ᐅ IKEA Malm dresser wobbles despite screws – how to stabilize it?

Hello everyone, I have assembled an IKEA Malm chest of drawers. All the screws are tightened properly, but the furniture still wobbles slightly, especially when it is gently bumped or when opening the drawers. The chest stands on a fairly even floor, and I feel that either the screws do not provide enough grip or there might be a stability issue in the construction itself. Does anyone have experience with how to stabilize a Malm chest of drawers despite correct assembly? Maybe there are tricks or additions to minimize or completely eliminate the wobbling movement. Looking forward to your tips, thanks!

First, check that all screws are tightened to their full torque. After that, you can stick rubber buffers under the feet to prevent the dresser from standing directly on the floor. This often helps to reduce wobbling.

Hello Atakan4, it is really important to carefully check the connection points again, because even a single loose screw can make the entire piece of furniture wobble. It can also help to level the dresser using a spirit level – if it is even slightly tilted, the forces will be unevenly distributed. Sometimes the floors are slightly uneven, in which case small furniture shims or felt pads can be used to improve stability. Some users also attach an angle bracket to the wall for additional support.

I’m familiar with the problem of the Malm as well – that annoying little wobble, even when you think everything is perfectly secure 😅. Rubber bumpers are great, but I sometimes find self-adhesive anti-slip pads even better. They not only stop the movement but also protect the floor. If you add a small metal corner brace on the back, the dresser feels much more stable right away. It’s like a little defense line against unwanted rocking! 🙂

Thanks in advance for the quick responses!
@lochen, you raise a good point about the spirit level. The floor does seem to be slightly uneven, although it’s not noticeable at first glance. The idea of fixing it to the wall makes sense – is this generally recommended for the Malm dresser?
@JORDON, what kind of brackets are you referring to exactly? Small metal brackets attached to the back? Do you need to drill holes for them, or are they secured with screws included in the package?

Atakan4 schrieb:
The idea of attaching it to the wall makes sense – is that generally recommended for the Malm dresser?

Yes, this is actually intended and recommended by IKEA, especially for larger Malm dressers. The included wall fasteners are designed to prevent the furniture from tipping over, which also improves overall stability.

Atakan4 schrieb:
Do you have to drill holes for that, or are the screws included enough?

The wall fasteners come with matching anchors and screws, which you need to drill into the wall—so it’s not just screwing without pre-drilling. You should especially consider the wall type (e.g., concrete versus drywall).