About Ready-to-Assemble Furniture

Ready-to-assemble furniture is also known as "flat pack," "knock down" or just "RTA" furniture. This furniture is mass produced and comes packaged in flat boxes. It is designed to be put together by the owner with only screws, pegs, glue and few tools. Instructions for ready-to-assemble furniture is not always easy to figure out, and can be an unwanted adventure for the buyer.

History

Scandinavian Gillis Lundgren of Ikea is often credited with the invention of ready-to-assemble furniture when he bought a table in 1956 and couldn't fit it in his car. He and a friend removed the legs of the table so it would fit. He brought the idea back to Ikea, where he worked as a draftsman.
However, Sauder, a company in Ohio, claims to be the first patent holder for a ready-to-assemble table made in 1953. Eric Sauder designed a coffee table with removable legs that could be carried home and assembled in a few minutes without tools or glue.

Types

Ready-to-assemble furniture comes in all types, styles and designs. Book cases, tables, desks, and storage cabinets are the most common. Couches, chairs and even bathroom cabinets also come ready to assemble.
The furniture comes in several styles and wood grains to fit with any décor.
The furniture can be made of particle board with a wood veneer, quality solid hardwoods, or even metal. Some pieces are designed to be environmentally friendly, by using "engineered wood."

Benefits

Ready-to-assemble furniture can be cheaper than fully assembled pieces because the manufacturer saves money on shipping and assembly. It can be easily loaded into your own vehicle, thus saving the consumer on delivery charges.
Ready-to-assemble furniture can be found at discount stores and through catalogs, thus avoiding the need for salesmen.

Considerations

You will have to assemble the furniture yourself.
The pieces can be very heavy and often require two people to move the boxes.
Once assembled, the pieces rarely come apart as easily.
Furniture made of particle board can be easily chipped and damaged.
Shelving units made of particle board may not hold excessive weight and will bow.

Geography

Ready-to-assemble furniture defies geographical bounds. Many companies well-known for this style of furniture ship items internationally through catalog and Internet sales.