I’ve assembled hundreds of pieces of IKEA, JYSK and other flat-pack furniture – and I keep seeing the same mistakes. In this article I’ll show you how to get assembly right, fast and without unnecessary frustration. And I’ll be honest about when it’s worth leaving it to me.
Rather not do it yourself? I’ll come with my tools, assemble, level and anchor everything to the wall. In Prague from 1,450 CZK including travel and the first hour of work – and I speak English. → Handyman for furniture assembly · +420 774 399 400
Before you start: preparation that saves hours
Check the contents of the box
Before you screw anything together, lay out all the parts and check them against the list in the manual. Find out about a missing screw or panel now – not halfway through. IKEA replaces missing parts free of charge, but you need to know what’s missing.
Prepare your work area
Assembling on carpet or a wooden floor? Put the cardboard from the packaging underneath – scratches happen fast. A clean hard floor or an old blanket is ideal.
Tools you’ll need
IKEA includes Allen keys, but they make assembly slow. For faster work I recommend:
- A cordless screwdriver with bits and a sensitive clutch (set a low torque)
- A rubber mallet for dowels and connectors
- A spirit level – essential for wardrobes and shelves
- A tape measure – check dimensions before you fix anything to the wall
No cordless screwdriver or spirit level, and don’t want to buy them for one wardrobe? I bring a full tool kit and anchoring hardware – just book furniture assembly.
The most common IKEA assembly mistakes
1. Doing the steps in the wrong order
Every manual has a logical sequence. Skip one step and you often have to take half the wardrobe apart again. Read the whole manual before you start.
2. Cam locks not fully tightened
A cam lock (the rotating connector) has to sit in the right position and be fully tightened. A loose cam lock = a wobbly wardrobe. Check each one after tightening.
3. Over-tightened screws in chipboard
Chipboard has limited strength. An over-tightened screw strips the thread, and fixing it is tricky. Tighten firmly, but stop as soon as you feel resistance.
4. Assembling without a spirit level
A wardrobe that isn’t level wobbles, the doors won’t close properly and the shelves tilt. Two minutes with a level saves hours of adjustments.
5. A sloppy back panel
The back panel (HDF board) stiffens the whole unit. Without it the wardrobe twists. Before you nail it on, make sure the frame is square – both diagonals must be the same length.
Wardrobe wobbling, doors not lining up, or left half-built? I’ll come, tighten, adjust and fine-tune – including furniture you started assembling yourself. → Furniture Assembly Prague
How to assemble an IKEA PAX wardrobe
PAX is the wardrobe I assemble most often – and the one where people most often get stuck. The process in a nutshell:
- Measure your ceiling height. The 236 cm PAX frame has to be tilted upright – in a room with a ceiling under roughly 240 cm you won’t be able to stand it up. Then you need the lower 201 cm version.
- Assemble the frame lying on its back, on a protective layer. Nail on the back panel while it’s still lying down – after checking the diagonals.
- Stand it up with two people. Raising the frame is the riskiest moment – on your own it’s easy to break a corner or scratch the ceiling. No one to help? Call me – I’ll assemble a full PAX combination in a morning.
- Anchor it to the wall straight after standing it up, before adding interior fittings and doors.
- Doors and hinges last. The hinges have three adjustment screws (height, depth, side) – adjust the doors so the gaps are even all round.
One PAX frame with doors takes me about 45–60 minutes; a full 2–3 m combination takes 3–5 hours.
How to anchor an IKEA wardrobe to the wall
Tall wardrobes and dressers (PAX, BILLY, MALM, HEMNES) must be anchored to the wall – it’s not optional, it’s a safety requirement, especially if you have children. A tipped-over dresser is one of the most common causes of injuries to small children at home.
- Find out what your wall is made of – brick, concrete panel, drywall or hollow blocks.
- Choose the right wall plug. IKEA doesn’t include wall fixings – you need to buy plugs to suit your wall. See How to Choose the Right Wall Plug.
- With drywall, anchor into a stud or use special cavity wall plugs.
- Use the supplied anti-tip strap or bracket and fix it with at least two screws – never just one.
Not sure what your wall is made of, or don’t want to drill into concrete? Wall anchoring is part of every furniture assembly I do – I bring the right plugs and drill bits.
How much does furniture assembly by a handyman cost
With me you pay for the time actually worked – the minimum order is 1,450 CZK (includes travel within Prague and the first hour), each additional hour 490 CZK. As a guide:
| Furniture | Time |
|---|---|
| MALM dresser | approx. 1 h |
| Double bed | approx. 1 h |
| PAX wardrobe – one frame with doors | approx. 1 h |
| PAX combination 2–3 m | 3–5 h |
| Whole kids’ room | half a day |
→ What I assemble, how it works and answers to common questions: handyman for furniture assembly in Prague.
When to leave assembly to a handyman
- Large combinations – a full PAX wardrobe, a kitchen
- You don’t have the tools, or anyone to help raise the frame
- You want to be sure it’s anchored properly (especially with kids)
- You simply don’t have the time or the patience
In any of these cases, just send me links to the furniture and I’ll give you an estimate of time and price. Book furniture assembly →
How to fix chipped edges
During transport or assembly, the laminate on an edge sometimes chips off. Solution: a touch-up marker or wax pencil in the furniture’s colour – IKEA sells them for its own products.
Don’t want the hassle? Call me on +420 774 399 400 – I’ll come, assemble it and anchor it to the wall. Prices and details on the Furniture Assembly Prague page.