DIY: Ikea Malm Dresser Hack For A High-End Closet

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Today I’m so excited to share a peek into my closet and my new IKEA Malm Dresser hack! Since we’ve had a lot of extra time at home this season, I’ve been organizing the house like crazy and I’m excited to share some of my favorite tips over the upcoming weeks! I’ll be sharing a full closet organization post soon, but I wanted to start with this fun hack to dress up my closet space! 

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As I’ve gotten older, I’ve discovered I get a lot of joy out of organizing. The feeling after tearing apart a space, getting rid of clutter and old clothing, and putting it back together in a neat fashion is the best feeling! 

In my post-college apartments, I always had a tough time keeping my closet organized. The reason? I had WAY too much stuff. I held on to way too many clothes, had an absurd amount of jewelry, and shoes spilling out from every nook and cranny. I’ve since learned less is more, and I’m constantly purging my closet every season. I’ve also realized having a dedicated place for every item keeps everything in order and prevents messes! 

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SHOP MY SUMMER HEELS:

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THE CLOSET

The previous owners of the house built out a great closet space, and there was one gap under the coat section where they had a Container Store mesh drawer system. It fit perfectly and I love the Elfa collection, but I prefer the look of closed drawers to minimize the amount of “clutter”. Instead of hiring a contractor to build custom drawers, I measured the space and spent forever searching for the perfect dresser to fit the space and look clean. The winner: the IKEA Malm Dresser.

What I love about the IKEA Malm dresser is it’s sturdy, simple, and the drawers are huge – and the $129 price tag is an added bonus! It comes in a lot of different sizes, but the 4-drawer dresser was the perfect fit and had plenty of storage for all of my athleisure and workout clothes. 

If you’re looking for a full closet renovation, check out how I used the IKEA Pax Wardrobe system in my previous house here. 

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IKEA MALM DRESSER HACK

The IKEA Malm Dresser is one of the most popular IKEA products due to it’s simple design and functionality. I had one of these dressers in my first apartment after college and the quality really held up over the years, so I was excited it was the perfect fit for my closet! 

There are so many fun ways to dress up an IKEA Malm Dresser from paint, textured overlays, and fun handles. My closet is white and I wanted it to blend with the current build-out, so I kept it simple by adding lucite drawer pulls. You can also add a glass top for only $19, but since it’s in my closet I figured it wasn’t necessary. The hack was super simple and easy, and I love the way it turned out! 

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INSTALLING THE HANDLES

The IKEA Malm Dresser does not come with handles, so you will need a drill and measuring tape to install the handles. I wanted long lucite handles and love these 12.6 inch acrylic drawer pulls I found on Etsy. The length or style is totally up to your preference and these come in so many lengths. I chose handles on the longer side, and I am so excited how this one turned out! 

Installing the drawer pulls was really easy, and I used a tape measure and pencil to measure out where the handles should be placed, drilled the holes, and screwed in the handles. Overall, it was a quick and easy hack – and I highly recommend it if you need storage! Even though I used it in my closet, these would make chic side nightstands or a fabulous dresser for a bedroom or nursery if you place two side-by-side. 

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HACK IDEAS

The dresser comes in 5 different colors, and I’ve seen so many adorable Malm dressers painted in fun colors on Pinterest! If you’re looking for a full-sized dresser for your bedroom, you can easily place two of these 4-drawer dressers together and order the 63×18” glass top to make it appear as one large dresser! 

Aside from the lucite drawer pulls, another fun option is to use one simple knob in the center or two side-by-side. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite options below to consider for your IKEA Malm Dresser hack, so I hope these will inspire you next time you’re looking for a home update! 

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SHOP DRAWER PULLS:

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SHOP KNOBS:

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For more DIY, check out our marble contact paper post here.

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