Furniture Leg Styles I’m Considering for a High-End IKEA MALM Makeover
I’m currently planning a full IKEA MALM dresser makeover where I’ll be painting the dresser and adding trim to completely change its original look. Since the front will become more detailed and custom, I want the furniture legs to work as a subtle accent — the final touch that elevates the entire piece and makes it feel more high-end.
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Why Furniture Legs Matter in a Painted IKEA Makeover
When you paint furniture and add trim or molding, the overall look becomes much more custom. At that point, every detail matters — including the furniture legs. As a swedish single mom I own a lot of Ikea and love it's quality, price and function. But let's be honest, it lacks personality. And that's what I want to give to my Malm dressers at home. And it's all in the details.
Adding legs to an IKEA dresser can:
Make it feel more custom-made
Improve proportions and visual balance
Add lightness and lift to a bulky piece
Help the furniture blend into a more high-end interior
For this makeover, my goal isn’t to make the legs the main focus, but to let them enhance the painted finish and trim details.
Here are the Furniture Leg Styles I’m Considering right now and how I am imagining the results
One of the looks I am considering is light wood. My Malm dressers are all white, so I would have to use plastic-decor to cover the dresser and find matching wood look for the handles/knobs and the legs.
These black string legs are so classy and modern. I would use these for completing a painted look. A modern green or blue and match with black handles on top.
Practical Tips Before Choosing Legs for your Furniture
Before choosing furniture legs it’s worth considering a few practical details:
Check the weight capacity of the legs
Decide how much height you want to add
Use mounting plates if extra stability is needed
Add felt pads to protect your floors
These small steps help ensure the finished piece feels solid and well-designed. Since I’ll be painting my dressers and adding trim to completely transform its original look, the furniture legs will be the final element that ties everything together. The goal is a dresser that feels custom, balanced, and more expensive than its original form.
I haven’t decided which style I’ll choose yet, but all of these options would work beautifully for a high-end IKEA MALM makeover. I’ll be sharing the final result and a step-by-step DIY guide once the project is complete.
