Hello everyone, I own several pieces of furniture from the IKEA Malm series, which I really like in terms of design. However, I am concerned about their durability—especially the surfaces and stability with daily use. My specific question is: How can I make Malm furniture more durable without significantly changing its appearance? I am thinking of methods such as surface treatments, reinforcements, or suitable maintenance. Are there any proven tips tailored specifically to this series or to the materials used (particleboard with foil coating)? Thanks for your help!
Le_kin schrieb:
I’m still wondering whether you mainly have static loads (e.g., heavy vases on the dresser) or dynamic loads (frequent opening of drawers, but also children climbing)? Thank you for asking. It is primarily everyday use with frequent opening and closing of the drawers. However, I occasionally place point loads like heavy coffee table books on top. Children rarely climb on it, but I don’t want to rule that out either. Therefore, I am interested in solutions suitable for both types of load.
Regarding surface sealing: Make sure that the clear varnish used is explicitly approved for coated particleboard. Otherwise, unwanted reactions with the foil coating may occur, such as adhesive failure or delamination. For the durability of the drawers, reinforced drawer slides are also recommended, which can be retrofitted individually.
I would like to add that when reinforcing furniture, you should also use screws with an appropriately large diameter and short tightening distances. For chipboard, it is important to insert the screws carefully and with pre-drilled holes to avoid splitting. Distributing loads by using thicker wooden panels or bearing surfaces on the top also helps to prevent pressure marks.
ian63 schrieb:
I am therefore interested in solutions suitable for both types of loads. Then combine protective coating with reinforcements and possibly soft rubber buffers in the drawer area. This way, you’ll have something for both dynamic and static loads. 🙂
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