IKEA as-is stores in the US

Assembled or flat-packed: which to choose

Buying an already-assembled piece lets you inspect it at a glance, but it is bulky to transport and some joints cope poorly with another disassembly. Buying flat-packed is easier in a car but risks missing parts or fittings. Either way, the real issue is the hardware.

Fittings: the real weak point

IKEA furniture is often assembled with cam-lock fittings (cams and dowels). These wear over repeated builds and the holes can ovalise in the board.

• Collect all the original fittings and count them before you leave.
• If needed, IKEA sells fitting kits (FIXA range) for a few euros: spare cams, dowels, screws and wall plugs.
• An ovalised hole can be rescued with a little wood glue and a dowel to rebuild material.

Transport

Carry large panels flat and wedged, never upright and loose. Protect corners and edges, the most fragile parts of the veneer. If you disassemble on site, remove doors and drawers, and photograph the order of parts to make reassembly easier.

Reassembly

IKEA publishes the assembly instructions for every article online (search by name or reference): find them before you start.

• Tighten firmly but without forcing: too much torque rips the cams out of the board.
• Check it is square before the final tightening, then fit the back panel, which stiffens the whole piece.
• For any tall piece, finish with the anti-tip wall anchor.