Assembling the GABRIEL Sideboard — Step-by-Step Guide

December 25, 2025

Assembling the GABRIEL sideboard takes approximately 90 to 120 minutes for a single person with careful preparation and standard tools.

Opting for flat-pack furniture often leaves you facing a multitude of panels, screws, and fittings once the boxes are unpacked. This guide walks you systematically through the assembly process for the GABRIEL series. The construction relies on classic joinery principles for cabinet furniture made of chipboard with a durable surface coating.

Dimensions vary depending on the chosen model. A slim model with a depth of 30 cm or 35 cm is frequently placed in hallways or as a compact unit in the bedroom. Wider versions measuring 70 cm, 80 cm, 100 cm, or 110 cm in width and 45 cm in depth provide more storage capacity and also serve well as a TV sideboard in the living room. Visually, the series ranges from classic white to matt black sideboards, as well as anthracite or wood-effect finishes.

Package Contents and Preparation

Assembly is like a mechanical puzzle: sorting the components beforehand allows you to erect the basic framework in half the time. Unpack all parcels flat on the floor. Use the cardboard packaging as an underlay to prevent scratches on visible surfaces.

The package generally contains:

Side panels, bottom panel, and top panel (carcase)
Shelves and shelf support pegs
Door and drawer fronts
Back panels made of HDF (high-density fibreboard)
Fittings pack containing wooden dowels, cam lock fasteners (Minifix), wood screws, and panel pins
Concealed hinges (cup hinges) and matching cruciform mounting plates
Drawer runners (typically ball-bearing slides or roller runners)

Tools Required

To assemble these chests of drawers and sideboards, you will need standard household tools:

Cross-head screwdrivers: PZ 2 (Pozidriv) for most furniture fittings and PH 2 (Phillips) for specific screws
Slotted screwdriver (for tightening cam locks)
Small hammer (for dowels and back panel pins)
Folding rule or tape measure, and a spirit level
Cordless screwdriver (optional, strictly on a low torque setting)
Drill and masonry bit (for wall anchoring)

Step-by-Step Assembly

1. Preparing the Components

Begin by inserting all wooden dowels into the designated edge holes of the side panels and cross panels. If necessary, apply a small drop of wood glue into the hole before tapping the dowel in gently with a hammer. Screw the connecting bolts of the cam lock fasteners into the pre-drilled threads on the top and bottom panels.

2. Mounting Drawer Runners and Mounting Plates

Fitting the hardware to the side panels is significantly easier while they are still lying flat on the floor.

Attach the drawer runners (often a single extension with a length of 250 mm - 400 mm) to the marked points on the inner sides. Pay attention to the predefined hole line in the System 32 pattern.
Fasten the cruciform mounting plate for the door hinges. Use the included 5 mm diameter Euro screws for this step.

3. Assembling the Carcase

Fit the side panels onto the bottom panel. Guide the pre-fitted bolts into the large cam holes on the side panels where the cam housings sit. Turn the cam lock fasteners roughly 180° clockwise using a flat-head screwdriver until they lock securely. Place the top panel on and secure it following the same method.

4. Attaching the Back Panel

Carefully turn the assembled carcase face down. The back panel stabilises the entire unit and ensures structural squareness.

Position the back panel in place.
Measure the diagonals of the sideboard (from the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner and vice versa). Both measurements must match precisely to the millimetre. Only then is the cabinet perfectly square.
Nail the back panel down using the supplied pins. The spacing between nails should be roughly 10 cm to 15 cm.

5. Assembling the Drawers

Join the drawer sides to the drawer rear panel. Slide the thin drawer bottom into the allocated groove. Next, attach the drawer front, usually using cam lock fasteners as well. Finally, screw the slim runner components of the ball-bearing slides onto the outer sides of the drawer box.

6. Fitting and Aligning the Doors

Insert the concealed hinge into the 35 mm cup hole on the door and screw it tight. Standard sideboards typically use a full overlay setup, where the closed door rests directly over the edge of the carcase side panel. Clip or slide the hinge arm onto the cruciform mounting plate inside the cabinet and tighten the securing screw.

Door adjustment is carried out via the three screws located on the hinge arm:

Depth adjustment: Moves the door closer to or further away from the carcase (gap dimension).
Height adjustment: Loosening the screws on the mounting plate slightly lets you shift the door up or down by around 2 mm.
Lateral adjustment: Adjusts the horizontal tilt of the door to achieve an even margin between two doors.

Wall Fixing and Anti-Tip Protection

Properly installed anti-tip hardware is vital for safety. Fully loaded drawers shift the centre of gravity forward when opened. Use the supplied metal bracket. Secure one end to the top panel or to the rear of the carcase. Anchor the other end into the wall with a suitable wall plug and screw. Check the wall structure beforehand: plasterboard partitions require specialised cavity anchors, whereas solid masonry or concrete requires standard expansion plugs.

Tips and Common Pitfalls

Incorrect screw length: Check carefully which wood screws belong to each step. A 3.5 x 16 mm screw is intended for runners, whereas a 4 x 30 mm screw would puncture through the thin side panel of a drawer.
Sticking drawers: If a drawer with full extension or single extension runners feels stiff, verify that the runners are perfectly level and that the carcase diagonals match.
Surface protection: Even if finishes such as high-gloss sideboards arrive with a protective film, leave it on until the unit is placed in its final position.

Assembly FAQ

Can I assemble the sideboard on my own? Yes, the process is designed for one person. Having a second person assist is only advisable when lifting the finished carcase upright or moving it into position, avoiding strain on joint fittings from leverage forces.

Why are the doors not sitting flush? This is almost always caused by hinge calibration or an uneven floor surface. Level the sideboard first using a spirit level (shimming underneath if necessary). Only adjust the concealed hinge adjustment screws afterwards.

Is it a good idea to use a cordless screwdriver? A cordless screwdriver saves time, but poses the risk of stripping screw threads in chipboard furniture. Keep the torque limiter set very low (e.g. level 2 or 3) and tighten the final turns on fittings manually by hand.

The GABRIEL Series at a Glance

Thoughtful engineering makes the GABRIEL range a reliable option for modern living spaces. Whether you select compact models for the bedroom or larger units for the dining room, the construction principles remain consistent. You will find that standard affordable sideboards rely on this very same hardware methodology, pairing functional design with dependable furniture fittings.