ᐅ How can I better protect MALM furniture from scratches?

Hello everyone,

Some time ago, I bought several MALM furniture pieces from IKEA, which feature light wood surfaces with a rather smooth lacquer finish. Unfortunately, even after relatively short use, small scratches keep appearing on the shelves and fronts—despite careful handling.

My question is: How can I better protect MALM furniture from scratches?

By protection, I mean anything that provides lasting results, whether it’s films, special protective coatings, maintenance products, or other methods. I would appreciate it if you could share your experiences and tips specifically on surface protection for MALM furniture, including advice on what really works in the long term and what are just nice extras that don’t help much.

Kloru schrieb:
How can I better protect MALM furniture from scratches?

Hey, I know the problem from personal experience and I really appreciate how clearly you described it. I had a MALM sideboard and was quite disappointed at how quickly the surface got scratched.
What worked well for me was using a matte, transparent furniture lacquer applied as a protective layer. It’s definitely important to sand properly beforehand and be patient when applying it, otherwise it won’t last well.

Just keep in mind that such a finish doesn’t feel quite as smooth anymore, so you should like that. But the protection is noticeable. Still, I do get some stains or minor scratches – but significantly fewer.
Maybe you’d like to give it a try?

Kloru schrieb:
How can I protect MALM furniture more effectively from scratches?

Hey Kloru! 🙂
I have a little trick that works quite well for me: if you use those self-adhesive transparent protective films, originally designed for floors, you can stick them onto the surface. They are really durable, and if you want, you can remove them later without leaving any residue.

It’s an inexpensive and simple solution, even if it doesn’t look 100% perfect – but definitely better than having scratches.
Let your DIY spirit take over! 😉

Kloru schrieb:
How can I better protect MALM furniture from scratches?

For technical context: The typical MALM furniture surface consists of a thin melamine resin coating, which is relatively prone to scratching.
Effective protection is therefore only possible through additional mechanical barriers, such as protective films or glass panels.

Sealing with lacquer is an option but requires extensive preparation (light sanding with fine sandpaper without damaging the decorative layer) and creates a new layer that can be relatively brittle if applied improperly.

Cleaning products alone do not provide real protection; at best, they can reduce micro-scratches.

In summary, the most effective protection is a transparent protective film or a custom-fitted plexiglass cover if the appearance is to be preserved.

Films are effective, preferably those designed specifically for furniture protection.
Alternatively, place glass or plexiglass on top.
Care products do not protect against scratches.

Alberto51 schrieb:
a matte, transparent furniture varnish applied as a protective layer

I would cautiously disagree. Such varnish coatings can provide some protection, but they significantly change the material’s behavior.

I would be careful with recommendations that have not been sufficiently tested for effort and long-term effects.
The problem with MALM is that the surface is thin and delicate – an additional coating here can crack due to tension.

jaanda schrieb:
Protective films or glass panes are more effective

I agree with that – because all other methods don’t solve the underlying problem, they merely cover it up.

I would therefore like to see feedback on how long these protective films last and how they perform in daily use. Thanks!