You’re not alone if assembling Ikea furniture stresses you out, but these genius hacks will save you hours of frustration
From wood glue to purchasing a power drill, here are some quick tips and tricks that will make the daunting task of assembling Ikea furniture easier.
By Monica Humphries
For many people, assembling Ikea furniture is the most stressful part of the entire Ikea experience.
And sofas, in particular, seem to cause the most stress, according to a report published by Household Quotes, a site that helps homeowners and renters find quotes for household jobs.
But there are a few ways you can make Ikea furniture assembly a little easier.
The report analyzed 50,000 Ikea-themed tweets. Of the tweets referring to Ikea sofas, about 50% showed “signs of agitation.” Cupboards, nightstands, and dressers also topped the list of the most-stressful furniture pieces to assemble.
Here are some handy hacks for your next Ikea build.
Skim through all the instructions first
This step might seem obvious, but it can be easy to jump to step one without reading anything else first. Avoid doing that, and instead, skim through all the steps. This will help create a picture of what the entire process is going to look like.
Ideally, this mental roadmap will help you realize when something is going wrong. Once you have read the instructions through everything, take a deep breath, go back to step one, and start building.
Skip the included tools and buy your own power tools
Most Ikea flatpacks come with a set of tools, usually an Allen wrench. But these small-sized tools can make simple tasks more challenging. Swap in your own tools or consider investing in a small toolkit, rent.com blogger Lesly Gregory suggests. For example, a power screwdriver ($29 on Amazon) is well worth the investment. This screwdriver will not only save you time when it comes to twisting and turning dozens of screws, but it will also make sure every screw is tightly secured in the couch.
Another helpful tool is a level, though you could also try your phones’ leveling app if it has one. Check to make sure the sofa, or any piece of furniture, is level throughout the building process. This way you won’t end up with a couch that’s uneven and wobbly.
Buy a bottle of wood glue
Glue is never required when building Ikea furniture, but it can help, according to The Spruce writer Deirdre Sullivan. The glue will strengthen the furniture and help avoid any wobbling. Just make sure you buy the right type of glue.
Some Ikea sofas use wooden dowels, so add a drop or two wood glue ($11 on Amazon) into the holes for a snug, permanent fit.
You can also purchase glue designed for metal ($14 on Amazon), which can help with assembling all types of Ikea furniture.
Finally, there’s no shame in hiring someone to help
It took Kristen McGowan 10 hours to build and assemble her bed from Ikea.
“I’m not doing that again,” the interior designer and content creator told Insider. For all of her following Ikea furniture purchases, she’s paid someone to put the pieces together.
As Insider previously reported, in 2017, Ikea recognized how common it was to hire help, so the company acquired TaskRabbit, a service that helps people find and hire labor for everyday tasks.
Now on Ikea’s website, you can get a quote for how much it will cost to hire someone to help you build the piece. Then, go to TaskRabbit’s website and book a builder under its Ikea Services section. Similar companies, like Thumbtack, serve the same purpose of helping buyers get connected with furniture builders.
No matter if you hire someone for help or end up doing it yourself with a power screwdriver, adding new furniture to your home can be a fun and exciting process, so try to avoid the stress.
Ikea did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
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