How to Decide What Type of Dresser to Include in Your Home (2024)

Decorating

Furniture

• 01 of 15

  Gentleman's Chests

  

  • Best for:Multifunctional storage
    

  A gentleman's chest is a dresser that includes both drawers and hanging storage, which are located side by side. This makes it possible to store both folded items and more formal pieces, such as dress shirts and suit jackets, all at once.

  Gentleman's chests are generally equipped with at least five equal sized drawers, which allow individuals to tuck away everything from t-shirts to shorts to sweaters. These chests are excellent for small bedrooms that lack sufficient closet space.
  

  Tip

  Gentleman's chests also come in handy in instances where couples share one closet among the two people and hanging storage is therefore limited.

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• 02 of 15

  Bachelor's Chests

  

  • Best for:Utilizing as a nightstand
    

  Short and low to the ground, the bachelor's chest can house clothing while doubling as a nightstand thanks to its small profile. As the name suggests, the piece is ideal for containing belongings for just one person.

  These wooden dressers range in style from traditional to contemporary and complement a number of aesthetics. While most people have larger collections of clothing, bachelor's chests can still come in handy as primary dressers or in small, studio apartments. Interior designer Elizabeth Drake who runs an eponymous firm also enjoys using them in guest rooms.

  "Avoid loading up the room with case goods and let these chests do double-duty as guests unpack into them," she says.
  

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• 03 of 15

  Highboy Dressers

  

  • Best for:Rooms with high ceilings

  The phrase highboy dresser refers to instances in which two smaller chests are stacked on top of one another to create a larger piece. Highboys generally feature five or six drawers that are equal in size.
  

  Today, many people refer to any tall, thin dresser as a highboy. Designer Megan Evans, founder of Megan Evans Interiors, appreciates this type of dresser when designing a room that has many windows or doors, as highboy dressers don't require much wall space.

  "Highboys also work well in rooms with high ceilings because they help draw the eye up," Evans says.

  Lastly, highboys are easy to style all throughout the home and are not just for the bedroom.

  "They are also incredibly versatile and can easily be used in a living room as a storage piece without looking out of place," Evans says.

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• 04 of 15

  Lowboy Dressers

  

  • Best for:Rooms with low ceilings

  Lowboy dressers predated the vanity and generally served as dressing tables. They featured drawers for storage and were short in height, with feet often curving outward.

  These pieces were made from wood and oftentimes paired with highboys. The term lowboy dresser is now used to describe a variety of styles of low dressers.

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• 05 of 15

  Horizontal Dressers

  

  • Best for:Everyday storage

  Horizontal dressers are perhaps the most common type of dresser that we see. They generally feature six or more drawers and are ideal for primary bedrooms, kids' bedrooms, guest rooms, and more.

  These dressers come in a range of styles and are designed to hold all types of folded items, ranging from underwear and socks to jeans and t-shirts and are easy for kids and adults alike to access.

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• 06 of 15

  Vertical Dressers

  

  • Best for:Adults' rooms

  Like highboy dressers, vertical dressers are tall and narrow, making them ideal for instances in which horizontal wall space is limited.

  Given that some drawers are located higher up, these dressers are best for teenagers or adults who will be able to stand and access items on their own while being able to see into each drawer.
  

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• 07 of 15

  Built-in Dressers

  

  • Best for:Shared spaces

  Built-in dressers are permanent fixtures within a room and may feature a mix of cabinets, drawers, and hanging sections. Built-in dressers are commonly seen in shared spaces such as dorm rooms or rooms belonging to multiple children.

  If you are constructing a built-in dresser from scratch, you can design it to best shape your family's everyday needs.

  "A built-in wardrobe allows you to create the ideal drawer depth for maximum functionality and the correct number of drawers/doors for a client's possessions," says Lisa Berman, principal designer and partner at Studio Gutow.
  

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• 08 of 15

  Combination Dressers

  

  • Best for:Outside the bedroom

  Combination dressers refer to dressers that feature both drawers and cabinets. While they may be used in the bedroom, they're extremely versatile in nature and will function nicely in any room of the home. For example, the dresser above could double as a buffet in the dining room.

  "Dressers that have larger and smaller storage options in one can help out with organizing items such as bedding and pillows in the bedroom, dinnerware and drinkware for a dining room, or books and small supplies in an office," says Linda Hayslett, designer and owner of LH.Designs. "While drawers aid in smaller items to keep in order, the larger door areas can house big or awkward shaped items."

  Tip

  Combination dressers will complement your home design outside of the bedroom, too, and can be styled in main living spaces.

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• 09 of 15

  Lingerie Chests

  

  • Best for:Small, delicate items

  As the name suggests, a lingerie chest is designed to house undergarments, socks, and other small items of clothing, such as camisoles. A lingerie chest is tall and narrow and generally contains five drawers at minimum.

  By no means should you rely on a lingerie chest as your sole dresser, as these pieces of furniture feature drawers that are on the small end and cannot accommodate full-sized clothing. Many people will place this piece of furniture beside the bed or an empty bedroom corner. It may also be housed inside a walk-in closet.

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• 10 of 15

  Changing Table Dressers

  

  • Best for:Small nurseries

  In the case of a changing table dresser, the dresser top features a changing pad, while drawers are left available for storing clothes and gear. Changing table dressers are generally smaller in size, consisting of three drawers total.

  Rather than purchasing a changing table and a dresser, many people designing smaller nurseries will opt for this piece of furniture to save space. Additionally, the dresser can grow with the child and remain in their bedroom as they get older.

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• 11 of 15

  Bombe Dresser

  

  • Best for:Antique style homes

  Bombe dressers are curved at the bottom and jut out at the front, and are often extremely detailed and ornate in style. This design is French in origin and dates back to the 17th century.

  Due to its untraditional shape, this type of dresser can shine in a living room, dining room, or other main gathering space within the home, where it can function as a bar station, entry table, or serve another purpose entirely.

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• 12 of 15

  Cloth Drawer Dresser

  

  • Best for:Children's rooms

  Cloth drawer dressers consist of metal frames and cloth storage drawers, which can slide out—and oftentimes fully removed—as needed.

  These dressers are great for children's rooms, given that the lightweight drawers are safe for little ones to open and shut without fear of injury. With traditional wooden dressers comes a risk of fingers inadvertently getting stuck in drawers; additionally, some heavier or less stable wooden dressers need to be mounted to the wall so that they do not topple. Cloth drawers are therefore a safe alternative and are also very affordable.

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• 13 of 15

  Armoire

  

  • Best for:Additional closet space

  An armoire is a large wardrobe with a hanging rod inside. Anyone who is in search of additional closet space will want to consider an armoire, which is equipped with inner hooks. This makes it easy to hang up jackets, suits, dresses, and more. Individuals who do not have hall closets in their homes may rely on armories to store their basic outerwear.

  Armoires range in style from simple and minimal to antique and ornate looking. Some also contain inner drawers, allowing for folded storage.

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• 14 of 15

  Rolling Chest

  

  • Best for:Closet storage

  A rolling chest refers to a short chest of drawers or cubbies with wheels on the bottom.

  This piece is ideal for those who are looking to fit smaller items, such as undergarments, into a closet. The rolling chest can easily be moved around within a home as needed. It is similar in function to a lingerie chest but less ornate in style and shorter, which ensures that one can still store hanging garments above it.

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• 15 of 15

  Dresser Desk

  

  • Best for:Studio apartments

  A dresser desk combination refers to a vanity or writing station combined with a set of three or more drawers. A secretary desk is one such example.

  Whether you use this space to apply makeup or station your laptop, it will eliminate the need to invest in multiple pieces of furniture at once and results in a sleek, streamlined look.