How to Choose The Best Dresser | 2019| A Complete Buyer Guides

The word “dresser” is actually the shortened form of “dressing table,” which means that the top of a dresser is almost always meant to be waist-high, with ample space for a with mirror on top.

This feature sets them apart from chests. Dresser mirrors are convenient pieces that let you match and and model outfits easily. They also pair well with makeup vanities, speeding up morning routines even more.

1. Modern

Modern style is devoted to a particular strain of design originating in the 20th century, with clean, futuristic lines in novel configurations. Our example here is on the extreme end of futuristic, but still fits the general idea of a forward looking visual language in a neatly packaged design.

2. Contemporary

Contemporary design is a look that is “of the now,” containing obviously up to date styling and touches that could come from no previous era. There are no predefined stylistic tics for contemporary furniture; a wealth of varying details can nail this look.

3. Traditional

Traditional style features a timeless, detailed look, with carved wood structures, a bit of embellishment, and straight lines and general shape.

4. Cottage

Cottage style is meant to evoke a relaxed, warm, and soft country living feeling, with carved wood, light tones, and a lived in appearance.

5. Rustic

With a look centered around timeworn, natural, weather beaten textures and tones, rustic style is the epitome of old fashioned, homespun furniture. Dressers of this type will use distressed wood, soft metal hardware, and a utilitarian framing.

6. Standard Vertical Chest

The vertical chest, also known as a tallboy, is much taller than the standard dresser design, with a double stack of drawers comprising a column shaped piece of furniture. Sometimes the upper half is replaced by a cupboard, which makes it into an armoire.

7. Standard Horizontal Dresser

The standard dresser design came from one of the oldest pieces of furniture invented: the chest. These are horizontally oriented, squat in profile, and contain usually two columns of drawers.

8. Combo Dresser

The combo dresser design is in fact a combination of two major elements. Most models combine a standard squat dresser with a tall cabinet, as seen here. This allows for more storage options in a single piece of furniture.

9. Gentlemen’s Chest

The gentlemen’s chest is a configuration wherein the drawer column is paired with a large vertically oriented cabinet door. This holds a large cavity where hung suits, pants, and other clothing may be stored.

10. Bachelor’s Chest

A specifically more minimalist framing of the dresser form, the bachelor’s chest features a single column of drawers in a more squat, sometimes narrow frame. Originally, these had a slanted surface for writing, but most have horizontal surfaces nowadays.

11. Lingerie Chest / Semainier

The lingerie chest, also known as a semainier, traditionally holds seven drawers, meant for each day of the week. The design is tall, long, with deep and narrow drawers.

Dressers are one of the few categories of furniture that are routinely made of one material, wood. Beyond merely tradition, wood construction in dressers is simply the most versatile and reliable building material. While the majority of dressers will be wood, there are notable exceptions.

12. Metal

While much less common than wood, metal dressers can be found in a variety of designs. From fully metal models, like our example here, to hybrid dressers employing metal along with wood, the material can be used for innovative purposes, and provide a lighter weight frame.

13. Wood

With wood, you get a full galaxy of options and configurations, as the venerable material has gone through every design permutation in the dresser’s long history. From minimalist to rustic to elaborate contemporary styles, wood can be found in an array of dresser designs.

14. Leather

While the framework of the dresser itself is built from wood, some pieces boast a fully leather surface, for a rich, textural look. This example features button tufted drawers in white leather upholstery.

15. Wicker/Rattan

Wicker, also known as rattan, is a type of woven material that can be crafted from natural fibers or plastic. Strong, resistant to moisture and stains, and surprisingly lightweight, this material makes appearances on many cottage style designs, and is often incorporated within wood structures as the drawer build.