ᐅ Why does the Malm bed wobble despite correct assembly?

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a Malm bed from IKEA and assembled it myself. I followed the assembly instructions completely and precisely, no screws are missing, and everything is in its proper place. However, the bed noticeably wobbles with every movement, which is quite frustrating and makes me wonder if there is a common mistake that is easy to overlook or if this is a general design issue.

Does anyone have experience or advice on how to prevent the wobbling despite correct assembly?

I understand that Malm beds have a relatively simple construction, but even small leverage forces should be prevented by correct screwing. Maybe the floor design or an uneven floor surface is causing this? Or could it be related to the type of screws or the slats of the bed base?

I’m looking forward to your explanations and possible solutions – thanks in advance!

Does the Malm bed wobble despite correct assembly? Make sure to check that all screws are fully tightened. Sometimes it may feel secure but can still be slightly loose.

Also inspect the connection between the headboard, footboard, and side rails; there should be no play in these joints.

Hello Roregau,

I am familiar with this problem. Even when assembled according to the instructions, wobbling can still occur. This is often because the connection points do not fit completely tight due to slight unevenness or minor tolerances in the wood or fittings.

Sometimes it is also caused by the slatted frame not resting firmly enough or lifting slightly under load. If your floor is uneven, this can further increase the wobbling. A simple solution can be to use small felt pads or special furniture wedges on the feet to make the base more stable.

Checking the bolts or fittings with washers can also help to tighten the connections.

Best regards and good luck!

Rensan3 schrieb:
Make sure to check that all screws are fully tightened.

I totally agree! My parents once dismantled their Malm bed for ages until the wobbling stopped, because one tiny screw was loose. It’s easy to overlook this because you think “it’s tight enough!”

koneo schrieb:
A simple solution can be to use small felt pads or special furniture wedges under the legs

And that often brings stability. A bed doesn’t just need to be assembled perfectly, it also has to stand securely on the floor. Sometimes these little helpers do more than you’d expect. 🙂

I completely understand how frustrating it is when the bed wobbles even though you did everything correctly.

Sometimes it’s due to the floor’s surface or the metal brackets that connect the side rails bending slightly or not fitting perfectly.

One idea I had: over time, the wood can settle or expand slightly, causing minor gaps. After that, simply check all the screws again, reinforce them if necessary with PTFE tape, or even apply some special wood glue.

Don’t let it get you down—this can often be fixed. Hang in there!

Joe52 schrieb:
Sometimes it also depends on the soil condition or on the fact that the metal brackets connecting the side rails can bend slightly or do not fit perfectly.

This is a very important point, because I also had a Malm bed that wobbled despite careful assembly. In my case, it was indeed slightly bent metal brackets that caused some play.

What helped me was to align the brackets precisely and use small washers or thin felt pads to close the gaps.

Sometimes it’s the small details that are responsible for the wobbling.