ᐅ How can MALM furniture be made more functional?

Hello everyone,

Some time ago, I bought several MALM furniture pieces from IKEA, mainly dressers and nightstands. However, I am increasingly noticing that the functionality doesn’t quite meet my needs, especially regarding storage organization and flexible use. Therefore, I would like to start a discussion: How can MALM furniture be made more functional? In other words, what modifications, additions, or changes have you tried or can recommend to better adapt these pieces to different needs or space conditions? I am particularly interested in practical tips that can be implemented without significant DIY skills.

Looking forward to your experiences and ideas!

BOUKE55 schrieb:
How can MALM furniture be made more functional? In other words, what modifications, additions, or changes have you tried or can recommend?

That’s a great question, thanks for bringing up this topic! I feel the same way— I really like the look of the MALM pieces, but sometimes they don’t quite meet my needs. For example, I’ve organized the drawers with small inserts, which helped me separate small items better because otherwise everything gets mixed up. However, I wish there were more adjustable compartments, since you’re often stuck with fixed sizes.

I’m also interested if anyone has experience installing extra dividers or maybe adding shelf organizers on top. It’s just frustrating when you have to empty everything all the time to reach certain items.

To make MALM furniture more functional, you should first carefully analyze the original dimensions of the drawers and compartments. Custom organizers, made from plastic or wood for example, can help utilize the space more efficiently. Modular organizers that can be individually adjusted are especially recommended.

Additionally, some users offer customizable inserts or dividers that can simply be placed inside the existing drawers. This solution requires no DIY work and preserves the furniture’s design.

For those needing more storage space, adding shelves or stacking chests from the IKEA range can create extra surfaces. These modular options usually combine well with MALM furniture.

I used self-adhesive drawer organizers from IKEA in my MALM dressers. They help keep things organized. I also attached small hooks on the front side to hang bags or keys. Quick to do and practical.

FLONE41 schrieb:
For example, I organized the drawers with small inserts

That sounds really sensible! I simply made a kind of DIY topper from old wooden slats that fit on top of my dresser – now I have extra space on top for decorations or everyday items. It’s very simple, but it makes the furniture much more versatile immediately.

And yes, a bit of organization is priceless; otherwise, everything quickly looks messy. A little “junk basket” on the side is also my secret tip when the drawers are full. 🙂

Sometimes it's also a matter of making better use of the space around the furniture, rather than just trying to optimize the furniture itself. I installed a small set of casters on my MALM – this makes everything more mobile and makes cleaning or rearranging easier.

For me, this is a functional improvement because it adds flexibility. Maybe an idea for those who frequently redesign their rooms or have limited space.