IKEA is preparing to say goodbye to two of its most recognizable bedroom storage names.
The retailer is phasing out MALM chests of drawers and HEMNES dressers in the U.S. by the end of 2026, replacing them with newer chest and dresser ranges built around tip-over safety updates.
The news resurfaced this week after Ideal Home reported June 11 that IKEA is discontinuing the popular MALM chest of drawers, with HEMNES chests also set to be phased out by year’s end. IKEA U.S. had already laid out the transition in its official chest-of-drawers announcement, saying new designs would replace MALM and HEMNES and that both would be discontinued by the end of 2026.
For IKEA fans, this is more than a routine product refresh. MALM and HEMNES have become default choices for renters, first apartments, kids’ rooms, guest rooms and IKEA hack projects. They are the kind of products many shoppers recognize by silhouette, not just by name.
MALM, known for its plain, flat-front drawers and low-cost modern look, has long been a blank canvas for paint, hardware swaps and built-in-style projects. HEMNES has filled a different lane: a more traditional dresser look, solid wood construction on many pieces, visible knobs and a style that works in bedrooms that lean farmhouse, cottage or classic.
The replacement ranges are STORKLINTA and GULLABERG. In IKEA U.S.’s announcement, the company said both lines feature its patented Anchor and Unlock safety technology and were designed in line with the federal STURDY Act, the U.S. safety standard aimed at reducing furniture tip-over risk.
That safety feature is the big change shoppers will notice. IKEA says the mechanism limits how drawers function unless the dresser is anchored to the wall. When the unit is attached to the wall, the unlock mechanism allows multiple drawers to open at the same time.
That means the new dressers are not just renamed MALM and HEMNES pieces. They are the next generation of IKEA clothing storage, built around a federal safety standard that has changed how dressers are designed and tested in the U.S.
What to buy before MALM and HEMNES disappear
If you are trying to match an existing MALM setup, this is the time to look carefully at what is still available in your local store or online. MALM’s biggest appeal has always been consistency: simple drawer fronts, easy-to-match finishes and a profile that can disappear into almost any room.
That matters if you already own MALM pieces and want a matching dresser, nightstand-style storage or a unit for the other side of a bedroom. Once the chest-of-drawers line is gone, STORKLINTA may carry the clean-lined role, but dimensions, finishes and details may not be identical.
HEMNES shoppers have a similar reason to act sooner rather than later. If you want the older HEMNES look, especially the solid-wood traditional style with familiar knobs, the remaining U.S. listings are the ones to watch.
As of June 12, IKEA’s U.S. site still lists HEMNES dressers with promotional pricing. The HEMNES 6-drawer dresser in white stain, measuring 42 1/2 by 51 5/8 inches, is listed at $319.99, down from $399.99, with the price valid from May 27, 2026, to July 2, 2026, or while supplies last.
The broader dresser category also shows HEMNES models on sale, including HEMNES 8-drawer and 3-drawer versions, with the same May 27 to July 2 promotional window on some listings. Local availability can change quickly, so shoppers should check their store before making a trip.
The practical advice is simple: buy MALM if you need an exact match for an existing MALM room or a hack project planned around that familiar flat-front design. Buy HEMNES if you want the classic IKEA wood dresser look and do not want to shift to the newer GULLABERG styling.
What STORKLINTA and GULLABERG add
For shoppers starting from scratch, the safer bet is likely one of the replacement ranges.
STORKLINTA is the closest spiritual successor to MALM. IKEA’s U.S. dresser page currently lists STORKLINTA in several sizes, including a 6-drawer dresser in white with Anchor and Unlock function for $249.99, along with 3-drawer, 4-drawer, 5-drawer and tall 6-drawer options.
GULLABERG is the line to compare with HEMNES. It has a more traditional presence than STORKLINTA and comes in larger dresser formats, including 3-drawer, 6-drawer and 8-drawer versions with Anchor and Unlock function. IKEA’s U.S. dresser page currently shows a GULLABERG 8-drawer dresser in gray marked down to $299.99 through July 2 or while supplies last.
Both replacement families are marked by IKEA as designed to meet the U.S. Federal Stability Standard. That does not remove the need for careful assembly or wall anchoring. It does mean the products reflect the newer U.S. rules that have reshaped the dresser category since the STURDY Act took effect.
For longtime IKEA fans, the change may still sting. MALM and HEMNES have been part of the everyday IKEA language for years, the same way BILLY and KALLAX are shorthand for bookshelves and cubes.
But for shoppers buying a dresser in 2026, the decision now comes down to timing. If you want the old icons, check stock and sale pricing now. If you want the new safety-focused design, look first at STORKLINTA for the MALM lane and GULLABERG for the HEMNES lane.
Either way, the end date is now clear: by the end of 2026, the MALM and HEMNES chest-of-drawers era in the U.S. is set to close.