ᐅ How do I repair Malm dressers after damage?

Hello everyone, I have an important question regarding the care and repair of Malm dressers, especially when they suffer damage from improper use or minor accidents. I’m particularly interested in how to properly and sustainably repair the most common types of damage—such as surface scratches, loose veneer, or small chips on the edges—without causing unsightly stains or color mismatches later on. Which products, tools, and techniques would you recommend to carry out such repairs as professionally as possible? I have already tried touching up scratches with wax sticks, but the results were only moderate. I would also appreciate tips on surface preparation and aftercare to keep the dresser looking good for as long as possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

That is a very precise question, thank you for that! In general, many repairs on Malm dressers can be done independently once you understand their construction: The surface usually consists of a thin veneer over particleboard. For scratches, a fine sanding sponge or sandpaper (grit 320 to 400) often helps by gently evening out rough spots without penetrating the veneer. Afterward, the area should be thoroughly cleaned, and a suitable wood repair marker (color matched to the dresser) applied – Ikea usually offers recommendations or shades that work well. For loose or lifted veneer, it is important to lightly roughen the underside first to improve adhesive bonding. Apply a thin layer of clear wood glue (such as Ponal or similar) underneath and press it down with a plastic sheet until fully dried.

For chips on edges, you can use color-matched wood filler, which can be lightly sanded after drying and then painted over to match. A trick I often use: a very thin layer of varnish or clear coat creates a natural shine and protects the repair from further damage.

Have you already tried any of these methods or considered specific materials?

benonon schrieb:
For scratches, a fine sanding sponge or sandpaper (grit 320 to 400) often helps

Thanks for the detailed answer! I wasn’t sure if sanding is even possible on a thin veneer—I was a bit worried it might be sanded away completely. Do you think that grit is really fine enough to just gently level the surface? I’d rather not make the dresser worse.

The idea of using clear lacquer as a final treatment sounds good too. Do you have a particular type in mind, or is a standard acrylic wood finish enough?

Just a critical addition: I believe sanding veneer should not be recommended too lightly. The risks really outweigh the benefits if you are not very experienced. Especially with Malm dressers, which often have very thin veneer, it’s easy to expose the substrate wood or ruin the appearance.

What alternatives to sanding are there? Instead of mechanically removing material, could targeted use of repair wax or color pencils be more effective? That is certainly safer and also prevents visible differences in gloss level or wood grain afterward.

difepeo schrieb:
One should not recommend sanding veneer too lightly

Of course, I completely agree with you. I really only recommend sanding for very minor superficial micro-damages – just minimal sanding with very fine grit sandpaper. If the damage is deeper or you’re unsure, using a touch-up pen or special wax is actually a better solution.

However, you can easily use sandpaper to slightly dull the surface before applying wax or varnish, so that the new coating adheres better. The key is to take your time and test on inconspicuous areas.

Short and to the point: For scratches, I use repair wax sticks, which come sorted by color tone. For loose veneers, apply glue underneath and clamp for 24 hours. For larger damages, use wood filler, then sand and paint. Done.