You may have seen a ton of Ikea Malm hacks on Pinterest, especially that one with the gold trim? Well, they’re not the only ones out there!
There are so many great ideas for Malm hacks, and more are continually being added as clever people come up with new ideas.
We’ve gathered together some of the lesser known Ikea Malm hacks here to add a little more inspiration to your repertoire. There is even a different (I think slightly better) version of the gold trimmed Malm dresser!
Don’t forget to check in with us (and follow!) over at Pinterest to keep up with the ever growing world of Ikea hacks.
If you want to delve deeper, you can find many, many more Ikea hacks in our Ikea Hacks Categories page.
Without further ado, let’s get stuck in:
Refresh Your Dresser With Marble Elegance
This Ikea Malm dresser gets a luxe upgrade with a sleek marble top that instantly elevates the whole vibe. The natural wood finish pairs beautifully with the swirling gray and white stone pattern, making the piece feel custom and sophisticated.
Adding a marble layer is an easy way to transform basic Ikea furniture, giving it that designer touch without going overboard. Simple accessories like minimalist candles and framed art complement the look while keeping it cozy and contemporary.
It’s a smart style move that anyone can try for a hit of timeless class in their bedroom.
Vertical Textured Drawer Fronts
This Ikea Malm dresser gets a fresh makeover with textured vertical slats on its drawer fronts, adding depth and a unique tactile element. The soothing mix of natural wood tones with white accents complements modern minimalism beautifully.
Pairing it with simple decor like a green glass vase and soft white lamp keeps the scene balanced and calm. A warm-toned round mirror and abstract wall art frame the piece perfectly, enhancing the organic vibe.
This clever detailing invites you to mix and match textures for a creative, custom look.
Malm Storage Island
Turning Ikea Malm dressers into a sleek storage island is a clever way to supercharge any room’s functionality. This white, modern island offers a vast flat surface that doubles as a dresser and workspace, perfect for organizing or styling.
The soft natural light from the skylight enhances the glossy white finish, making the whole space feel bright and airy. Nearby, a cushioned bench adds a cozy touch while the minimalist artwork and plants keep the vibe fresh and inviting.
This setup inspires a fresh take on making your everyday furniture work harder, especially in tricky attic or slanted ceiling spaces.
Energize Your Space With Painted Malm
This classic Ikea Malm dresser sheds its usual white shell for a calm, muted sage green that commands attention without shouting. The matte finish adds a sophisticated, modern twist to this sturdy staple.
Swapping out the original knobs for sleek black handles injects an urban vibe, balancing softness with an edge. The addition of minimalist decor, think crisp black candle holders and natural wicker, compliments the new color perfectly.
It’s a fresh, clever proof that a little paint and hardware flair can totally flip your favorite Ikea find.
Fun Wooden Touches Brighten White Surfaces
This Ikea Malm dresser gets a fresh update with minimalist wooden knobs that break the plain white fronts beautifully. The natural wood warms the surface, creating a cozy vibe without cluttering the sleek silhouette.
Elevating the dresser on subtle wooden legs adds an airy feel and lifts the piece off the floor, making the room look spacious. The mix of textures with woven baskets, earthy ceramics, and lush plants complements this subtle wood accent perfectly.
This look inspires easy, chic updates for Ikea malm hacks & ideas lovers who want understated elegance with an organic touch.
Mix Soft Pastels With Wood Texture
This workspace steals the show with a pale blue desk that balances simplicity and charm beautifully. The natural wooden drawer fronts add a textured warmth that stops the pastel from feeling too flat or cold.
The streamlined frame of the desk contrasts delightfully with the vertical grooves on the drawers, creating a layered effect that’s playful yet sophisticated. Pairing this setup with a sleek chair keeps the focus on clever details without overwhelming the room.
The wavy wall pattern and easy-going light from the skylight complete this calming nook perfectly.
Add Texture With Vertical Slatted Drawer Fronts
Here, a Malm dresser gets a stunning makeover with sleek vertical slats added to the drawer fronts. This subtle tweak brings tactile interest and elevates the simple white surface into something far more sophisticated.
The contrast of the rich black countertop paired with the off-white slatted drawers balances bold and soft elements beautifully. Curated decor pieces like the dotted lamps and sculptural vase add quirky shapes for an extra layer of charm.
This style encourages blending textures and tones for an effortlessly chic look on an Ikea favorite.
Fun Geometric Patterns Brighten Bedroom Storage
This Ikea Malm dresser transforms with bold, geometric grooves carved onto its face, turning everyday storage into an art piece. The natural light wood tones mix effortlessly with the pattern’s sharp diagonal lines, adding texture without overwhelming the room.
It’s a clever way to refresh your room without painting or covering surfaces, bringing a subtle boho vibe to modern minimalism. On top, simple decor like a gold vase and stack of books keep the focus on the dresser’s standout design.
Try this approach to contrast sleek furniture with intricate, tactile details for a fresh, inviting space.
Energize Your Space With Arched Facade
This Malm dresser reinvents the usual sleek look with subtle arched designs added right onto its front panels. The soft curve shapes add an unexpected pop of architectural charm in smooth white.
The styling is minimalist yet inviting, highlighted with neutral decorative pieces like cream ceramics and simple line art above. Placing a leafy green branch in a translucent vase beside it strengthens the fresh, clean vibe.
It’s a straightforward way to turn a classic Ikea staple into a statement piece that suits any modern room.
Ikea Malm Rust Fronted Dresser Hack
I’m a big fan of industrial decor so this Ikea Malm hack stood out to me immediately. This room isn’t even heavy on the industrial look, but this rusted metal effect fron on the Malm still fits in perfectly and looks great.
There are a ton of great adhesive vinyls out there that you can use to transform a Malm, or even any other Ikea product, quickly and easily.
Ikea Malm Baby Changing Dresser Hack
As touched on above, there is a whole market that has developed around providing customization to Ikea products and this awesome add-on baby changing table for the Malm is a great example.
This is a bit of a cheat when it comes to Ikea hacking, but it is a hack nonetheless! Why put in all the effort when there is a perfect product out there already!?
How many of you also absolutely adore the wooden train too?
Ikea Malm Pull Out Desk Hack
We celebrate ingenuity here at Hacksaholic and this Ikea Malm hack is a great example. They have created a pull out desk within the Malm that is awesome if you struggle for workspace in a small home.
When the shelf is pushed back in you wouldn’t even know it was any different!
Ikea Malm Black Dresser Hack
Black & white decor always stands out, and looks great too. Add in some red touches and it’s a match made in heaven.
This awesome Malm hack simply adds a white trim to the black/brown Malm to create a visually stunning row of dressers.
Ikea Malm Mirrored Dresser Hack
Admittedly, this isn’t really a hack (well, it is, but it’s one Ikea did themselves to show off the Malm in a bit more glitz and glamour!). It does, however demonstrate the potential of Ikea hacks.
You can certainly recreate this look with mirrored perspex sheets glued to all the surfaces, or more cheaply with mirrored adhesive vinyl sheets.
It almost makes the Malm disappear into the background. As long as you have beautiful things around the Malm, it will simply reflect these beautiful things back!
Ikea Malm Art Deco Dresser Hack
Another mirrored look because I don’t think you can get enough! This stunning Ikea Malm hack uses adhesive panels stuck to the fronts of the drawers to create an amazing Art Deco feel to the dresser.
It’s another great example of a simple add-on to the Malm that makes a massive difference to the look.
Genius Ikea Malm Storage Bed Hack
This epic Malm hack is a bit more involved than a lot of the others, but it creates an entire closet space under the bed…which means no need for extra furniture in the room and therefore a more clean, minimalist space in your bedroom.
These ‘Captain’s’ beds are a great way to use dead space to gain extra space elsewhere.
I guess you would have to get used to the extra height though when you get out of bed in the night!?
Ikea Malm Gray and Leather Hack
The look of this Ikea Malm hack is so simple, but elegant and timeless. Just a coat of paint immediately makes our mind question if it’s just a Malm dresser, but then the addition of those stylish leather strap handles adds another dimension.
Sometimes you don’t need to do a lot to an Ikea product to hack it into something perfect for your space.
Ikea Malm Gold Trim Dresser Hack
Here it is, the alternative to that other popular gold trim Malm hack! I think this one is actually more stylish, especially with the addition of those cute brass hairpin legs.
The trim is also a more burnished gold rather than polished gold.
Don’t get me wrong, the other version is still amazing. It all comes down to personal preference!
Ikea Malm Wood Surround Dresser Hack
I really love the sleek lines of this great Malm hack. The dark color of the Malm has been complimented perfectly with the stained wood surround for a really masculine look.
Add in those brass bar handles and the whole composition is spot on!
Ikea Malm Raised Bed Storage Hack
Another Malm Captain’s bed hack, but more of a relaxed version for an older kids bedroom. These style beds are a great way to create extra storage space.
This could be done for younger kids if you create a bunk bed style frame around the top of the bed.
Love the chalkboard maths wallpaper too!
Ikea Malm Kitchen Island Hack
Using Ikea Malm dressers to create a stylish kitchen island is a great way to save both time and money. This awesome example has used solid wood worktop to surround the drawers, immediately turning them into an island visually.
The combination of white and wood is always effective!
Ikea Malm Loft Eaves Storage Drawers Hack
This final Ikea Malm hack is particularly clever in using the dead space in the loft eaves to create a huge amount of storage.
The Malm dressers have been built in to the wall an made to look like they are bespoke.
It’s a great way to get that bespoke look while saving a lot of effort by having the drawers ready made.
The Ikea Malm is a classic piece of furniture and much loved by many people. It lends itself really well to a hack with it’s flat fronts and simple style.
I hope we’ve shown you examples that have piqued your interest and given you inspiration and ideas to create your own custom Ikea Malm hacks.
Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest to get many more great Ikea hack ideas!
Happy hacking!