The bathhouse needs a certain set of furniture, which should include a table, shelves, and wooden benches. When choosing pieces of furniture for a bath, its specific features, such as a high degree of humidity, should be taken into account. The heat and moisture inherent in a bathhouse impose special requirements on the choice of material for furniture:
- good humidity tolerance;
- the ability of furniture to withstand high temperatures;
- low heat conductivity;
- the material should not emit toxic compounds hazardous to health.
The most suitable materials for bath furniture
Based on the above requirements, the most suitable material for a bathhouse is wood.
- Conifers.
Pine and spruce are not suitable, since their wood is resinous, and the resin softens when the temperature rises and heats up. Hot resin can cause burns and also stain the body. There is an option when resins are removed from pine, but as a result of this process there is a significant increase in the cost of the wooden material. Independent de-resining is a long and rather difficult process, so it would be more correct to choose wooden furniture pieces made from deciduous trees for the bathhouse.
If you really want it and have the means, then the ideal furniture option for a bathhouse is a luxurious cedar interior. Cedar wood is not rich in resin, the texture is most suitable, but the cost is quite high. The advantages of bathhouse furniture made from Canadian cedar include the provision of a significant healing effect on the body through the release of essential oils from the wood as a result of its heating. Such oils perfectly disinfect, deodorize and have a beneficial effect on the skin and respiratory system.
Furniture made from Canadian cedar has a beautiful texture, high strength, a very pleasant aroma and has a beneficial effect on the human body.
- Hardwood.
With all the variety of deciduous species, preference as a material for furniture should be given to aspen and linden. These species have wood of a pleasant light shade, which can withstand changes in temperature and humidity well, without losing its original shape. In addition, linden has a pleasant smell and is easy to process due to its softness. Among the disadvantages of linden, there is susceptibility to infection by fungus and rot, to combat which chemical compounds are used, which are very undesirable in a steam room.
Linden furniture has a pleasant aroma, has a healing effect, is easy to process and does not heat up.
Aspen wood is also light at first, but after some time it begins to darken. Aspen was previously used to make the top of wells, as it is well preserved in high humidity and does not rot. The downside is that wood fibers wear out, leading to dents and abrasions. The cost of aspen lumber is very low.
Aspen furniture is easy to process and is highly moisture resistant
- Exotic breeds.
As an exotic material option, you can use abashi wood, which grows in Africa. Its color shade changes as the temperature around it rises: from milky or light yellow to dark brown. At the hottest temperatures in the steam room, this wood does not heat up above body temperature, so there will be no burn from it. The downside is that this material is not cheap.
Abasha furniture is ideal for a steam room, does not heat up and does not accumulate moisture
If we talk about wood species for other rooms, then for the washing room you need species that respond well to humidity, for the locker room and rest room - any.
Primary requirements
Furniture for a bath must meet the following requirements:
- Moisture resistance. This is one of the main conditions for the use of interior items in the bathhouse.
- Resistance to aggressive biological environments. If this requirement is not met, mold and mildew will quickly appear on the surface.
- Environmental friendliness. Furniture should not contain harmful components and large amounts of resins. Only this guarantees the safety of its use.
- Low thermal conductivity. If the interior items do not meet this requirement, they will quickly heat up, which will make it impossible to use them in the bathhouse.
- Resistance to high temperatures and temperature changes. Since sauna rooms are constantly heated and cooled, the furniture must withstand such changes.
- Ease of processing. Products should be easy to sand, which guarantees their visual appeal without the use of paint and varnish coatings.
- Use only metal fasteners. The fact is that glue, liquid nails or other similar materials emit toxic fumes when heated. For this reason, it is not recommended to use interior items in the bathhouse, in the manufacture of which these compositions were used.
- Good ventilation. This guarantees a long service life of the products. If the furniture is poorly ventilated, rotting processes will soon begin inside the material and the products will become unusable.
It is best to make bath furniture to order from craftsmen who specialize in these interior items. Only in this case can you be sure of the quality of the products and their compliance with the specified requirements.
What items should a bath furniture set consist of?
You need to focus on individual tastes and financial capabilities, but there is a certain standard minimum.
- Shelves must be made in the steam room of the bath. They can have different shapes and sizes: single-stage or have several steps; located along the walls of the bathhouse or be in the shape of “G”, “P”. Wooden headrests and footrests are often placed in the steam room. Due to the fact that the place where they steam is small, it does not need to be cluttered with unnecessary objects, as they will serve as an obstacle to the movement of air. For convenience, you can add a small bench to place basins and ladles and attach hooks.
Shelves are the most important component of a bathhouse interior and making them yourself is absolutely simple and inexpensive.
Types and shapes of shelves for baths - The washing compartment of the bathhouse should be equipped with a shelf, and benches of various configurations and sizes can be made.
Details such as stools for tubs, buckets and other bath utensils would be useful here. Place a hanger away from possible splashes. Scheme and drawing of a bench for a wooden bath
Varieties
There are several types of bath furniture, depending on the placement.
For the steam room
The main piece of furniture used in the steam room is shelves. It is a multi-tiered structure consisting of benches or shelves. You can sit or lie down on them to enjoy the treatments. The higher the tier is, the higher the temperature.
The steam room shelf must meet the following requirements:
- well-treated surface, which eliminates the risk of getting splinters when visiting the steam room;
- sustainability;
- ability to withstand increased loads;
- shelf width – from 50 cm, length – from 100 cm.
Only a shelf that meets these requirements guarantees the convenience and safety of its operation.
The following interior items are also used in the steam room:
Shelves for storing bath accessories
Essential oils, etc. are placed on them.
Headrests, footrests
These accessories provide comfort while in the steam room.
Stalls
They are used to place a basin, place a broom or place other equipment. You can also sit on the bench if all tiers of the main structure are occupied. When choosing benches, take into account that their legs should be located far from the seat, which reduces the risk of injury during these procedures.
For the waiting room
Dressing room - a room for changing clothes and storing clothes. The following interior items are used here:
Chairs, benches, etc.
They allow you to sit comfortably and change clothes properly.
Shelves for shoes
As a rule, the dressing room has small dimensions. For this reason, for this room it is best to use multi-tiered narrow shelves for shoes that do not take up much space.
Hangers
Such products allow you to hang clothes and hats.
Furniture for storing bath accessories, clean things, etc.
Usually a small closet, shelf or chest of drawers is placed in the dressing room.
For the rest room
The relaxation room is a place where you can relax after bath procedures, drink tea, have a snack, etc. Therefore, this room should be equipped with comfortable furniture. Unlike a steam room, there is no constant high humidity and high temperatures. Thanks to this, you can even place upholstered furniture and interior items with a paint coating here.
Typically, the following products are placed in the rest room:
Sofa, armchairs
They will help you sit comfortably in the room and relax.
Sunbeds, sun loungers
Such items replace the sofa. You can lie on them to recover after the steam room. For a comfortable rest, you can lay a blanket and a pillow on a sun lounger or chaise longue.
Table
Since a person loses a lot of fluid in the steam room, its deficiency must be quickly replenished. This can be done with the help of drinks, and they are consumed just at the table in the rest room. Depending on the size of the room, you can use a dining table or a small table.
Buffet, sideboard
These are interior items for storing dishes. If it is not possible to place them in the rest room, you can use a shelving unit or a small bedside table.
Additional products
In addition to the indicated interior items, the bathhouse uses:
Fonts made of wood
Their diameter is approximately 1.5 meters. Such products are used to cool down after a steam room. They are usually used if it is not possible to install a swimming pool in a bathhouse.
Basins, tubs
Devices for carrying out water procedures.
Making bath furniture yourself
Basic drawing of a table for a bathhouse: all dimensions can be changed and adjusted according to individual needs
You can make simple bath furniture with your own hands if you follow the tips. Self-production will allow you to realize all your wildest fantasies and optimally use the space of the bathhouse, maximally designed for comfortable relaxation, following your tastes and preferences.
Bath shelf drawing
First you need to decide on the design and construction. To do this, depending on the size of the bath room, a plan must be drawn up for the location of furniture inside, their sizes and shapes must be determined. It’s good if everything in the bathhouse is done in the same style and selected in accordance with the expected number of people.
Bath flooring installation diagram
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. To avoid burns from the metal heads of the screws, they are recessed 5 mm deep and covered with wood putty on top. No part of the bath furniture should be varnished.
Peculiarities
The main difference between bath furniture and what we use in apartments is its moisture resistance. In conditions of high humidity and temperature, it should last a long time. Another important nuance is that the furniture is in direct contact with human skin. Environmental friendliness is the main criterion for selecting items for a bathhouse.
For relaxation in the bathhouse, an original Russian way of restoring strength, various types of furniture were invented; they will be discussed in the next section. It is worth highlighting the main requirements for the material:
- High density;
- Easy processing - sawing, grinding, trimming;
- Safety for humans;
- Low thermal conductivity – furniture should not heat up;
- Small amount of resins in the composition.
All of the listed characteristics indicate that the best furniture material for a bathhouse is wood of various species. It is worth noting that varnishes, paints and adhesives are not used in production. This is due to constant humidity conditions in the room, which causes the coating to swell and gradually peel off.
The healing properties of the bathhouse have been known since Ancient Rus', so there should be no objects harmful to the body in the room. In addition to the cleansing properties of steam passing over the skin, a person absorbs the smell of the materials from which the furniture is made.
Traditionally, a relaxation room is designed in bath complexes - this is a place where people can relax in a calm environment, without hot steam. Some rooms require furniture on which a person can sit and have a snack. The requirements for the coating in this case are different: they must also be moisture resistant, although they can have a varnish coating, since there is no constant exposure to steam.
Bath furniture can be made in various stylistic directions, let’s consider the most popular of them:
- Classic style - characterized by straight lines, rigor and practicality. There is no room for luxury here - all items are made discreetly and at the same time cozy. Steam rooms in spas are often equipped in this style;
- Antique sauna furniture is a common option for a free-standing sauna. Entering the room, you get the feeling of a fairy tale. All items are made in an antique style - they have rounded backs, fancy cutouts, and an aging effect.
To arrange a home bath or sauna, you can limit yourself to the classic style - it is inexpensive, and the items can be made with your own hands. If you plan to design a bathhouse for commercial purposes, choose an old style for bathhouses; visitors will appreciate it.
Classic
Antique
Making a wooden bench
Bath bench assembly diagram
This part is necessary for use as a replacement for the lower part of the shelf, footrests, basins and buckets.
To make a bench with your own hands you need:
- cut the block into several 40 cm pieces (future supports);
- transverse posts 60 cm long are cut out from another block;
- nail the supports from below, and attach the base for the seat on top, formed from boards 1 m long;
- cover the base of the bench with wooden boards, leaving 1 cm gaps;
- coat the finished furniture with an antiseptic containing vegetable oils.
Drawing of a simple bathhouse bench to make yourself
