ᐅ How can I make Malm furniture accessible for pets?

Hello everyone, I have a rather specific request and hope to get some helpful advice here. I own a Malm chest of drawers set from IKEA and would like to make these pieces of furniture more accessible for my pets. Specifically, I’m looking for ways to modify or adjust the drawers or compartments so that my cats and their favorite toys can get in more easily, or so the furniture can be used as a retreat space. It is important to me that the appearance isn’t compromised too much and that the functionality remains intact, since I still want to use the furniture for its original purpose. Does anyone have experience or ideas on how to make Malm furniture more pet-friendly with a reasonable amount of effort?

Cut an opening in the side of the dresser at the desired spot. This way, your cats can go in and out. Alternatively, remove individual drawers and place cushions inside.

That's brilliant! :-) I transformed a Malm chest of drawers into a scratching and sleeping den for my cats by cutting a few larger openings – they absolutely love it! Just some sandpaper to smooth the edges, then lined it with soft blankets, and it's done! 🐾

Hello GRGUR, your question is very interesting and well posed. A key aspect when adapting Malm furniture for pets is indeed accessibility and safety. Especially if cats are meant to use the furniture as a retreat, it is advisable—as already mentioned—to create openings with rounded edges to prevent injury. Adding fabric inserts or small cushions inside the open drawers can also increase comfort. If you don’t want to alter the structure, you might simply remove the lower drawers and leave the opening exposed. Maybe you could also add small ladders or ramps to help your cats get in easily?

An important aspect is maintaining stability after making cutouts. I recommend reinforcing the cut areas with sturdy edge protectors to prevent material fatigue and splintering edges. It can also be helpful to design the cutouts so that the functionality of the drawers is preserved, especially if you want to use the furniture multifunctionally. Alternatively, prefabricated pet doors made of wood or plastic could be installed into the fronts.

For easier accessibility, simply remove a drawer completely and furnish it with soft cushions as a resting spot. You can also create a passage in the back panel using a hole saw.