How to assemble flat pack furniture

1. Clear enough floor space

Give yourself more room than you think you need. Flat pack panels scratch easily, and a cramped corner makes it much harder to line things up properly.

Put down the cardboard packaging, an old blanket, or a clean dust sheet to protect the furniture and the floor.

2. Check every part before you start

Lay out the panels, legs, rails, hinges, screws, cams, dowels, and brackets. Match them against the instruction sheet before building anything.

If a part is missing or damaged, stop and contact the supplier. Building halfway and then discovering a missing hinge is not ideal. Mildly infuriating, actually.

3. Sort the fixings into small groups

Separate the screws, dowels, cam locks, shelf pins, and wall brackets into small piles or containers. Some screws look almost identical but are slightly different lengths.

Using the wrong screw can split a panel or poke through the finished surface, so it is worth checking twice before driving anything in.

4. Read the instructions once before building

Read the instructions through from start to finish before you pick up the screwdriver. You do not need to memorise them, but it helps to know which way the finished item is meant to face.

Watch for left and right panels, finished edges, drawer runners, and holes that only appear on one side.

5. Start screws by hand

Start screws gently by hand so they go in straight. If you use a drill or driver, keep the torque low and stop before the screw bites too hard.

Flat pack board can strip out if you overtighten it. Snug is usually enough. More force does not make it more professional.

6. Keep the frame square

Before tightening everything fully, check the frame is square and the panels sit flat. If a wardrobe, bookcase, or cabinet is slightly twisted, doors and drawers can become awkward later.

Fit the back panel carefully, as it often helps keep the whole unit square. Take your time here; it does a lot of quiet work.

7. Adjust doors and drawers at the end

Fit doors, drawers, runners, and handles once the main frame is stable. Hinges often have small adjustment screws for moving doors up, down, in, out, or sideways.

Make small adjustments and check the gaps as you go. If you chase perfection too quickly, it is easy to make the other side worse.

8. Fix tall furniture to the wall

Tall or heavy furniture should be secured to the wall where the instructions say so, especially wardrobes, bookcases, and drawer units. It helps prevent tipping.

Use fixings suitable for the wall type. Plasterboard, brick, block, and old crumbly walls all need different approaches. If you are not sure, ask someone who is.

When to call a handyman

Call Richard if the item is heavy, awkward, missing clear instructions, needs fixing to a tricky wall, or has doors and drawers that will not line up. Flat pack can be simple. Well, simple once you have done a few.