ᐅ MALM bed squeaks after assembly – what is the most common cause?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled a Malm bed myself, but it started to squeak unpleasantly after just a few days, which of course is quite annoying.

My question to the community is: Based on your experience, what is the most common mistake during the assembly of a Malm bed that causes it to start squeaking after being put together?

I have already checked that all the screws are tightened properly, but the squeaking continues. I would be very grateful for tips on frequently overlooked issues, as well as suggestions for fixing them.

I can completely understand how annoying such squeaking can be – I have the MALM bed myself and know the issue.

Often, the squeaking in these beds is caused by the slatted frame not lying completely flat and tight within the bed frame, or by small gaps between wood and metal. Especially the slightly flexible parts can create noise.

It might help to carefully check that there is no movement at all connection points and also to consider the slatted frames.

The most common issue is a proven insufficient fastening of screws and connectors, especially when they are not tightened with the correct torque or become loose during use.

Additionally, squeaking often occurs at wood joints – here, stresses and friction caused by inadequate fixation of the components are the cause.

Retightening all screws and using felt or rubber washers between metal and wood can often solve the problem.

Squeaking usually comes from loose screws or friction between the slatted frame and the bed frame.

Tightening the screws or attaching a small piece of felt at the friction points often helps.

In addition to tightening the screws, it has proven effective with MALM beds to secure the joints with a little wood glue in the dowel holes, provided they are visible.

Carefully following the assembly instructions regarding the sequence and tightness of the connections also significantly reduces squeaking.

Hello! I had a similar issue with a MALM bed that I assembled a few months ago. A tip from me: during assembly, it’s common to skip properly securing the metal corner brackets. These strongly stabilize the bed and prevent movement that can cause squeaking.

If the bed starts to creak later on, it often helps to systematically loosen all the screws, then check the wood for any damage or splinters – sometimes small irregularities are to blame – and then reassemble it.

This can take some time, but it’s worth it. Good luck!