Ironing chests: functions and types

An ironing board is a necessary item in any home, and at the same time the most useless one. During ironing, you cannot do without it, and when the linen is ironed, an absurd design remains, destroying the pleasant look of the home environment. It needs to be folded and put away every day, just to know where. In addition, during the daily transformation, it is easy to nail your fingers with a massive board. An ironing chest of drawers solves several problems at once, it is a beautiful, multifunctional piece of furniture, and fingers do not suffer.

The ironing chest of drawers significantly saves space. In addition to the ironing surface, it is equipped with various shelves, drawers, baskets and other storage elements. Many things at once find their permanent place and do not create chaos in the apartment. It is very convenient to have an iron, a sprinkler, an oversleeve on hand, and then easily hide everything until the next ironing.

Most often, the industry produces "transformers" that easily mask the board, turning it into a familiar piece of furniture. Such a design is placed in any room where there is enough space for transformation and comfortable ironing. Therefore, chests of drawers can be found for a variety of purposes: for the hall - elegant or presentable sideboards; for the bedroom - full-fledged designs with large drawers for linen.

In the bedroom, corridor or kitchen, you can pick up a vintage or Provence style ironing chest with baskets made of vines, rattan, bamboo and other natural materials. Chests of drawers equipped with mirrors are also suitable for the corridor and bedroom. A large selection of designs allows you to set exactly the type of furniture that matches the given situation.

It's good that an unknown genius came up with a happy idea to turn an unprepossessing, annoying ironing board into a pretty and useful piece of furniture. Chests of drawers are arranged in different ways, depending on the purpose. They can contain linen, bookshelves, household items, stationery boxes, and, of course, a built-in whiteboard.

For the convenience of ironing, the height of the chest of drawers should not exceed ninety centimeters. The width of the product ranges from 50 cm (when the structure is folded) to the full span of a solid board. In rooms with a large footage, wide dressers are quite acceptable.

The structure of the frame is not much different from a conventional chest of drawers; it consists of a back wall, side surfaces, a bottom, and an upper lid. Sometimes the frames are made through, without back walls, and the shelves are filled with baskets. The ironing board can be transformed in different ways: fold, pull out or just lie on the surface of the chest of drawers. The chest of drawers itself has a varied filling system: shelves, drawers, baskets. The base for the structure can be small legs, movable rollers or a plinth bottom.

Often, ironing accessories are included in the ironing chest of drawers:

• sleeves - without their help, it is difficult to smooth the sleeves;
• stand or storage box for the iron;
• cord clamps;
• gauze with which things are steamed;
• covers for the board.

To assess the capabilities of an ironing chest, you need to consider all the pros and cons of the design. Let's start with the merits.

• Saving space. The advantage of the "transformer" is that, taking up a small area, it solves several tasks: ironing and storage system.
• The chest of drawers is aesthetic. From a large variety of designs, you can choose a product that matches the color and style of the room.
• You no longer need to find a place for a huge board and it is difficult to install it. The transforming device quickly and easily transforms a pretty piece of furniture into an ironing board.
• All ironing accessories are hidden in the chest of drawers: an iron, a sleeve, gauze and many other useful things.
• Some models are equipped with a special hanger, ironed linen is thrown over it. During ironing, things are also stacked on the shelf of the dresser.
• Small items of clothing can be ironed without unfolding the structure or lifting only one section of it.
• The base of the chest of drawers is more stable for the ironing process than the folding structure of an independent board.

The ironing chest of drawers has its drawbacks, which are definitely worth talking about, to get the most complete picture.

• Ironing is better on a solid board than on three of its sections.
• You will have to pay more for a chest of drawers with a board than for an ironing structure with legs.
• Constant target height is not adjustable.
• The two side movable sections do not withstand a heavy load, you must not lean on them and put heavy objects on them.
• If the folding sections are too short or the ironing board does not have them, but is a dresser surface, it is impossible to put on a dress or T-shirt on such a structure, which will affect the quality of ironing.
• You can't put an ironing chest of drawers in an empty corner or in a space between furniture. In order for the sections to unfold unhindered and to be comfortable to iron, he should stand apart.

The variety of ironing chests of drawers allows you to match them to any interior, taking into account the style, color, material, configuration, dimensions, folding methods and filling possibilities. The designs differ in various ways.

The ironing chest of drawers is a "transformer" that can turn from ordinary furniture into a structure for ironing linen.Thanks to the presence of a special folding mechanism, a similar transformation takes place. There are several ways to fold.

• Retractable models. The transformation takes place by moving the surface along the guides. The side wall of the chest of drawers on a roller moves to the side, the ironing board rests on it. This variety refers to small boards that slide out with the drawer. This design is not very stable, and the work surface is insufficient for comfortable ironing. When the drawer is closed, the chest of drawers becomes a regular piece of furniture.

• Foldable. They consist of three parts, where the central section is the surface of the chest of drawers, and the two side sections go down. When opened, the additional sections rest on retractable or swing props, while the integrity of the board is kept soft due to a special covering.

• Shortened. These are small boards, they are the surface of the chest of drawers itself. The design is extremely simple, but the lack of size complicates the ironing process.

Chests of drawers with an ironing board can be found in any room: living room, bedroom, hallway, bathroom. The purpose of the fillers lies in their structure. For example, for a cabinet-type room, open shelves or a storage system consisting of small drawers are suitable. A structure with a shelf for shoes and drawers for hats and gloves is installed in the hallway. A Scandinavian style chest of drawers can be defined in a bedroom or bathroom, with many removable drawers or baskets. Classic designs are best placed in the living room.

The base on which the board rests plays an important role. The stability of the entire system and the convenience of ironing depend on it. Supports are of different types.

• No legs. The legless ironers are very stable. The base is the bottom of the structure itself.
• On small legs. It is difficult to clean under such a piece of furniture, since the distance from the bottom of the chest of drawers to the floor is quite insignificant.
• Roller construction. Mobile and convenient, it is easy to move and install in the desired place.
• Board rests on short struts extending from the sides of the chest of drawers.

Ironing chests of drawers look different, their shapes and sizes are quite diverse. Structurally, they are:

• open when free shelves or basket-like fillers are viewed;
• closed, with hinged doors or tight-fitting drawers;
• with long side folding sections of the ironing board that are raised during ironing;
• with a solid board, it is also the top cover of the chest of drawers;
• part of the furniture set itself.

The material of the ironing chest is no different from the composition of other pieces of furniture, there is the same variety and choice. Let's dwell on some types of materials.

• Wood. Furniture made of wood is environmentally friendly, there are no glue impregnations that will evaporate under the influence of a hot iron. Over time, high temperatures can affect the work surface, such a chest of drawers cannot be placed in the bathroom, it is afraid of dampness, and is much more expensive than its "brother" made of chipboard. But the grandeur and beauty of wooden furniture makes you forget a little inconvenience.

• MDF and chipboard. If you cannot afford to buy a chest of drawers made of wood, you can buy a budget option from particle-pressed boards. Outwardly, they completely imitate a wooden surface. It is quite realistic to choose coverings in the form of a cut of pine, oak, cedar, alder and other species of different structures and shades. Before buying, you should familiarize yourself with the certificates, read the composition of the glue and varnish. If toxic impregnations are noted, such furniture is unsuitable for use in everyday life. It must be remembered that MDF has a higher density in structure than particleboard and better withstands temperature changes.

• Plywood. This material is mainly used for the back walls and interior filling of the chest of drawers.

• Thermoplastic. It is this type of plastic that is used, since the usual one does not tolerate temperature heating well. Sometimes the material is used in fragments, it is not involved in the manufacture of the ironing board itself.

• Metal. To facilitate the design, the models use through walls and mesh surfaces. The baskets filling the chest of drawers are visible from all sides. Artistic forging is also used with the same success. The metal for the ironing chest must be well protected with an anti-corrosion coating, otherwise it will deteriorate over time from the steaming procedure.

• Rattan models are producedbut they are not stable enough, which is unacceptable for using an ironing board.

You should pay attention to the upholstery material of the board itself. The removable cover will make it easier to clean, usually made from inexpensive cotton fabric. Over time, from constant contact with a hot iron, the fabric deteriorates, and the cover needs to be replaced. Synthetic covers made of heat-resistant material last much longer, they are able to repel water. Sometimes inclusions are introduced into the textile of the cover to help clean the burning surface of the iron. Expensive covers have elements that make it easier to smooth the fabric.

When choosing a chest of drawers with an ironing board, you need to pay attention to well-known brands, customer reviews and many other criteria. Consider a few recommendations from buyers who have already encountered the choice of this product.

1. Even before buying, you should decide on the place where the chest of drawers will stand. The functions of the furniture, and, accordingly, its content also depend on the purpose of the room.
2. The chest of drawers should harmoniously fit into the surrounding environment, creating a single color and stylistic ensemble.
3. The board is not adjustable up and down, so a model with a comfortable height option is immediately selected.
4. "Transformers" are more convenient than ordinary chests of drawers with an ironing surface. They are easy to fold and the furniture will take on its familiar look. If you choose solid boards, then in most cases they are inferior in size to folding models.
5. The folding mechanism is checked, the clearer and simpler it is, the less it will break during operation.
6. You should pay attention to the cover, it must have a heat-resistant fabric and the possibility of simplified ironing.
7. It is better to choose a design equipped with additional elements: a net for linen, a storage place for an iron, an oversleeve.
8. The purchase is examined for defects, the accompanying documentation is checked: a certificate, a warranty card.

For an overview of a folding ironing chest with baskets, see the following video.