A chest of drawers is one of the most important pieces of furniture in your home. Furniture makers design chests of drawers in a variety of shapes and sizes to serve many different purposes. The difference between a dresser and a chest is their size and function. While both pieces of furniture are designed to store clothing, dressers usually have a wide, flat top to place items and a mirror for dressing. Chests are taller and narrower, take up less floor space, and focus solely on storage concerns.
Depending on your needs, selecting the right design is important. You’ll need to make sure it fits in your space and has enough room to hold your belongings. The following guide contains details on how to choose a design when selecting chests of drawers.
Lingerie
If you are searching for the perfect chest to store smaller clothing items, consider a lingerie chest. These slender, tall pieces are versatile and used to store more than just bras and underwear. Their smaller drawers are great for socks, bathing suits, and winter scarves and gloves. People also use lingerie chests to store non-clothing items like makeup and jewelry.
Media
Instead of mounting your TV, use a media chest that doubles as extra storage. These chests look like dressers, except they have a space at the top to place cable boxes, video game consoles, or media players. Their wide design and shorter height allow for optimal television placement so you can enjoy your shows and movies comfortably. Many people use the accompanying drawers to store books, electronic accessories, DVDs, and games. If you place a media chest in your bedroom, you can use the drawers to store clothing as well.
Vertical
Vertical chests are the most standard of all the design options. They are smaller than a traditional dresser but have several rows of drawers and are perfect for storing clothing. If you live in an apartment or a small home, a vertical chest is a great alternative to a dresser. If have a dresser that is filled, choosing a matching or complimentary vertical chest provides more storage space while keeping your bedroom décor stylish.
Bachelor’s
Smaller than a vertical chest, a bachelor’s chest is typically shorter and wider and has less drawers. It gets its name from the original design for a single person without a large number of clothing to store. These small chests are ideal for dorm rooms or studio apartments with limited square footage. Many homeowners use bachelor’s chests as nightstands.
Gentleman’s
The signature design element of a gentleman’s chest is a tall cabinet section that functions like a wardrobe. The cabinets usually have rods to hang suits, ties, and dress shirts. While they were originally designed for men, many women use gentleman’s chests for dresses, jackets, and skirts. It’s common for these chests to contain shallow shelves as well. The drawers in a gentleman’s chest are usually small or narrow, perfect for storing smaller clothing items or jewelry.