ᐅ How can I customize Malm furniture?

Hello everyone,

I recently bought some IKEA Malm furniture, especially dressers and bedside tables, and I would like to customize them a bit because I find the standard look a bit too plain. My idea is to give the furniture a personal, unique character through selective modifications or additions, without spending too much money or effort.

My questions are: What methods or techniques do you recommend for effectively and creatively customizing Malm furniture? Which materials or tools are advisable, and do you have any practical tips or examples from your own experience? I would appreciate it if you could share your approaches, ideas, and possible pitfalls with me.

Thanks in advance for your tips!

Hello Iliannau,

I completely understand that you want to customize your Malm furniture. Standard furniture can really become dull quickly.

Some time ago, I redesigned my Malm chest of drawers using a combination of paint and new handles. I found it important to honestly consider which colors would match the rest of the apartment and make me feel comfortable – not always an easy task!

Iliannau schrieb:
Which materials or tools are recommended

For me, good sandpaper, acrylic or enamel paint, and new metal handles were the basics. I was a bit intimidated by the manual work, but the result made me very proud, even though it wasn’t perfect.

What ideas or favorite colors do you have in mind to incorporate? 🙂

Hello Iliannau,

I think it’s great that you want to customize your Malm furniture! Since you specifically asked for effective methods, I’d like to share a few practical tips that I have used several times:

First, I recommend sanding the surface well before working on it, especially if you plan to paint. Malm furniture usually has a thin melamine layer, which needs to be slightly roughened so that paint or adhesive films stick better.

Here are some options you can consider:
- Painting with chalk or acrylic paint for matte or glossy finishes
- Using colored or patterned adhesive films to quickly change surfaces
- Replacing or redesigning the handles, for example with leather straps, metal knobs, or vintage handles
- Applying decorative elements such as stencil patterns or wallpaper scraps

I would advise testing on an inconspicuous area first to see how the materials react, since Malm can sometimes behave a bit unpredictably.

Morgan schrieb:
good sandpaper, acrylic or lacquer paint, and new metal handles as the basics

Exactly!

Good luck with your project – and if you have any questions, feel free to ask again!

I find it interesting how the usual decoration methods are mentioned here. But honestly: Has anyone ever really thought about whether it makes sense to alter furniture like the Malm chest of drawers with simple paint or adhesive foil without considering the material properties and durability?

Kugau schrieb:
With Malm furniture, it’s usually a thin melamine layer that needs to be slightly roughened

This layer is actually designed to be durable and sturdy. If you sand it down, you risk making the furniture less resistant.

Additionally, from my experience, adhesive foils often start to peel off at the edges after just a few months, especially if the surface preparation wasn’t done perfectly.

My view is: customization is great, but you should always weigh whether the effort and the possible reduction in functionality are worth it.

Does anyone have different opinions or perhaps long-term experiences with this?

Interesting points, Tause!

I see it this way: customization doesn’t always have to completely compromise durability. It’s important to proceed thoughtfully and carefully. That’s why I often try to incorporate temporary changes into my Malm furniture that can be easily reversed. For example:

- Instead of painting, I use fabric covers or upholstery for the fronts.
- I use Velcro strips or magnets for attachments and decorations that I can swap out depending on my mood.

This reduces effort, preserves the furniture, and gives me the freedom to try something new now and then without damaging the piece.

Tause schrieb:
Man sollte auch immer abwägen, ob der Aufwand und die mögliche Verschlechterung der Funktionalität es wert sind

Exactly, I agree with that.

What do you think, Iliannau? Would reversible customization be interesting to you?

Simply replace the handles, paint the surface with chalk paint, and you’re done.

Malm is inexpensive, so extensive refinishing isn’t worthwhile.

If desired, you can add accents with washi tape or adhesive film.