Flat pack furniture comes with a bit of a reputation for being somewhat unstable and basic. And for some, this is absolutely true. But not all flat pack furniture, however, for those looking to reinforce the flat pack furniture they're purchasing be it a bookcase, a wardrobe, or tv stand etc, there are a few things you can do to help you reinforce the furniture once it's built and give you a better safer and sturdier piece of furniture for your home that doesn't need replacing a few months down the line.
Let's take a look at a few tips that can do just that.
Purchase Better Screws Than the Ones Provided
The screws included with most flat-pack furniture are chosen to keep manufacturing costs down. Not to maximise how long the piece will last, and they are often not of the best quality for the piece you're assembling. Although they will fit and be of the right length, for a sturdier build you can swap out the included hardware for higher quality options.
You need to make sure you're purchasing the same style and size screws or other hardware, as the holes and fittings will be pre-determined, but buying good quality pan head screws over using the ones included can help you increase sturdiness in the finished piece.
Anchor Tall Furniture
Bookcases, wardrobes and chests of drawers are top-heavy by design. This makes them prone to tipping if weight is placed unevenly or a drawer is pulled out too far. An anti-tip strap or bracket fixed between the top of the furniture and a wall stud keeps the piece steady even under uneven load. If your household has children or pets in it, this is an extra safety measure that can literally be life-saving. If the item does not come with these accessories, then you can buy anti-tip kits which are easy to attach and make everything much more secure.
The screws included with most flat-pack furniture are chosen to keep manufacturing costs down. Not to maximise how long the piece will last, and they are often not of the best quality for the piece you're assembling. Although they will fit and be of the right length, for a sturdier build you can swap out the included hardware for higher quality options.
You need to make sure you're purchasing the same style and size screws or other hardware, as the holes and fittings will be pre-determined, but buying good quality pan head screws over using the ones included can help you increase sturdiness in the finished piece.
Anchor Tall Furniture
Bookcases, wardrobes and chests of drawers are top-heavy by design. This makes them prone to tipping if weight is placed unevenly or a drawer is pulled out too far. An anti-tip strap or bracket fixed between the top of the furniture and a wall stud keeps the piece steady even under uneven load. If your household has children or pets in it, this is an extra safety measure that can literally be life-saving. If the item does not come with these accessories, then you can buy anti-tip kits which are easy to attach and make everything much more secure.
Reinforce Weak Joints With Corner Brackets
Butt joints and simple screw connections, the kind that are used in most flat pack designs, tend to loosen with repeated stress over time. Especially at corners that bear the most weight. If you add a metal corner bracket across the inside of a joint, this will spread the load across a wider area instead of relying on the screws alone. This results in significantly reduced wobble that can develop in cabinets, shelving units and tables after regular use.
Butt joints and simple screw connections, the kind that are used in most flat pack designs, tend to loosen with repeated stress over time. Especially at corners that bear the most weight. If you add a metal corner bracket across the inside of a joint, this will spread the load across a wider area instead of relying on the screws alone. This results in significantly reduced wobble that can develop in cabinets, shelving units and tables after regular use.
Tighten Fittings Before First Use
Cam locks, bolts and screws supplied with flat pack furniture need to be tightened to full potential during assembly, or they'll simply work their way loose over time.
This is due to the instructions recommending that the screws and bolts be left only partially tightened during assembly so pieces can still be adjusted into alignment at the end.
But if you're not going back over them once it's fully assembled, then you're opening the door for it to become unstable sooner rather than later. Go back over every fitting with a screwdriver or hex key at the end so you can check everything is as tight as it can be. Do this again around a week or so later to catch any loosening that might have occurred.
Cam locks, bolts and screws supplied with flat pack furniture need to be tightened to full potential during assembly, or they'll simply work their way loose over time.
This is due to the instructions recommending that the screws and bolts be left only partially tightened during assembly so pieces can still be adjusted into alignment at the end.
But if you're not going back over them once it's fully assembled, then you're opening the door for it to become unstable sooner rather than later. Go back over every fitting with a screwdriver or hex key at the end so you can check everything is as tight as it can be. Do this again around a week or so later to catch any loosening that might have occurred.
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