5 Flat Pack Assembly Mistakes That Cost You Time (and Sanity)

We've assembled thousands of flat pack furniture pieces across Essex — and we've seen the same mistakes made again and again. Here are the five most common ones.

1. Not Checking All Parts First

Before you start, lay everything out and check it against the parts list. Discovering a missing dowel on page 8 of the instructions is genuinely maddening. Doing this first saves significant frustration.

2. Ignoring the Instructions

Everyone thinks they can do it without reading the manual. Few people can. Modern flat pack instructions are actually very good — follow them in order.

3. Over-Tightening Screws

Chipboard splits easily. Tighten cam locks and screws until snug, then stop. Over-tightening ruins the fittings and weakens the joints.