You know that feeling when you're standing in the middle of a half-empty apartment with a tiny Allen wrench and a sense of impending doom? Honestly, that’s the quintessential experience of buying a 3 drawer ikea chest of drawers. It’s basically a rite of passage. Whether you’re a college student trying to organize a cramped dorm or a homeowner finally tackling that "junk room," these three-tiered wonders are the backbone of modern storage. But they aren't all created equal. People think a drawer is just a drawer. It's not.
The MALM and KOPPANG dilemma
If you walk into an IKEA showroom, you’re immediately hit with the Malm. It’s the monolith of furniture. Sleek. Handle-less. Sorta imposing in a minimalist way. The 3 drawer ikea chest of drawers in the Malm line is probably the most recognizable piece of furniture on the planet, right next to the Billy bookcase. It’s got those deep drawers that swallow up hoodies and jeans like they’re nothing.
But then there’s the Koppang. It’s the cheaper, slightly more traditional-looking sibling. It has actual handles. Some people swear by the Koppang because it feels "sturdier," but let’s be real: it’s all particleboard and fiberboard at the end of the day. The real difference is in the glide. Malm drawers have this specific weight to them. When you pull them, they feel expensive, even though they aren't. Koppang feels a bit more "I’m in my first apartment and I’m okay with that."
Safety isn't just a suggestion anymore
We have to talk about the tip-over thing. It’s serious. IKEA had a massive recall years ago—specifically involving the Malm series—because, unfortunately, these chests can be top-heavy. If a kid pulls out all three drawers at once and tries to climb it, that thing is coming down.
IKEA changed their entire design philosophy because of this. Now, when you buy a 3 drawer ikea chest of drawers, the instructions practically scream at you to anchor it to the wall. They even include the hardware. Don’t ignore it. I’ve seen people try to balance them by putting heavy books in the bottom drawer. Bad idea. Just drill the hole. Your drywall can be patched later; your TV (or your pet) cannot.
Why the HEMNES is the secret winner
If you have a little extra cash, the Hemnes is where it’s at. Why? Solid wood. Well, solid pine, mostly. While the Malm is essentially sawdust glued together with a dream (technically called particleboard with a veneer finish), the Hemnes actually smells like a tree.
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It’s heavier. It takes a beating better. If you scratch a Malm, that’s it. The veneer peels and you’re looking at beige fluff. If you scratch a Hemnes 3 drawer ikea chest of drawers, you can actually sand it down and restain it. That’s the "hackability" factor that DIY influencers are obsessed with.
- You buy the white stain version.
- You swap the basic black knobs for something brass or ceramic from Etsy.
- Suddenly, your $150 IKEA purchase looks like a $600 boutique find.
It’s amazing what a handle swap can do. Seriously.
Let's talk about the assembly "divorce" factor
I once spent four hours building a Kullen. My back hurt. My ego was bruised. The Kullen is the "budget" 3 drawer ikea chest of drawers, and you feel every saved penny during the build. The back panel is usually just a thin sheet of cardboard that you have to nail in with about fifty tiny silver nails. Miss one? You’ve just punctured the side of your new dresser.
The instructions are wordless. Just a little cartoon guy looking confused.
The trick is the drawer slides. If you put them on backward—which is incredibly easy to do—the drawers won't close flush. You'll get it all together, stand back to admire your work, and realize the middle drawer is sticking out an inch. You'll want to cry. Take your time with the metal tracks. Look at the holes in the diagram. Count them. If the picture shows three holes and your board has four, stop. You’re holding it upside down.
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Organizing the void: The "Skubb" effect
A 3 drawer ikea chest of drawers is basically just three big empty boxes. If you just throw your socks in there, it becomes a black hole within a week. This is where the Skubb bins come in.
IKEA is a genius at the "upsell." You buy the dresser for $100, then you spend $40 on little polyester boxes to put inside the dresser. But honestly? It works. Using the "KonMari" method—where you fold shirts vertically so you can see the edges—only works if you have those dividers. Without them, your 3-drawer setup is just a vertical hamper.
The technical specs nobody reads
- Height: Most of these sit around 30 to 35 inches. It’s the perfect height for a bedside lamp.
- Depth: They usually clock in at 15-18 inches. This is important. If you have a narrow hallway, a Malm might stick out too far.
- Weight Limit: Don’t put a 50-gallon fish tank on these. The top panel is usually rated for about 40-60 lbs depending on the model.
The sustainability "Elephant in the room"
IKEA gets a lot of flak for "fast furniture." And yeah, it’s a thing. But they’ve been moving toward more sustainable wood sources. They use a lot of FSC-certified timber now. The real sustainability issue is the lifespan.
Most people move and just leave their 3 drawer ikea chest of drawers on the curb because it doesn't survive a move well. Particleboard hates being wiggled. The screws loosen, the holes strip, and suddenly it’s wobbly.
If you want your IKEA dresser to last ten years instead of two, wood glue is your best friend. When you're assembling it, put a tiny dab of wood glue in the dowel holes. It makes the bond permanent. It won't rattle. It feels like real furniture. Just remember: once you glue it, you can never take it apart. It's a lifetime commitment.
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Which one should you actually buy?
If you’re broke but need storage: Kullen. It’s basic, but it works.
If you want that "Pinterest" aesthetic: Malm in white or high-gloss.
If you want something that survives a move: Hemnes. Solid wood is non-negotiable for longevity.
If you like the industrial look: Rast. It’s untreated pine. You have to paint or stain it, or it’ll look like a shipping crate, but it’s the cheapest solid wood option they have.
People forget about the Rast. It’s tiny. It’s barely a 3 drawer ikea chest of drawers—more like a large nightstand—but for $60, you can't really complain.
Real talk on the "IKEA smell"
You know that scent. It’s a mix of fresh saw dust and chemicals. It’s the off-gassing of the formaldehyde used in the glues. IKEA has some of the strictest standards in the world for this (even stricter than some US regulations), but it still exists. If you’re sensitive to smells, build your dresser in a ventilated room. Let it "air out" for 48 hours before you shove your clean t-shirts in there. Otherwise, your favorite sweater is going to smell like a warehouse for a month.
Maintenance and the "saggy drawer" syndrome
The biggest failure point on a 3 drawer ikea chest of drawers is the drawer bottom. It’s usually a thin piece of hardboard. Over time, the weight of too many pairs of jeans makes the board bow. Eventually, it pops out of the groove.
You can fix this. Buy some "drawer menders"—they’re little plastic wedges that screw into the corner to support the bottom. Or, just don't overstuff the drawers. If you have to push down on your clothes to get the drawer to shut, you’re killing your furniture.
Actionable steps for your next IKEA trip
Don't just wing it. If you're heading out to buy a 3 drawer ikea chest of drawers today, do these three things first:
- Measure your baseboards. Seriously. Some IKEA dressers have a cutout at the back to fit over baseboards so they sit flush against the wall. Others don't. If yours doesn't, you'll have a gap, and things will fall behind it.
- Check the "As-Is" section. People return these things half-built all the time. You might find a Hemnes for 50% off just because someone couldn't figure out the drawer slides.
- Buy your own screwdriver. The included tools are "emergency use only." A real ratcheting screwdriver will save your wrists and prevent you from stripping the screw heads.
- Secure it to the wall. Get a stud finder. Find the wood behind the drywall. Use a real screw. It takes five minutes and keeps the dresser from becoming a literal hazard.
Once it's built, leveled, and anchored, you've got a solid piece of storage that didn't cost a mortgage payment. Just keep the wood glue handy.