If you need to assemble an IKEA closet for the first time, it is useful to have a look at some experience advice. You can avoid beginner mistakes and frustration. Below are some tips for assembling a cabinet yourself. Making a closet will be easier than you think.
Cabinets from IKEA
IKEA sells many cabinets, such as cabinets with doors, cabinets with sliding doors, cabinets with hanging file drawers, lockable cabinets, open cabinets with / without glass doors, high cabinets for the kitchen, high cabinets with shelves, shelving cabinets, cabinets on wheels, cabinets with drawers, display cabinets, sideboards and buffets.
Assemble the cabinet yourself
A number of steps are described below, which simplify the assembly of a cabinet and prevent errors.
- First read the assembly instructions completely, so that you get an impression of how the cabinet should be assembled;
- Imagine (based on the manual) what the cabinet will look like;
- The assembly instructions are not always clear. You will then have to think logically;
- Clear the place where the cabinet is to be placed;
- Make enough work space free for the place where the cabinet will be to mount the cabinet;
- Remove all cabinet elements from the box and arrange all furniture parts sort by type, for example the plates of the back, the sides of the cupboard, the top and bottom of the cupboard, the doors of the cupboard and possibly the sides, fronts and bottoms of drawers of different sizes;
- Put all supplied screws, nails, plugs, etc. out of the plastic bag in a container;
- Get the necessary hand tools, usually a hammer to hammer in wall plugs, an awl to punch holes for small screws, and a screwdriver. A ratchet screwdriver is useful, because it requires less force;
- Assemble the same parts, such as cabinet doors or drawers, one by one. To avoid confusion, only take the parts you need for this;
- If you have mounted dowels on both sides of a shelf and attached (by pushing) to another part on one side, make sure that the shelf remains straight or level. If you do not do this, the plug will break out of the shelf before you can place the correct part on the other side. The broken part can possibly be repaired with wood glue and tensioners;
- Part of the supplied materials is the wall mount. This is not always necessary;
- If you are assembling a cupboard for the first time, it will be easier to do it in pairs. Your helper can hold the planks (see point 10), help drive screws, study the steps in the manual while you are at it, etc .;
- Sometimes there are small errors in the kit, for example pre-drilled holes that are too small or half-tight. You can easily make it bigger with some kind of tool;
- You can also finish the cabinet in parts. It doesn’t have to be ready in one go.
Have the cabinet assembled
If you do not have the time, desire or experience to assemble the cabinet yourself, you can have it done for a fee. At IKEA you can ask to provide your details (name and address + installation requirements) to an installation company in your region, who will then contact you.
The prices (incl. VAT) that the assembly companies use for assembling IKEA system (wardrobe) cabinets, excluding necessary materials and any travel costs are:
- Cabinet element per piece including doors, legs, plinths: 40, – Euro;
- Drawers per piece including placing drawer front: 13 Euro;
- Accessories such as: lighting, baskets, clothes rail, etc. each: 10.- Euro.
Prices for so-called ready-made cabinets (depending on type & version) and for the mounting of sliding doors are on request.