Furniture Disassembly: To Bolt or Not to Bolt?

The Puzzle of Moving

Unless you live in a palace with double doors everywhere, some of your furniture will need to be taken apart.

What Needs Disassembly?

• Bed Frames: Almost always. The headboard won't fit in the elevator.
• Large Wardrobes: Any wardrobe over 1.5 meters wide usually needs to be flat-packed.
• Dining Tables: Legs usually need to come off to protect them from snapping.

The Golden Rule: bag It and Tag It

The #1 moving disaster is losing the screws.

• Ziploc Bags: Put all screws for one item in a bag.
• Tape to Piece: Tape that bag securely to a large piece of the furniture (e.g., the underside of the table).
• Label: Write "Master Bed" on the bag just in case it falls off.

IKEA Furniture Warning

Particle board furniture (like IKEA) is not designed to be taken apart multiple times. The screw holes widen.

• Tip: Don't use a power drill for reassembly. Hand-tighten strictl to avoid stripping the wood.
• Reinforce: You might need wood glue for the second move.

Conclusion

If you aren't handy with a screwdriver, pay for "Full Service" moving. Professional movers can disassemble and reassemble a bed in 15 minutes blindfolded.