ᐅ MALM dresser is assembling unevenly – how can I correct its alignment?

Hello everyone, I recently assembled a Malm chest of drawers, but it is not completely straight and leans slightly, even though I checked and tightened all the screws. The chest wobbles a little, and the front does not appear parallel to the floor. My question is: What steps can I take to correctly and permanently adjust the alignment of the Malm chest of drawers? Are there any proven methods or common weak points during assembly that I should specifically check? I have the impression that the floor level or the connection of the individual parts might play a role, but I’m not sure. Thanks for any tips and experiences!

First, check if the floor is truly level. Place the chest of drawers on a spirit level and, if necessary, adjust it using shims under the feet. You can also loosen and retighten the screws, as they are sometimes not fully secured.

I would like to add to the points made by glamo8. It is important to systematically check all connections: the back panel should fit firmly and flush, as it contributes to the overall stability. Uneven tightening of screws can create tension that distorts the piece of furniture. Additionally, securing the dresser to the wall, if intended, helps prevent tipping and improves alignment stability. If the floor is uneven, using adjustable furniture glides is recommended.

Lisuki schrieb:
The dresser wobbles slightly and the front doesn’t appear to be parallel to the floor.

That’s really frustrating when it happens. I had a similar issue with a dresser once, and my solution was not only to shim the legs but also to thoroughly check the back panel. Sometimes there’s a small gap or the piece sits slightly crooked, which affects the whole piece of furniture. It’s also important to place it on a solid, level floor after assembly—carpets or uneven surfaces can make wobbling worse. Keep your spirits up; with some patience, you can definitely fix it! 🙂

cassandra schrieb:
Uneven tightening of the screws can create stress that distorts the piece of furniture.

This is precisely a critical point. It’s not enough to just tighten the screws; they need to be tightened in the correct sequence and with moderate torque. I would even go further and recommend checking the individual components for dimensional accuracy before the initial assembly – small manufacturing tolerances can affect the final alignment. It’s also worthwhile to carefully assess the subfloor: a slightly sloped floor can be corrected with simple aids. One more tip: review the assembly instructions thoroughly again, as there are sometimes alignment steps included that are easily overlooked.