Best IKEA MALM Dresser Hacks Anyone Can Complete

Scallop Star Power

Breaking news: Scallops are back. And what better way to incorporate this Art Deco throwback into your space than a DIY paint job on your MALM?

DIY blogger Lins Drabwell painted her MALM pink, traced the pattern from a scallop tile sample, and used white to make it pop. For the herringbone top, she hot-glued jumbo lollipop sticks. If you’re really feeling this design, paint a scalloped edge on your walls to match!

Go Geometric

Not into organic shapes? Go the geometric route. For this one, Drabwell used masking tape to block out her design, painstakingly making sure the lines were perfectly straight across the drawers. Once painted and dry, she added brass handles for a pretty finishing touch. 

Granny Chic Paisley

By blending green and pink Annie Sloan chalk paint, topping it with an intricate lace stencil, and adding matching knobs, artist Rachel Llewellyn-Payne turned her MALM into a striking work of art.

She wanted to combine her husband’s hardcore rocker vibe with her own style for this space (aptly dubbed “the granny chic room”). The result: A gorgeous, industrial-yet-floral creation.

Mid-Century Makeover

We love a good retro vibe in our home decor, especially when it’s something you can craft yourself. This DIY looks so good and is so simple, it might just be our favorite hack.

Cut the molding, adhere burlap-like fabric to the top two drawers, add the molding, and voila. Pair it with some metallic and vinyl decor to complete the mid-century modern look. 

Navy Florals and Plum Pudding

Vikki Hunt has had two MALM dresser sets for many years, and she found their look to be rather tired. So she set out to freshen them up, make them brighter, and give them a “wow” factor that would stand out in a room filled with neutral colors.

Using Frenchic paints, she painted one set navy and pasted floral wallpaper across the top drawers. For the other, she painted a few coats of purple.

Mirror, Mirror

With mirrored panels, trellises, and 15 minutes of work, you can turn your dresser into the fairest MALM of all.

Home DIYer Charlotte Page wanted to breathe new life into her tired set of drawers on a budget, and the minimal materials needed for this hack were the perfect option. Everything came together with just a little bit of Gorilla Glue.

A MALM for King Midas

Sometimes subtle changes are the most glamorous, and this is the case for this MALM reimagined with gold accents.

The drawers and top are left white and untouched, while the spaces between compartments are covered in adhesive film (though metallic peel-and-stick wallpaper would work great, too). Set a pretty mirror and metallic decor on top, and you’ve got a pretty accent piece for your bedroom.

The Magic of Molding

A quick way to make your MALM look more elegant is by adding molding to the drawers. The trickiest part is cutting the right (or, should we say, 45-degree) angles, but once you’ve got them adhered, caulked, and painted, the dresser looks totally high-end. 

Faux Marble Top

With just a few little details, you can give your dresser an entirely new, high-end look. These gold center bar handles are a breeze to add to the drawers. And, when it’s topped with a faux marble vinyl adhesive, your MALM will be unrecognizable. The best part? This DIY can be done in an hour or two, tops.

Polka Dots

Never underestimate the power of polka dots. Home blogger Lucie Weston had seen designers create polka dot walls on Instagram and instantly fell in love, but, being a renter, she wasn’t able to deck out her own walls in decal stickers.

So, she decided to opt for the next best thing and stick them to her furniture! She placed the larger dots on first, then filled in the white space with smaller decals until she was satisfied. 

Simple Paint and Knobs

After finding inspiration on Pinterest, interior design enthusiast Raluca Herdean knew just how to bring her desired "something blueish” into her bedroom.

With a roller brush and Rust-Oleum chalky furniture paint, she gave her old MALM a facelift in a matter of hours. After two coats of paint and installing wood knobs, it was unrecognizable—and gave her room the look she’d been looking for.