ᐅ Malm chest of drawers doesn’t close flush – how can I fix this?

Hello everyone, I have a Malm chest of drawers from IKEA, and the drawers do not close flush. Specifically, the drawer is not properly aligned in the slide rails, so in some places it protrudes slightly or does not close completely tight. This makes the chest look untidy and the drawer also feels a bit stiff when opening.

I suspect that either the slides are misaligned or the drawer itself might be slightly warped. My question is: what steps can I take to correct the drawer’s operation? Are there specific adjustment screws available for the Malm chest of drawers? Or should I rather check and realign the entire slide mechanism?

I would appreciate any tips on the exact procedure or personal experiences!

First, check if the drawer slides are installed correctly. Often, a small adjustment of the screws or tightening them is enough. If the drawer is sticking, check whether it is warped or if something is caught inside.

I understand how frustrating this can be. Especially if you use the dresser frequently, a drawer that doesn’t close flush can be very annoying. It might help to completely remove the drawer and carefully check whether the runners or the drawer edges are damaged. That’s what I did myself, and it often provides clarity.

First, you should check the drawer slides on both sides and adjust them if necessary. The IKEA Malm dresser typically uses side-mounted metal runners with built-in adjustment options, usually at the screw points.

A systematic approach would be: 1) completely empty and remove the drawer, 2) check the drawer and cabinet slides for secure and correct fit, 3) loosen the screws on the runners and slightly move them forward or backward to optimize alignment, 4) reinsert the drawer and test its function.

If the sides of the dresser or drawer front are warped, usually only slight refinishing or replacing damaged parts will help.

Great that you described the problem so precisely! 🙂 I had the same issue with my Malm and found it really helpful to slightly loosen the drawer slide, then insert the drawer and tighten the screws again. This immediately restored proper alignment! Good luck, you can definitely manage it!

usbla schrieb:
The IKEA Malm chest of drawers usually uses side metal drawer slides with integrated adjustment options, mostly at the screw points.

That is generally correct; however, I would point out that not every alignment issue has to be caused by the screw positions. It is worth carefully inspecting the drawer front itself for any twists or deformations. Especially budget furniture can have larger tolerances in this regard. Fine-tuning adjustments can only partially resolve the issue if the components themselves are warped.