For every person who loves nothing more than spending entire evenings and weekends putting together a flat pack jigsaw with only perplexing diagrams for instruction, here are three more who loathe the very idea.
Yet things like bed frames, sofas and side tables are necessary for modern levels of comfort, so unless you’re willing to fork out for someone to do it for you, some level of DIY is unavoidable.
Part of the issue is the number of tools needed to get your new purchase up and running. While many designs now need nothing more than an Allen key to build, others require drill bits, screw drivers, drills and more. If you’re not already in possession of these DIY essentials, buying them solely to make your new item of furniture is an extra expense - not to mention something else to collect dust in an already stuffed cupboard or drawer.
Thankfully some designers have been finessing clever designs that need absolutely no tools to construct. Through a series of knobs, sliding mechanisms and other genius engineering, you can kiss goodbye to hours of head scratching and start enjoying your new furniture even more quickly.
Perfect for homeowners and renters alike, they arrive in easy-to-move boxes so you can get them into the desired room. And further down the line when you decide to move or want to sell them, dismantling should be as straightforward as the initial construction.
If you like the idea of no-tool furniture that’s easy to assemble, we’ve rounded up the best options to invest in now.
See our favourites below
Simba Orion Bed Base
Bed frame seen better days? No need to sweat over the thought of putting together a new one if you order one of Simba’s designs.
The sleep expert offers a chic trio of bed frames alongside its award-winning mattresses, equalling to one dreamy set-up. Everything is delivered to the room of your choice in cardboard boxes, and once freed from the packaging, set up is - drumroll please - as quick as 10 minutes.
The designers have used Easy-Fit technology to help customers put the beds together: simply tighten a few locks and screws, and press the pre-slatted base into place. You will need one other person to help, but nothing more except a pair of scissors.
All pieces are handmade in the UK using recycled materials and sustainably produced birch wood. It’s on the pricier end of the scale, but there is financing available if you need it.
Read our in-depth review here.
Price given is for a king size frame.
Buy now £594.30, Simba
Swyft Model 02 3 Seater Sofa Bed
Sleek with mid-century leanings, Swyft is a leader in designing seating that requires no tools to construct. Using clever locking hinges, you can slot together its sofas - and sofa beds - together in minutes.
You'd have no idea that this 207cm-long three-seater could turn into a sofa bed, but thanks to concealed legs and small wheels under the seat, that's exactly what it becomes.
Unzip the tapered legs from their pockets and slide the seat forward until the wheels meet a marker on the sofa base. You'll be left with a small gap, soon filled by the backrest panel which swivels down flat. Et voila, guests are ready to bed down on a UK double bed you've magicked seemingly from nowhere.
The sofa is stylish, but the lack of a mattress (which the seat and backrest stand in for) means the upholstery is vulnerable to spills and smells. While Swyft's fabric options are anti-stain (simply rub spills with a damp microfibre cloth to clean), the second issue can be solved by adding a mattress topper or protector over the sofa when it's in bed mode.
In terms of tension, it's fairly firm but perfectly comfortable for a night or two's kip.
All parts come in manoeuvrable cardboard boxes that can fit through tight corners and doors. While the brand claims its smaller sofas can be constructed alone, you may need a helping hand with a bigger size. Rope in a friend to help: it will take longer to polish off the reward of wine afterwards.
Best of all, you can bid farewell to waiting weeks on end for delivery: many of Swyft's sofas can be at your door as speedily as the next day.
Also available from John Lewis.
Buy now £1839.00, Swyft Home
SWIFT Regent Ready Assembled 4 Piece Package
Matching furniture is the secret to making your bedroom look like a swish B&B. No need to be put off by the thought of an entire weekend of flatpacking: Very has this four piece suite available to buy that's already constructed. Comprising a two-door wardrobe, five drawer chest and two bedside cabinets with drawers, they'll add instant fuss-free polish to your bedroom.
Buy now £639.00, Very
Furniture123 Small Round Light Oak Ottoman Storage Coffee Table - Jarel
Furniture that doubles up as storage is the dream for anyone tight on space. This solid oak coffee table can hold a surprising amount of clutter in the main barrel - simply place the top over it when you want to return your living room to a presentable state. It arrives fully constructed - joy!
Buy now £239.97, Furniture123
Shrivee Foldable 3 Tier Metal Utility Rolling Cart
Make no mistake, in the interiors world we are living in the age of the bar cart. As fun as it looks to serve yourself happy hour cocktails in your lounge every evening, it’s a luxury few small home owners can afford. Until now.
This ingenious trolley has three shelves to fill with your favourite bottles and is easy to move around at your next house party thanks to the castor wheels and pull handle. The best bit? It folds flat when not in use, fitting behind sofas, in cupboards or that empty space between the fridge and the worktop. Absolute genius.
Buy now £45.99, Amazon
Outsunny Cunninghamia Board Folding Camping Picnic Table Set
Forget eating off your knees all weekend; grand outdoor feasts require a proper table to set the scene.
With enough room for six diners to get around, this folding wood-style camping table is a must-have for laidback camping trips with friends and family. Not only is it a compact design once folded, but it comes with a carry handle for easy transportation and four swivel-out stools that pack up inside too.
Granted, it’s not the most polished thing to look at so throw on a nice tablecloth and add a cordless lamp, and you’re in business.
Buy now £56.99, Amazon
LUXJET Portable Folding Stool
Perfect for the garden, camping or just magicking up extra seating when you've got people around, this telescopic stool is height adjustable. It's made of lightweight plastic with a super-strong fish-scale structure that can bear up to 180kg. It goes from closed to open for seating in just a simple twist - two minutes, and you're done. Available in blue and red as well as black.
Buy now £25.96, Amazon
Intex Inflatable waterproof flocked top surface Corner Living Room Air Mattress
Who says you can't feel at home while camping? If you've got the space and the people, your crew will adore this vinyl corner sofa unit, which can seat four of your favourite people. Complete with seat cushions, it measures 0.76D x 2.57W x 2.03H metres yet only weighs 4kg. Setting it up is easy: the 2-in-1 valve comes with extra-wide openings for speedy inflating and deflating. It's also a good temporary solution to use if you're waiting for a traditional sofa to arrive.
Buy now £91.99, Amazon
Intex Flocked Inflatable Pull Out Camping Sofa
This inflatable sofa bed is perfect for camping, giving you support to sit upright during the day and pulling out into a Queen-size bed when it’s time for a snooze. Made from PVC and covered with a tactile canvas finish, the double lock valve stops leaks in its tracks. While it can be fully inflated in just five minutes, it doesn’t come with a pump so don’t forget to buy one before you head off. It even comes with integrated cupholders to keep your drink steady. Throw on a blanket over the seat to up the style points.
Buy now £50.00, Argos
Snug The Rebel 3 Seater Sofa - Blush Coral
Snug’s sofas-in-a-box make a supremely comfortable perch in your home thanks to seats made of pocket springs and layered with foam. Delivery comes in a series of cardboard boxes that are easy to navigate through the tightest of spaces, stairwells and doors - barely a PIVOT! required. But the best bit? it’s not the durable fabric, nor the anti-stain fabric but the assembly. No tools are needed, so you’re ready to put your feet up in no time.
This design is also modular, which means you can add a corner unit to give you more seating room, or switch the legs and arms if you fancy a quick upgrade without going to the trouble of replacing your entire couch.
Buy now £749.00, Snug
Loaf Bed in a Bun - double
Loaf performs an interiors magic trick with this chic upholstered bench that transforms into a single or double bed - complete with a headboard with a few quick pulls.
It’s ideal if you don’t have a guest bedroom or room for a sofa bed but have visitors lining up to stay over. A mattress comes with the frame, all tucked neatly into the bench. The only things you’ll have to add are bed linen and pillows.
There is construction involved but the company will do it for you - talk about using your loaf, eh?
Available in a myriad of colours to tie in or stand out in your room’s decor.
Buy now £795.00, Loaf
