Furniture fixings. They’re not glamorous, but without them, nothing holds together. Every kitchen, wardrobe, or fitted furniture unit relies on the humble fixing to stay in place. For decades, we’ve made do with the same old brackets and blocks. They work (just about) but they come with headaches: scribing, packing, trimming with the occasional swear word!

Meanwhile, the UK furniture industry isn’t standing still. In fact, kitchen furniture manufacturing alone turned over £3.84 billion in 2022, and the wider furniture sector hit £11.35 billion. (FIRA Statistics Digest 2023). Demand is strong, expectations are higher, and time is money on every install.

So isn’t it time fixings caught up?

Why Furniture Fixings Matter

Get the fixing right and life is easier: faster installs, cleaner lines, and fewer call-backs. Get it wrong and you’re wrestling with out-of-square walls, wasted panels, and unhappy customers. In fact, studies show that poor fitting and misaligned fixings are one of the top causes of snagging issues in new kitchen and furniture installs, directly impacting customer satisfaction and repeat business in the UK. There are countless types of fixings available on the market (from dowels and cams, to brackets, corner blocks, and innovative adjustable spacers) and choosing the right one is often the difference between a job that runs smoothly and one that eats into your day, your margin, and your reputation.

Here are some of the most common types of furniture fixings used today (note this isn’t an exhaustive list – there are dozens of specialist fasteners and systems worldwide):

• Dowels
  Simple wooden or plastic pegs that align and join panels.
• Cam and dowel connectors
  Widely used in flat-pack furniture for secure joints.
• Screws and confirmat screws
  Robust fixings for chipboard and MDF.
• Brackets and corner blocks
  Traditional supports for strength and rigidity.
• Knock-down fittings
  Quick assembly options often used in modular furniture.
• Drawer runners and hinge plates
  Specialist fixings for moving parts.
• Adjustable spacer fixings
  Modern alternatives that speed up installs and cope with uneven walls.
• Mounting plates and hanging brackets
  For securing cabinets and wall units.

Each has its place, and understanding their uses helps installers and manufacturers choose the best solution for each job. Beyond this list you’ll also find minifix connectors, cam locks, shelf supports, knock-in fittings, hinges, sliding door systems, specialist fasteners and many more.

It’s a broad landscape, and while no single catalogue could capture every option globally, appreciating the range makes it clear how important choosing the right fixing really is.

The Trouble with Tradition

Traditional furniture fixings have hardly changed. L-brackets and corner blocks demand measuring, cutting, packing, and fiddling around in tight corners. They take time, they waste material, and they often leave a visible mark on the finish.

Installers know this routine all too well. It’s not that brackets are bad, they’ve just had their day.

A Smarter Way Forward

Across the industry, there’s a shift towards smarter, more engineered solutions. The demands are clear:

• Speed
  Less faff, more units fitted per day.
• Consistency
  Every cabinet lined up, every time.
• Sustainability
  Cutting waste, using fewer materials.
• Finish
  Invisible fixings that look professional.

This isn’t wish-list thinking. It’s what’s already driving change in how furniture is designed, made, and installed.

Enter Space-Plug Evolution

Space-Plug Evolution grew out of real installer frustration. Instead of battling walls with a pile of brackets, Evolution creates its own service void and fixes the unit in place in seconds. No scribing, no edge-cutting, no bodging.

Manufacturers benefit too: simpler production, fewer components, and happier fitters down the line. It’s not about replacing every fixing on site, it’s about choosing the right tool for the job and finally giving installers something designed with them in mind.

The Future of Fixings

Furniture fixings are moving on. The old ways got us here, but smarter solutions are what’s needed to keep pace with today’s demands. For installers and manufacturers who want to save time, reduce waste, and deliver better results, the future is already here.

Space-Plug Evolution is part of that future.

 

Ready to See for Yourself?

Click here to learn more about our modern furniture fixings and see Evolution in action.