ᐅ MALM nightstand wobbles even after tightening the screws – how can I stabilize it?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled a Malm nightstand from IKEA. Even after tightening all the screws several times, the piece of furniture still wobbles slightly, especially when you hold it at the top and move it gently. The screws are tight, and I made sure they are properly recessed. My issue seems to be that the wobbling comes more from the overall frame stability rather than loose fasteners.

Does anyone have experience with how to additionally stabilize the Malm nightstand without having to replace all the screws or do major modifications? Tips for small reinforcements or tricks would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hello,

check if the metal brackets or connector plates are properly positioned on the inside. Sometimes they are slightly misaligned. A bit of wood glue at the joints can also help.

Check if the nightstand is placed on a level surface. Unevenness often causes wobbling, regardless of how tight the screws are.

NICOLELIS schrieb:
A little wood glue at the joints can also help.

Thanks for the tip. I hadn’t considered wood glue since I thought the mechanical joint was already sufficient. But a bit of glue might improve the load-distributing stability.

gasidney schrieb:
Check whether the nightstand is standing on a level surface.

I checked that; the floor is completely level, and the nightstand rests firmly on all four feet. Still, it wobbles slightly, so the issue likely lies within the frame itself.

Hello Kerem37,

It is well known that the MALM series, while functional and cleanly designed, can show some minor instability under heavy loads or frequent moving. I recommend reinforcing the corner joints at the back with metal brackets (from a hardware store, not just the small IKEA metal plates). These brackets should be installed on the inside of the lower back panel and the side panels to reduce lateral movement.

Additionally, an extra back panel reinforcement—a thin wooden board fixed directly with screws and wood glue—can significantly reduce wobbling and tipping issues. It is important that no plastic or particleboard joints are used as the main support here, but rather stronger material reinforcements.

If there is play in the joints (e.g., worn-out drill holes), inserting wooden dowels or larger wooden plugs can help secure the connection.

Garry schrieb:
I recommend reinforcing the corner joints with metal brackets ... as an additional measure.

This is a classic—always suggesting extra brackets right away. But honestly, the piece of furniture is meant to stand out because of its design, not to become a construction set for stiffening.

In my opinion, you shouldn’t immediately apply heavy reinforcements to IKEA furniture, as that can sometimes completely undermine the original concept. It’s better to first check whether the product really needs as much stability as you expect. If not, just accept that it can wobble—that’s not an industrial shelving system after all. Sometimes less is more ;-)