MALM chest of drawers gets a pull-out laptop table

·December 31, 2015·18 Comments

I have desperately needed a desk since moving into my current rented room (a lovely attic conversion on a London victorian house complete with skylight and juliette balcony) but after adding two wardrobes and two Malm chests of drawers I was left with absolutely no room for anything else, so an IKEA hack was in order.

I came up with adding a pull-out laptop table between the top two drawers which is the perfect height (approx 74cm) and does not compromise the structural integrity or any of the drawers.

Here’s a before and after of my hack:

After:

Ikea items used:

– MALM chest of drawers
– UTRUSTA kitchen cabinet shelf 80×37 cm (Article Number: 102.056.09 sold as a pack of two for only £6)

Also required (sourced from DIY store):

– Bottom Mount Drawer Slide for the pull-out table (L) 350mm (I found this one for only £5)
– Six long screws (about 30-40mm) for mounting the inner drawer slides to the shelf
– Eight 15mm screws for mounting the outer drawer slides to the MALM chest of drawers

Description:

First remove all drawers

Next, the top frame brace has to be cut off
– I used the KVARTAL saw from IKEA which comes with an angle-cutting guide (makes it easier to pull out once cut)

Looking from the inside, undo the two screws (anti-clockwise) and the braces become loose and can be pulled out

You should be left with the metal and wood bits as shown below. Unscrew the metal bit but leave the wooden one in place

Start by adding the left drawer slide

Rest it on top of the wooden bit (pure luck but this happens to be the correct height) and position as shown below so that the drawer slide is on the very edge of the MALM side panel.

Mark and add the first screw

Mark and add three more screws as shown below (they must be screwed in as tight as possible as any protrusion can cause the drawer to get stuck)
You can now remove the wooden bit
Repeat on the right hand side

Fit the inner drawer slides on the shelf (the ones I got came with instructions and it is really easy to figure it out)
– The assembled product must fit into the width of the Malm frame so I had to cut the shelf width to 74,5cm at my local hardware store.
– This may vary depending on type and size of chosen drawer slides

Take out both top drawers (this will give adequate room for sliding the laptop table in place)

Clever hack for a Home Office in the Living Room

Once the laptop table is in, replace the drawers (top drawer goes in last)

I wanted a minimal look so decided not to add a handle

Here’s some more images of the completed product (I shall be hacking my other Malm chest too which will provide more desk space)

The TERJE folding chair and MALINDA cushion worked great with this hack (can be folded and stored under the bed when not in use)

Really happy with the outcome at such low cost.
Hope the instructions help anyone that might wish to try this IKEA hack.
Could maybe add a deeper drawer that comes further out.

Good luck!

~ Otis Kotsanos

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Jules Yap

Jules Yap started IKEAHackers.net in 2006 as a personal blog to showcase the most impressive IKEA hacks from all over the world. Since then, she has learned a lot more about power tools and DIY. Her site has helped thousands modify IKEA furniture with step-by-step tutorials, craft projects and home styling.

Jules is the author of IKEAHackers.net: 25 Biggest and Best Projects".