What is RTA Furniture?
RTA furniture stands for ready-to-assemble. RTA furniture was invented in Sweden when Gillis Lundgren broke the legs on a table to fit it in is car, only to reattach them at home. Today, RTA furniture is way more than tables; essentially, it includes any piece of furniture that you need to put together.
RTA furniture once was made as cheaply as possible. This is no longer the case; RTA furniture is still available inexpensively, but it is also made with top-grade veneer, solid hardwood and everywhere in between. Many top manufacturers only make RTA furniture. With manufacturers focusing on RTA and wishing to remain competitive, they are increasing the quality. Technology is allowing RTA furniture to feature intricate designs and styles that were not possible less than a decade ago.
Style:
- Modern is an orderly, streamlined design known for polished surfaces and geometric shapes. It generally has a neutral palette that accentuates the strong shape of the furniture. Metal and glass are common materials used in modern furniture.
RTA Home and Office 32" Corner Flat Panel TV Stand in Clear Glass
- Contemporary has its roots in the second half of the 20th century. It is a combination of modern, traditional, and casual styles, and it features curved and tempered lines. Contemporary furniture easily mingles with other contemporary pieces and pieces from other styles.
Bush Sonoma Collection 36" Entertainment Center
- Traditional draws inspiration from a multitude of sources, ranging from Colonial times, to Queen Anne’s reign, to Roman antiquity. It often features intricate carvings, decorative features, and wood finishes such as mahogany and cherry.
Bush Saratoga Open Office Suite
- Casual style is very ‘no frills’, choosing to look uncluttered and avoiding an excess of carvings and other details. These pieces usually have a lighter finish and clean lines. They are perfect for a laid back, “casual” environment.
Prepac Maple Sonoma Corner TV Stand
Construction:
- Hardwood. Solid hardwoods are considered the best quality furniture on the market, and if you are purchasing furniture that will be in your home for a long time, it is a very smart investment. Even with wear, solid wood gains character and charm and becomes a part of your family. Solid wood furniture is usually crafted with attention to detail that includes dovetailed joints, wood on wood drawer glides, and strong protective finishes. Hardwood solids, in particular, are cut from the trunks of deciduous hardwood trees.
Studio RTA Office Tech Data Center
- Engineered Wood/MDF. MDF is a common abbreviation for medium density fiberboard, or engineered wood. MDF is made out of multiple wood fibers glued together under heat and pressure, and is generally very affordable and often just as durable as solid wood. Furniture made with MDF can imitate the look of real wood while meeting the budget requirements of most families. MDF offers several advantages over alternate materials, while not being too costly. It can be made with recycled materials, and possesses no grain so it can be drilled and/or cut without damaging the surface.
Tvilum-Scanbirk 600 Series 2-shelf Bookcase
- Wood Veneer. Wood veneers are constructed from thin slices of real wood which are adhered to the surface of a piece of furniture. This gives it the glowing appearance of real wood. Veneers can be laid over less costly and lighter materials to save production and shipping costs, or added to a very expensive piece to showcase a particularly beautiful grain pattern. Any smooth and flat material can have veneer laid over it, making this an extremely versatile and popular method of constructing furniture. The slices used for veneering are generally trimmed from the most attractive parts of the wood source.
SEI Cherry Media Storage Pedestal
- Laminates. Laminates consist of a layer of wood or other product, such as paper, which is applied over a wood frame and sealed with a protective layer of thermosetting resin. They are used in a wide variety of products (especially office furniture), as they can be extremely durable and stand up to heavy use. In addition you are virtually guaranteed that the finish on your products will match what you already have. Unlike real wood, laminates should not fade or have variations from piece to piece.
South Shore Lexington Collection Drawer Chest
Why Buy RTA Furniture?
RTA furniture no longer is synonymous with “cheap,” but with “smart.” So what’s the appeal of RTA furniture? It’s fun, convenient, and saves money!
Fun
Did you ever like building things with Legos or blocks? Then you will enjoy RTA furniture. Assembling your own furniture really makes it feel like it’s yours. After assembling that entertainment center or armoire, you will appreciate it all the more knowing it was your hands that built it.
Convenience
Just like Lundgren, you can easily see the ease created by RTA furniture. Moving can be a hassle, but with RTA furniture, not only can the furniture be assembled, it can be disassembled. The ext time you move you will have one less thing to worry about. Remember to save the original instructions to insure easy reassembly after your next move.
Save Money!
Probably the biggest draw of RTA furniture is that is saves money. Shipping is expensive. RTA furniture initially rose to popularity because it cuts down on shipping costs that were sometimes three times as expensive as the item. RTA furniture is even frequently referred to as “flat pack,” exemplifying the ease involved in shipping it. Not only does it save cash on shipping, but cuts costs on assembly. When you do-it-yourself, you save money on manufacturing. In the end, you get the same great furniture for a fraction of the cost.
So now that you’re interested in RTA Furniture, what do you need to know?
- Measure! Make sure you have enough room for your RTA furniture when it is assembled before you even buy.
- Have plenty of workspace; don’t get started just to have to move. You’ll get frustrated. Remember to assemble the furniture in the room where it will be used; once assembled, it may not fit through doorways.
- Make sure to check the box for everything. You might be missing a screw or bolt, and even though it’s small, it’s what will hold your entertainment wall together. You really don’t want to toss the box while essential parts are in it. When taking inventory of the box’s contents, we recommend sorting them by category: fasteners, structural pieces, ornamental pieces, etc. Be careful not to lose small pieces in the carpet or get them tangled in its fibers.
- Make an inventory of necessary parts. It is frustrating to be in the middle of assembly and realize you can’t find a vital screw. Also if it’s all laid out and identified, you’re less likely to confuse pieces and use parts incorrectly.
- Be Patient. Take your time and don’t skip steps. Even if the step seems tiny, do it. You don’t want to build your furniture only to find out it can not support weight because you skipped a step and have to start all over. We know it is tempting to rush along while fastening and bolting, but leave the screws loose until the unit is totally assembled. This will help make the furniture level, as will screwing floor levelers in at an equal distance.
Just because a lot if people consider RTA furniture to be do-it-yourself, you are not alone. Call our friendly customer service team toll-free, 8 AM-9 PM Monday through Friday, and 10 AM-5 PM EST Saturday and Sunday at (800) 306-8697.
Using these tips, we are confident you can assemble all of our RTA furniture, and you’ll save up to hundreds of dollars doing it!
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