ᐅ Malm nightstand wobbles after climate change – why?

Created on: 29 Apr 2017 10:03
J
jensro
Hello everyone, I have a Malm nightstand from IKEA that I actually like quite a bit. Recently, after the change from winter to spring in our indoor climate, I’ve noticed that the nightstand is a bit wobbly and doesn’t feel as stable anymore. I checked whether the floor is uneven, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. My question is: Why does the Malm nightstand wobble after the climate change? Is it due to the wood structure, humidity, or the material itself? I would appreciate any answers or explanations, as I find it surprising how much the piece of furniture reacts to changing climatic conditions.
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Nicksin
30 Apr 2017 10:33
That sounds typical for spring! The season of the "wobbly" bedside table, so to speak ?. But don't worry, just tighten some screws and adjust the leveling feet a bit, and your Malm will be as stable as a bear again.

By the way, the Malm is well known for its minimalist design – so small movements naturally stand out even more when the piece of furniture is otherwise very simple.
H
Henry
30 Apr 2017 14:05
I can understand how frustrating it can be when a piece of furniture wobbles and you’re not sure why. Changes in indoor climate are indeed not trivial, especially with wood-based materials. The important thing is not to get stressed about it; this happens to many people. It might also help to maintain an indoor climate that doesn’t fluctuate too extremely – so regularly ventilate and heat the room.

And as Nicksin already mentioned: a few small adjustments and the nightstand will stand as solid as a rock again.
O
ottilie
1 May 2017 09:14
flojo schrieb:
Sealants can degrade, making it easier for moisture to enter.
That’s exactly what I mean. This "protective layer" on the furniture is underestimated. IKEA furniture is often only superficially treated, which allows moisture to penetrate over the course of the year. It seems to me this is not a mistake, but simply a cheap compromise that becomes apparent every spring.
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Garry
1 May 2017 11:47
In addition to the previous posts: The Malm nightstand is made of veneered engineered wood, with MDF as the core material, which reacts strongly to moisture. Wobbling after climate changes is typical and results from the expansion or contraction of the panels due to changes in humidity. To minimize this, you should reduce the stress on the construction and regularly adjust the leveling feet to compensate for uneven floors.
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Trine
1 May 2017 15:08
In short: Yes, the wobbling is caused by the material and its reaction to humidity. Tighten the screws, check adjacent furniture, and adjust the leveling feet – this usually solves the problem.
J
jensro
2 May 2017 09:22
Garry schrieb:
To minimize this, the loads on the structure should be reduced and the adjustable feet should be checked and readjusted regularly
Thank you all for the explanations! In the next few days, I will tighten all the screws, check the adjustable feet, and continue to monitor the indoor climate.

If anyone has practical experience with this type of furniture after changes in climate, I would appreciate any tips. I am especially interested to know if you were able to prevent the "wobbling" in the long term or if it just remained normal.