ᐅ How can I repair chipped corners on Malm furniture?

Hello everyone, I have several Malm dressers from IKEA, but unfortunately, some of the corners have chipped decor. Since these are just thin particle boards with a laminate coating, I'm unsure about the best way to repair such chips without making the corners look unattractive or unstable. Does anyone have experience with materials or techniques to make these chipped areas as invisible or at least as durable as possible? Tips on choosing paint, filler, or adhesive would also be helpful. Thanks in advance!

Hi Manfred47, it’s best to use wood filler or furniture repair putty and then sand the area smooth. After that, you can touch up the color with a matching furniture marker.

I often wonder whether repairing chipped edges on foil-coated surfaces, like those on Malm furniture, really holds up in the long term. Especially because of the thin particleboard structure and the flexibility of the foil, it seems likely that repaired areas might chip or break again.

rimole schrieb:
Wood filler or furniture repair putty, then sand the area smooth.

That sounds practical, but who guarantees that the product will properly adhere to the foil? Perhaps a small plastic or edge trim strip to cover the damage might be a better option to prevent new chips and keep an acceptable appearance?

Hey Manfred47 and all other repair heroes here 🙂

I recently came across a small Malm furniture makeover myself when one corner had a minor accident. My tip: fill the corner with wood filler, and very importantly – sand patiently, otherwise it can get uneven quickly.

ODINFLO schrieb:
a small plastic or edge trim strip to cover up is a better alternative

That’s true, a trim strip can definitely be much stronger, but depending on the color, it often ends up looking like a foreign object. I eventually tried a furniture repair marker, which visually blended everything quite well. And yes, fresh corners are always a delicate matter 🙂

Good luck with your DIY, you’ve got this! 😉

Thanks for the previous suggestions; they already help to better assess the possible approaches. @ODINFLO I understand your point about the adhesion of the foil. The corners are indeed the critical areas for me because they often experience impact and wear. Would a repair wood filler specifically designed for foils be recommended as a filler material, or is a special plastic repair kit for furniture preferable?

The idea of an edge strip sounds interesting, but I’m concerned it might look noticeably different from the original foil surface. Maybe that could be a solution for less exposed areas.

I’m also wondering how to best color-match repaired spots since the melamine foils have rather specific light brown tones. Does anyone use special markers or paints for this?

Looking forward to more specific tips.

Regarding chips on the Malm edges: Repair wood filler can generally be used, but it has limited flexibility, which can be problematic with thin veneer on particleboard. A more durable solution is the use of specialized plastic fillers or epoxy putty, which better withstand mechanical stress.

For color matching, I recommend furniture repair markers available in various wood and furniture tones. For the Malm shade, markers in light birch or birch wood colors are suitable.

Alternatively, thin edge banding profiles made of PVC or ABS are available in white or wood finishes. These can be carefully heated and pressed on using a heat gun, are flexible, and protect the corners better over time compared to plain filler repairs.

In summary:
1. Filling material: Epoxy or plastic filler
2. Surface finish: Furniture markers or thin edge banding
3. Tools: Fine sandpaper (240 – 320 grit) and, if necessary, a heat gun

Using this combination of methods minimizes the chance of chips reappearing.