Furnish a room from flatpack

A multi-day plan for assembling, anchoring and troubleshooting flatpack wardrobes and drawers, using sequential guides for safe, sturdy results.

Guides in this project

01Assemble flatpack furniture without the frustration 02Assemble a flatpack wardrobe 03Assemble a flatpack chest of drawers 04Anchor tall furniture to a wall 05Fix flatpack drawers that don't run straight 06Adjust wardrobe and cabinet door hinges

FR-01Plan the room and order your flatpackMeasure the room and doorways, and check delivery access before you order a wardrobe and chest of drawers. Decide where each piece will sit, bearing in mind both need to be anchored to a wall later, so avoid positions over a window or radiator. If you want a socket or light moved to suit the new layout, book an electrician now: adding or moving a socket on an existing circuit is not notifiable in England, but it is still their job, not yours. Budget roughly £400 to £700 total for furniture, fixings and tools across this project, and plan for two to three weekends.

RULES

1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Dust sheet

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1 each · Notepad for parts checklist

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KNOW THE RULES

Moving or adding a socket on an existing circuit is not notifiable work in England. In Wales it can be notifiable, so check with your electrician if unsure.

FR-02Unpack and sort all the flatpack partsFollow 'Assemble flatpack furniture without the frustration' to unpack both boxes, lay out panels, and sort screws, dowels and cam locks into labelled trays before you touch a screwdriver. Doing both the wardrobe and chest at once means parts can get mixed up, so keep each kit's hardware separate. This phase usually takes half a day and saves far more time later than it costs now.

1 each · Cordless drill-driver

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1 each · Allen key set

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4 each · Small parts trays

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FR-03Build the wardrobe carcassFollow 'Assemble a flatpack wardrobe' to build the main frame, doors and any shelving before you move it into its final position. Build it as close to its final spot as practical, since a built wardrobe is heavy and awkward to carry far. This is normally a full day's work for one or two people, and it is the phase most likely to overrun if panels are mislabelled.

1 each · Wardrobe flatpack kit

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1 bottle · Wood glue (for loose dowels)

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4 each · Furniture floor sliders

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FR-04Build the chest of drawersFollow 'Assemble a flatpack chest of drawers' once the wardrobe is out of the way, so you have floor space to work. This is lighter work than the wardrobe and usually takes half a day to a day. Check drawers slide smoothly before you fit any handles, since it is much easier to fix a sticking runner now than after everything is screwed together.

1 each · Chest of drawers flatpack kit

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1 set · Drawer handles

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1 each · Candle wax or dry lubricant

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FR-05Anchor both pieces to the wallFollow 'Anchor tall furniture to a wall' for both the wardrobe and the chest of drawers; this is not optional with children or pets in the house, since flatpack furniture can tip. Use a cable and pipe detector before drilling into the wall, and still expect to find something unexpected, so drill carefully and stop if you feel resistance or see dust discolouration. This phase is quick on its own, usually an hour or two per item, but do it before you fully load the drawers or shelves.

2 each · Anti-tip furniture strap kit

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1 pack · Wall plugs and screws, assorted

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1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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1 each · Spirit level

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FR-06Fix any drawers that don't run straightFollow 'Fix flatpack drawers that don't run straight' if any drawer sticks, drops, or runs at an angle once the furniture is anchored and loaded. This is common after moving a finished unit into place, since the frame can flex slightly. Check this before you unpack clothes or belongings into the drawers, so you are not emptying them twice.

1 set · Replacement drawer runners (if needed)

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1 each · Silicone lubricant spray

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FR-07Final check and snaggingGo back over every anchor point and tighten any that have worked loose during assembly and loading. Fit felt pads under anything that sits on the floor, and check doors and drawers close evenly. If an electrician moved or added a socket for this room, confirm they've tested it and given you a written record of the work, since this is standard practice even for non-notifiable jobs. Allow a final half day for this snagging pass, roughly a week after you finish building, once the furniture has settled.

1 pack · Felt floor pads

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1 pack · Cable tidy or clips

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