ᐅ How can I prevent warping in Malm furniture?

Filippo schrieb:
I’m interested to know what your ambient temperature and humidity levels are like, and whether the furniture is located in a heavily used room?

Thank you for the detailed post, Filippo! The furniture is in my living room, which I heat during the day (around 20-22°C (68-72°F)). According to my hygrometer, the humidity usually ranges between 35 and 45%. I use the furniture often, especially the chest of drawers, which has many drawers that I open daily, but I don’t overfill them.

Is there still a risk that the fluctuations in moisture are too large? I will make sure to pay attention to gentle mounting as well.

Kinbu schrieb:
If possible, use a humidifier during dry months and a hygrometer to check that the humidity stays between about 40-60%.

Sounds reasonable. I don’t currently have a humidifier; would it make sense to get one for the winter?

Teteo53 schrieb:
Do I still have a risk that the moisture fluctuations are too large?

With 35 to 45% your living room is already quite within a safe range. With Malm furniture, the bigger issue is often the strong drying in winter when it drops below 30%.

A humidifier is not mandatory, but if you notice that the humidity regularly falls below 30% in winter (especially in centrally heated rooms), it can help protect the furniture in the long run. Make sure not to set the humidifier too high to avoid creating moisture pockets, as that would be counterproductive.

Kinbu schrieb:
try to keep the indoor climate as stable as possible.

Here I also see the biggest potential for savings: the fewer fluctuations, the better.

How often do you cycle your heating—do you run it continuously or reduce it significantly at night?

Teteo53 schrieb:
Does it make sense to get something like this for the winter?

Yes, it can be helpful, especially if your heating system dries out the air a lot. :-) If you don’t have a humidifier, placing a wet towel on the radiator or a bowl of water nearby can also help. Just make sure the humidity doesn’t rise too high (above 60%) to avoid mold growth.

Additionally, I recommend occasionally treating furniture that is heavily used with an appropriate furniture care product to protect the surface and make the material somewhat resistant to moisture. This is especially useful for particleboard with a laminate finish.

Important: Do not place furniture close to heating units or directly next to windows.

Filippo schrieb:
Temperature differences, for example when furniture is placed directly next to a heater

Are often underestimated causes. Just keep some distance.

In addition to the previous tips:

If you have drawers that stick or don’t slide as smoothly anymore, check the side rails for dirt or screws that might be catching.

Filippo schrieb:
also the importance of proper assembly and tightening the screws again after a few weeks

This is a frequently overlooked point. Due to slight movement in the wood, the material can change slightly—so be sure to retighten!

Additionally, Ikea often offers spare parts in case of damage or deformation—sometimes the plastic guides become brittle. Just ask them about it.

And very importantly: try not to use aggressive solvents when cleaning, as they could damage the protective film.

I can only emphasize: reduce the load.

Never make drawers too heavy, and avoid placing heavy items on top of the dresser unless it is designed to support such weights.

This is really the most effective way to prevent deformation.