ᐅ What mistakes do others commonly make when assembling the Ikea BRIMNES?

Hello everyone, I would like to start a focused discussion here: What mistakes have others avoided when assembling the Ikea Brimnes? I am especially interested in typical pitfalls that experienced DIYers should definitely be aware of to save time and avoid frustration. I have read the instructions several times, but I would greatly appreciate practical tips beyond the usual assembly guidelines—such as issues with part fittings, the sequence of steps, or common confusions with screws and fittings. Who has experience with this and can share useful advice or warnings?

Hey Nofakla! This is a great topic. I’ve assembled the BRIMNES several times, and I can tell you: the biggest mistake is definitely not checking carefully which screw belongs to which part. Sometimes they look almost identical, and if you use the wrong one, nothing will be stable! Also very important: always fully secure the back panel before moving on to the drawers; otherwise, nothing will fit properly in the end. And if you don’t have a cordless drill, be sure to allow plenty of time and patience—screwing everything in by hand takes forever. Good luck, you’ve got this! 🙂

Hello Nofakla, to answer your question thoroughly, it is worth looking at the entire assembly process of the BRIMNES systematically. The most common mistake I have observed myself and read about in many forums is not following the exact order of the assembly steps, especially when connecting the side panels with the top connectors. It is important that the holes for the dowels and screws are precisely aligned, as any misalignment can cause warping that may make the entire piece unstable. Furthermore, I recommend carefully checking the fittings before installing the drawer slides and ensuring they are securely fastened. A small technical note: the material is MDF and is quite sensitive to over-tightening screws – you need a delicate touch here to avoid damaging the fittings. Have you noticed any problems at specific steps? That would help me focus my advice even better.

Palenar schrieb:
The most common mistake I have observed myself and have read about in many forums is not following the exact sequence of assembly steps, especially when attaching the side panels to the top connectors.

That makes sense to me. On my first attempt, I probably installed the back panel before the side connecting strips, and after that almost nothing fit properly.

labar43 schrieb:
Always fully secure the back panel first before moving on to the drawers; otherwise, nothing will fit properly in the end.

Could you please explain in detail how you insert the screws without damaging the material?

I am concerned that tightening them too much might cause the MDF to swell or crack, which I want to avoid.

Nofakla schrieb:
Can you also describe exactly how you attach the screws so that the material doesn’t get damaged?

It is absolutely important to start by inserting the screws very loosely, so all parts can still move slightly. Then double-check the alignment of all components before gradually and evenly tightening the screws. To avoid applying too much force, it’s best to use a cordless drill with a torque limiter or tighten by hand, feeling the screwdriver become tighter and stopping before forcing it further. A helpful tip for common connection screws is to keep the drill holes free of dust—sometimes packaging grit or MDF dust is present, which increases resistance unnaturally.

For added security, I always apply a small amount of wood glue into the drill holes. This increases stability when tightening and prevents splitting by slightly reinforcing the material. However, this is not mandatory, more for those who want especially long-lasting and stable furniture.

A quick follow-up question: How have you been tightening the screws so far? Are you using a cordless/electric screwdriver or a manual screwdriver?