your own hands is quite a valuable “option”.
Introduction
Nowadays, more and more beginners and furniture makers with experience appreciate plywood products for their ability to undergo unlimited transformations, with relatively simple technology and labor-intensive processing. At the same time, the price of such designer products is more than acceptable, relative to furniture structures made of solid wood.
Regulatory construction documentation for plywood
Before designing and starting work on the production of plywood furniture, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the following construction documents (standards) for the material in question:
- GOST 3916.1-96 “General purpose plywood with outer layers of hardwood veneer.”
- GOST 3916.2-96 “General purpose plywood with outer layers of softwood veneer.”
- GOST 11539 - 83 “Bakelized plywood. Technical conditions".
- GOST 8673 – 93 “Plywood boards. Technical conditions".
More photos of various plywood ideas for furniture
Plywood is suitable for almost any type of furniture. And not only as a frame. She also knows how to be decorative, we have just seen this. And as additional evidence, look at a few more photos of ideas, both homemade and designer furniture.
How to make a cabinet
Nowadays, homemade cabinets made from sheets of plywood are very popular among modern designers and property owners. You can make such furniture using the following materials and tools:
- sheet plywood;
- screwdriver and screws;
- four blanks for legs. You can prepare it yourself from wooden blocks;
- special glue for fixing wood.
To create the base of the bedside table, you will need to take four pieces of plywood of the required size. Furniture plywood blanks should be 15 by 45 centimeters for the side components, and 45 by 45 cm for the lower and upper bases. All elements are produced in duplicate.
A bedside table is considered easy to make. You can do it yourself in a short time.
The side panels are fixed to the bottom base using wood glue. The upper part of the cabinet with the prepared frame is fastened in the same way. The legs are connected to the base with self-tapping screws.
If desired, you can coat the finished furniture with varnish or paint.
