ᐅ How can I securely fasten Malm dressers in rental apartments?
Created on: 10 Dec 2021 08:37
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ErlindaHello everyone,
I have a question that probably concerns some of you: How can I securely anchor a Malm dresser (from Ikea) in a rental apartment without damaging the walls or violating the terms of the lease?
I’m especially interested in tips for options that don’t require drilling into the walls, since that’s often not allowed or simply too complicated. Are there alternative methods that still reliably prevent the dresser from tipping over or falling?
I mainly want to secure the dresser for the safety of my children and pets, as it’s quite tall and can easily tip over otherwise. I’m looking forward to your experiences and suggestions!
I have a question that probably concerns some of you: How can I securely anchor a Malm dresser (from Ikea) in a rental apartment without damaging the walls or violating the terms of the lease?
I’m especially interested in tips for options that don’t require drilling into the walls, since that’s often not allowed or simply too complicated. Are there alternative methods that still reliably prevent the dresser from tipping over or falling?
I mainly want to secure the dresser for the safety of my children and pets, as it’s quite tall and can easily tip over otherwise. I’m looking forward to your experiences and suggestions!
Hello Erlinda,
I think your question is very important, especially when there are small children in the house. I had a similar concern when I had my first apartment. Securing the Malm dresser was something I really thought about, mainly because I didn’t want to put holes in the walls.
A tip from me: I bought special anti-tip safety straps that can be used without drilling—using adhesive mounting, such as strong double-sided tapes or Velcro straps. This works surprisingly well, but you should clean and dry the surface thoroughly beforehand.
Of course, this is not as secure as proper wall anchors, but it significantly reduces the risk of accidents. For completely secure fastening, I eventually anchored the dresser to the wall, but I understand why you want to avoid that. Another helpful option is to place the dresser against the wall and balance it with heavy items in the lower drawers.
I’m curious to hear what others think!
I think your question is very important, especially when there are small children in the house. I had a similar concern when I had my first apartment. Securing the Malm dresser was something I really thought about, mainly because I didn’t want to put holes in the walls.
Erlinda schrieb:
How can I securely fasten a Malm dresser (from Ikea) in a rental apartment without damaging the walls or violating the lease agreement?
A tip from me: I bought special anti-tip safety straps that can be used without drilling—using adhesive mounting, such as strong double-sided tapes or Velcro straps. This works surprisingly well, but you should clean and dry the surface thoroughly beforehand.
Of course, this is not as secure as proper wall anchors, but it significantly reduces the risk of accidents. For completely secure fastening, I eventually anchored the dresser to the wall, but I understand why you want to avoid that. Another helpful option is to place the dresser against the wall and balance it with heavy items in the lower drawers.
I’m curious to hear what others think!
Z
zarHenning10 Dec 2021 13:09Malm dressers are relatively heavy, so I would recommend always using at least one fixing point on the wall.
If drilling is not allowed, there are special adhesive sets from Ikea and other manufacturers that work, but their stability is limited.
Alternatively, furniture brackets that clamp between the dresser and the wall without drilling can also help.
If drilling is not allowed, there are special adhesive sets from Ikea and other manufacturers that work, but their stability is limited.
Alternatively, furniture brackets that clamp between the dresser and the wall without drilling can also help.
Hello Erlinda,
to look at the whole topic from a more technical perspective: A Malm dresser is quite prone to tipping over due to its height and relatively low weight. The original fastening solution from Ikea is based on a small metal bracket that is screwed into the wall with a wall plug. In rental apartments without permission to drill, this is naturally a problem.
An alternative is to use restraining systems designed for tensile force. These can be fasteners that are clamped between the ceiling and the piece of furniture – creating a kind of support that does not require wall mounting. It is important that the back of the furniture is flat and the floor is not slippery. Non-slip mats under the dresser also increase stability.
That is good, but some manufacturers advise against it because adhesive bonds can fail depending on the wall material or environmental conditions (humidity, temperature).
If you could provide more information about your rental space (e.g., wall material, floor condition), I would be happy to give you more detailed advice on which systems offer realistic stability – sometimes clamping between the top of the furniture and the ceiling is a practical solution.
to look at the whole topic from a more technical perspective: A Malm dresser is quite prone to tipping over due to its height and relatively low weight. The original fastening solution from Ikea is based on a small metal bracket that is screwed into the wall with a wall plug. In rental apartments without permission to drill, this is naturally a problem.
An alternative is to use restraining systems designed for tensile force. These can be fasteners that are clamped between the ceiling and the piece of furniture – creating a kind of support that does not require wall mounting. It is important that the back of the furniture is flat and the floor is not slippery. Non-slip mats under the dresser also increase stability.
Henry schrieb:
A tip from me: I bought special anti-tip safety devices that can be used without drilling – with adhesive mounting
That is good, but some manufacturers advise against it because adhesive bonds can fail depending on the wall material or environmental conditions (humidity, temperature).
If you could provide more information about your rental space (e.g., wall material, floor condition), I would be happy to give you more detailed advice on which systems offer realistic stability – sometimes clamping between the top of the furniture and the ceiling is a practical solution.
Hey Erlinda and everyone else reading,
I just want to add a bit of a light touch here: In our office, we also have one of those Malm units, and I secured it with simple, non-slip felt pads under the dresser. Of course, that doesn’t prevent it from tipping over, but it really helps stop it from sliding. Additionally, we installed a discreet ceiling support with an extendable rod—I like to call it a “furniture telescopic bar” ;-)
Exactly that! Simple, effective, and it doesn’t look bad at all. For me, it’s still the easiest solution when drilling is not an option. 🙂
I just want to add a bit of a light touch here: In our office, we also have one of those Malm units, and I secured it with simple, non-slip felt pads under the dresser. Of course, that doesn’t prevent it from tipping over, but it really helps stop it from sliding. Additionally, we installed a discreet ceiling support with an extendable rod—I like to call it a “furniture telescopic bar” ;-)
kulau schrieb:
Eine Alternative ist die Verwendung von Rückhaltesystemen, die auf Zugkraft ausgelegt sind. Das können z.B. Befestigungen sein, die man zwischen Decke und Möbelstück einspannt
Exactly that! Simple, effective, and it doesn’t look bad at all. For me, it’s still the easiest solution when drilling is not an option. 🙂
Malm dressers from Ikea come standard with a wall anchoring system that is installed using anchors and screws into load-bearing walls. In rental apartments where drilling permission is not granted, there are some alternatives, but none provide the same level of safety as the original anchoring system.
One possible option is to use adhesive solutions such as 3M VHB tapes or heavy-duty hook-and-loop fasteners. Keep in mind that these only hold long-term on smooth, clean walls and protect only against accidental tipping, not under heavy loads.
Another alternative is to use tension rods placed between the floor and ceiling, which apply pressure at specific points. Careful measurement of ceiling height and assessment of wall stability are necessary.
For all solutions, pay attention to load capacity recommendations and, if necessary, obtain the landlord’s approval to avoid issues later.
One possible option is to use adhesive solutions such as 3M VHB tapes or heavy-duty hook-and-loop fasteners. Keep in mind that these only hold long-term on smooth, clean walls and protect only against accidental tipping, not under heavy loads.
Another alternative is to use tension rods placed between the floor and ceiling, which apply pressure at specific points. Careful measurement of ceiling height and assessment of wall stability are necessary.
For all solutions, pay attention to load capacity recommendations and, if necessary, obtain the landlord’s approval to avoid issues later.
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