ᐅ MALM dresser wobbles despite assembly – what can I do to improve stability?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled a MALM dresser from IKEA, but it wobbles noticeably despite following the assembly instructions correctly, especially when I lightly touch the upper part. I have checked and tightened all the screws, including the brackets intended for stability. Still, I can feel some movement, which is concerning for a larger dresser, as I worry it might not remain stable over time.

The dresser is placed on a slightly uneven laminate floor, but I have already tried to compensate for this with small shims. There is still some movement.

My question is: What steps can I take to improve the stability of my MALM dresser? Are there any simple tricks or specific parts I could add to make the dresser more stable and prevent it from wobbling? Thank you very much for your advice and suggestions!

Hello Vicente33,

First, check if the dresser is properly secured to the wall. Malm dressers are often stable only when fastened to the wall. If available, make sure the wall bracket is installed correctly.

Additionally, you can use felt pads or plastic wedges under the legs to compensate for any unevenness.

Vicente33 schrieb:
All screws have been checked and tightened, including the brackets intended for stability.

That already sounds pretty good, but there are still some details you might want to check to eliminate the wobbling.

First, it’s advisable to accurately measure the floor unevenness – a simple spirit level check is often not enough, since laminate flooring can have slight warps. There might be small gaps between the floor and the dresser that should be compensated with rubber pads.

Another point is the screw holes. Even if the screws fit properly, the material can “stretch” over time, especially if screws were tightened too much or if wood parts swell slightly due to moisture. I recommend checking all connections for proper fit. Are all parts correctly engaged? Are there any creaking or movement points?

Wall mounting is also an important factor: instructions usually state that the dresser should be fixed to the wall using angled brackets to prevent sideways tipping. If this mounting is missing or installed incorrectly, it could be the cause of the wobbling.

And very practically: plastic or metal corner braces to reinforce the back panel stabilize the entire construction. These are often slim but can help a lot. Check if all back panels are correctly attached and under tension.

One more question: Does it wobble in all directions or only along one axis? That helps in identifying the cause.

Hey Vicente33 🙂

Wobbly furniture can be really annoying, especially when you’re excited about a new piece! Imagine the dresser even slightly shaking, and suddenly you worry your favorite shirt might fall out 😉

Jokes aside, it often helps to place some padding under the feet – I always use flat felt pads, which you can get cheaply at a hardware store. They compensate for minor unevenness in the floor and also protect laminate flooring.

And of course, wall anchoring is the secret tip – I did this with my MALM dresser, and now it stands solid as a rock. Consider if you can install something similar.

If none of this helps, a small assembly error could be the cause. Is the back panel firmly fixed? If it’s loosely attached, the furniture will wobble.

Good luck, keep at it! 😉

Palenar schrieb:
One more question: Does it wobble in all directions or just along one axis?

This is a very important question. Depending on whether the dresser tips over or mainly sways sideways, you can target the solution more effectively.

Additionally, I would recommend using the wall fasteners from Ikea (usually small brackets or special connectors), even if the manufacturer lists them as optional. These mounts provide significant stability against tipping.

If the floor is uneven, plastic or wooden shims can be inserted under the dresser’s feet. These not only help to level the furniture but also protect the material.

Another point not to forget: check whether the back panel of the MALM model is fully installed and undamaged. In many pieces of furniture, the back panel is a key component for the stability of the side panels. If it is warped or not properly fixed, the whole piece can wobble.

If all of that is fine, you might also want to check if the floor on the ground level of your room is especially uneven; there are leveling systems available that can be used for floors.

I hope these tips help you!