ᐅ What common mistakes are made when assembling the IKEA Hemnes?

Hello everyone, I recently started assembling the IKEA Hemnes furniture and noticed some common mistakes that often occur during the process. I am particularly interested in the challenges you have faced while assembling the Hemnes series, especially with wardrobes and dressers.

I’m looking for errors that are not immediately obvious—so not obvious misassemblies like screws being inserted incorrectly, but rather small yet significant mistakes that can later affect stability or functionality. For example, how parts can be positioned incorrectly, the correct assembly sequence, or mistakes in handling the included fittings.

Who has experience with this and can explain typical sources of errors in detail? Thank you in advance!

Hello Sadie_li,

I find your question very interesting because assembling Hemnes furniture involves several details that are easy to overlook. I have assembled multiple pieces from this series and here are some common mistakes that frequently occur:

- First, the classic issue: installing the side panels incorrectly. Hemnes furniture often has differently pre-drilled holes for shelves or drawer slides. If the sides are installed the wrong way around, the drawers won’t fit properly or will misalign when opening and closing.

- The order of assembly steps is also crucial. Many start by assembling the main frame but often forget to insert all dowels and connectors properly and completely before closing the unit. This makes adjustments difficult later on when space is tight.

- Another commonly overlooked point is the alignment of the doors and the adjustment of the hinges. Hemnes uses clip-on hinges, which are adjustable, but incorrect installation can cause the doors to hang unevenly or rub against the cabinet edges when closing.

- Finally, the screw connections on the back panels: if the thin back panels are not positioned precisely, it affects stability. Proper tightening of the screws is important as well – overtightening can damage the material, while loose screws lead to instability.

Are you experiencing specific problems with your furniture, or are you mainly looking to avoid these mistakes in general? Which Hemnes parts are you assembling exactly?

I can then provide you with more specific advice.

FABIAN_DEO schrieb:
Many start assembling the frame but often forget to insert all dowels and connectors properly and completely before closing the piece of furniture.

That sums it up well. Also, always make sure not to tighten the screws too much, otherwise you can easily damage the chipboard.

FABIAN_DEO schrieb:
The order of the assembly steps is also crucial.

I would like to add: I often see that many users don’t fully follow the instructions and instead just try things randomly. This often leads to improper alignment, especially with the Hemnes series.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that some people don’t carefully check the pre-drilled holes. With Hemnes, there are often similar parts with very slight but important differences. If you mix them up even once, the furniture won’t fit together properly afterwards.

I think what’s sometimes missing is clarity about which parts are exactly needed for each step. This is, in my opinion, the most common mistake: not approaching the assembly systematically despite the clear instructions.

It would be interesting to hear if anyone here has experienced how these errors affect everyday use, meaning how much they actually impact stability or functionality. Sometimes you only notice after several months that a door comes loose or a shelf wobbles.