ᐅ The Malm dresser is assembled unevenly – how can I fix this?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled an IKEA Malm chest of drawers, but after setting it up, I noticed that it stands unevenly. It wobbles slightly and doesn’t seem to be sitting flat on the floor. I have tightened all the screws again and checked that all parts are correctly in place, but the problem persists.

My question is: What could be the possible reasons for the Malm chest of drawers being uneven after assembly, and how can I specifically correct this? Are there any special tips or adjustments to properly level the furniture despite a slightly uneven floor or minor assembly deviations?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Kelsey schrieb:
What could be the possible reasons for the Malm dresser assembling crookedly, and how can I specifically fix this?

Hey Kelsey, sounds like your dresser might have hit a small snag. 🙂 Often, it's minor floor unevenness or a few screws that aren’t fully tightened. Try placing a small piece of cardboard or felt under the feet to balance out slight differences.

Sometimes using a spirit level helps to see exactly where it’s tilting. Also, lifting the dresser slightly and tightening the screws halfway up again can help distribute the tension more evenly.

First, check that all screws and joints are really tight. After that, you can use washers or small wooden blocks under the legs to level out any unevenness. If that’s not enough, sometimes rebuilding the dresser helps.

JULIANNALO schrieb:
First, check that all screws and connections are really tight.

Exactly. Also, make sure the back panel is properly fitted. It provides stability and can prevent the furniture from wobbling.

Hello Kelsey,

I’m glad you described the problem in such detail. A Malm chest of drawers is generally quite sturdy, and if it is uneven, the cause can be either the assembly or the location where it is placed.

First, check the screws as mentioned, and see if the back panel is installed completely and straight. The back panel stabilizes the unit and prevents twisting.

Next, examine the floor carefully: even slight unevenness can be noticeable with tall chests of drawers. A few felt pads or furniture shims can work wonders. It’s important to regularly check the piece with a spirit level during setup.

If the overall situation still seems uncertain, you might try carefully disassembling the chest and then reassembling it step by step with focused attention. Sometimes small mistakes creep in that are easy to miss the first time.

Depending on the back panel material (cardboard or MDF), you should also check its condition, as a damaged back panel can reduce stability.

dijan schrieb:
Try placing a small piece of cardboard or felt under the feet to compensate for minor unevenness.

Thanks for the tip, dijan! I had already used felt pads to some extent, but the floor wasn’t particularly uneven; at least it felt mostly level, so I thought that wasn’t the main issue.

koneo schrieb:
First, check the screws as mentioned earlier, and see if the back panel has been installed completely and evenly.

I installed the back panel but honestly didn’t screw it in very tightly because I thought the material was quite thin. Do you think it makes sense to apply more pressure or use firmer screws? It’s important to me not to damage anything.