ᐅ How can I make Malm furniture more stable?

Hello everyone, I have the following question: I own several IKEA Malm furniture pieces that I like visually, but I have noticed that they can seem quite unstable, especially when fixed to the wall or heavily loaded. My specific question is: How can I improve the stability of Malm furniture in a targeted way without affecting the appearance or significantly modifying the pieces? I am mainly looking for a long-term solution that also reduces the load risk or tipping hazard. I look forward to constructive and practical advice!

The easiest way: Always use the wall mounting hardware provided by IKEA. Additionally, you can install angle brackets from the inside, which significantly increases stability.

Hi! 🙂 I think Malm is really stylish, but the tipping can be an issue. My advice: place the furniture on soft felt pads that don’t slip, and always secure it to the wall. If you’re handy: add small extra cross braces inside. This tightens everything nicely – and no one can see it. 😉

The Malm series is made of MDF with veneer, which is generally not the most stable material. For increased stability, I recommend reinforcing the side panels from the inside with narrow, firmly screwed battens, approximately 2x2 cm (about 0.8x0.8 inches), running parallel to the back panel. This helps minimize twisting. Additionally, the top of the furniture must be securely screwed to the back panel, which significantly improves overall rigidity.

gaubla schrieb:
Reinforcing the side walls internally with narrow, firmly screwed strips

Thank you for the clear recommendation. Would you fix the strips on the back side or rather inside on the side walls? And is it better to use screws or wood glue for this? I definitely want to avoid the furniture looking damaged.

I recommend attaching the strips to the inside of the side walls, as they will not be visible from the outside there. For secure fixing, you should use screws along with wood glue. The screws provide mechanical fastening, while the glue ensures long-lasting stability. Important: Pre-drill to avoid damaging the MDF.