Hello everyone,
I have several Malm dressers from Ikea that I would like to attach to drywall panels, as I live in a rental apartment and stability and safety are important.
My specific questions are: Which anchors or fastening methods are best suited for drywall to securely fix the furniture? Should I drill directly into the metal studs behind the drywall? Or are special hollow wall anchors sufficient? Are there any particular precautions to take to avoid damaging the wall while still ensuring a secure attachment?
I would appreciate a detailed explanation, possibly with recommendations for suitable anchors or techniques. Thanks in advance!
I have several Malm dressers from Ikea that I would like to attach to drywall panels, as I live in a rental apartment and stability and safety are important.
My specific questions are: Which anchors or fastening methods are best suited for drywall to securely fix the furniture? Should I drill directly into the metal studs behind the drywall? Or are special hollow wall anchors sufficient? Are there any particular precautions to take to avoid damaging the wall while still ensuring a secure attachment?
I would appreciate a detailed explanation, possibly with recommendations for suitable anchors or techniques. Thanks in advance!
Hello anluis,
I would like to provide you with a simple step-by-step guide on how to safely mount Malm furniture to drywall (plasterboard) walls.
1. Preparation:
- Measure the exact position on the wall where the furniture will be mounted.
- Use a stud finder to locate metal or wooden studs behind the drywall.
2. Drilling holes:
- If studs are found, drill directly into the metal or wooden stud using a metal drill bit of about 6 mm (1/4 inch).
- If no studs are present, use metal toggle anchors (also called molly bolts). These anchors open up behind the drywall and distribute the load.
3. Anchors and screws:
- Screws with a diameter of 5 to 6 mm (3/16 to 1/4 inch) are suitable for metal toggle anchors.
- Make sure the screw is long enough to pass through the anchor and drywall and reach sufficiently into the hollow cavity behind.
4. Installation:
- Position the furniture.
- Screw it in firmly but avoid overtightening to prevent damaging the anchor.
Important: When choosing the fasteners, consider both the weight of the furniture and the load of the items you will store inside.
If you have any questions about the procedure or specific anchors or screws, feel free to ask! 🙂
I would like to provide you with a simple step-by-step guide on how to safely mount Malm furniture to drywall (plasterboard) walls.
1. Preparation:
- Measure the exact position on the wall where the furniture will be mounted.
- Use a stud finder to locate metal or wooden studs behind the drywall.
2. Drilling holes:
- If studs are found, drill directly into the metal or wooden stud using a metal drill bit of about 6 mm (1/4 inch).
- If no studs are present, use metal toggle anchors (also called molly bolts). These anchors open up behind the drywall and distribute the load.
3. Anchors and screws:
- Screws with a diameter of 5 to 6 mm (3/16 to 1/4 inch) are suitable for metal toggle anchors.
- Make sure the screw is long enough to pass through the anchor and drywall and reach sufficiently into the hollow cavity behind.
4. Installation:
- Position the furniture.
- Screw it in firmly but avoid overtightening to prevent damaging the anchor.
Important: When choosing the fasteners, consider both the weight of the furniture and the load of the items you will store inside.
If you have any questions about the procedure or specific anchors or screws, feel free to ask! 🙂
LOGEMIN schrieb:
Drill holes: If profiles are present, drill directly into the metal profile.Thank you for the instructions; they are very helpful.
One more specific question: Can it be safely assumed that the metal studs in a modern drywall installation (in a rental building, roughly built around 2000) are strong enough to support a fully loaded Malm dresser (approximately 70 kg (154 lbs))? Or should I additionally reduce the horizontal load by using extra anchors?
Also, does it make sense to stabilize the furniture at the floor to relieve the load on the wall fixing?
anluis schrieb:
Can it be safely assumed that the metal studs in a modern drywall are sufficiently load-bearing?The answer actually depends on the type of profile used. Generally, double stud profiles with a width of 50mm (2 inches) are adequate for the loads, as long as the load points are not limited to single screws.
The stability improves significantly when the load is distributed across multiple profile fixings.
Regarding your second point: yes, securing furniture to the floor or stabilizing it against tipping with a sturdy back panel greatly increases safety and reduces stress on the wall fixings.
This kind of safety measure also makes sense from an insurance perspective, especially in rental properties.
A small addition regarding the metal toggle anchors: When drilling, make sure the drill bit is not too large. The anchors must fit tightly; otherwise, they will lose their holding strength.
Another tip: If the piece of furniture is positioned so that the fixing points barely miss the studs or framing, a short metal angle bracket can be secured to the wall with a heavy-duty anchor, and the furniture can be screwed onto it. This distributes the load over a larger area.
Another tip: If the piece of furniture is positioned so that the fixing points barely miss the studs or framing, a short metal angle bracket can be secured to the wall with a heavy-duty anchor, and the furniture can be screwed onto it. This distributes the load over a larger area.
Ramon4 schrieb:
When drilling, be sure that the drill bit is not too large. The anchors need to fit tightlyI agree, but I often see the risk that many users are not confident enough with visual checks and unknowingly drill at the wrong height.
My suggestion: Always start by making at least two test holes, then measure to ensure you are actually hitting the stud.
If not, you can enlarge the holes and drill new ones, then install appropriate anchors. It’s important not to make holes too close together – otherwise the drywall will become unstable.
I also wonder whether all this effort is really worthwhile for Malm furniture, or if a freestanding option without wall mounting might be safer?
kasan schrieb:
I also wonder if all this effort for Malm furniture is really necessary, or if a freestanding option without wall anchoring would be safer?That is a valid point. However, we want to secure the dressers against tipping over in the apartment because there is a toddler present. Furniture that is freestanding without anchoring would definitely be a risk.
Therefore, I want to attach them as close to the wall and as securely as possible. Your comments about safety are very valuable.
Similar topics