Since moving, my TV has had a very special place.
On the floor.
Yesterday I finally got a TV stand from Ikea. It won my heart because of the extra storage units…but more so the fact that it was only $39.99.
However, now I’m facing a twofold dilemma. One – I may be strong, but Ikea somehow managed to make this unit weigh about 500 pounds. And two – it needs to be assembled, and I do not have a single tool (or ability to use a tool) to my name.
I seriously considered hiring a handyman to get the job done. But instead, I think I’m going to implement rule #61 and look at this as an opportunity to be a strong, independent female.
(If anyone would want to help, though, I wouldn’t say no.)
Wish me…luck…
Are you a handywoman? Any tips for me??
AHAHAHA dw my tv talks to me too.. but its more along the lines of “TURN ME OFF CARRIE I NEED TO SLEEP”.. my bad.
good luck!
Um….major kudos to you for being brave enough to undertake that. I’m scared of tools. Really, really scared. I have a saw in my apt that Mike used to cut down some sticks to jam my windows shut, and whenever I think about it I kind of shudder!
Oh, good luck. I wouldn’t be successful at doing that, but I suggest you pour yourself some wine, put some music on, and relaxed try to assemble the thing
I have a couple of these stands! They are actually very easy to assemble and don’t require any tools - everything is included. I am not exactly a master engineer and I still was able to put together two of them by myself while watching an episode of Mad Men. You can do it!
Hahaha awe poor tv! It’s totally fine I choose hulu over mine most days, mr. tv is getting lonely. Anywho, follow the directions girl and you will be totally fine! Most of the time all you need is a screwdriver and a wrench:)
i’m still stuck on how you got that message to appear across your tv screen.. haha
I used MS Paint!
OMG! My roommate has the tan one in her room and it weighs a ton! You need one of those screw drivers that’s a bent piece of metal and looks like an octagon?? (maybe hexagon)
Clearly I’m a handy lady who knows exactly what she’s talking about.
my mom just got me a screw driver that has 4 different head-options, hopefully one of them is like what you’re talking about?!
Tip: Buy a cheap tool set at Target. Best investment I ever made while living alone.
@Shannon, if you’re talking about the L-shaped screw drivers, that’s an allen wrench.
@Gracie- If you’re going to put it together, read the directions (unlike most men), it will save time in the end when you don’t end up with random parts and have to disassemble the whole thing.
(also i’ve been reading your blog for a bit now, but hadn’t commented till today. on a forum someone linked me your blog in a list of healthy living blogs, etc and i checked out yours -then i found out you went to eastern, where i’m a senior -writing this from gough right now, before running over to class at hhc
such a small world lol)
Allison, that is so crazy!! I lived in Gough for 2 semesters! AHHH!!!
Thanks so much for this comment - made my day
xoxo
Usually IKEA gives you the little Allen wrench you need to put things together! Check inside the box!
I second that, get a cheap set of tools. I think a whole set is around $20. My boyfriend is the handy one, but being so handy he likes to do everything himself and requires my assistance to lift heavy objects and hand him tools.
I have tools…but putting anything together scares the bejeezus out of me. I am totally intimidated!
You can find some great smallish tool sets at home stores (Home Depot, Menards, etc) for a decent price that usually have everything you need to put things together… I have three (I keep getting them as gifts!), and they’ve saved me many times. Sometimes it can be kind of fun to put things together when you have your own little set of tools
I bought something similar from target and I actually DID it, I was tempted to pay a boy in beer instead but resisted. The whole time I was like “am I really doing this right now? it’s going to fall apart…” You feel so accomplished when it’s done though!! Even if your screws are crooked…
PS, I got this tool kit from Ikea http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00169254
It seemed like the girly thing to do
Haha, I love this entry. You can do it! You’ll feel so accomplished afterwards.
I put two of those together when I moved into my apt! I took it apart in my car and carried it inside in pieces!! You don’t need any tools except the one that comes in the box. Be careful when you put the top shelf on.. mine broke the middle piece and I had to use the extra wooden peg to fix it!! It’s super cute when it’s all together though!!
Ah, thanks so much for this comment!!
You can do it! lol. Make sure to follow the instructions and it will work promise.
[...] a slight dilemma. [...]
I would say you should go get yourself a little toolkit. My dad gave me one when I moved out on my own. It’s the best thing to have and doesn’t take up much space at all. I just slide it under my bed.
I’ve put together a ton of IKEA furniture. The one thing I would highly suggest is to make sure you have all the parts before you start putting the item together
So frustrating to have the entire thing almost done and finding out you are missing a part!
I LOVE Ikea for their good deals! But I don’t love how you have to assemble things yourself.
I have absolutely no handy skills whatsoever. Good luck putting it together!
I have that one! Except mine is 3×2 instead of 2×2. I put it together myself, so I know you can too!
I used to be a handywoman until I met my Husband. Then I decided that playing the damsel in distress role was so much more fun and I didn’t have to swear at furniture assembly. Perfect solution.
I actually have the 16 cubby hole version of this. I also did the “i am woman, see my build ikea furniture roar” thing… I ended up with two (severly) bruised and swollen shins and a dent to my pride when I finally had to admit to my then bf I needed his help for the final put together. Normally i rock at ikea furnutire. this killed me.
This is the exact reason I won’t buy a new vacuum. I assembled my last one (it was so exciting to actually do it!) and then it broke a year later because of my crazy shedding and I can’t make myself put another one together… even though it was empowering. I figure a girl should only have to assemble one vacuum in her life. Right?
I’m not exactly Ms. Handypants myself, but at IKEA they have a little tool kit that is only like 10 bucks and it’s been helpful to me so many times. Might be good to pick up for the future
I just used it the other day when pretending like I knew how to fix my fridge. I didn’t, but I screwed the CRAP out of those screws in the back.
I’m definitely not a handywoman..I didn’t pick that part up from my mom. My TV was on the floor for almost a year before finally setting up a stand!
That is the ONE thing I don’t like about IKEA - the fact that you have to put everythinggg together! GOOD LUCK
I read your more recent post first and think it’s a hoot that my mom also came to visit this past weekend and we went to IKEA too, assuming you went to the only one on LI, we went to the same one! As per your dilemma, girlfriend you don’t need a man to put together an IKEA table. Just take your time and allow yourself to feel frustrated and eventually it will all fit together!
I HAVE THE EXACT SAME THING as my bedroom TV stand. We actually have the bigger one [on it's side] as our living room TV stand [the $70 one]. Assembly sucks, not gonna lie… but you can do it sister! The extra storage is the bomb. I even have an electric screwdriver and that didn’t work!! You’ll love it once you get it together!! Great purchase
Good luck!!
-Jess {nileandjess.wordpress.com}
[...] to be quite productive. I put on my big girl pants and assembled the TV stand I got from Ikea the other day. Within less than an hour, it went from [...]