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!
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sarGabriel16 Dec 2021 10:07Metal brackets on all corners that are subject to high stress. Better to have more than less. This significantly improves stability.
Thank you for the tips so far! It is especially important to me that the reinforcements are installed on the inside to remain as inconspicuous as possible from the outside. Since you recommend metal brackets: What sizes and materials would you suggest to prevent rusting or warping? And what is the best way to attach them to avoid cracks in the wood? Are there any recommendations for specific screws or installation methods?
For reinforcing Malm furniture from the inside, galvanized or powder-coated steel brackets are very suitable. These are rust-resistant and durable. Screws should preferably have countersunk heads so they sit flush with the wood and do not create tension. Pre-drilling is essential to prevent the particleboard from splitting. A drilling depth of about 2/3 of the screw length is ideal, as well as a drill diameter slightly smaller than the screw shaft. Important: work with medium to minimal torque to avoid overloading the material.
sarla schrieb:
Galvanized or powder-coated steel brackets work very well for reinforcing MALM furniture.I can only agree with that. Additionally, when choosing brackets, make sure they are not too small – at least 40x40 mm (1.6x1.6 inches) is recommended to ensure enough surface area for support. For thinner particle boards, brackets with shorter screws are also suitable, as longer screws can weaken the material too much.
terje4 schrieb:
What sizes and materials would you recommend to prevent rusting or warping?I used 40x40 mm (1.6x1.6 inch) galvanized steel angles from Obi; they look great on the inside and are really sturdy. 🙂 I think it’s important to hold them firmly with one or two hands at the points where support is most needed. If you have some leftover paint, you can even subtly match them to the interior color – that makes screwing in a bit more enjoyable! 😉
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