I am planning to modify my IKEA Malm furniture in the children's room to make it as safe and child-friendly as possible. My main concerns are preventing finger pinches on the drawers, using child-appropriate handles, ensuring stability against tipping, and addressing any sharp corners that could harm small children. Does anyone have experience or tips on the best ways to modify the furniture, which materials are suitable, and which specific safety precautions should be taken with Malm furniture? I look forward to expert advice and practical instructions.
First of all, an important point – the MALM series already features relatively flat edges, which is an advantage, but for children’s rooms, this can be improved further.
I would recommend adding edge protection profiles made of soft silicone or foam to the sharp edges of the carcasses. These can be easily cut and applied, providing protection against injuries.
Regarding the drawers: unfortunately, MALM drawers do not come with built-in child safety locks. Here, it helps to install so-called drawer locks. There are magnetic locks that are mounted inside, so children can’t easily pull the drawer out, but adults can still open it without much effort. It is also important that the drawers are always well-cushioned and do not close too quickly to prevent finger pinching. For this, I would recommend dampers, which can be installed between the side panel of the carcass and the drawer front.
Finally, MALM furniture tends to tip over quite easily if used improperly. Therefore, always secure the furniture to the wall with anti-tip brackets, especially for tall wardrobes or dressers. There are special safety sets for children’s rooms that are also approved for rental apartments and can be removed with minimal residue.
One drawback I see is the handles – replacing the drawer handles with softer ones, such as rubber or fabric handles, reduces the risk of injury. However, Ikea does not offer such accessories.
May I ask: which MALM furniture pieces do you want to modify exactly? Dresser, bed, desk? That would make the recommendations easier.
I would recommend adding edge protection profiles made of soft silicone or foam to the sharp edges of the carcasses. These can be easily cut and applied, providing protection against injuries.
Regarding the drawers: unfortunately, MALM drawers do not come with built-in child safety locks. Here, it helps to install so-called drawer locks. There are magnetic locks that are mounted inside, so children can’t easily pull the drawer out, but adults can still open it without much effort. It is also important that the drawers are always well-cushioned and do not close too quickly to prevent finger pinching. For this, I would recommend dampers, which can be installed between the side panel of the carcass and the drawer front.
Finally, MALM furniture tends to tip over quite easily if used improperly. Therefore, always secure the furniture to the wall with anti-tip brackets, especially for tall wardrobes or dressers. There are special safety sets for children’s rooms that are also approved for rental apartments and can be removed with minimal residue.
One drawback I see is the handles – replacing the drawer handles with softer ones, such as rubber or fabric handles, reduces the risk of injury. However, Ikea does not offer such accessories.
May I ask: which MALM furniture pieces do you want to modify exactly? Dresser, bed, desk? That would make the recommendations easier.
Domau0 schrieb:
I’ll ask: Which MALM furniture pieces do you want to modify exactly? Dresser, bed, desk?Thank you for the detailed information. Mainly, it’s the 3-door dresser and two desks. The bed is currently not MALM, but rather a solid wood bunk bed. We use the dresser for clothes and toys, so the drawers are used very frequently. The desks are important because of the edges, as the children spend a lot of time there drawing and crafting. Fall and pinch protection are particularly important in this case.
To make the MALM chest of drawers child-friendly, I recommend the following steps:
1. Install an anti-tip device on the wall, as heavy drawers can easily cause the furniture to tip over.
2. Attach soft edge protectors made of self-adhesive foam around all corners and edges. These are available in various colors at hardware stores.
3. For the drawers, I suggest magnetic locks. These are installed invisibly inside using screws or adhesive plates. This makes it harder for children to pull the drawers out.
4. Additionally, I recommend installing dampers to prevent the drawers from slamming shut suddenly – this helps avoid finger injuries.
5. Replace the handles with softer versions or add simple padding to reduce the risk of injury.
For desks, it is important to pad all edges, preferably with rounded wooden or plastic moldings.
If you are handy, you can even install small drawer dividers to keep toys securely stored and prevent them from falling out.
Check for non-slip pads under the furniture as well, especially if the floor is smooth, to prevent sliding.
1. Install an anti-tip device on the wall, as heavy drawers can easily cause the furniture to tip over.
2. Attach soft edge protectors made of self-adhesive foam around all corners and edges. These are available in various colors at hardware stores.
3. For the drawers, I suggest magnetic locks. These are installed invisibly inside using screws or adhesive plates. This makes it harder for children to pull the drawers out.
4. Additionally, I recommend installing dampers to prevent the drawers from slamming shut suddenly – this helps avoid finger injuries.
5. Replace the handles with softer versions or add simple padding to reduce the risk of injury.
For desks, it is important to pad all edges, preferably with rounded wooden or plastic moldings.
If you are handy, you can even install small drawer dividers to keep toys securely stored and prevent them from falling out.
Check for non-slip pads under the furniture as well, especially if the floor is smooth, to prevent sliding.
Jonas66 schrieb:
Always use anti-tip fittings.Apart from that, I hope the safety catches are regularly checked to ensure they function properly. It’s not uncommon for catches to weaken over time or be incorrectly installed – turning what should be a safety feature into a deceptive risk.
Additionally, you might consider removing the drawer handles on the MALM and switching to push-to-open mechanisms instead. This eliminates any protruding handles that children could bump into. However, such a modification requires a certain level of technical skill and craftsmanship – especially when it involves wiring if desk lamps or other electronics are installed.
Regarding durability, I would also recommend against using foam without secure fastening, as it tends to deteriorate quickly. Instead, use soft but sturdy edge protectors made of plastic that are specifically designed to fit the furniture profile.
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