Take flatpack furniture apart to move house

Take flatpack furniture apart methodically, labelling every fixing, so you can rebuild it easily in your new home.

FF-01Clear the space and gather your toolsClear a flat, well-lit area and lay down a dust sheet or old blanket. Get together an Allen key set, small flathead screwdriver, cam lock key and a marker pen. Take a few photos of the item before you start, especially any hidden brackets, so reassembly is easier later.

1 each · Dust sheet or old blanket

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1 each · Allen key set

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1 each · Small flathead screwdriver

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1 each · Permanent marker pen

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FF-02Empty the item completelyTake out all contents first: clothes, books, or whatever is stored inside. Remove any glass shelves or mirrors before you do anything else and wrap them separately so they don't get chipped or broken during the rest of the job.

2 m · Bubble wrap

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FF-03Check for, and remove, any wall fixingTall wardrobes and bookcases are sometimes screwed to the wall with an anti-tip strap or bracket for safety — check the top back corners. If one is fitted, undo the screw from the furniture side first, then the wall side. This is removing an existing screw, not drilling a new one, so there's no need to check for cables or work out the wall type. If a screw won't budge, ease it gently rather than levering against the wall, which can crack plaster.

FF-04Remove doors and drawersSupport each door as you unscrew its hinges from both the door and the cabinet, so it doesn't drop and mark the floor. Slide out all drawers, and take off handles or drawer fronts if you won't need them fitted for the move.

1 each · Screwdriver set

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FF-05Take out shelves and internal fittingsLift out shelves and pull free any shelf support pins or internal dividers. Put small parts like shelf pins straight into a labelled bag so they don't end up loose in a box.

6 each · Ziplock bags

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1 each · Permanent marker pen

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FF-06Undo the main frame joints in orderMost flatpack furniture is held together with cam locks (a round dowel with a slot) and separate wooden dowels. Turn each cam lock a quarter turn anticlockwise with a flathead screwdriver or cam key until it releases, then ease the panel apart evenly from both sides — don't force one corner. Work through the frame in reverse order to how it was likely built, taking photos as you go.

1 each · Cam lock key or flathead screwdriver

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FF-07Label and bag every fixingPut screws, cam locks, dowels and shelf pins into separate bags per section, and write on each bag which panel it belongs to, for example "wardrobe – left side". Tape any loose fixing to its matching panel with masking tape as a backup.

4 each · Ziplock bags

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1 roll · Masking tape

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FF-08Wrap and pack the panelsStack flat panels together with cardboard or an old blanket between them to stop scratches, and wrap exposed edges and corners in bubble wrap. Wrap doors and any glass separately, and keep every hardware bag together in one clearly labelled box.

3 m · Bubble wrap

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4 each · Cardboard sheets

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1 roll · Packing tape

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1 each · Storage box

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FF-09Tidy up and check the roomVacuum up wood dust and check the floor and skirting for any dropped screws or cam locks. If you removed a wall fixing, fill the screw holes with a dab of filler once you've moved out — check with your landlord or letting agent first if you're renting, as some tenancies expect walls left as found.

1 each · Vacuum cleaner

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1 tube · Multi-purpose filler

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1 each · Filler knife

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