Assembling furniture is probably the least exciting part of the decoration. While it would be helpful if all of the furniture was pre-assembled, all major furniture stores sell pieces that are not. While Ikea is the first place that comes to my mind, Restoration Hardware even has flat pack items. Regardless of your budget, it is difficult to avoid this dilemma.
The assembly of your furniture is not necessarily negative. It can save you money and create feelings of pride and satisfaction. An article from Harvard Business School in 2011 entitled “The Ikea Affect” concludes that we put more emphasis on assembling our own furniture. However, the method to accomplish this can be particularly frustrating and can often involve cursing the inventor of miniature screwdrivers. If you've always wanted to learn the secret of assembling furniture without suffering, there's only one way. Pay someone to do it for you. But if you insist on these feelings of momentary bliss every time you walk past your BILLY bookcase, it's important to approach him like a pro.
Think before you buy
Consider the assembly process before clicking "Buy". Billy Rojas, CEO of A + Assembly Services, a highly rated furniture assembly service in San Diego, California, recommends reading online reviews and testimonials before buying the item to get a clearer idea of the process. This way there are no surprises when the box arrives. If a significant project exceeds your skills, Rojas suggests looking for parts that are partially assembled. "Sometimes you only have to attach two or three parts," he says.
Be realistic with yourself
As indicated by a Thumbtack artisan, some articles, such as B. padded bed frames, probably best left to professionals. He explained: “The upholstery is stretched and attached to wooden frames. The frames are equipped with built-in connection points, which are often blocked, covered or misaligned by the upholstery. “Chests of drawers can also be a challenge. Not because they are particularly difficult to assemble, but because the process is so lengthy. A full size chest of drawers with six drawers can contain up to 300 parts and components, as indicated by Thumbtack's representative. Johnson noted that the process is more difficult because "the drawers are usually assembled separately and then have to be aligned with the larger piece".
Open the box carefully
Don't damage the furniture or your floor before you start. DiClerico says the box should be opened carefully as scissors or box cutters can be damaged. Use the box to protect your flooring while building.
Assemble in the right place
Think about it again while you may be tempted to comfortably put together a desk for your home office. Danny DeClerico, Housing Specialist at HomeAdvisor, emphasized the importance of assembling furniture in the area where it is used, especially for heavier parts. "This cabinet or corner desk is not only a problem when moving, but can also scratch walls and floors with every movement."
Read the instructions
The first thing to do before doing anything else is to read the assembly instructions. Then read it again. Understand the process for what you're going to do. DiClerico also urges you to review the instructions from time to time.
Prepare yourself for success
After carefully unpacking, DiClerico says it's best to identify all of the parts. Then group similar elements and create them one after the other. "Professionals often store small hardware such as screws and nuts in plastic cups to prevent them from rolling away or getting mixed up."
The Thumbtack craftsman added: “Take a moment to check the correct alignment of the components involved: top, bottom, left, right, front, back. Finished edges usually point up or forward. The left and right sides are usually mirrored images with finished surfaces facing out or up. For components that look the same but are not the same, the appearance is used for variations in hole spacing or quantity. The top or bottom part can have additional holes or pins. "
Janice Simonsen, an Ikea design spokeswoman, says she should look at the instructions and the appearance of the arrows. They indicate the correct position in which a part must be in order to ensure proper assembly.
- Then make sure you assemble everything in the correct order.
- Otherwise errors can very likely occur.
safety first
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about a quarter of all accidents involve furnishings such as chests of drawers and tables. Especially if you have young children, heavier items need to be anchored to the wall with straps, brackets or clips. Thumbtack's artisan told me that large, bulky, tall items such as wardrobes or closets could be dangerous to assemble. “Structural integrity is only achieved in the final assembly steps. Inserting the last parts and placing the device on your feet can be dangerous. "
If you are unsure whether two people need to be assembled for a particular part, Johnson recommends reviewing the instructions. Note that the Ikea instructions always indicate this. But maybe this advice from him is almost all sensible: "Don't try to be a hero. Find a helper." While paying a local professional to assemble your furniture doesn't result in an "Ikea effect", you become certain Feel satisfaction when you know that your skills ultimately lie in the art of delegation.
