Your neighbor has a Malm. Your other neighbor has a Malm. Even your weird cousin who eats cereal with water probably has a Malm.
The Malm dresser is everywhere. It’s the Honda Civic of bedroom furniture.
But here’s the thing: with a weekend and a little imagination, you can turn that boring white or brown box into something nobody else has.
I’ve hacked three Malms myself (RIP to the one I accidentally set on fire with a heat gun). So trust me when I say these 33 ideas range from “why didn’t I think of that” to “okay that’s a little unhinged.”
Grab your screwdriver and maybe a snack. This list is long but worth it.
1. Painted Color Block Stripes
Mask off large geometric shapes across the front panels and paint them in contrasting matte colors. I did navy and mustard on mine, and suddenly it looked like a $600 piece from West Elm.
2. Cane Webbing Insert on Drawer Fronts
Cut cane webbing to fit the recessed panel of each drawer. Staple or glue it in place after removing the original front panel. The boho texture fools everyone into thinking you’re way more sophisticated than you actually are.
3. Leather Strap Pulls
Replace those plastic knobs with thick leather straps screwed directly into the drawer faces. Punch two holes per strap, fold them over, and attach with brass screws. It gives off that Restoration Hardware vibe without the mortgage payment.
4. Full Mirror Wrap on the Sides
Cover both side panels with self-adhesive mirror film or actual thin mirror tiles. Place the Malm perpendicular to your bed, and suddenly you’ve got a full-length mirror situation on both sides. Bonus: it makes your room look twice as big and hides the fact that you haven’t dusted in three weeks.
5. Chalkboard Paint on Top
Paint the entire top surface with chalkboard paint and leave a little tray of chalk next to it. Write daily reminders, draw flowers, or just scribble “don’t forget to water the plant” directly on your dresser. My roommate once wrote “you’re out of clean socks” which was both helpful and passive-aggressive.
6. Wrapped in Marine Rope
Cover all six drawer fronts with thick marine rope glued in tight spirals. Start from the center and work outward. It looks like something a lighthouse keeper would own, but in a cool, coastal-grandma way. Just don’t try this if you have cats – they will destroy it.
7. LED Strip Undercarriage Glow
Stick a color-changing LED strip under the bottom edge of the Malm so it casts light onto the floor. Sync it to music or just leave it on soft purple. Every time you walk into the room at night, you’ll feel like you’re entering a very practical nightclub.
8. Stenciled Moroccan Tile Pattern
Use a repeating stencil and metallic gold paint to cover every drawer front with a fake tile pattern. Take your time with alignment – nothing screams “I rushed this” like a half-finished diamond. I learned that the hard way and had to sand down three drawers.
9. Replaced Legs With Hairpin Metal
Flip the Malm over, unscrew the stubby plastic feet, and bolt on 6-inch hairpin metal legs. The extra height makes it easier to vacuum underneath and gives the whole piece an instant mid-century upgrade. Your back will thank you every time you open the bottom drawer.
10. Decoupage With Old Maps
Cover each drawer front with cut-out sections of old road maps using Mod Podge. Seal it with a few top coats so the paper doesn’t peel. Every drawer becomes a different city. I used maps from road trips, and now getting dressed feels like a tiny adventure.
11. Faux Shiplap With Thin Wood Strips
Glue thin pine lattice strips vertically across the front of the Malm, spacing them about an inch apart. Paint everything white. Suddenly it’s a farmhouse dream. Caulk the edges before painting for that seamless built-in look.
12. Inlaid Vinyl Records
Cut cheap thrift store vinyl records into quarters and inlay them into the drawer fronts using a router or careful chisel work. Glue them flush and add a clear coat. It’s loud, literally and figuratively, but your music-obsessed friends will lose their minds.
13. Rope Handles Looped Through Holes
Drill two holes per drawer, thread thick cotton rope through from the inside, and tie a big knot on the outside. Trim the ends into a neat tassel. No hardware store trip required, and it’s surprisingly satisfying to pull open a drawer by a soft rope loop.
14. Etched Glass Look With Frosted Spray
Apply frosted glass spray paint through a stencil or freehand a pattern on the top drawer. Use painter’s tape for clean edges and do three light coats. It mimics expensive etched glass for about eight dollars. Just don’t sneeze while the paint is wet – ask me how I know.
15. Reclaimed Barn Wood Skin
Cut thin reclaimed barn wood planks to size and glue them over the entire front and sides. Leave the nail holes and weathering visible. It weighs a ton afterwards, but so does your newfound sense of rustic superiority. No one will believe it started as flat-packed particle board.
16. Geometric Pegboard on Drawer Faces
Attach a small pre-cut pegboard panel to each drawer front after painting them a bright color. Hang tiny bins, hooks, or even fake plants from the pegs. It’s impractical for clothing storage but looks insane (in a good way) in a craft room or studio.
17. Ombre Dip Dye Effect
Mix paint in five shades of the same color – darkest on the bottom drawer, lightest on top. Blend the edges while wet using a dry brush technique. Every time I open mine, I feel like I’m pulling a drawer from a sunset. Your neighbors will swear you bought it that way.
18. Upholstered Velvet Panels
Cut high-density foam and velvet fabric slightly larger than each recessed drawer panel. Wrap and staple the fabric to a thin piece of plywood, then screw that into the drawer front from inside. It’s like your dresser turned into a luxury headboard. And it’s perfect for leaning against while you decide what to wear.
19. Pressed Flowers Under Glass
Arrange dried pressed flowers on top of the Malm, then cover with a custom-cut piece of glass or acrylic. Seal the edges with clear caulk. It turns your dresser into a permanent botanical display. I used flowers from my ex’s apology bouquet – very therapeutic.
20. Industrial Pipe Handles
Build handlebars from 1/2-inch black iron pipe fittings – two floor flanges and a short nipple per drawer. Screw the flanges directly to the drawer front. Your arms will get a workout every time you open a drawer, but the steampunk aesthetic is unbeatable.
21. Woven Yarn Wrapped Fronts
Drill small holes along the top and bottom edges of each drawer face. Lace thick yarn or thin rope vertically through the holes, creating a woven texture across the entire front. It’s tedious as heck – I spent an entire football game on one drawer – but the cozy, tactile result makes everyone want to pet your dresser.
22. Chalky Finish With Wax Sealed Edges
Paint the whole Malm with chalk paint in a dusty blue, then rub dark wax only into the corners and edges. Buff it out for an antique, time-worn look. It hides scratches beautifully, which is great because my cat uses the bottom drawer as a scratching post.
23. Hidden Charging Station Drawer
Convert the top drawer into a charging station by drilling a hole in the back for a power strip cord. Add a wooden divider with cutouts for phones and tablets. Close the drawer and all your cables vanish. Use a fast charger so you’re not waiting all day.
24. Scrabble Tile Nameplate
Spell out your last name (or a word like “SOCKS”) using large Scrabble tile stickers across the top drawer. Paint the background a contrasting color first. It’s cheesy and I love it. My friend spelled “LAUNDRY” and now his guests actually help fold things.
25. Concrete Overlay on Top
Mix thin concrete or microcement and trowel it onto the top surface for a raw industrial finish. Seal it with a matte stone sealer so it doesn’t stain. It adds about ten pounds, but you can finally set down a hot coffee mug without a coaster. Just don’t drop it on your toe.
26. Stained Glass Window Inserts
Find cheap stained glass panels at a salvage yard, cut them to fit each drawer recess, and glue them in from behind with clear construction adhesive. Backlight the whole dresser with a dim LED strip inside. It turns your bedroom into a weird, beautiful chapel of clothing storage.
27. Bookshelf Top Extension
Build a simple plywood box that sits on top of the Malm, matching the width exactly. Paint it to match, then add small shelves or cubbies. Now your dresser doubles as a nightstand and bookcase. I keep my alarm clock, three paperbacks, and a plant that’s somehow still alive up there.
28. Burned Wood With Shou Sugi Ban
Remove the veneer from the top and drawer fronts (wear a mask – that dust is nasty). Char the wood with a propane torch, brush off the loose carbon, and seal with linseed oil. The black, textured finish is fire-resistant afterward, but the process feels very “I might burn down the garage.”
29. Custom Cut Vinyl Decals
Design oversized one-word decals (like “SHIRTS,” “PANTS,” “LIES”) on a Cricut or similar cutter. Apply them to each drawer front in metallic gold or matte black. It’s cheap, removable, and makes you laugh every time you open the “LIES” drawer where you hide junk.
30. Framed Art Inserts
Remove the drawer fronts entirely and replace them with stretched canvas or framed art that’s slightly smaller than the opening. Attach the art to the drawer box from behind. Now your dresser is an art gallery. I used cheap abstract prints from a thrift store, and nobody believes it’s IKEA.
31. Terrarium Top With Glass Walls
Build a shallow glass or acrylic box that sits on top of the Malm, fill it with soil, small plants, and moss. Keep it sealed for a low-maintenance terrarium. Water it once every two months. It’s the only plant I haven’t killed, probably because I can see it every time I grab a t-shirt.
32. Spray Painted Splatter Art
Lay the drawer fronts on a drop cloth and flick contrasting paint colors using a stiff brush or toothbrush. Go wild with neon pink, turquoise, and white over a black base. Protect your floors – this gets messy. But the final Jackson Pollock vibe guarantees no neighbor has the same thing.
33. Converted to a Changing Table
Attach a safety rail to the top and secure the Malm to the wall. Use the drawers for onesies and diapers. When your kid outgrows it, remove the rail and you’ve got a regular dresser again. I did this for my niece, and my brother-in-law still thinks I’m a genius.
Time to Make Your Neighbors Jealous
That’s 33 ways to take the most boring dresser on earth and turn it into a conversation starter. You don’t need a full workshop or a second mortgage – just some paint, patience, and the willingness to mess up once or twice.
Pick one idea that scares you a little and start there. My first hack was a disaster (hello, heat gun fire), but the second one turned out great.
Now go grab your Malm and make something your weird cereal-water cousin will definitely not own. Post a photo when you’re done – I want to see which idea you picked.