ᐅ How can I securely attach Malm furniture in rental apartments?
Created on: 2 Nov 2024 18:37
N
nikolasHello everyone, I have a question that likely concerns some renters who want to secure their Malm furniture safely without causing trouble with the landlord or damaging the walls.
More specifically: What is the best way to secure Malm furniture in a rental apartment?
For example, I want to secure a wardrobe or a dresser against tipping over, thinking of the usual anti-tip devices, but many instructions assume ownership of the property or walls.
How does this work in a rental? Which fastening methods are safe, reversible, and cause minimal damage? Are there any special anchors or systems you would recommend?
Does anyone have experience with alternative, non-invasive solutions or tips on the best place to attach the safety straps inside the furniture?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
More specifically: What is the best way to secure Malm furniture in a rental apartment?
For example, I want to secure a wardrobe or a dresser against tipping over, thinking of the usual anti-tip devices, but many instructions assume ownership of the property or walls.
How does this work in a rental? Which fastening methods are safe, reversible, and cause minimal damage? Are there any special anchors or systems you would recommend?
Does anyone have experience with alternative, non-invasive solutions or tips on the best place to attach the safety straps inside the furniture?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
For rental apartments, I always recommend telescopic locks or brackets that can be installed without drilling, for example, using tension systems between furniture and the ceiling.
Alternatively, simple metal locks with small wall hooks and hollow wall anchors for drywall can be used, which can be easily removed when moving out.
Alternatively, simple metal locks with small wall hooks and hollow wall anchors for drywall can be used, which can be easily removed when moving out.
Hello nikolas,
Your question is very practical and important, especially since Malm furniture traditionally tends to tip over easily if not secured properly. I would like to explain this from a technical perspective so you can make an informed decision.
First, it matters what type of wall you have: Are you attaching to a solid wall (e.g., brick) or drywall? This is crucial for choosing the right wall anchors.
For solid walls, expansion anchors or universal anchors are well suited. If drilling is not allowed, I recommend so-called "furniture securing using a tension system": a telescopic rod is placed between the ceiling and the furniture, which works without drilling holes and can be easily removed during move-out inspections. These work especially well for ceiling heights around 2.4 to 2.6 meters (8 to 8.5 feet).
For drywall, cavity anchors are necessary if you want to attach something. These grip inside the cavity and are more stable than simple anchors. Be sure to secure the wardrobe to the wall with tipping restraints in two places—at the bottom and at the top.
An interesting option is also hook-and-loop tape tipping restraints, which can be stuck on both furniture and wall; however, their durability for larger furniture pieces is questionable.
I can only confirm that telescopic restraints offer the best compromise between stability and removability. For Malm furniture, it is also important to attach the securing straps to the upper section of the unit and to the wall roughly at the height of the top three drawers to ensure sufficient leverage against tipping.
If you want, I can also give you tips on specific products. What type of floor and ceiling do you have exactly?
Your question is very practical and important, especially since Malm furniture traditionally tends to tip over easily if not secured properly. I would like to explain this from a technical perspective so you can make an informed decision.
First, it matters what type of wall you have: Are you attaching to a solid wall (e.g., brick) or drywall? This is crucial for choosing the right wall anchors.
For solid walls, expansion anchors or universal anchors are well suited. If drilling is not allowed, I recommend so-called "furniture securing using a tension system": a telescopic rod is placed between the ceiling and the furniture, which works without drilling holes and can be easily removed during move-out inspections. These work especially well for ceiling heights around 2.4 to 2.6 meters (8 to 8.5 feet).
For drywall, cavity anchors are necessary if you want to attach something. These grip inside the cavity and are more stable than simple anchors. Be sure to secure the wardrobe to the wall with tipping restraints in two places—at the bottom and at the top.
An interesting option is also hook-and-loop tape tipping restraints, which can be stuck on both furniture and wall; however, their durability for larger furniture pieces is questionable.
nolan schrieb:
For rental apartments, I always recommend telescopic restraints or brackets that can be installed without drilling
I can only confirm that telescopic restraints offer the best compromise between stability and removability. For Malm furniture, it is also important to attach the securing straps to the upper section of the unit and to the wall roughly at the height of the top three drawers to ensure sufficient leverage against tipping.
If you want, I can also give you tips on specific products. What type of floor and ceiling do you have exactly?
It’s interesting how people here almost automatically talk about “drilling” and see it as a problem for renting. Let me boldly suggest: If you’re not allowed to drill holes in walls, you probably shouldn’t use furniture like Malm with its tipping hazard in the first place.
The issue is this: If you want safety, you need a solid anchor point. Period. Everything else is more about appearance than actual protection. Telescopic safety straps seem half-hearted to me—they don’t offer much if you have very active children or sudden movements.
And the landlord… well, they’ll make sure to show you with the bill if the wall gets damaged after a fall.
You have to say: Rentals aren’t really designed for high-risk furniture like traditional Malm beds; for those, you either need uncompromising securing by drilling or different furniture. Alternatively, you have the more expensive option of stability-tested furniture that doesn’t require anchoring at all.
Imagine yourself as a landlord—what would you tolerate? Exactly, nothing, and that’s understandable. I feel safety is often preferred over common sense here.
nikolas schrieb:
Which fastening methods are safe, reversible, and cause minimal damage?
The issue is this: If you want safety, you need a solid anchor point. Period. Everything else is more about appearance than actual protection. Telescopic safety straps seem half-hearted to me—they don’t offer much if you have very active children or sudden movements.
And the landlord… well, they’ll make sure to show you with the bill if the wall gets damaged after a fall.
You have to say: Rentals aren’t really designed for high-risk furniture like traditional Malm beds; for those, you either need uncompromising securing by drilling or different furniture. Alternatively, you have the more expensive option of stability-tested furniture that doesn’t require anchoring at all.
Imagine yourself as a landlord—what would you tolerate? Exactly, nothing, and that’s understandable. I feel safety is often preferred over common sense here.
Hello nikolas,
I would like to add to the discussion from a technical and practical point of view and offer you a structured approach:
1. Determine wall type: brick, concrete, drywall? This is important for choosing the right anchors and screws. Drywall requires special hollow wall anchors (e.g., toggle bolts or metal expansion anchors).
2. Safety vs. damage prevention: Furniture restraints (anti-tip straps) should be very strong and ideally fixed at two points – at the top on the back of the furniture and on the wall, preferably centered. This helps to distribute the load better.
3. If drilling is not an option, I recommend alternatives such as:
- Telescopic poles between the ceiling and furniture (as already mentioned)
- Furniture restraints attached with strong adhesive tape to both the wall and furniture. These usually hold well under light loads but are not a substitute for proper anchors.
4. When installing, make sure the restraints do not obstruct drawers or doors.
Common mistakes:
- Mounting the restraint too low, which creates too large a lever arm and causes the restraint to break easily.
- Drill holes that are too large or walls that are too brittle, causing anchors to fail.
I hope this provides a good overview.
If nikolas knows whether the ceiling is plastered or painted and its height, I can assist further and suggest example products.
I would like to add to the discussion from a technical and practical point of view and offer you a structured approach:
1. Determine wall type: brick, concrete, drywall? This is important for choosing the right anchors and screws. Drywall requires special hollow wall anchors (e.g., toggle bolts or metal expansion anchors).
2. Safety vs. damage prevention: Furniture restraints (anti-tip straps) should be very strong and ideally fixed at two points – at the top on the back of the furniture and on the wall, preferably centered. This helps to distribute the load better.
3. If drilling is not an option, I recommend alternatives such as:
- Telescopic poles between the ceiling and furniture (as already mentioned)
- Furniture restraints attached with strong adhesive tape to both the wall and furniture. These usually hold well under light loads but are not a substitute for proper anchors.
4. When installing, make sure the restraints do not obstruct drawers or doors.
Common mistakes:
- Mounting the restraint too low, which creates too large a lever arm and causes the restraint to break easily.
- Drill holes that are too large or walls that are too brittle, causing anchors to fail.
I hope this provides a good overview.
If nikolas knows whether the ceiling is plastered or painted and its height, I can assist further and suggest example products.
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