ᐅ How can you securely mount Malm furniture to drywall (gypsum board) walls?

Hello everyone, I want to secure an IKEA Malm bed to a wall made of drywall to prevent it from tipping or sliding. Unfortunately, I am aware that drywall alone does not provide sufficient stability if you use standard anchors.

How can Malm furniture be securely fastened to drywall so that it not only holds but remains reliable over time? Are there specific types of anchors or reinforcement methods I should consider?

I am also interested in whether there are differences if there is a metal stud frame or wooden battens behind the drywall.

I would appreciate concrete advice on screws, anchors, mounting tools, or even construction tips. Experience-based insights would be great, as I want to avoid the furniture eventually being pulled out of the wall. Thanks in advance!

Hello Peoemmanu5,

Regarding your issue: Mounting heavy furniture like a Malm bed on drywall definitely requires special anchors, as regular plastic anchors can quickly fail in gypsum plasterboard.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Use so-called hollow wall metal anchors (e.g., toggle bolts or metal cavity anchors). These expand behind the board and provide significantly more holding strength.

2. If there is a supporting framework made of wood or metal studs behind the drywall, try to screw directly into these studs. A simple stud finder or a cable detector with metal detection can help locate their positions.

3. If no supporting framework is accessible, consider installing an additional wooden battens as reinforcement to which you can attach your furniture.

4. Screws should be long enough to securely hold in the anchors or substructure. A length of at least 5cm (2 inches) is recommended.

In general: only a positive mechanical connection can ensure that the bed is securely fixed over time.

I hope this helps you.

SUBEN60 schrieb:
Use so-called hollow wall metal anchors (e.g., toggle bolts or metal hollow wall anchors). These expand behind the board and provide significantly more support.

That's correct, it's a good starting point. However, I would like to add a caveat: metal hollow wall anchors do help but are often rated for a maximum load only up to a certain limit.

The Malm bed, especially when subjected to loads (e.g., sitting down or sudden standing up), can cause dynamic forces that add up over time.

Peoemmanu5 schrieb:
Are there special types of anchors or reinforcement measures I should consider?

My recommendation: If possible, don’t rely solely on anchors; instead, screw directly into load-bearing wooden or metal studs.

If that’s not possible, a mounting panel made of multiplex plywood behind the drywall is a reliable solution. This panel is fixed to the substructure over a large area using longer screws, and then the furniture is attached to it.

Many underestimate that drywall sheets are mechanically weak and can simply fail—especially under repeated loads.

Also important: estimate the load requirements beforehand and don’t rely only on the manufacturer’s load ratings for anchors.

Overall, it’s a combination of anchor type, screw length, fastening into the substructure, and possible reinforcement.

Peoemmanu5 schrieb:
I would appreciate specific tips on screws, anchors, installation tools, or even structural tricks.

Since I recently installed similar furniture on drywall, here are some practical tips:

First: Invest in good metal toggle bolts, not cheap plastic anchors. They hold very well when installed correctly.

If possible, use a small nail to locate the stud behind the drywall before screwing in. Screwing directly into the stud provides the strongest hold.

If you really have to fasten in the middle of the drywall panel, it makes sense to reinforce it from behind with a wooden batten (for example, a 40x60 mm (1.5x2.5 inch) timber) and then fasten the screws there.

And here’s my personal tip: don’t just rely on screws alone. Combine them with angle brackets that you screw into the panel. This greatly increases stability and spreads the load better.

Regarding tools – a cordless drill with adjustable torque prevents overdriving, and pre-drilling saves materials.

Good luck with your screwing! 🙂