Chests of drawers in the living room, sizes and shapes, materials of manufacture

No. 1. What size should a chest of drawers be?

It is crystal clear to any of us that a chest of drawers should not only fit in the bedroom, but also not interfere with free movement around the room. It is important that there is room for drawers to be pulled out. If the space is small, and it already contains a double bed and a bulky wardrobe, then finding a place for a chest of drawers will be problematic. However, if there is really a need for it, then there are very miniature models on sale. The main principle that should be followed is the proportionality of the bedroom and chest of drawers.

The smaller the room, the more carefully you need to take measurements . First you need to arm yourself with a tape measure and measure the parameters of the space allocated for the chest of drawers. We remember and go to the store with the same tape measure. You will need to take measurements of the chest of drawers when all the drawers are closed and when they are pulled out and the doors are open. Measurement is taken from the edge of the back wall to the edge of the open drawers. By the way, if there is a baseboard in the bedroom, then do not forget to take into account its thickness when taking measurements.

The size of the chest of drawers also depends on its purpose . If you will be storing small things like cosmetics and CDs, then you can take the smallest model. To conveniently arrange your laundry, you will need a larger chest of drawers.

The parameters of chests of drawers vary widely:

height is at least 85 cm and rarely more than 160 cm. Dressers 85 cm high are the bare minimum, smaller ones are cabinets. They don't hold much but can be used as a bedside table. The standard height is 120 cm. In this case, the tabletop can be used to display photos, souvenirs, install a TV, and in some models, also for ironing things. Dressers taller than 130 cm are rare, but there are products up to 160 cm high. You can store a lot of things in them, but the tabletop can only be used to place a lamp;
length depends on the number and configuration of boxes. Dressers less than 50 cm long are inconvenient, the optimal length is 90-130 cm. Models longer than 200 cm are mainly modular products and are appropriate only in very spacious bedrooms;
the optimal depth is 50 cm. If it is more, it will be inconvenient to use the drawers; if it is less, you will not be able to fold laundry. However, for bedrooms they make chests of drawers with a depth of 30 cm, but when deciding on such a purchase, keep in mind that the useful depth will be even less, since it is necessary to subtract the thickness of the back wall.

Designers advise choosing tall chests of drawers for low bedrooms and vice versa. This way you can make the space more harmonious.

No. 2. Deciding on the type and shape of the chest of drawers

The appearance, shape and purpose of a chest of drawers are inseparable concepts and depend on each other. The choice of shape depends on the style of the interior and the place where the product will be located. The shapes of chests of drawers are :

rectangular _ These are traditional chests of drawers, which are the most convenient to use and are in greatest demand;
corner chests of drawers can be L-shaped, trapezoidal, five-walled, or have the appearance of a circle segment - there are many variations. The main thing is that such models are great for small bedrooms and allow you to make good use of corners that are often left empty;
radius chests of drawers with curved shapes can be semicircular or include convex and concave parts. Such products look original, but will not fit into all bedrooms - they require space and an appropriate interior. Separately, it is worth mentioning round chests of drawers, in which the drawers can rotate relative to each other;
designer chests of drawers can have any shape and are usually made to order.

According to appearance and purpose, chests of drawers are usually divided into:

long chests of drawers are a real classic. They can replace even a small wardrobe. Great for the bedroom;
a display chest looks more like a sideboard, can be used to store beautiful dishes and is usually used in living rooms and dining rooms;
chest of drawers combined with mirror, is an excellent option for a bedroom, as it takes on the function of a dressing table, especially if all cosmetic accessories are placed in the top drawer. A good option for small bedrooms;
chest of drawers with ironing board It is distinguished by the presence of a folding ironing board on top of the tabletop. It’s convenient if every square meter counts;
chest of drawers with changing table - a godsend for young parents. This product is characterized by the presence of sides on the tabletop;
, the chest of drawers can be transformed into a compact workplace. For small bedroom sizes, this is also a good option.

The impulse of design ideas knows no bounds, so you can find other transforming chests of drawers on sale.

Material

In the manufacture of furniture, various materials are used, taking into account the purpose and style of the product. The most popular options:

natural solid wood - presentable, elegant and the most expensive wardrobes and chests of drawers are created from valuable wood;
Chipboard - models made from laminated boards are durable and affordable;
MDF - characterized by increased density, but such furniture is not installed next to heating devices;
rattan - combines spectacular appearance and reliability, immune to negative environmental factors and mechanical damage;
plastic - such chests of drawers and nightstands for bedrooms are distinguished by a variety of facade colors;
metal - products are characterized by functionality and long service life;
glass - furniture is glazed only on the outside, the frame is usually made of wood, products with a mirror finish look bright.

Furniture fittings must match the design of the room. It is often made of steel, plastic, or solid wood.

Decorative elements of the chest of drawers should not violate the overall concept of the interior. If desired, you can decorate the furniture yourself using wallpaper, lace, fabric lining of drawers, paints, or apply prints. Decoupage, three-dimensional elements, English style, and retro decor remain popular.

The best ways to restore a chest of drawers at home, useful tips

Natural massif

Chipboard

MDF

Rattan

Plastic

Metal

Glass

No. 3. Dresser material

Let's start with the banal mention that a person spends at least 8 hours in the bedroom, i.e. third of the day, which means the air in this room should be clean and healthy, and the furniture should be as safe as possible and not emit any toxic substances. Ideally, use environmentally friendly natural wood, but there are other options.

Dressers are made from the following materials:

natural wood – the most durable, safe and aesthetic material. Wood allows you to produce products of any shape, it can be decorated with carvings. On the other hand, such chests of drawers are not cheap and weigh a lot. Products made from pine will cost the least; chests of drawers made from oak, walnut, and cherry will cost more. The best chest of drawers for the bedroom in terms of price and quality is the one that is made of pine, but covered with a veneer of more expensive wood;
Chipboard and MDF - the main substitutes for wood, and a product made from chipboard can generally be called budgetary, but this material can be toxic and emit dangerous formaldehyde. When purchasing, you should look at the safety certificates and, more specifically, at the formaldehyde emission level: for residential premises these are E0 and E1. MDF is a more durable and safe material. If you can’t afford wood, then it’s better to take a chest of drawers made of MDF. Both chipboard and MDF are laminated on top with a film imitating any material, or veneered (this is the preferred option). In terms of variety of design and appearance, such chests of drawers have no equal;
plastic is rarely used to make chests of drawers for the bedroom; this material is more suitable for bathrooms due to its resistance to moisture and hygiene;
metal and glass usually combined with other materials, but if you look hard enough, you can find an all-metal chest of drawers. Such a product will not be appropriate in every bedroom. Chests of drawers, where chromed metal and glass are used only as details, will be appropriate in a modern interior.

Designer products may have some elements made of genuine leather or stone.

Tips for selection and placement

When choosing stylish pieces of furniture, you should follow certain expert recommendations. To correctly select the dimensions of chests of drawers and nightstands for bedrooms, you should first measure the square footage of the room. After all, standard models are not suitable in size in all situations. Also at the initial stage, it is important to decide on the functional purpose of the product: you need to decide exactly what will be stored there: clothes, bed linen, or the chest of drawers will be used as a dressing table with a mirror.

A person spends at least a third of the day in the bedroom. Therefore, the air in the room should be clean, and the furniture should be as safe as possible and free of toxins. In view of this, it is optimal to purchase chests of drawers made from environmentally friendly natural wood, since chipboard can emit formaldehyde. When you can’t afford an array, it is optimal to purchase a product made from MDF. Models made of plastic or metal do not look very appropriate in the bedroom.

Dressers and cabinets for children's bedrooms must be supplied with a hygienic safety certificate.

As for the shape, large-sized models are suitable for spacious rooms with high ceilings. Designers suggest abandoning the bedside table; a wide chest of drawers with a compartment for linen is much more appropriate for the bedroom. In small rooms where space is limited, narrow tall models look neat. A low chest of drawers is suitable for small bedrooms, where it can successfully replace a desk.

Making a chest of drawers with your own hands, from cutting the material to decor

If you take into account the color scheme, style and dimensions of the room, you can easily choose exactly those cabinets and chests of drawers that will harmoniously fit into the interior. Taking into account the position in relation to the wall, products are divided into:

Wall-mounted. Attached to the wall using hinges and screws. They are used individually or as an element of a furniture set.
Island. It is acceptable to install furniture anywhere inside the bedroom. The front and back are made of the same material. A similar model can be used for zoning space.
Wall-mounted. They mostly move towards the wall. Such products should not be placed in the middle of the room, as from the back they look unpresentable.
Attached. Mostly included with other furniture. A similar model is used as an addition to modular sofas.

The color of the chest of drawers should match other items in the bedroom or be in harmony with the main style of the interior. Light shades will add lightness and spaciousness. Dark models look heavy and bulky, especially when the accents in the room are incorrectly placed. When choosing, be sure to take into account other furniture in the room.

Wall

Ostrovny

Wall-mounted

Pristavnoy

An important criterion is also the quality of the product. Experts advise paying attention to the following characteristics:

The presence of retractable stops that prevent the drawers from falling out during opening.
Facades with special shock absorbers guaranteeing smooth closing of the door. Elite models are often equipped with special closers - with a slight pressure, the doors slam shut without difficulty and noise.
Reliable operation of all mechanisms, no creaks, no backlashes, a perfectly flat surface without cracks, chips or abrasions.

When a chest of drawers is used as an accent component of the bedroom, the rest of the furnishings are selected taking into account the stylistic features of the room. However, the general concept of home design should not be violated.

A chest of drawers for bedrooms is the optimal solution to put things in order. With modern diversity, choosing the right product is not difficult. It is important to decide which model will harmonize with the interior. Taking into account the design and dimensions of the room, a chest of drawers will help add comfort and originality to it.

To prevent drawers from falling out during opening, retractable stops are installed on them.

Smooth closing of the drawers will be ensured by installed special shock absorbers

When choosing a product, it is worth checking the operation of all mechanisms, the absence of creaks and backlashes

No. 4. Number and location of boxes

The classic design of the chest of drawers consists of several wide drawers located one above the other. Traditionally there are 4 of them, but the number can vary from 2 to 5 or more. In many models, instead of wide top drawers, 2-3 narrower ones are made . There are chests of drawers where all the drawers have different widths; in some, the interior space of the drawers is divided into several parts by partitions for convenient storage of belts, ties, and cosmetics. If you have things that need special protection from prying eyes, then you can look at a chest of drawers, where in one of the sections there will be a compartment under lock .

Boxes of different sizes can be combined in any way you like, and their number can be many times greater than the standard 4 sections. Despite the fact that the traditional design of a chest of drawers does not include doors, today there are models where part of the space is occupied by shelves with doors. In any case, you need to choose the chest of drawers in which you can place all your things as conveniently as possible.

No. 5. Drawer pull mechanism

No matter how many drawers there are in the chest of drawers, and no matter how conveniently they are located, you won’t be able to use them normally if the drawer mechanism is made poorly. Ideally, drawers should roll out very easily, but not fall out, even if the pullout was very abrupt. In the closed position, all drawers should be in tight contact with each other and with the walls, resting on the bar on the back side.

Modern chests of drawers use the following extension mechanisms:

roller guides – the most budget option, but they can make a lot of noise during operation. The guides are made of plastic or metal, the latter option is preferable, but it is important that the wheels have a rubber rim - then the noise will be less. The disadvantage of the roller guides is that they do not allow the drawer to be pulled out more than 5/6 of the depth, but it certainly will not fall out;
ball guides are able to withstand any load, operate silently, but increase the cost of the chest of drawers and require careful handling;
Read also: Mirror in the bedroom according to Feng Shui: how to make it
Concealed mounting guides are the most modern option. All elements of the mechanism are located not on the sides of the drawer, but under it, which ensures the maximum level of extension and the impossibility of falling out.

No. 6. Dresser equipment

In addition to the drawers, the chest of drawers should have a lot of other elements to ensure ease of use. These include:

pens . They can be anything in design, from antique to the most modern, the main thing is that they are easy to use. There are chests of drawers without handles that open when you lightly press the drawer, but such a system is appropriate if the façade of the product is not glossy, otherwise you may be bothered to wipe off fingerprints;
legs may be completely absent, regulated or unregulated. The presence of this element is a matter of personal preference, but the ability to adjust the height of the legs will come in handy if the floors in the room are uneven;
a closer for drawers and doors ensures their smooth opening and closing and prevents sharp impacts that can damage the body of the chest of drawers;
The stopper prevents the drawer from falling out. It is appropriate when there are children in the house, but it complicates access to things located at the far wall;
fastening to the wall makes installation of the chest of drawers more difficult, but prevents it from falling when all drawers are pulled out at the same time;
lighting in chests of drawers It is quite rare, but makes it easier to find the desired item in the dark.

Filling and equipment

The internal contents of the chest of drawers may vary depending on the model. The standard arrangement is a horizontal arrangement of two or three boxes in two rows. Wide drawers can be divided inside into several sections, which allow you to conveniently store small items or clothes. When choosing a chest of drawers, you should pay special attention to the smooth opening of the drawers. In high-quality models, drawers open and close easily and smoothly. This is ensured by the presence of a special closer.

The drawer is prevented from falling out with the help of an installed stopper. Installing lighting will add brightness to the existing interior, and will also help you use the chest of drawers in low light. To increase the service life of the chest of drawers, it is necessary not to overload it, open and close the drawers smoothly, not expose it to moisture, and periodically check the reliability of the fittings and fastenings.

No. 7. Stationary, mobile or wall-mounted chest of drawers?

According to the possibility of movement, chests of drawers can be divided into:

stationary;
mobile.

With stationary ones , everything is clear, they stand motionless on legs or a base, moving them from place to place is possible, but difficult. The mobile chest of drawers is equipped with rollers, thanks to which you can rearrange it very easily, and thanks to the lock, the chest of drawers will remain motionless. An option for those who often make rearrangements.

According to the method and features of installation, chests of drawers are divided into:

floor-mounted – a common option that is placed against the wall, so its back wall may not be particularly aesthetic;
wall chests of drawers They are attached to the wall, they can be fixed in any necessary place, but re-hanging/rearranging them will be problematic. Ordinary wall-mounted floor-standing chests of drawers can also be additionally attached to the wall, especially if there are children in the house who like to climb and hang on various pieces of furniture;
An island chest of drawers should be aesthetic from all sides, as it usually plays the role of a partition for zoning space. Often in such chests of drawers there are drawers on several sides.

How to choose

When planning the interior of a living room with a chest of drawers, it is necessary to take into account the styles that this or that piece of furniture should correspond to, while not forgetting about functionality. Classic options are valued for their spaciousness, so the main attention is paid to the dimensions and combination of shelves and drawers. Furniture in more exotic styles is assessed from the point of view of external design - how well it combines with other furnishings and fits into the interior.

Young housewives often choose products that do not require complex care, from which it is enough to occasionally wipe the dust. This is especially true for families with children. Gloss or polishing on the surface requires additional care, rubbing, and special products, so they are not very suitable for them.

When choosing, you need to pay attention to the reliability of the handles and make sure that the drawers move easily. It is advisable to carefully inspect for damage to the façade or other visible defects. A good chest of drawers is designed to last for many years, so there should be no complaints about its quality.

No. 8. Dresser style and color

It is not enough for a chest of drawers to be comfortable and roomy - it must fit into the interior and decorate it. The easiest way is to take all the bedroom furniture as a set - then all the items are guaranteed to be combined with each other. If you had to buy a chest of drawers separately from the rest of the furniture, then try to follow the general style and color scheme.

The appearance of the chest of drawers largely depends on the chosen style of the bedroom interior:

classic style involves the use of natural wood of valuable species, forged parts, panels. It is better if the chest of drawers is not very large and rests on legs;
Baroque, Rococo and Empire require more elegant curved forms, an abundance of decorative elements in the form of carvings and gilding. Material – wood;
Provence requires the use of a light-colored chest of drawers. The preferred material is wood, preferably artificially aged, minimal decor;
hi-tech and minimalism – these are laconic forms, the use of modern materials, incl. plastic, metal and glass, you can use MDF and chipboard. For high-tech, lighting would be quite appropriate;
modern allows you to use chests of unusual shapes, with curved lines, interesting combinations of materials.

Don't rush to throw away your old chest of drawers if it's still strong. A few hours of work, and it can turn into a stylish exclusive product that will fit perfectly into the bedroom interior. The easiest way is to paint an old chest of drawers, and you can use several shades at once, apply a pattern or use the decoupage technique. Another option is to decorate the fronts of the drawers with wallpaper, and after the glue has dried, coat the new finish with acrylic varnish. Instead of wallpaper, you can use fabric or foil.

Styles and colors

Classic is one of the most popular furniture design styles. Chests of chests are distinguished by strict forms with a consistent wood texture or curved lines, which are decorated with carvings and a large number of linings. This direction is characterized by dark tones - brown, black.

Other styles are no less in demand:

Modern. Simple lines, soft natural tones with a characteristic woody tint. Such furniture elements are devoid of excessive pretentiousness, but they look elegant.
Minimalism. Beautiful chests of drawers are highly functional. Their facades are laconic in design, smooth, with a slightly pronounced texture. Light and beige shades are suitable for this style.
Vintage. Artificially created abrasions, faded color, carved decor - all this will be appropriate on models made of natural wood. The same products, but with a more laconic form, are suitable for loft-style rooms.
High tech. Glossy chests of drawers are distinguished by high-tech fittings. The models in question use a push/pull opening system (to pull out the drawer, you will need to press the front). The furniture is made mainly in light colors.
Art Deco. Unusual and luxurious chests of drawers in the most spectacular designs. They are distinguished by original patterns and bright colors. They are made of mother-of-pearl or gold or silver. The style is also characterized by light colors with a woody tint. This also includes products in the ethnic style, reflecting the culture and customs of different peoples.

Functional chests of drawers for the kitchen, current materials, styles, colors
Modern interiors allow you to mix several styles in one room. In view of this, you can easily choose any furniture and fit it into the already formed design. The main thing is to choose the color in such a way as not to disrupt the overall style. For bedrooms, designers recommend choosing white furniture. Milky, creamy or snow-white tones of facades help visually expand the room. It is also worth remembering that gloss always adds light to the room.

Modern

Minimalism

Vintage

High tech

Art Deco