Overview of accordion cabinets, how to choose the right one. An overview of the types of doors for the built-in wardrobe: sliding, hinged and accordion Cabinets to order accordion doors

Recently, the accordion cabinet has become a popular type of furniture in urban apartments. The special mechanism of the door allows you to significantly save space in the room, and its aesthetic appearance attracts the eye. To choose the right model for your home, you should understand the main characteristics of the product.

The main feature of such a product is the door mechanism. In appearance, it resembles a well-known musical instrument, for which it received its name. The operation of the device is similar to the principle of blinds: with the movement of a hand, they are stacked, compactly fitting on one side. Let us consider in more detail the principle of operation of accordion doors:

in which direction the door will fold depends on the wishes of the customer. When planning a closet, you should pay attention to this;
the mechanism is installed on the upper rail - it is fixed on the ceiling of the product;
The guide rail is made of steel or aluminium. It protrudes beyond the boundaries of the body, so it can be seen. Often, manufacturers offer to decorate the guide to match the style of furniture - frame it in a wooden film;
you should not buy a cabinet where the rail travels along the guide using a ball mechanism - this option will quickly fail. The friction of the bearings and the rail reduces the duration of the mechanism;
products that require an accordion door more than 2 meters in height are mounted immediately on 2 rails - lower and upper. In this case, the wardrobe can be decorated with glass facades or stained-glass windows. Reinforcement is required to support the structure. At the same time, each leaf is connected to the other half by reinforcing loops and is additionally fixed on the rail.

So that the frame of the product does not quickly fail, modern manufacturers are trying to lighten it. They use lightweight materials to ensure that the door moves smoothly and quickly along the track. When designing a cabinet to order, try not to make doors more than 170 cm high. This will require additional fasteners to enhance the strength of the structure.

Advantages and disadvantages

Each cabinet door system has its pros and cons. The undoubted advantage of a wardrobe with folding doors is its significant space savings. An area that could be “dead” with a swing mechanism becomes accessible and spacious.

Let's highlight the main advantages of accordion cabinets:

ease of installation - anyone can fix the opening mechanism, for this there are enough improvised tools;
low price - compared to compartment doors, this design will cost less financially;
decorativeness - the facades of such cabinets look elegant and original in any interior;
versatility - you can use the accordion door in any closet - wardrobe, library, kitchen;
a variety of materials - the door leaf is available in soft and hard form;
access to things: it is not necessary to fully unlock the door to get an overview of the inside of the cabinet.

With a large list of pluses, the design is not without drawbacks. These include wear resistance and low stability. Although the design has been improved, there are still some shortcomings. With constant use and unreliable fastening, the mechanism often fails.

The owners of these pieces of furniture note the low density of closing doors, which ensures air circulation inside the cabinet.

Manufacturing materials

Furniture manufacturers use traditional raw materials to make accordion cabinets. For the manufacture of the case, chipboard is used - laminated boards made of pressed wood. They come in a variety of colors, so the choice of users is huge.

For fittings, high-quality steel or aluminum parts are used. In order for the doors to fold well, special mechanisms with rails and wheels are used. Periodically it is recommended to process the door mechanism to improve the quality of work.

Consider the main types of manufacturing materials:

plastic - products from this raw material are not flammable and do not emit toxic substances. They are covered with a special film that performs decorative functions. For example, in a children's room, you can choose a product with colored facades, and for the kitchen, plastic to match the color of the walls is suitable. Cabinets with PVC facades can be installed in rooms with high humidity;
glass - an accordion cabinet with glass doors at first glance is a fragile product. However, manufacturers strengthen the material and use tempered glass. All-glass facades are rarely produced, as they put a lot of stress on the hull structure. Glass is used fragmentarily - for decoration. It can be matte, have a sandblasted pattern or be stained glass;
metal - metal products are considered the most practical accordions. They are optimally installed in the kitchen, where there is a change in temperature and humidity. The metal cabinet accordion is available in various colors and will fit into most interiors.

Light products will add space to the room, dark ones, with a skillful combination, will create a strict but original style.

Selection rules

In order for the new thing to please with its spaciousness and appearance, you should pay attention to the suggested tips. They will help to cope with the choice and avoid mistakes:

noiselessness - before buying, check the cabinet for noiselessness of its operation. Try opening and closing the door. In models where extraneous sounds are not heard, special seals are installed to ensure smooth running;
guides - it is desirable that the cabinet be equipped with two rails at once for moving the doors. If only one guide is installed, over time the door will loosen and fail;
ease of work - if the product is purchased in a children's room, you should pay attention to the smoothness of the move. A child is unlikely to be able to open a heavy large door on his own;
color design - an accordion wardrobe should ideally fit into the existing interior. Choose a product according to the style of the room design or taking into account the dilution with contrast;
dimensions - decide in advance on the dimensions of the furniture: if the product is intended for storing things, it must have a greater height. If you plan to store books and magazines, a height of 170 cm will be enough;
internal filling - do not forget about the internal organization of space in the closet. To accommodate outerwear, you will need rods, for everyday things - shelves. The presence of drawers is also necessary - it is convenient to store linen in them.

The accordion cabinet can be built-in or stationary. In order to rationally use the area of \u200b\u200bthe room, it is better to draw a diagram of future furniture in advance and go to the salon with a sheet.

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Built-in wardrobes are a very economical and practical option for using the space of a living room, especially if they are made in existing niches or irregularities in the contour of the walls of a living room, corridor or other room. In practice, they have no alternative when arranging cabinets on a balcony or loggias, since it is almost impossible or extremely inconvenient to mark them in the frontal plane of such a narrow room.

At the same time, on the balcony, most often, accordion door designs are used for built-in wardrobes or furniture blinds.

Types of doors for built-in wardrobes

In built-in wardrobes in niches and on the balcony, almost all known door designs can be used, with the exception of door panels rotating around the axis.

These are systems such as:

Swing.
Sliding - coupe.
Sliding - pencil case.
Movable - accordion.
Sliding - roller shutters (blinds).

Depending on the style, design and room in which the built-in wardrobe is located, the choice of one or another option is dictated not only by the appearance, but also by the functionality of certain door designs.

The most common type of doors in the recent past for all types of cabinets, including built-in ones. Such popularity was explained very simply - by the simplicity of design and the low cost of furniture fittings used to hang such door panels.

With the most simple design - two or three hinges, or one solid "piano" hinge, swing doors have not lost their relevance to this day. They are familiar, convenient, allow you to immediately get access to the entire cabinet space or to its separate segment.

Swing door leafs are usually made of chipboard or solid wood and can carry various types of decorations on the outside, be completely or partially lined with mirrors. On the inside of the hinged doors, additional holders for ties, small wearable items, jewelry trays and other accessories of furniture fittings can be freely placed, making the use of the built-in wardrobe more convenient.

The main disadvantage of swing doors is the large "dead" space that is formed when opening the doors of such a built-in wardrobe. This is especially true if the built-in wardrobe is located in a narrow walk-through room (corridor) or in a small area (balcony, loggia, toilet, bathroom).

Sliding doors

The almost "textbook" version of the doors for the built-in wardrobe - compartment doors.

They are 1-2-3 or more canvases of the same or different widths, which move parallel to each other in the frontal plane of the built-in wardrobe along the guides.

The main advantage of this design is the ability to use such doors in the narrowest places with high traffic (corridors) without blocking the space and without interfering with other residents when using the cabinet.

There are several variations of compartment door designs. The most common is the design in which the doors move along two guides located at the top. In this case, the lower edge of the canvases is fixed from swinging, either by protruding rollers, or by the lower guide, along which the roller installed on the lower end of the door slides.

The disadvantages of such a system for opening built-in wardrobes is the inability to simultaneously access the entire contents of the wardrobe (with sliding doors) or the need for a false wall into which the opening doors of the built-in wardrobe are pushed. And this is possible only when carrying out work on a thorough repair of the premises.

The second inconvenience of compartment doors is the limitation on the width of the cabinet. It is practically not applicable with a cabinet width of less than 1 meter, since the design of sliding doors will free the user only 40-45 cm, which is extremely inconvenient.

Such a design of doors is also absolutely unacceptable for built-in wardrobes on a balcony or loggia, since these structures usually have a width of 1000 mm, and built-in wardrobes are usually mounted from the end of the balcony.

Another option is a sliding door - a pencil case. This design provides for the possibility of shifting the door leaf into a niche located on the side of the cabinet (there may be two niches on both sides of the cabinet).

Allowing simultaneous access to the entire interior of the cabinet, the system requires a significant amount of space on the sides of the built-in cabinet where the door(s) could slide.

Sliding - accordion

The least popular type of doors for built-in wardrobes. Nevertheless, accordion doors can be successfully used as an alternative to compartment doors, since they have all their advantages in terms of compactness, are devoid of “dead” zones and can be successfully mounted on a balcony.

The low popularity of accordion doors can be explained by their low reliability due to the presence of a large number of articulating movable joints and the unreliability of the material from which they are made - usually plastic, much less often glass plates.

The slats of accordion doors do not fit snugly against the floor or the bottom edge of the cabinet, so brush seals must be installed on them.

Doors from furniture roller shutters (blinds)

Quite rare doors in built-in wardrobes. This is explained by the rather dull monotonous structure of horizontal blinds, which, in essence, such doors are. And low functionality - neither on the front nor on the inside of such doors can you mark any accessories (mirrors, shelves, hangers). The inconvenience of using when you have to bend down to the floor to open and close.

But for a balcony or loggia, such a blind door for a built-in closet is almost ideal. Usually, I use wardrobes on balconies and loggias, either for storing blanks for the winter, or for all kinds of rarely used things and objects. Therefore, the use of the cabinet is quite rare. Places such a door - the blinds do not take. It can be made in any width and, when opened, provides access to the entire contents of the built-in wardrobe at the same time.

The material for the manufacture of doors - blinds can be wood, metal, plastic.

Installation of doors for built-in wardrobes

Almost any kind of doors for built-in wardrobes can be made by hand, with the exception of roller doors (blinds).

To do this, there is a wide selection of PVC products and furniture panels of various textures, weights and sizes, a wide selection of fittings and accessories for any door design.

The most difficult in terms of installation is the installation of sliding doors. It is necessary to understand the mechanism of the rail mounting system, the suspension system, the installation of anti-swing limiters or the lower rail.

But the most important thing is to measure the size of the door leaf very correctly, both vertically and horizontally.

Vertically, it must take into account the height of the canopy structure (guide + rollers + fastening system), and horizontally, it must take into account the overlap of the sheets by 40-50 mm so that there are no gaps between the sheets.

Summing up

Those or other doors used in built-in wardrobes mean functionality. The main requirement for them is ease of use and maximum access to the contents of the cabinet. If the space in front of the closet allows, the swing door is the undisputed leader. If the space is narrow, preference is given to compartment doors, but for balconies and loggias, the best options are doors - accordion and doors - shutters (blinds).

A closet is an essential piece of furniture for an apartment or house. Manufacturers offer a variety of models for every taste and financial possibilities. Products are classified according to several criteria. One of them is connected with the opening system of the valves. Recently, a cabinet with folding doors is gaining more and more fans.

Cabinet accordion - features, advantages and disadvantages

The peculiarity of the product is hidden in the door mechanism. Through simple manipulations, the sashes fold in the form of an accordion or a book, located at one of the side walls of the cabinet, while moving outward. The door leaf consists of several sections interconnected. Its movement occurs along the upper guide. It holds the doors in the desired position and sets the direction of movement.

Like any mechanism, the folding system has its pros and cons.

Advantages:

a complete overview of the internal space;
compactness;
light weight;
ease of operation;
there is no possibility of damage to the floor covering;
the possibility of replacing one of the elements in the event of a breakdown;
noiselessness of work;
no size restrictions;
universality;
affordable cost;
attractive appearance due to the use of different materials and design methods.

Weak sides:

low resistance to wear (service life is approximately 5-8 years);
increased leaflet mobility;
still requires a small free space for normal operation;
careful handling is required.

Device and types of folding door mechanisms for cabinets

The device of such a cabinet requires high-quality fittings. Its equipment is determined by the type of doors: book or accordion.

For the execution of the first option of 2 wings, you will need:

carriage on ball bearings with 2 degrees of freedom;
top guide;
lower rail for supporting the leading leaf;
rotary axes;
hinged loops in the end part;
fixture.

All elements are adjustable, which increases the life of the system.

The door of the book can consist of 2-10 wings. She needs more space to function properly. This option is more massive and reliable. The sashes can be torn off in different directions, have asymmetric parameters. Therefore, it is not worth saving on fittings.

For an accordion door, you will need the following parts:

top rail made of steel or aluminum;
carriage slider (one or more);
rollers;
hinges or hinged profile for fastening sections;
a special key for adjusting and assembling the system;
fixture.

The number of sets depends on the number of canvases.

Sometimes a bottom rail is included. This is mandatory if the facade is made of MDF, with glass or mirror inserts. But usually it is not necessary, since light materials are more often used for such a door. It is important to pay attention to the inadmissibility of the use of plastic rails, fasteners, as they do not withstand long-term operation. The panels are necessarily framed from the ends with metal elements and are interconnected by a hinged profile.

There are general requirements for sliding door fittings.

The best material for guides is aluminum. A U-shaped profile with one gutter is made from it. The product must not contain defects and deviate from the horizontal position. Violation leads to spontaneous opening or prevents the movement of the rollers.
There are several requirements for the movement system: noiselessness, ease of sliding, smooth running. For these purposes, rims made of suitable materials are used: rubber, teflon, plastic, steel, etc. The bearings are protected from dust and small debris.
Special seals are designed to isolate the interior of the cabinet from drafts and maintain the necessary storage conditions. For the manufacture of tapes, rubber, rubber or silicone are used. Rubber has the greatest elasticity and reliability, but silicone is usually used for glass doors. It provides surface protection at the attachment points.
The connection of individual parts of the door leaf is carried out using mortise-type hinge mechanisms. They are installed in special recesses and fixed with self-tapping screws.
The latches help to ensure the integrity of the valves, which do not allow them to move beyond a certain place. The most commonly used magnetic type.
Do not forget about such elements as handles, although in most cases they are not used. But if the thickness allows, it is wise to choose a model equipped with mortise handles. They do not protrude beyond the door leaf and contribute to more convenient operation.

Separately, it should be said about the possibility of left and right opening, depending on the characteristics of the room.

Sashes are capable of moving in any direction, in which there is no fastening in the side part.

Cabinet accordion or book - what's the difference

Cabinets with folding doors are divided by the number of wings. Each type has its own name.

An accordion cabinet can contain a significant number of canvases. The more of them, the smaller the width of individual elements. The standard dimensions of the sections are 10-15 cm. The connection provides a hinged profile or end loops. The whole structure is securely fixed on the top rail. Moving along it occurs with the help of rollers. The end element is attached to the side wall.

The bookcase has doors consisting of only 2 parts. They can be the same width or differ in this parameter. Their advantages include higher reliability compared to the previous type. For the same reason, sashes can be made of heavy materials (wood, glass, mirrors, etc.).

In this case, 2 guides are installed: at the bottom and at the top. The bottom rail additionally plays the role of a support. The parts are interconnected by loops.

Folding door cabinet designs

Cabinets equipped with folding doors come in different designs. There are the following models:

built-in;
frame.

The first option resembles a mini dressing room. If there is a niche in the room, then this is an ideal choice. The walls of the room act as side elements. An important condition for normal operation is a perfectly flat surface of the floor and ceiling, to which the guides are attached. This should ensure the same distance between the rails. Failure to comply with this requirement causes rapid wear of the mechanism and frequent jamming of the rollers.

The frame cabinet consists of side walls, a bottom, a lid, a rear panel and doors. If desired, it can be moved or placed in another room. It has a higher cost, since more materials are used to make it. Suitable for installation in spacious rooms.

For rooms with non-standard geometry or small size, it is worth purchasing a corner design. It saves space and is able to change the disproportionate dimensions of the room.

For the manufacture of the frame, chipboard, MDF, natural wood are used. The latter option is of high quality and cost. The cheapest version of laminated chipboard. Its plus is a wide selection of colors, but there is a risk of releasing harmful chemicals. The middle position in terms of cost and quality is occupied by an MDF frame. This material has a decorative effect, reliability, good ability to imitate natural materials.

Internal filling and storage systems

The internal filling of the cabinet is designed to organize a convenient storage system. Depending on the purpose of the furniture, you can choose accessories. A typical set includes a number of elements.

The bar is designed to accommodate hangers. It is securely fastened along or across, depending on the width of the product. In the second case, it is supplemented with a retractable mechanism. If the crossbar is installed at the top, then a special device (pantograph) will be required. For blouses, shirts and skirts, a distance of 0.8 to 1 m is sufficient. Longer wardrobe items (dresses, raincoats, coats, etc.) will require from 1.5 to 1.6 m. To determine the vertical dimensions of the opening, add 20 cm to the maximum length of the garment.
No closet is complete without shelves. They can be pulled out to provide access to the remote part. To limit movement, clamps are installed on them. The optimal distance between them is 30-35 cm.
Drawers are suitable for storing small items. They move easily thanks to the roller system. By design, the boxes are closed or mesh. Some of them have partitions inside, which allows you to quickly find the right thing.
Retractable trousers consist of several parallel slats. Allows you to keep your clothes in perfect shape.
A similar device, but smaller, is used for belts, ties, scarves, scarves.
The lower part is usually reserved for shoes. It is installed on trellised supports of an inclined shape. This principle ensures good ventilation. Boots with high tops are more convenient to hang with plastic clips.
The top tier is suitable for things that are used occasionally. Its height is from 0.4 to 0.6 m.

Folding cabinet front designs

According to the method of execution, furniture facades are divided into solid and frame. The first type is a canvas made from one type of material. It can be: natural wood, chipboard, MDF, glass, mirrors, etc.

Frame structures provide more space for the implementation of design ideas. They consist of a frame and a panel. For the frame, MDF or aluminum profiles are most often used. Inserts are made from different materials. In a cabinet with sliding doors, it is preferable to install frame structures, as they are lighter.

When purchasing a wardrobe in any room, each owner strives for the product to be not only stylish and attractive, but also convenient and practical. Comfortable wardrobe "accordion" with folding doors will help you make optimal use of the space of the room. It is suitable for storing things, as well as various household items. This design is remarkable in a special way of opening doors. Consider the pros and cons of such a product.

Features and Benefits

Such cabinets got their name because of the opening mechanism. The doors consist of several sectors that fold like accordion furs. The main advantages of such furniture include:

Comfort and ease of use. Folding doors - "book" help to easily and conveniently turn an ordinary wardrobe into a whole dressing room. The facade can be completely folded. In this case, you will immediately see the contents of all the shelves.

Folding doors in this way are convenient to use in corner models. This will allow you to optimally organize the space. Unlike hinged analogues, such doors are compact in size, light in weight, so they are easy to use. Even a child can easily open and close the cabinet.

Stylish option. Models that have a similar door opening mechanism usually look very impressive. Modern manufacturers present a wide variety of models to the fashionistas today. To order, you can create the most creative design that you and your loved ones will love.

Wide range of goods. Based on the previous paragraph, the following follows, namely, an expanded number of models that are in modern furniture stores. Choose the best option for your apartment. Do not forget that the product should organically fit into the style concept of the house.

Each sash in the models is interchangeable. Thus, if damaged, you can easily replace it with a new part. In this case, it is not necessary to disassemble the entire structure.

The advantages include the almost silent operation of the mechanism.

Product availability. You can buy models at any furniture store or make your own. At the same time, remember that if you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to trust the hands of experienced craftsmen who will quickly and accurately create the desired option.

Democratic price. You can buy a cabinet at the price that will be relevant for you at the moment.

In this case, you will not spend the entire family budget, but you will get a worthwhile thing.

With all the variety of advantages, it is worth noting a number of disadvantages of such furniture:

No bottom rails. Such folding cabinet doors are unstable.

Folding canvases have a short service life. Typically, the service life is approximately five to seven years.

The more doors an object has, the less structural strength will be.

It is important to make the correct installation of the guides so that there is a flat surface. This will affect the life of the roller mechanism and the hinges that connect the panels.

Before buying a product, you should weigh the pros and cons and decide which model suits you best.

How to choose?

If you decide to opt for cabinets with accordion doors, then you should responsibly approach the choice of product.

Be sure to initially take measurements in order to know exactly the required furniture parameters.

Of course, the design with such doors cannot be called durable, therefore When choosing equipment, pay attention to the following points:

The quality of the raw materials used. You should not spare money for a really worthwhile model. It can serve you for a long time. For a built-in wardrobe, sashes made of plastic or MDF are perfect. Wooden models will have an impressive weight. This design will not last long.

Price. Many buyers initially focus on the cost of the purchase. It is worth remembering that if the product is very expensive, this does not guarantee its high quality. However, cheap options will not last long, as they usually contain impractical materials.

If you are looking for more durable models, then you should choose a cabinet with profile frames. In this case, each section will be enclosed in an aluminum frame. Pay attention to the smooth opening of the valves. Before buying, test the model yourself, make sure that all mechanisms work perfectly, and also see if there are any large gaps between adjacent panels.
Rate the hardware. Usually, complete with plastic doors, there are the same guides, hinges, handles that will not be durable.

It is better to choose such elements from steel or aluminum, since it is on them that a large load will fall.

Look at the type of roller mechanism. There are support and suspension options. The former will be much more reliable. In this case, such a design will involve the installation of a lower guide. Check the quality of all connections. The door must not wobble. It is worth noting that the period of use of such a cabinet will also depend on its correct installation. Therefore, this process is best entrusted to the hands of experienced professionals.

Kinds

The modern furniture market is replete with a variety of cabinet options, where there is such a system as a book or "accordion". You can choose the option that suits you. Consider the main types:

By the number of leaves. One of the most popular models are two-leaf and four-leaf options. They help to effectively save space. You will be able to put all your necessary things in the closet.

Direct. Such models can be successfully placed in any room. Everything will depend on the dimensions of the cabinet and the area of \u200b\u200bthe room. So, for example, in the bedroom you can put a stylish option where you can fold bed linen.
Corner. These models will help to optimally organize the space. You can put such a closet in the hallway. So you can save space and find a comfortable thing for storing shoes, outerwear and other necessary items.

Kitchen. It is worth noting that in addition to options for bedrooms and the hall, there are special options for similar models for the kitchen. You can emphasize the zest of this room, bring brightness and colorfulness to the interior. At the same time, be sure to check the quality of the furniture mechanisms.
With a mirror. Cabinets with accordion doors can also be mirrored. This little nuance will help you dress for work, evaluating your appearance. Convenience and practicality are a feature of these models.