ᐅ How can I repair dents in MALM wood surfaces?

Good morning everyone, I have a problem with my IKEA Malm dresser. There are a few small but noticeable dents on the wooden surface. It is the light, rather lacquered or melamine-coated wood. Since I don’t want to replace the piece of furniture, I’m considering how to best repair these dents without further damaging or discoloring the surface.

I know that for solid wood and lacquered surfaces, steam treatments or refinishing are often used, but how does this work specifically with Malm wood? What materials or techniques have proven effective? Should I sand, fill, or use special repair kits?

I’m also interested if anyone has experience with a combination of hot steam and subsequent sealing, or if that doesn’t make sense for the plastic coating.

In short: What is the best and gentlest way to repair dents in Malm wood surfaces? Thanks for your advice!

The MALM furniture piece has a melamine or foil coating, not a solid wood surface, so traditional steam repair methods are not suitable or only very limited.

Gaubayram schrieb:
What is the best and most gentle way to repair dents on MALM wood surfaces?

The most effective method is using special repair kits designed for melamine or laminate, which often include color palettes, fillers, and sealing lacquers. Alternatively, fine repair waxes that match the color can be applied into the dent and then polished. Sanding is usually not an option here, as it can damage the surface.

If the dent is too deep, the area should be filled with a suitable filler before repair to achieve a smooth finish. Be careful not to apply too thick a layer, as this might be noticeable.

With melamine, you can try to fill dents with repair wax and then polish them. Steam won’t help. Do not sand.

Hey, great topic! 🙂 I had the exact same problem with my MALM dresser! What helped me was using repair wax from IKEA or a hardware store, matched to the surface. Just press it into the dent, smooth it out, and polish with a plastic spatula – after a little practice, the result looks really good!

Lorukeo schrieb:
Special Repair Sets and repair wax work best.

I can only agree! Simple, affordable, and the appearance stays intact. Wishing you good luck!

Never sand coated surfaces. Repair wax is the first choice; otherwise, use paints or touch-up pens.

I just say: No panic! 🙂 The dents in the MALM can be annoying, but with some repair wax and patience, you can easily fix them. It’s best to warm the wax slightly first, so it fills in better and spreads more easily. After that, polish with a soft cloth to restore the shine.

And don’t worry if it’s not perfect – the dresser usually looks as good as before afterward, sometimes even better! 😉 Good luck!