Why does IKEA usually go fine while other brands turn into a fight? The answer comes down to the instructions and the connector system. Here's how to work out whether you can assemble the piece yourself or whether it's smarter to book a pro.
Easy: IKEA-style flat-pack
IKEA's design relies on every step being shown graphically and the connectors (cam locks, wooden dowels) being standardised. Even someone who's never assembled anything can usually handle it. The estimated time is realistic, maybe slightly overestimated. If the instructions say 30 minutes for a desk, plan on 45.
Medium: mid-range brands
Mid-range brands from Poland, Germany and Scandinavia (Black Red White, Bodzio, JYSK) usually work on the same principle, but their instructions are less complete. You'll sometimes hit a moment where the same screw is needed on both sides and you only realise it once you start the next stage. A proper screwdriver bit set and some patience are non-negotiable.
Tricky: book a pro
- Fitted kitchens and wardrobe systems (measuring, levelling, wall fixings)
- Antique or unusually heavy furniture with traditional joinery
- Imported pieces whose instructions aren't in Latvian or English
- Disassembly and reassembly during a move (when the original fittings and tools aren't around)
- Tight deadlines, when guests arrive tomorrow and two days on a flat-pack isn't an option
What it costs
Komanda24 furniture assembly starts at 60 EUR/h. A mid-range two-door wardrobe takes one fitter 2 to 3 hours, so 120 to 180 EUR total. If you try it yourself and break something (stripping a cam lock is the classic), the repair bill quickly catches up with that number. If you're not sure, it's simpler to trust a pro from the start.
The Komanda24 edge
All our furniture fitters arrive with their own tools, kit and spare screws in a range of sizes. The hourly rate is 60 EUR/h with all the necessary equipment included. When the job's done, you only pay for the time actually worked, minimum one hour.