ᐅ How can I reinforce Malm nightstands to support more weight?

Hello everyone, I have a fairly specific issue: I own the IKEA Malm bedside tables, and I would like to increase their load capacity in my apartment without worrying that they might sag or even break over time. Specifically, I’m looking for the best ways to reinforce these bedside tables so they can support heavier items, such as heavy lamps, stacks of books, or electronic devices. It is important to me that the appearance is preserved as much as possible and that the reinforcement is not too complicated. What proven methods or materials can you recommend to effectively improve the stability of these bedside tables? Thanks in advance!

Hey, great question! 🙂 Malm nightstands already have a sleek look, so I think the best way to reinforce them is by adding internal supports. For example, you can screw metal brackets inside the joints; this holds very well and is hardly visible. Using some wood glue along with that will increase stability even more. Important: don’t use screws that are too long, or the wood might split. It sounds more complicated than it actually is, and afterwards you can confidently load them up without worries! 😉

A systematic reinforcement could be done as follows: 1. Screw metal brackets on the inside corners to stabilize the connection between the side walls and the base and top panels. 2. Add extra cross braces beneath the shelf surface to prevent sagging. 3. If necessary, glue wood panels with appropriate dimensions inside the side walls to increase overall stiffness. It is important to consider the material thickness, especially since the Malm tables are mainly made of particleboard, which can swell under screws and pressure.

Mount metal brackets at the corners. Install wooden cross braces underneath the table. I don’t need to say more about this.

It’s interesting that metal brackets are often mentioned here. But honestly, aren’t they more of a makeshift solution? @Lis53 points out that chipboard can swell around screws. How is this specifically prevented? Don’t you think this could cause damage in the long run? I would rely on reinforcement through a stiffened wooden structure that distributes the weight better. Or does someone care so much about the nightstand that they want to focus “only” on the joints?

enrique7 schrieb:
Don’t you think this could cause damage in the long run?

I believe that if done correctly (pre-drilling and avoiding oversized screws), it will hold up just fine. Pine is not the highest quality wood, but with some know-how, it can easily withstand the load. Alternatively, small metal plates can be used to distribute the screw load. If someone is concerned about the appearance, these can be installed on the inside, so they are hardly visible.