Hello everyone, I have some Malm furniture from Ikea at home and I am considering how to make these pieces more child-friendly. The Malm series is known for its clean design and affordable prices, but unfortunately, the corners are quite sharp, and the drawers sometimes close rather quickly, which can be a safety risk for children. I’m interested in learning about ways to modify or equip the furniture to make it safer for kids—such as padding the edges, installing dampers, or other practical solutions. It would also be helpful to get recommendations for specific protective products or hear about techniques that have proven effective in everyday use with children. Thanks in advance for your tips and advice!
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FABIAN_DEO21 Aug 2015 18:07Very interesting question! If you want to make Malm furniture more child-friendly, I recommend a multi-step approach that includes both mechanical adjustments and preventive measures. First, you should cover sharp edges and corners with special edge protectors made of soft plastic or foam. These usually come with self-adhesive tape and are easy to apply. Keep in mind that the adhesive strength may vary on the surface of Malm furniture because the material is somewhat smoother.
Regarding the drawers: it makes sense to retrofit so-called dampers or soft-close adapters that prevent or at least slow down the slamming of the drawers. Ikea itself does not offer dampers for Malm, but universal solutions can be found in hardware stores that are easy to install. It is important that children do not pinch their fingers, which is greatly reduced by these dampers.
Furthermore, you should ideally secure the furniture to the floor and the wall to prevent tipping accidents. Malm chests of drawers, in particular, are not completely tip-resistant if climbed on by small children. Wall mounting kits are available in almost any hardware store and are very simple to install.
Finally, have you checked whether the furniture is placed in a high-traffic area or if you encourage the children to use it only without playing on it? Reading your answer would help provide more targeted advice.
Regarding the drawers: it makes sense to retrofit so-called dampers or soft-close adapters that prevent or at least slow down the slamming of the drawers. Ikea itself does not offer dampers for Malm, but universal solutions can be found in hardware stores that are easy to install. It is important that children do not pinch their fingers, which is greatly reduced by these dampers.
Furthermore, you should ideally secure the furniture to the floor and the wall to prevent tipping accidents. Malm chests of drawers, in particular, are not completely tip-resistant if climbed on by small children. Wall mounting kits are available in almost any hardware store and are very simple to install.
Finally, have you checked whether the furniture is placed in a high-traffic area or if you encourage the children to use it only without playing on it? Reading your answer would help provide more targeted advice.
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praWarre6922 Aug 2015 09:11FABIAN_DEO schrieb:
Drawers: It makes sense to retrofit dampers or soft-close adapters that prevent or at least slow down the drawers from slamming shut.Exactly that! I have installed dampers on ours, and the kids are much more relaxed because they no longer have to struggle with their nails getting caught 😉
I also added colorful corner protectors to cushion the edges – they actually look pretty cool and almost turn the furniture into a playground. Always remember: better safe than sorry, those little rascals are quicker than you think! 😄
In addition to securing the furniture to the wall, the following measures are recommended for Malm furniture:
- Mini magnetic catches as child safety locks on drawers to prevent accidental opening.
- Soft silicone edge protectors about 10 mm (0.4 inches) wide to avoid injuries.
- Retrofitting drawer dampers, for example from Hettich or Blum, which can be easily installed on Malm drawers.
- Check whether the furniture placement is child-safe—maintain distance from radiators or electrical outlets.
This combination measurably reduces accidents and contributes to accident prevention.
- Mini magnetic catches as child safety locks on drawers to prevent accidental opening.
- Soft silicone edge protectors about 10 mm (0.4 inches) wide to avoid injuries.
- Retrofitting drawer dampers, for example from Hettich or Blum, which can be easily installed on Malm drawers.
- Check whether the furniture placement is child-safe—maintain distance from radiators or electrical outlets.
This combination measurably reduces accidents and contributes to accident prevention.
putapau schrieb:
I’m interested in what options are available to modify or equip furniture to make it safer for children – for example by padding edges, adding cushioning, or other practical solutions.It’s great that you’re addressing this question! Safety in children’s furniture is very important. Besides the edge padding and cushioning solutions already mentioned, I would also like to highlight locks that prevent children from pulling out drawers unintentionally. This is especially important when toddlers have access.
Using anti-slip mats under the furniture can further help make the piece safer, particularly if it is not firmly anchored to the wall or to ensure additional stability.
Patience is key when installing safety measures. Young children react very differently, so at first, it’s best to observe the furniture closely to identify exactly where the risks are. This way, you can make individual adjustments as needed. If you have specific questions about a particular piece from the Malm series, I’m happy to help!
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