10 of the Hardest Pieces of Furniture to Assemble On Your Own

If you are like most consumers, you are familiar with the IKEA brand. The company began selling furniture in 1948 and there are now 313 stores scattered across 38 countries. With an affordable price tag and eco-friendly furniture designs, IKEA is synonymous with value and sustainability.

In addition to an attractive design and price tag, most IKEA furniture is fairly easy to assemble. But there are exceptions to this rule. There are some IKEA furnishings that are known to lead to frustration and assembly errors among do-it-yourself assemblers. Below are ten of the hardest piece of furniture to assemble on your own and the best step you can take to avoid these assembly pitfalls.

1) NORDLI Floating Headboard Bed with Drawers

Appearances can be deceiving. With its basic frame and simple six-drawer style, the NORDLI Floating Headboard Bed with Drawers looks like it would be a breeze to assemble. But one glance at the 24 pages of instructions is enough to overwhelm even the most patient do-it-yourselfers. And with several hours of assembly time required, it is not a surprise that customer reviews include comments such as, "Love the storage. A bear to put together though." 

2) BRIMNES Storage Bed

A stationary cousin to the BRIMNES Daybed, the BRIMNES Storage Bed is a popular choice for first-time young homeowners or those facing space limitations. And the bed's clean lines and four spacious storage drawers make it a winner, pickup and assembly of the bed can be a challenge. If you plan to buy in person, you will need to pick up the slatted base and SKORVA midbeam separately and then set aside several hours for assembly. 

3) HEMNES Dresser

IKEA's HEMNES Dresser features a classic 8 drawer style that customers love. But assembly is another story. Even relatively experienced buyers can be intimidated by the instructions, which include more than 40 steps. Even worse, the instructions contain images only, leaving buyers to guess what some images are trying to convey. 

4) PAX Wardrobe

The PAX Wardrobe makes a sleek, sophisticated addition to your bedroom. But it is viewed by many as the most difficult IKEA piece to assemble. There are assembly barriers galore with this piece, and you need to set aside four hours to put the PAX together. Here are some other assembly problems:

• Massive Boxes: This wardrobe is packed in massive 7-foot tall boxes which can present lifting and transportation challenges.
• Over 150 Parts: The sheer number of parts is enough to overwhelm relatively experienced do-it-yourselfers.
• Sliding Doors: Many people find furniture with sliding doors to be especially tricky to assemble. 

5) BESTA Wall Mounted Unit

The BESTA Wall Mounted TV Units look fantastic once they are installed. But getting to that point is nothing short of complicated and takes about four hours. And if you do not carefully secure the upper level cabinets to your wall, they can become dislodged and come crashing down on you, your family members, or your pets. You also must use extra care during installation because the unit features fragile glass doors and a high gloss finish. 

6) VIDGA Triple Curtain Rail

If you feel comfortable climbing a ladder, using a saw and assessing the quality of your drywall, then installing the VIDGA Triple Curtain Rail will not seem too challenging. But if you are like many homeowners, you may not even own a saw or a laser level - much less feel comfortable using them. And if you make a mistake installing your rails, your curtains will not hang in a symmetrical fashion. 

7) BILLY/OXBERG Bookcase

With its attractive finish, glass doors, and spacious design, it is not a surprise that the BILLY / OXBERG Bookcase is a hot commodity for homeowners. But assembling this bookcase takes several hours and extensive care to refrain from breaking the glass pieces. Additionally, fixing the bookcase to the wall can prove to be a challenge and fixing devices are not provided. 

8) STUVA/FRITIDS Loft Bed

With its colorful design and host of nooks and cupboards, the STUVA / FRITIDS Loft Bed offers a great combination of attractiveness and versatility. However, with so many moving parts, these loft beds often require two people to put them together and can take the better part of a day to complete. 

9) LIATORP TV Storage Combination

The LIATORP TV Storage Combination is over ten feet long and features a symmetrical myriad of shelves, panels, glass doors, and drawers. And while the assembled product is both beautiful and functional, the road to complete assembly is not an easy one - even for a two-person team. With a total of nine assembly instruction articles (one for each system component), you could spend hours just reviewing assembly documents. 

10) The GALANT Storage Combination

Measuring over 10 feet long when fully assembled, the GALANT Storage Combination offers plenty of space for your books, keepsakes, and pictures. However, assembling the GALANT presents multiple challenges. First, the set is packed in multiple cartons, with some weighing over 60 pounds and measuring over 5 feet long. Second, some people find the sliding doors to be tricky to install. And third, assembly is best handled by two or more people.

What should you do if you purchase one of these pieces?

While the IKEA furniture options listed above present some assembly challenges, they remain popular among customers. The key to ensuring your satisfaction is to hire a professional home furniture assembly specialist if you plan to buy any of the sets listed above. With the help of an experienced assembly expert, you can devote your attention to your family or work while your new furniture is assembled quickly and accurately.

As the most trusted furniture assembly specialist serving Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., Delaware, and Pennsylvania, Any Assembly offers immediate assembly of your furniture 24 hours a day. In addition to specializing in assembly of IKEA furniture, we can assist with a variety of other home installation projects. To learn why so many homeowners across turn to us to put together their most challenging furnishings, we invite you to contact us today. We look forward to helping you enjoy your new IKEA furniture!