Dressers

Designed for storage purposes all over the house, dressers are perfect for both keeping items safe, and showcasing those which you want to display; often through a series of drawers and cabinets, as well as uncovered shelves. Some of the most traditional dressers are standalone items of furniture which sit against one wall, while others slot into a more complex design spec with matching cabinets and units, for example in the kitchen.

Here are a couple of the key things to consider when buying a dresser, no matter which room of the home you are buying for...

Size – While some more modern dressers come as a flatpack item of furniture to be assembled in your home, others come completely made – particularly if they have been made by an independent designer or are second hand with some antique value. That means that one of the most important checks you can do when buying a dresser is to make sure you will be able to get it into your home – and whether you will require the help of additional hands.

Once you’ve got past that hurdle, size is also an important factor in making sure the dresser works in your home. Too big, and the dresser will dwarf your other furniture and turn your showcase items into
small and insignificant pieces of decoration. Too small, and you run the risk of your possessions being cramped and the dresser looking like it doesn’t belong in the space.

Material – Most dressers are made with natural wood, though there are some more affordable versions on the market which include elements made from manmade solutions such as MDF. You will find that while many retailers leave their dressers undecorated preferring instead to celebrate the natural patterns and grain of the wood used in the build, others take the idea of a country kitchen dresser and paint shelves and cabinet doors to reflect neutrals and dark blues – in a nod to the more traditional colour schemes used in large farm kitchens.

Of course, if you’re not happy with the way the material of your chosen dresser has been finished, you can sand it down to reveal and natural material or else paint it in your own way to reflect your homes’ style.

The Frame and Structure – While wood is structurally sound and can generally be relied upon, it is worth checking the joinery work. This tends to be much better in pieces made by specialist wood furniture producers rather than mass market retailers, though you will find that the latter are much cheaper and you can get more for your money. We suggest our members consider their position when buying their dresser, as a cheaper piece right now may need replacing far sooner than an item which is a little more expensive to purchase.

Using your dresser – From displaying vintage teacups and plates, to organising ornaments and handmade pottery pieces made at various school clubs and craft festivals, a dresser is a space where the whole family can celebrate their achievements – and hide away the extra table linen and fancy plates which don’t need to be on show all the time.

The dresser market is full of different features depending on the retailer, but some of our favourite elements include glass fronted cabinets to allow you to see what’s inside them, and mug hooks which hang from the roof of a display cabinet to showcase your mugs in a different and unique way.