ᐅ How do I repair chipped corners on Malm furniture?

Hello everyone,

unfortunately, I had some bad luck with one of my Ikea Malm dressers: the corners on one of the drawer fronts have chipped off. It’s the typical, rather thin MDF wood with a white foil covering. Now I want to repair the chipped corners as inconspicuously as possible because I would like to keep the piece of furniture for a longer time.

My specific questions for you:

1. Which materials and tools are best suited for repairing chipped corners on Malm furniture (e.g., filler putty, wood glue, touch-up pens, etc.)?
2. What is the best approach to ensure the repaired corner is not noticeable afterwards – especially regarding shape, texture, and color?
3. Are there any proven techniques or tips I should keep in mind to achieve a durable result?

I would really appreciate your answers, especially if you have practical experience or can recommend materials that work well for this type of furniture.

Thanks in advance!

Hello, just use wood filler and reshape the corner with a small putty knife. After it dries, sand it smooth and touch up with matching paint or a marker. Important: Do not apply too thickly.

Leland schrieb:
Just use wood filler, then reshape the corner with a small putty knife.

Basically a good approach. I would add that proper preparation of the damaged area is very important. First, slightly bevel the chipped corner to remove any loose particles – this prevents the filler from flaking off later.

Then I recommend applying the wood filler in layers. Depending on the depth of the damage, it’s better to use two thin layers rather than one thick one, allowing each layer to dry completely. This will improve adhesion and help avoid cracking.

Leland schrieb:
After drying, sand finely and touch up with matching paint or marker.

For sanding, be sure to use very fine sandpaper (220–320 grit) to avoid damaging the surface too much. When color-matching the white surface of Malm furniture, it’s often better to use a matching film or contact paper if a paint marker doesn’t fit exactly. Paint markers usually don’t provide full opacity, especially on white.

I also recommend treating the filled area with a primer or adhesion promoter before painting to improve paint adhesion.

What kind of filler are you using exactly? And are only the corners of the drawer fronts affected, or are there other areas as well?

Surela schrieb:
First, chamfer the chipped corner slightly to remove any loose fragments – this prevents the filler from peeling off again later.

Thanks for the tip, I hadn’t considered that yet. There are still some small fibers and splinters at the edge of the damaged corner, so I will carefully smooth them with fine sandpaper.

Surela schrieb:
I would recommend applying the wood filler in layers.

I will do that to ensure consistent strength.

Surela schrieb:
What type of filler are you using exactly?

I have a wood filler with an acrylic base from Obi, which is actually intended for small repairs. I think it should be suitable.

Surela schrieb:
Is it only the corners of the drawer fronts affected, or are other areas involved as well?

Mainly the corners of the drawer fronts, but also a small spot on the side edge.

Would you also use filler on the side edge, or for small spots rather work with wood glue and touch-ups?

Loson schrieb:
Would you use filler on the edge as well, or for small spots use wood glue and touch-ups?

For small defects in the MDF-like material of Malm furniture, wood glue is not ideal because it does not build structure and is difficult to sand. Instead, wood filler should be used here, as it also adheres well and can be sanded smooth.

It is also advisable to use an acrylic-based filler that remains flexible to prevent cracking. For finer details, putty can be applied additionally to achieve a smooth surface.

Finally, after sanding, apply a matte white acrylic paint that is UV-resistant, since the furniture is usually exposed to a lot of light in daily use and would otherwise darken or yellow over time.