ᐅ How should Malm furniture be securely fastened in rental apartments?

Hello everyone, I’m currently facing the challenge of how to properly and safely secure IKEA Malm furniture in a rental apartment without damaging the walls or violating tenancy laws. Since the Malm series is often quite tall and prone to tipping, I want to make sure they don’t fall over, especially when children or pets are around. I know IKEA offers its own anti-tip devices, but how do these work in practice with different wall types like drywall (plasterboard), concrete, or wood? Are there recommended fastening methods or materials that are sturdy, reversible, and compliant with rental regulations? I look forward to your experiences and advice.

Hello ren63, your concern is completely understandable and important, especially since safety in rental apartments is a top priority. In general, IKEA tilt locks provide a good foundation; these usually consist of metal straps with anchors and screws.

Regarding wall types:

- For concrete walls, you should definitely use suitable anchors, such as heavy-duty anchors, because standard plastic anchors are often not strong enough.
- For drywall (plasterboard) walls, fastening is more challenging; here I recommend special cavity anchors that expand behind the panel.
- For wood walls, wood screws are usually sufficient, but the stability of the wall is crucial.

It is also important that when drilling, you properly fill the holes upon moving out. For rental apartments, it is advisable to make as small drill holes as possible, which can be easily repaired.

I hope this helps you so far. If you have more details about the wall type, I can gladly provide more specific advice 🙂

In addition to the previously mentioned approach, it is always important to consider weight distribution. Malm furniture is often quite heavy and features tall drawers that increase the risk of tipping when they are fully extended.

The following is recommended:

1. Secure the furniture to the wall, preferably at the height specified by IKEA.
2. Pay attention to the correct choice of anchors:
- For concrete or solid walls: nylon or metal expansion anchors.
- For hollow ceilings or drywall: hollow wall anchors (toggle anchors) or metal anchors.
3. If your landlord permits, you can also use wall brackets for additional stability.

It is essential that all fixtures remain reversible, meaning they can be easily removed upon moving out and the holes can be filled again.

When using drywall, always use hollow wall anchors. For concrete, use standard anchors with the appropriate drill bit size. Always install the tilt lock at the top.

Sometimes I wonder if all these anti-tip devices are really necessary. Furniture that is unstable from the start is probably better not to buy or set up at all, instead of just nailing it to the wall.

Takutau schrieb:

With drywall, fastening is difficult; I recommend using special hollow wall anchors or toggle bolts here.

That’s true, but in the end, it remains a compromise – drywall can’t hold much. It might be better to reconsider than to strain the screws.

Thanks in advance for your answers! I plan to attach the furniture mainly to drywall. So the idea of hollow wall anchors sounds interesting, but I’m also concerned that it might not be stable enough.

BEMAU schrieb:

Recommended is: 3. If your landlord allows it, you can also use wall brackets

I’ve never used wall brackets before. Can someone explain exactly how they are mounted and whether they make a significant difference compared to regular anti-tip devices?

Also, we’re considering not using a drill at this spot and instead relying on pressure-mounted fasteners because the rental apartment is very new and I don’t want to risk making holes. Does anyone have experience with the stability of those solutions?