ᐅ How can I better protect MALM furniture during moves?

Hello everyone, I will be moving soon and have some Ikea Malm furniture that I definitely want to transport without any damage. Since these pieces are often made of coated particleboard, I’m concerned about scratches, dents, and possible warping caused by improper packing or stacking.

My question to the community: How can I best protect my MALM furniture during a move? What materials or methods do you recommend to prevent both surface scratches and structural damage? Are there any special tips for securing particularly sensitive parts, such as fronts or drawer slides?

I look forward to your advice and experiences!

It is best to use bubble wrap to thoroughly protect all edges. You should remove the drawers and transport them separately. Additionally, blankets can be used as padding underneath the furniture when stacking.

I would add that surfaces can also be protected from pressure marks by covering them with furniture boards or thick cardboard.

peovin schrieb:
The best option is to use bubble wrap and wrap all edges carefully.

That is important, but the flat surfaces are also sensitive. In the area of the drawer slides, it is additionally useful to place a protective film between the slide and the cabinet body to prevent dirt particles from entering or bending the mechanism.

Good morning everyone! 🙂 I’d like to share some tips based on my experience protecting MALM furniture during a move:

First of all, the main issue with MALM furniture is often its thin coating, which can scratch easily from impacts. Therefore, I recommend dismantling the furniture as much as possible, such as completely removing drawers, taking off handles, and if possible, detaching large front panels.

For packing, bubble wrap is especially suitable, and you should apply it generously—better in double layers. Additionally, foam edge protectors, which are available at hardware stores and designed specifically for edge protection, should be applied around corners.

When loading the furniture into the moving van, make sure nothing is stacked on top and that the pieces stand on a flat surface whenever possible. A non-slip mat underneath also helps prevent shifting during transport.

Regarding drawer slides: it is important that no dirt particles get into the runners. If you cannot remove the slides, wrap them securely and check beforehand if they can be easily unhooked.

Hope this helps! If you like, I can also provide more detailed advice on dismantling and packing.

When moving, I removed all MALM drawers and packed them into separate boxes. I wrapped the furniture with blankets and stretch wrap. This worked quite well.

The following practical approach has proven effective: First, apply high-quality edge protection (such as foam profiles or corner guards) to prevent impacts on sensitive corners. Then remove all detachable parts like drawers and transport them separately, well padded.

Before packing, it is advisable to thoroughly clean all surfaces. This prevents small dirt particles from causing abrasion when stacking. Furniture should never be stacked unless protective boards or sufficiently thick blankets are always placed between the individual pieces.

If you have professional moving blankets, use them. They provide significantly better cushioning against pressure marks compared to regular blankets.

By handling items carefully and using adequate edge protection, you can significantly reduce the risk of structural damage.