The nation’s biggest queries on flat-pack furniture and how to avoid a DIY nightmare
Flatpack furniture, you either love it or hate it. It can be the star of your home renovation or the bane of your life. But what do Brits want to know about it?
GTSE has collated the biggest queries surrounding flat packs1 with queries falling into two categories: sustainability and assembling instructions. People want to know if flat pack furniture is environmentally friendly and suitable for mass consumption. But what about actually using it? The biggest queries are on how to assemble it correctly and accident-free.
From this, it’s clear that people need a bit of a guide on how to avoid a DIY disaster. From students moving into their new flat to young professionals wanting to renovate. So, to save people a headache, GTSE has put together some handy tips…
- Lay down all parts
Flatpack furniture is the grown-up version of Tetris… that’s just facts. Make sure you have all your parts laid out, visible and be careful not to lose any during the process. Also, make sure you prepare all the tools you need before starting, so you won’t be stuck midway looking for that particular size of pozidriv screwdriver. And on that actually…
- Know your tools
Make sure you know what tools you need beforehand. A lot of self-assembled furnishings come with essential tools however it’s worth having the basics just in case including a hammer, a rubber mallet, an adjustable wrench, a set of screwdrivers, measuring tape, and a level. Using power tools like a drill can ease work and make the assembling faster but if you’re a first-time DIY’er, go steady on the electrics to avoid splitting the materials. A top tip is to stop before the screw is completely in and tighten the rest by hand to ensure the screw doesn’t go in further than needed.
- Don’t improvise
You might love improvising, but this is not the time for that! Instructions are there for a reason, so follow them. And don’t skip ahead. We know you want to, but trust us, it’s a bad idea. All steps are carefully calculated and make sense as they are.
- Get help
Lifting, balancing, assembling heavy panels can be a workout! Don’t be shy, ask for help. Whether from a friend, roommate, or significant other, it’s always a good idea to have an extra pair of hands and make sure you put your new furniture together accident-free.
- Work where you need to be
Are you sitting in the living room assembling a dresser for your upstairs bedroom? Make your job easier and move as close as you can to where the furniture needs to be. This will also help you plan for measurements and making sure you actually have the space to put your perfect new piece in. Would be a shame to assemble it all just to find out it doesn’t fit.
- Fall back
Be realistic. If anything, else fails, get help. Assembling complicated furniture might just not be the best idea all the time. If that’s the case, hire a professional that does it for you!
- Check the doors before tightening up
Before you tighten any hinges, ensure that the doors of your furniture are straight and they open and close well. This will help avoid any last-minute disasters.
- Keep the instructions!
Many self-assembly furniture items come with assembly keys and a set of instructions. When you’ve finished putting your furniture together, instead of throwing them away, tape the keys and instructions to the back of your furniture so you’ll always have them to hand if you ever have to move, dismantle or adjust your furniture.
