When it comes to budget furniture, nobody does it better than IKEA. But part of that cost-saving is labor–the labor that you put in to turn that flat-pack box into a piece of furniture. As with any DIY project, ready-to-assemble furniture is an adventure; a composite of tribulations and accomplishment. Recently, after a project that was more tribulation than accomplishment, I wrote down some ideas that would prevent the myriad mistakes I’ve made building IKEA furniture. I applied these recently to a credenza from CB2; lo and behold, I managed to build a solid piece of furniture without breaking it or putting anything on upside down. It was a miracle. To me, this meant that these 10 concepts are more than just IKEA assembly tips–they’re revelations worth shouting from the mountaintops to all future flat-pack builders. I humbly present to you, righteous assembler, The Ten Commandments of IKEA Furniture. Before you even unbox your furniture, you should physically prepare the area you’ll be working in.

You should give yourself enough room that the finished piece could be laid down and you could comfortably walk around every side of it (because, in many cases, that’s exactly how it’s built). Open the box and read the instructions. Make a mental note of any steps that require rotation and ensure you have enough space to do that. table chair rental jacksonville flAlso, unless you’re working on carpet, use a rug (or the box that the furniture came in) to protect both the floor and the furniture.buy electric armchair The first section of an IKEA instruction manual includes a summary of the pieces that should be included in the box. rocking chair for new momFirst, open up the hardware bags and organize them as you count them. bean bag chairs amazon ca

You can use small bowls or get creative–ice cube trays, egg cartons, muffin tins, or a simple loop of tape are recommended in this Reddit post. You’ll want to do the same with the furniture pieces to familiarize yourself with each piece. Is this the top or the bottom of the dresser? grey accent chair with ottomanAre they identical and interchangeable, or are they actually slightly different?antique dining chairs for sale toronto The reason we recommend inventorying hardware and fasteners first is because these are the most likely to get left out. where to buy beach chairs in arubaMissing pieces are a common IKEA woe, so make sure everything is there. electric lift chair hire

If it’s not, find the six-digit part number in the instructions. You have a few options to get the missing piece: you can visit a nearby store’s “missing a part” section, call your local store (ask for the relevant department rather than going through the operator), or fill out this online request form and get the piece mailed to you.folding camping chairs cheapest IKEA often recommends (wordlessly via a gender-neutral stick figure) the use of simple screwdrivers, hammers, and the included Allen keys to construct its pieces, but you can make the job faster and easier if you bring some of your own tools. For easier assembly of all IKEA furniture, this is what I recommend you bring: Let’s face it: IKEA furniture isn’t as sturdy as your grandmother’s antiques. A common mistake is to try to compensate by cranking down on screws or bolts. But most IKEA furniture is made from medium density fiberboard (MDF), which is why it’s not as sturdy as nana’s side tables, and tightening past the boundaries of the pre-drilled holes will cause the fiberboard to split.

This results in a looser connection that could lead to an irreparably wobbly piece. When using Allen keys, don’t torque the bolt in with your full body weight. If you’re using a manual screwdriver, tighten screws until they are flush with the wood and no more. You can tell when a screw or bolt starts to get slightly more difficult to turn–stop there or you’re risking cracking the fiberboard. If you’re using a powered drill, make sure to turn the torque down to the lowest setting. Post updated by SpareFoot, 3/20/2017.Many of us spend more time sitting on an office chair than on anything else – often upwards of eight hours a day. So a well-designed, comfortable seating option is essential, both for improving posture and performance, not to mention keeping a bad back and other types of pain such as neck ache at bay. According to Luke Munro, managing director of Wellworking, there are three things to be mindful of when buying one. “Ideally, look for a chair with lumbar support, seat depth adjustment and a free float tilt mechanism, as these will ensure that the chair can be adjusted to suit you as well as encourage movement.

And for the same reasons, although it may cost you more, it’s also good to choose one with armrest adjustability and different size options. Second, find a supplier who will show you how to use your chair and fit it for you on delivery. Third, remember a good ergonomic chair should have a warranty of at least five years and should last well beyond that.” While you can find office chairs that are classed as ergonomic for as little as £45, one of the most common mistakes people make is buying cheap, he says. "It’s a false economy, given how vital a good quality ergonomic chair is for your work. Another easy mistake is not using a chair correctly – the most ergonomic chair in the world is of little value if you are not using it properly.”  Never buy on looks alone, he adds. “Some of the most stunning office chairs around aren’t designed for the way we work now in the digital age.” In order to position yourself correctly in your office chair and avoid back pain either now or in the future, you need first to adjust the height, back position and tilt to ensure your back is well supported, with your bottom pressed against the back of your chair, your lower back slightly arched and well cushioned and your knees slightly lower than your hips.

Ideally, your feet should be flat on the floor – or you could use a footrest if you find it more comfortable. Your wrists and forearms shouldn’t tilt up or down – but instead go straight out in front of you – which helps prevent RSI (repetitive strain injury). And your screen should be an arm’s length away, with the centre of the screen at eye level, which helps prevent neck pain. Your keyboard should have around four to six inches at the front of the desk so you can rest your wrists when you’re not actually typing and your mouse should be as close as possible. Adjust the armrest of your chair so that it lifts your arms very slightly at the shoulders. This will take some of the strain away from your upper spine and shoulders, as well as helping to prevent slouching. Finally, move around and take as many short breaks as possible so that your muscles get a chance to relax from time to time. ​This is the chair used by the British School of Osteopathy for their training centre.

Inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, it combines industry leading ergonomic design heritage with a great price – and you avoid a sweaty back thanks to the webbing. Available in several striking colours, the Herman Miller Sayl offers full adjustability, lumbar support, and great value for money from this world-famous office seating manufacturer. Arguably the most innovative office chair available, this one allows individual temperature control via its built-in heating and cooling system, using technology from the car industry – and it works a treat. This means reduced energy consumption, as well as calming those too hot / too cold arguments in the office – and it works a treat for sore backs too. Excellent adjustability of the seat depth, height and armrests make this as comfortable as any normal office chair, along with excellent support – all in a very stylish package. You get a lot of bang for your buck with this affordable and stylish office chair that boasts mesh backing for breathability, comfort and good lumbar support, including for larger folk.

All the elements of the seat have manual adjustment, including seat height, depth, arm rest height and an adjustable tilt lock back rest. But you have to assemble it yourself and the arms do move around a bit too easily, so be careful not to shift them out of your ideal position by mistake. Another one from the most famous office chair brand in the world, this one has an iconic design and an industry-leading 12-year warranty. Recently re-mastered, its design now has eight zones of differing tensions for precision comfort – each one designed to ergonomically suit different parts of the body. Its instantly recognisable mesh pellicle is breathable and easily adjustable and unusually, it comes in three different sizes to cover the whole range of user sizes. No wonder that when Homer Simpson visited Heaven (Thank God it’s Doomsday), he found God sat in an Aeron chair. This doesn’t look particularly comfy or flexible, but don’t be fooled. Because your feet sit on the footboard rather than the floor, it allows the chair to rotate around as you move, ultimately giving much a greater freedom of movement than with a traditional office chair.

This is great for the spinal muscles, which have to contract continuously to keep your balance (a bit like a tightrope walker), thereby helping to protect you from jarring your back joints and discs. You might get a little lower back pain as your muscles get used to making small continuous contractions, but this disappears after a week or so. Modelled on a horse rider’s saddle – which allows you to be comfy whether you’re facing forward or turned to the side – this Scandinavian chair has unique ergonomic attributes such as a taller gas stem, which make it perfect for perching as well as sitting, as well as particularly relevant for the increasing amount of so-called “sit stand2 desks (that can be moved up and down) out there.  Available in a myriad of colour options ranging from yellow to red, its design encourages movement rather than static long term comfort. With its relatively small footprint making it ideal for most home offices, it’s eco-friendly too as it’s made from recycled car bumpers.

You’ll be hard pushed to find an executive-style office chair cheaper than this and yet it ticks lots of boxes – good lumbar support, airy and breathable, easy height adjustment and a lockable tilt function. We also like the headrest for neck support. But it’s not as flexible as some and you have to assemble it yourself – although it takes under half an hour. Designed by Barber and Osgerby and launched in 2016 by Europe’s guardians of office furniture design, Vitra’s Pacific chair is set to be a future classic. This European-made chair combines contemporary and minimalist looks (no obvious levers and controls) with a high degree of adjustability to provide exceptional levels of comfort. Equipped with seat height and depth adjustment and height-adjustable arms, and with additional options such as coat hangers and aluminium arms also on offer, it’s available in a range of gorgeous colours too. Designed by Niels Diffrient – one of the pioneers in ergonomic design – this is his first mesh chair and we like it because it’s incredibly lightweight at around 11kg, and nearly the whole thing is made from recycled materials.