Furniture Assembly Help

Pay someone to assemble

• TaskRabbit — $50-100 typical. IKEA-certified taskers in cities. Fast.
• Handy.com — $40-80. Pre-vetted assemblers.
• IKEA in-store — IKEA partners with TaskRabbit at checkout.
• Wayfair — assembly add-on at checkout via Handy.
• Amazon assembly — checkout add-on for many items.
• Local handyman — call Nextdoor recommendations.

DIY tips

1. Read ALL instructions BEFORE opening parts bag.
2. Lay out all parts. Match to inventory list.
3. Don't fully tighten until ALL parts are in place.
4. Power drill speeds it up 3x. Use clutch on low torque to avoid stripping.
5. Allen wrench cramping hand? Buy a $10 hex bit set for power drill.
6. Read step number 4 ahead of time — usually the trick step.
7. Have a partner for big items (sofas, beds, tall shelves).

When things go wrong

• Missing part — every brand has free replacement service. IKEA app, Wayfair chat.
• Stripped screw hole — wood toothpicks + glue, then re-screw.
• Part on backwards — STOP, look at picture twice. Most "wrong" parts are upside down.
• Stuck dowel — tap with rubber mallet (or wrap hammer with cloth).

YouTube saves the day

• Search "[exact item name] assembly" on YouTube.
• Most popular IKEA/Wayfair items have walk-through videos.
• Pause + rewind — way easier than paper instructions.
• iPad propped up beats squinting at tiny print.