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Original poster

Calling problem solving expert mners

29 replies

Graphista · 05/09/2019 18:00

Ok so. I need to sort out my bedroom, I have a large chest of drawers (5 drawer) that I was using but it's now falling apart and not really usable any more (the bottom parts of the drawers keep slipping out and the drawers are sticking and becoming almost impossible to open/close)

However, it's not as simple as "get new ones throw old ones out"

1 I'm housebound. Order everything online and I NEED to be able to say when I want things delivered.

2 I'm disabled and utterly crap at DIY! I seriously can barely be trusted with a pair of scissors let alone actual tools! I cannot do flat pack to save my life and have NOBODY who could do it for me.

3 I have severe ocd. Any changes have to be managed in a very particular way.

4 I am not able to throw loads of money at the situation. A little but not loads.

I thought about getting just a clothes rail because I've had these before and remember them as being fairly easy to put together BUT there is a shit ton (technical term ) of "stuff" that lives on the top of the chest of drawers, plus quite honestly with how I am with the ocd I really need "safe" storage that I feel sure means the clothes are kept clean (to my way of thinking).

So...can you wonderful and wise mners come up with solutions for me?

Possibly recommendations/links to furniture retailers who are understanding of "odd" customers like myself? And could deliver ready assembled items on day requested?

Hoping the many and varied mners can give me ideas.

OP posts:
Mollypolly2610 · 05/09/2019 18:43

Local Facebook page for a handyman to build things up for you.

Knittedfairies · 05/09/2019 18:48

Could the large chest of drawers be repaired, or is it too far gone?

KurriKurri · 05/09/2019 18:55

I don;t have any solutions for you (although I echo PP's suggestion - local handymen will usually put together flat packs for reasonable price)
But from my own experience I would advise against a clothes rail - i got one thinking it was the solution, but it wobbles and goes all sort of skewed under the weight of the clothes hanging on it (and I don't have an unreasonably large amount of clothing) and it is difficult to whell around and move should you need to because it keeps threatening to fall over. And things do get very dusty on it.

What are your feelings on second hand furniture ? Sellers will often deliver and if you ask on a local FB page you could probably get someone to move it into the right place for you. (apologies if your OCD means that second hand is no good for you)

Cascade220 · 05/09/2019 18:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AppropriateAdult · 05/09/2019 19:03

Ikea will deliver and assemble, for a price. Would probably be cheaper to find a local handyman, though - it’d be an hour’s work tops. Or you could do Click & Collect from somewhere like Argos and ask the handyman to collect it for you too.

mumwon · 05/09/2019 19:13

can I suggest you read feedback on item - argos leave bad & good ones -what I do is get the feedback on the lowest score & see if there is a common comment/problem.

jazzandh · 05/09/2019 19:42

I live in Kent and near me there is a chap who runs a shop and builds and paints furniture to order. He also repaints old but decent quality pieces. It is lovely stuff and is really reasonably priced. He delivers it as well.

Perhaps by asking on your local FB page you may well find something similar.

Original poster
Graphista · 05/09/2019 20:32

Thank you all for replying.

Handyman not an option at the moment. I'm a survivor of abuse and about a year ago had to have someone come in to do something and he was a bit..."weird" and I didn't feel safe. Very unwell at the moment mentally and I wouldn't cope with that. If there were a handyWOMAN locally possibly but there aren't - believe me I've tried to find one!

The broken drawers are too far gone. I've done "patch ups" but they've had it.

"apologies if your OCD means that second hand is no good for you" kind of you to apologise but you're right it does mean I would either be doing 20 questions with the seller (as well as the ocd I have asthma and allergies so there's the whole smoking issue too) which I absolutely understand is a complete pain for sellers.

Spartacus that's basically what I already did but the woods starting to split and warp.

"Ikea will deliver and assemble, for a price." Might be an option if a woman "assembler" possible? I have an ikea nearby might try calling and speaking to them.

Jazz thanks for the suggestion but nothing to my knowledge like that near me and I'm thinking prices would be out my range for that kind of bespoke service too.

I'm honestly thinking I'm going to have to resort to those plastic drawers units? The ones many of us had/have for the kids toys?

Oooookkkkk

Maybe try a different tack.

Can anyone recommend a flat pack chest of drawers that is VERY easy basically idiot proof to put together?

As I say I'm pretty hopeless at DIY. I've attempted bookcases and drawers before. The drawers I did before MOSTLY worked but I clearly did something wrong as one drawer sat find when closed but when opened gradually became more lopsided? Confused

OP posts:
Gingernaut · 05/09/2019 20:36

If you're in the West Midlands, I can assemble stuff.

I'm pretty good at deciphering non verbal/drawn instructions

GloGirl · 05/09/2019 20:45

Post on your local Facebook page advising of some of your health issues and asking if anyone knows of woman able to put flat pack furniture together who would either like a few extra quid or a trade of some kind if there was something you could offer.

I'm sure there are people able to put your furniture together and help you out without being a registered business as a handy woman.

GloGirl · 05/09/2019 20:46

I'm in the Midlands also but completely horrendous at moving furniture, heavy lifting of any kind and DIY so I wont offer haha!

mathanxiety · 05/09/2019 20:47

Can you get a rail that comes with a cover? Would that help you feel that clothing on the rail would be clean?

I have managed to put clothes rails together.
Iirc they require a bit of shoving and forceful twisting to get the parts to join properly but otherwise they have the advantage of only having a limited number of parts. They also tend to be reasonably priced.

I personally like to be able to see my clothes as opposed to having them all hidden/folded/stacked in drawers.

Maybe you could get plastic drawers for the items at the top of the chest of drawers?

TheAlternativeTentacle · 05/09/2019 20:50

Can we see a photo of the drawers?

i am also in the midlands and pretty nifty with diy, it sounds like it needs a little glue and sanding to get it working again.

SweetNorthernRose · 05/09/2019 21:00

Try Facebook groups for your local area. Post your dilemma and there may be someone who can help, either with a chest of drawers they can deliver to you, or help with assembling flat pack.
I'd be happy to do it if you were local to me, I love a flat pack challenge!

RoomR0613 · 05/09/2019 21:05

Get drawers that come pre-assembled? Not everything is flat packed so it would just be a case of having it delivered.

Wayfair for example have an 'assembled' filter

www.wayfair.co.uk/furniture/sb1/assembled-chest-of-drawers-c224865-a73503~449451.html?refid=GX175814493801.~b&position=1t2&network=g&pcrid=175814493801&device=t&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5MLrBRClARIsAPG0WGxW2G76P6G2pQHHsgF3-qcIPAcO4wECjBopO-M2jnMh5lPmj8EH4d4aAoVpEALw_wcB

RoomR0613 · 05/09/2019 21:06

It looks like Argos also have a fully assembled filter

www.argos.co.uk/browse/home-and-furniture/bedroom-furniture/chest-of-drawers/c:29598/assembly:fully-assembled/

Disfordarkchocolate · 05/09/2019 21:15

It's a pity it's drawers, they can be hard to make sturdy.

Do you have any charity shops that sell furniture or British Heart Foundation? They often have female volunteers, could you ring them and explain what you need?

Are you in the NE, I could do with getting out and can do flat pack.

Justaboutawake · 05/09/2019 21:20

Studio deliver already assembled furniture. Have a look on their website.

If you are in Essex/east London I’m very handy with a screwdriver and happy to help

Original poster
Graphista · 05/09/2019 21:26

Ginger bless you I wish! I'm in Scotland though.

Thinking I may need to bite the bullet, see if I can get credit (think I probably can no problem) and buy new and ready assembled. On the plus side there do seem to be some sales on just now.

Anyone have recommendations?

From googling the companies that might be suitable as they sell ready assembled and seem to have delivery options that include a specified day are:

Wayfair
Very
Robert dyas
Littlewoods (I thought they went bust years ago!)

I have no experience of this kind of purchase.

I'm shocked at the apparent blasé approach to delivery!

Surely for such large items they need to know someone will be there to let them in?

OP posts:
Pinkkahori · 05/09/2019 21:30

Large Under bed storage boxes with lids?
I think Ikea do them. Leave the chest of drawers as is to use to store what ever is on top.

Disfordarkchocolate · 05/09/2019 21:34

Foldsmart furniture, never used it but it sounds ingenious.

gavisconismyfriend · 05/09/2019 21:48

@Graphista
Where in Scotland? I’m not far from Edinburgh and a whizz with an ikea flat pack!

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