ᐅ How can I reinforce MALM furniture after assembly?

Hello everyone, some time ago I bought several MALM furniture pieces from IKEA, mainly dressers and nightstands. Unfortunately, I have noticed that they are somewhat unstable in daily use, especially when they are subjected to a bit of weight. My question is how to reinforce the MALM furniture afterwards to improve both stability and durability? Are there proven methods or materials to safely and permanently strengthen the construction without significantly affecting the appearance? Tips on screw connections, additional reinforcements, or possibly suitable brackets or glue would be very welcome. I look forward to your advice!

The MALM furniture is generally designed to meet a certain standard of stability; however, due to the flat fiberboard panels and simple frame construction, weak points can occur. A straightforward and effective way to reinforce it afterward is by installing metal brackets along the inner edges to stabilize the connection between the side panels and the bottom panel. You can also use long screws (at least 4 cm (1.5 inches)) since the pre-drilled dowel holes often do not provide enough grip. Another option is adding cross braces made from wooden strips, installed widthwise or depthwise, to stiffen the furniture. It is important to join the materials with appropriate wood glue or wood screws to ensure the reinforcement is strong and load-bearing.

Install metal brackets indoors, using longer screws as well. Install cross braces made of wooden slats for increased stability.

I reinforced my MALM dresser with small steel brackets that are hardly noticeable and very sturdy. 🙂 A little bit of wood glue at the joints can also work wonders – basically the secret superpower for a piece of furniture that will last for many more years! Just approach it carefully so the appearance isn’t affected. After all, you don’t want the dresser to look like it’s been through a fight 😉 Good luck and don’t be afraid of screwing!

I would reinforce the rear strips with additional wooden panels. Also, screw small metal brackets into the corners to hold the structure together.

I understand your problem; with me, such furniture is often a weak point as well. If you have children like I do, these reinforcements are almost a must. I used long wood screws on my MALM dresser and also secured it inside with glue. This gives a reassuring feeling that nothing will wobble if something heavier is placed on it. You just shouldn’t be discouraged—the investment is worth it!