At a Glance
Although many confuse the terms dresser and chest of drawers, or believe they are one in the same, there are some design differences between them that will impact your decision about which is right for you. Choosing the right one will ensure that you get a functional piece of furniture with suitable storage space that will integrate well into the room.
Dressers
Although you will find many variations in size and design when shopping for a dresser, overall, this type of furniture is much wider than a chest of drawers and not as tall. Most dressers are around 35 inches high or less, which provides adequate room to mount a mirror that you can use to do your hair or makeup. In a smaller bedroom with lower ceilings, a dresser will help create the illusion of a larger room.
The average dresser length is usually between 30 and 70 inches, taking up more horizontal floor space than a chest of drawers. However, the extra surface area allows you to display décor items, jewelry boxes or attractive perfume bottles. And since dresser drawers tend to be deeper, they provide plenty of room for bulky items of clothing such as sweaters, folded pairs of pants and socks. Some dressers even have small drawers for storing jewelry or keepsakes.
Chests of Drawers
A chest of drawers is usually much taller than a dresser. Whereas a dresser is a horizontally oriented piece of furniture, a chest of drawers is vertically oriented. Chests of drawers are taller, narrower structures that feature between four and six drawers. Although there’s room to put a few small décor items or framed pictures on top of a chest of drawers, there’s typically not enough space to mount a mirror over it.
The dimensions for a chest of drawers are usually between 44 and 60 inches tall and between 24 and 38 inches wide. In addition to having different dimensions, the drawers on this piece of furniture typically aren’t as deep as standard dresser drawers. In larger rooms that already have a dresser, adding a matching or complimentary chest of drawers is a good way to increase storage space without adding another dresser.
Is a Dresser or Chest of Drawers Right for Me?
The choice between a chest of drawers or a dresser will depend on your individual needs and ultimately your preference. There’s no right or wrong answer as long as you’re happy with the amount of storage provided and how the piece works in the room. Here are some points to consider when trying to make an informed decision.
Dressers:
- Offer more surface space for personal care and décor items
- Provide more drawer storage space as well as different drawer sizes to accommodate accessories
- Have larger, deeper drawers
- Are low enough to mount a mirror over and use as a dressing table
- Have a shorter, wider construction than chests of drawers
- Take up more floor space, which could be an issue for small rooms
- Are usually more expensive than chests of drawers
Chests of Drawers:
- Have less surface space
- Provide uniform drawer sizes more suited for clothing items only
- Have smaller, shallower drawers
- Have a taller, slimmer construction that’s perfect for corners and small rooms
- Are typically less expensive than dressers
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions one may think of when considering a dresser or chest of drawers.
What Goes in a Dresser vs. a Chest of Drawers?
Chests of drawers have a design that is better suited for storing folded clothing items only. Dresser drawers tend to vary in shape and size which makes them better suited for storing accessories and keepsakes in addition to clothing items.
Can a Dresser be Used in a Living Room?
Today, dressers are typically found in bedrooms. However, they can also be used in a living room or even a wide hallway to provide extra storage space. Historically, dressers were located in all areas of the home, including bedrooms, living rooms and even kitchens.