"It's a seemingly effortless addition - only it's not actually so effortless, according to loads of reviewers. As recently as September 8, 2025, reviewer Lisa wrote this on the IKEA site: "I actually don't mind putting IKEA stuff together," she says. "It's a pain but it always comes together fine. Until now. It is 100% impossible to put this together ... pretty sure I pulled a muscle in my shoulder tryin[g] to push the pieces enough to get the holes to line up.""
"One of the main gripes from hopeful HYLLIS constructors is that aligning and inserting the screws into their pre-drilled holes is an "impossible" task to do by hand. That's why you might want to consider getting out more tools than come in the IKEA box."
"Leave all the screws loose at first. Leaving the screws inserted but loose at first will give you wiggle room (literally) to get all the screws into place before the piece becomes solid. This can also help with the screw-hole alignment issue."
Many reviewers report difficulty aligning screws and inserting them into pre-drilled holes by hand, sometimes causing strain or injury. Some reviewers describe severe frustration and physical strain when attempting assembly without additional tools. Some DIYers have shared successful assembly approaches and social media videos show completed units. A drill helps prevent stripped screws and eases fitting when parts are slightly bent or screws are low quality, reducing trial-and-error. Keeping all screws inserted but loose initially allows wiggle room for alignment before fully tightening. Connecting multiple HYLLIS units is recommended when creating a sideboard for stability and cohesive styling. Using the right tips and tools can make assembly manageable and less time-consuming.
Read at Apartment Therapy
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]