ᐅ How can I adjust MALM beds to uneven floors?

Hello everyone,

I recently bought a MALM bed from IKEA and am now facing the following problem: my bedroom floor is not completely level and has some uneven areas, causing the bed to wobble. Since I want to stabilize the bed with minimal effort, I am asking here in the forum about possible ways to adjust MALM beds in such situations. What experiences have you had to ensure stability despite floor unevenness? Are simple shims sufficient, or is a special type of leveling recommended? Are there any official or proven tricks to fill the gap between the bed frame and the floor without voiding the warranty or damaging the material? I look forward to your tips and also any advice on what to pay attention to when adjusting the legs or other components. Thank you in advance!

Hi,

I would recommend simply placing small felt pads or furniture coasters under the legs. You can stack or adjust them as needed. If your MALM bed doesn’t have adjustable feet, this is the most practical solution. The pads also protect the floor and prevent scratches.

Hello paltau,

Regarding your issue with uneven floors under MALM beds, I can offer the following advice:
The MALM bed usually does not have adjustable feet, which makes leveling on uneven floors more difficult. A practical solution is to place washers or sturdy spacers under the bed legs to improve stability.

Make sure that any pads used are all the same thickness to avoid uneven load distribution, which could cause further problems.

Alternatively, there are special furniture gliders with height adjustment that can be used with some beds, but these are not original IKEA parts for MALM. This means the warranty might be affected if the modifications are visible or cause damage.

Another option would be a thin, very rigid OSB board or a special floor leveling layer under the bed if the unevenness is significant. However, be sure to maintain adequate ventilation to prevent moisture damage.

In summary: washers or felt pads of matching thickness are the practical approach, especially when no foot height adjustment is possible.

If you can provide measurements or more details about the floor, I might be able to offer more specific help.

Danabla schrieb:
Another option would be to use a thin, very rigid OSB panel or a special floor leveling compound underneath the bed

That’s a good approach! I’d like to add that, besides using underlay materials, it’s also useful to first measure the floor precisely with a spirit level. This way, you can level the area more accurately and, for example, use small wooden wedges that you cut to size.

This is especially helpful with furniture like the MALM bed, which doesn’t have adjustable legs. Just make sure that the wedges are firmly fixed so they don’t slip. Also, check that the bed frame’s legs are securely attached before inserting the wedges—there shouldn’t be any looseness.

paltau schrieb:
Are there perhaps official or proven tricks to compensate for the gap between the bed frame and the floor

As far as I know, there are no official IKEA recommendations specifically for this issue. However, many forum users report that a combination of felt furniture pads plus small wedges offers the best balance between stability and protecting the floor surface.

If you find the floor uneven, another option is to place rugs or thin mats under the bed—they help cushion minor irregularities and prevent damage to the flooring.