Types of Dressers & Chests Everyone Should Know About
Which one fulfills your storage needs?
When shopping for a dresser or a chest of drawers, it's important to choose a model that will fit in your space and serve all of your organizational needs. In this guide, we break down each option for dressers and chests to help you choose the right one.
Wondering how dressers and chests of drawers differ from one another? Dressers are wider, shorter, and often paired with mirrors, while chests are taller and narrower. Choose a dresser for more surface space, or opt for a chest for more compact storage. Our guide Chest of Drawers vs Dresser: What's the Difference? offers an in-depth comparison of the two.
Types of Dressers
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Horizontal Dresser
Also known as a standard dresser, a horizontal dresser usually consists of two to three rows of long, wide drawers and sometimes a top row of multiple smaller drawers. A horizontal dresser has plenty of tabletop space for storage or display – for example, a collection of favorite perfumes, a row of books, or a TV. Some models come with an included mirror that matches the style of the dresser.
Double Dresser
A double dresser is an especially wide dresser made up of double columns of wide, spacious drawers. This dresser is ideal for couples sharing a large room and looks great with a mirror placed on top. Make sure you think about the size of your space before you try a double dresser – these dressers can be overwhelming in small spaces.
Combo Dresser
A combo dresser usually looks like a standard dresser with one or two cabinets attached to the side or in the center. It is easy to organize clothes in a combo dresser's differently sized drawers and shelves. These dressers include both dresser drawers and wardrobe doors that open to reveal shelves or a space to hang clothes. If you're storing more than just clothes in a dresser, a combo model is ideal.
Dresser With Mirror
As the name states, this type of dresser has a matching mirror that sits on top of it.
Vertical Chest
Standard chests of drawers, also known as vertical chests, are tall and narrow storage pieces. If your bedroom is on the small side, a chest is an ideal option for clothes storage, although it typically will have less space than a dresser. You can also pair a dresser with a chest for extra storage that takes up less space – many couples enjoy this setup.
Lingerie Chest
A lingerie chest is a taller and skinnier version of a standard chest and is traditionally used for small articles of clothing such as lingerie. If you often find you can’t fit all your socks and undergarments in a disorganized dresser drawer, a lingerie chest can help you organize these items in separate drawers. A lingerie chest is also useful for other small items like jewelry, skin care products, makeup, and seasonal items like bathing suits.
Gentleman's Chest
A gentleman’s chest gets its name from its tall cabinet section, which can be used to hang suit jackets, dress pants, ties, and more. Some cabinets have rods for hanging clothes, while others have built-in shelves instead. A gentleman’s chest is similar to a combo dresser because it usually contains both drawers and wardrobe doors. However, a gentleman’s chest is tall while a combo dresser is narrow.
Bachelor’s Chest
A bachelor’s chest is a small, narrow chest with about three to four drawers and is traditionally meant for a single person with limited clothing storage needs. This furniture piece is considered a chest instead of a dresser because it is narrow and has limited storage space. Bachelor’s chests are sometimes small enough to also serve as nightstands.
Media Chest
A media chest is a piece of storage furniture similar to a dresser but with an open top shelf for a cable box. Media chests work well in both bedrooms and living rooms as an entertainment center. A media chest is typically wide like a dresser but tall so you can rest your television at a comfortable viewing height. You can store clothing in the drawers and cabinets or use these spaces to store movies, remotes, extra wires, and more.
Tip!
If you need help picking out the right size dresser or chest for your space, check out our guide Dresser Dimensions: How to Choose the Right One for simple sizing tips.
Dresser & Chest FAQ
What is the difference between a dresser and a chest?
Dressers are wider and shorter, often paired with mirrors, while chests are taller and narrower.
Which is better for small bedrooms?
A chest of drawers is ideal for small bedrooms because it provides vertical storage and takes up less floor space than a horizontal dresser, making it easier to navigate tight rooms while still offering ample drawer capacity.
What is a double dresser?
A double dresser is an especially wide dresser made up of double columns of wide, spacious drawers, ideal for couples sharing a large room.
What is a combo dresser?
A combo dresser includes both dresser drawers and wardrobe doors that open to reveal shelves or a space to hang clothes, making it ideal for storing more than just clothes.
