Have you moved lately?  Are you faced with putting back together all that furniture you broke down so fast in the old place? Or, maybe you’ve bought some new furniture that has arrived in a daunting flat pack form? Maybe you got a dismantled classic item piece at a garage sale or pulled it from your attic, and now you have to put it back together. Putting furniture together can be a challenge, but here are some tips to get organized and make the process easier.

Couple working together in beautiful living room with laptop on desk

Basic Rules For Easy Furniture Installation And Assembly

A little elbow grease can be good for the soul, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, you could end up with a frustrating experience and a baffling handful of extra parts. Thankfully, furniture assembly is fairly easy if you follow some basic rules. In most cases, all you need are the right tools and a positive mindset.

Our team at Move4Less is not only skilled in the art of moving and relocating people, but, since we do it all the time, we’re also pretty good at disassembling and reassembling furniture. Here are a few of our basic furniture assembly tips to help you with your furniture assembly challenge:

1. Make Measurements Ahead of Time

adult couple measuring the room for new furniture in their apartment

If you’re planning to add a new piece of furniture to  your home, do some planning before you buy it.  It’s important to consider the space where the item will go so you don’t end up with something that is too big or too small, or that sticks out and bruises everyone who walks by.

You may assume you know the size of your kitchen or bedroom, but take the time to measure the length and width of the area where you would like the piece to go. Plan for adequate walkways and breathing room between barriers. If you are adding more than one piece, you can sketch out the room on a piece of graph paper or a free online room planning app to see what sizes and shapes fit best and how the room will be arranged.  Some planning ahead will also save your back the pain of extra unnecessary furniture moving if your first setup doesn’t work out.

Tip: For a realistic view of the new arrangement, lay some painter’s tape (easily removable) on the floor to outline the dimensions of the furniture you plan to add so you can experience the layout in real terms and decide if it works for you and your household.

2.Have the Right Tools on Hand

A range of hand tools for carpentry, assembly or construction lined up in graphic rendering

You don’t have to have a professional set of tools, but there are a few essential items that you’ll need for most furniture assembly tasks, including:

  • Measuring tape
  • Screwdrivers (if you don’t already have your own, look for a set that includes Phillips and Slot Head screwdrivers in multiple sizes)
  • Hammer
  • Rubber mallet
  • 60- to 80-grit sandpaper
  • Allen wrench

You may need other items. Before you start, read through the assembly instructions for the furniture you have purchased. The manufacturer will usually list the tools you will need for the job.

3. Prepare your Workspace

A word of advice. Don’t assemble something in a room other than the space in which you plan to leave it. In other words, don’t assemble your new bedroom set in the living room. You may find out that getting a fully assembled piece of furniture through a narrow doorway to another room is not going to happen. Instead, clear a workspace in the room where the new item will reside and bring all the pieces into that area to begin assembly. Bring in all your tools and supplies in advance, so you can focus on the work rather than go rummaging around the garage halfway through for the tool you need to finish the job.

4. IKEA Assembly

IKEA assembly can be it’s own challenge. This European furniture designer has found its way into many American homes – and for good reason! IKEA’s furnishings are stylish and wallet-friendly, but they have posed a challenge to many DIY furniture assembly newbies. IKEA will provide instructions and all the components you need. It’s a good idea to read them through entirely before you start, then follow the instructions step by step exactly because taking shortcuts can lead to problems or even leftover parts after you think you are done. Some of their pieces can be quite complex, so get furniture assembly help if you need it. IKEA has some convenient online videos to help with specific pieces.

5.Recruit a Friend

a young couple is moving into their new flat and assembling their furniture.

Most self-assembly options are easier performed by two people. For example, if you are dealing with heavy pieces of plywood or particle board, for the sake of your back or to avoid other injuries, don’t try to lift these on your own.  As you work, a friend can help with parts and tools, and read the instructions, making the process easier and faster.

6. Look Online

Don’t hesitate to search online for more videos and blogs that may help with your specific item.  A lot of manufacturers provide detailed online help for setting up and caring for their furniture items.

If your piece is a classic and you find there are missing parts, don’t give up. You may find missing pieces on eBay, antique dealer websites, and even Amazon sells spare furniture parts.

Move 4 Less Provides Furniture Installation Services

Sometimes DIY is not the answer. If you would like fast, affordable furniture installation and assembly help in Las Vegas, give Move4Less a call and we’ll take care of the job for you.