ᐅ How can I make Malm drawers close softly?

Hello everyone, I own several IKEA Malm dressers, which I really appreciate – but I have one issue: the drawers often close quite hard and sometimes slam shut. I’m looking for a way to make the Malm drawers close softly to avoid the loud banging and possibly extend the furniture’s lifespan. Are there any proven methods or accessories you would recommend? Are there special dampers or adjustments worth considering? Thanks in advance!

The easiest option is built-in dampers that are attached to the back of the drawer. There are special soft-close adapters for Malm drawers that slow them down gently.

There are several technical options for soft-closing IKEA Malm drawers, which I will explain in detail below. Originally, soft-close runners are not available for the Malm drawers, as this model does not come with them. However, you can purchase retrofit soft-close adapters that attach to the back of the drawer and use a damping function to prevent slamming. It is important to ensure compatibility with the existing drawer runners. These dampers are usually fixed in place with screws or adhesive pads. A small tip: when installing, make sure the dampers are precisely aligned so the closing action is smooth and consistent. Additionally, I recommend regularly cleaning and lubricating the drawer slides to keep them operating smoothly. Alternatively, you can replace the rollers or runners if they are significantly worn. Have you already checked whether the drawer slides are partially loose? That can also cause banging noises and make closing more difficult.

I can only confirm that 🙂 I simply installed these small soft-close dampers from a well-known furniture accessory manufacturer – they are really a very cheap and easy solution. Now, you only hear a quiet humming sound when the drawer closes. Also, honestly: it really upgrades the furniture, making everything feel much more “professional.” The installation took me less than 10 minutes – so definitely no reason to be afraid 🙂 Maybe this could be something for you as well.

Honestly, the Malm drawers are just cheaply made by design – you can add a thousand soft-close dampers, but the core is simply rubbish. Why not buy a better-crafted dresser right from the start? Constantly upgrading takes time, money, and is annoying in the long run. Isn’t the real issue that people prefer buying from IKEA instead of choosing something of higher quality? Just my provocative opinion 😉

TISON schrieb:
Honestly, the Malm drawers are simply poorly designed from the start

I would like to disagree with that statement. The Malm series offers good value for the price. The issue with the drawers closing too hard can be easily fixed technically. Soft-close adapters are a well-established retrofit solution designed specifically for this purpose.

Installation is usually done at the back of the drawer, where a damping element is integrated to effectively prevent slamming. Additionally, fine-tuning the drawer slides can optimize the mechanism.

Industry standard for budget furniture typically does not include expensive full-extension drawer slides with soft-close – for that, there are special accessory solutions available.