When it comes to bedroom furniture, one of the major components is the dresser. It not only holds your clothes but can also be a beautiful piece of furniture that is indicative of your own unique style and taste. This dresser buying guide shows you how to buy a dresser and contains descriptions of the styles and types of dressers available to you.
Before you select a dresser, you'll want to think about the style -- the shape and the design -- that will suit your bedroom. Dressers are available in traditional, contemporary, art deco, French provincial and many other design styles that you can choose from. In addition, the material the dresser is made of is also an important factor when choosing the one that's right for you.
Before you buy a dresser, be sure to measure the spot where you are going to place it in your bedroom and take note of any architectural details in the room that you will need to work around. If your dresser is going to sit below a window, you will need to be aware of the height. Dressers often have a built-in mirror, and you'll also want to make sure this doesn't cover any windows. If you want to slide your dresser into a nook, you'll need to double check the width. Check the swing of your bedroom door and make sure it won't hit the dresser when you add it to your bedroom.
Standard dressers
The standard dresser is normally waist-high, quite long and has several drawers, usually from six to nine. Standard dressers are useful not only because they store clothing and other items in their drawers but also because of the surface they provide for displaying collectibles and framed photos.
Chests
A standard chest of drawers is about chest-high and contains a single column of drawers, usually at least three but often more. It is not as wide as a dresser, making it perfect when your bedroom has more vertical room than floor space.
Because of its height, a chest of drawers offers a good amount of storage space, but they often don't hold as much as a traditional dresser. Take stock of your wardrobe and decide how much storage you will need before you choose a chest.
In addition to the standard chest of drawers, there are also smaller variations, such as lingerie chests (tall, narrow and designed to hold undergarments) and chiffoniers (originally made to hold needlework and other small pieces of cloth). These can be added to your bedroom in addition to a chest of drawers for more storage.
Armoire dressers
Though the name is derived from its original purpose -- storing weapons -- armoires are now used to hold clothing. An armoire dresser features drawers in addition to hanging storage and shelves. When you need furniture that will provide multiple types of storage in one piece, then an armoire dresser is an excellent choice.
Traditional
If you like to surround yourself with formality, beauty borne of intricacy and regal elegance, then traditional dressers might be right up your alley. A traditional dresser takes its cue from dressers produced for European monarchs and the wealthy by master craftsmen and designers from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Generally, traditional dressers use dark woods, elaborate carvings and florid ornamentation for a look of unparalleled magnificence. Because of the abundance of detail in these traditional furniture pieces, the overall look is busier and heavier in appearance than other styles but has remained a favorite throughout the years. Many armoires are built in the traditional style.
Contemporary
For the most part, contemporary dressers use neutral tones to unify your look. Like all contemporary bedroom furniture, lines are smooth, geometric and free of carvings and decorative frills. Woods like beech, birch and pine are used, with plywood and medium density fiberboards also used because of their easy-to-clean, low-maintenance properties. Other contemporary materials commonly found in this dresser style include steel, glass, plastics and stone.
Other styles
Other styles of dressers include French provincial, art deco, colonial and Victorian, to name but a few. While your choices are almost endless, we suggest that you simply go with a dresser that appeals to your eye. There is also no rule against mixing and matching styles to create your own unique look.
The body of the dresser will most likely be made out of some type of wood:
Solid wood: This is the strongest, most attractive and most expensive way to make a dresser, which to many means it's the best. While a solid wood dresser will cost the most up front, you will get many years of use out of it.
Veneer-over-composite wood: Depending on the quality of the veneer, this can also make a high-quality dresser because of the strength of composite wood. It is generally less expensive than solid wood.
Veneer-over-particle board: This can also look good; however, because particle board has less strength than solid wood or composite wood, it may not last as long. It is also the least expensive form of construction.
In addition to the wood, you will also want to pay attention to the hardware on the dresser. For a cohesive look in your bedroom, choose a dresser with hardware that matches the other metals in your room. Often, drawer pulls can be changed easily, but if the hardware detail extends to other parts of the design, it may be more than you can change.
A lot of dressers are made with veneer. Why do some look a lot better than others?
Veneer is a thin layer of material applied to cover wood. The best is wood veneer, which is made from thinly sliced hardwood; the next is vinyl veneer, which uses a photographic process to simulate the look of wood; and the third type is printed veneer, which means the look of wood is printed onto the board surface. This is the cheapest type of veneer used in dressers.
Wood veneers can be either plane-sliced or rotary-cut. Plane-sliced veneers are cut lengthwise through the log. This give a much more realistic effect to the wood, which means your dresser will look more like natural wood grain. Rotary-cut veneers are cut around the circumference of the log like a pencil sharpener. This gives a less realistic, jagged-grain appearance.
Does my dresser have to match the rest of the bedroom furniture?
No, it doesn't all have to match your other furniture at all. What's important is to pick a dresser you like while keeping relationships and contrasts in mind. Using contrasting pieces can bring an edgy, unpredictable look to your bedroom, making it as unique as you are.
What makes a quality dresser drawer?
The way that the drawers are assembled can tell you a lot about the construction of a dresser. Drawer interiors should be smooth, so they do not snag clothing. Drawers should move smoothly along their glides. Very wide drawers should incorporate two glides. Dust panels should be present between the drawers to prevent the contents from becoming dirty as the drawers are moved in and out. Dovetails should be employed in drawer construction for strength and durability.
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