ᐅ How can I make Malm more durable?

I’m currently looking into how to make IKEA Malm furniture more durable. Specifically, I have a Malm chest of drawers that I want to fill with heavy items, but I’m concerned that the panels and drawers might not be strong enough over time.

I’m especially interested in which materials, reinforcements, or DIY approaches are effective for significantly increasing load capacity without ruining the appearance or making it look too technical. Does anyone have experience with reinforcements, such as adding extra slats, metal brackets, or other solutions? What about the weight limits, and how can these be improved long-term without having to completely rebuild the piece? I would appreciate any well-founded recommendations—especially practical tips and proven methods.

Gerddra schrieb:
I am especially interested in which materials, reinforcements, or craftsmanship measures are effective to significantly increase load-bearing capacity

An effective way to increase the load capacity of Malm dressers is to install strong metal corner brackets inside the carcass corners. This helps to prevent the structure from twisting sideways. Additionally, I recommend:

1. Reinforcing the bottom panel by screwing a plywood or film-faced board on the inside. This increases load capacity since the standard particleboard is generally vulnerable.

2. Replacing or supplementing the back panel with a thicker plywood panel to improve depth stability.

3. Using solid wood strips along the edges to optimize support points and improve load distribution.

It is important to recalculate the screw connections to safely accommodate the increased load. Visually, much can be concealed with foil or glaze if you work on the inside surfaces.

AUSTINREN schrieb:
Reinforcing the base plate by screwing a plywood or film-faced plywood panel on the inside

This is a very good approach. If I may offer some advice:

You can have a 12–15mm (about 0.5–0.6 inch) thick plywood panel precisely cut. Then screw this onto the existing bottom of the Malm dresser. Be careful not to drive the screws too deep to avoid splitting.

AUSTINREN schrieb:
Use of solid wood strips along the edges

Here too, I recommend attaching these strips from the inside to preserve the appearance. Mark and pre-drill before screwing in to prevent cracking.

Additionally, you can check the drawer slides and, if necessary, upgrade to heavier-duty versions if you intend to store really heavy items.

In summary, a combination of reinforcing materials (especially the bottom and side panels) along with suitable fasteners will have the greatest impact.

Gerddra schrieb:
Does anyone have experience with reinforcements, such as additional strips, metal brackets, or other solutions?

Definitely! I once reinforced the lower sides of my Malm chest of drawers with thin aluminum profiles. They’re barely noticeable, inexpensive, and really make a difference in stability.

Also, I’d recommend not placing especially heavy items on a single drawer, but rather distributing the weight across multiple levels.

And honestly, unless you’re dealing with weights of 50 kilograms (110 pounds) or more, these simple reinforcements are usually more than sufficient.

Finally, my secret tip: attach small felt pads under the chest of drawers if it’s placed on uneven flooring. This helps avoid unnecessary stress on the joints. 😉

Good luck with reinforcing!