Why do you need a chest of drawers in the bathroom?

Dresser – a piece of furniture with sliding longitudinal drawers and a tabletop, which is used for storing clothes, linen and other household items. The chest of drawers combines the spaciousness of a closet and the compactness of a cabinet, which allows it to be used even in cramped conditions. The height of the chest of drawers is smaller than the closet - this allows children and elderly people to easily pull out the necessary thing.

The advantage of the chest of drawers is its versatility. For example, a model that has shelves with doors along with drawers turns into a small closet, and if you hang a mirror above it, the chest of drawers can replace a dressing table.

Various objects are usually placed on the surface (tabletop): souvenirs, framed photographs, flowers in pots, books and even a TV. In addition, the tabletop with edges at the edges can be used as a changing table. Using a chest of drawers, you can divide the room into zones without cluttering the space.

Dresser
Chest of drawers

View

Long - a spacious chest of drawers with a large number of drawers, shelves and compartments. The dimensions of this product do not allow it to be used in small rooms.

Chest of drawers a - a spectacular-looking model, reminiscent of a sideboard. In such a chest of drawers you can store silverware, sets and other beautiful items, and also use it as a bar. Usually located in the living room.

A chest of drawers with a mirror is similar in appearance to a dressing table. In addition, a mirror visually expands the space of the room. This chest of drawers can be placed both in the living room and in the bedroom.

Chest of drawers with ironing board – has a folding board that allows you to iron things. This option is suitable for small spaces.

Transformable chest of drawers - allows you to change its shape and purpose. For example, one model turns into a TV stand, wardrobe or buffet, and a chest of drawers with a hinged lid transforms from a table into a dressing table. A transforming chest of drawers saves room space and is the best option for small rooms.

Transformable chest of drawers
Chest of drawers with mirror

Material

Wood is an environmentally friendly, beautiful and durable material. Such a chest of drawers is often covered with fine carvings, elegant patterns and other decorations, and also has original inserts and elegant handles. Disadvantages: high price and significant weight of furniture.

Important: inexpensive wood species include pine and birch; cherry, ash, maple, walnut, and oak are considered more valuable. Inexpensive species (for example, pine) can become deformed over time and do not withstand impacts well - leaving scratches and dents. To increase the resistance of the chest of drawers to shock and moisture, you can open it with varnish.

A common solution is to choose a chest of drawers made of birch or pine, lined with oak or maple veneer. This option will be the optimal balance of quality and price.

Chipboard and MDF - resemble wood, but are much cheaper. In appearance and service life they are inferior to natural wood. At the same time, a chest of drawers made of chipboard has a lower price and is more toxic than its counterpart made of MDF. Users note that some drawers made of thin chipboard quickly fail. In general, MDF is a more durable material.

Such chests of drawers are laminated or covered with veneer. Laminated models are distinguished by a variety of colors, resistance to moisture and mechanical stress, while veneered models perfectly imitate solid wood and look impressive. Both laminate and veneer offer some protection from toxic fumes.

Important: when purchasing chests of drawers made of chipboard, pay attention to its cuts: it is better if they are covered with a more durable and reliable PVC edge than a melamine edge. It is advisable that the drilled holes are also sealed. This will partially protect the user from toxic fumes.

Rattan is a type of wood that combines attractive appearance, lightness and strength. This chest of drawers will fit perfectly into an interior decorated in an exotic style.

Plastic is lightweight, easy to clean, resistant to moisture and temperature changes.
Chests of drawers are made from it for the bathroom or kitchen. Disadvantages: low strength and modest appearance.

Manufacturing materials

As a rule, the material for making chests of drawers is chipboard or MDF. Moreover, the latter is more preferable, since it does not contain toxic substances - the synthetic adhesives used in the manufacture of MDF are harmless.

More expensive chests of drawers can be made of natural wood.

Such furniture is often decorated with hand carvings; drawers and doors have beautiful, stylish metal handles, sometimes with porcelain or natural stone inserts.

Exclusively designed chests of drawers are made of rattan.

In the countries of Southeast Asia, where rattan palm trees grow, this material is often used by craftsmen to make wicker furniture, valued for its environmental friendliness, beauty and reliability.

Boxes

Quantity

The number of drawers and shelves depends on the dresser model. Classic design - 4 longitudinal drawers located one below the other. Their number can vary between 1-5. Wide boxes can be “divided” in half, as a result their number reaches 6-10 or more.

Some models have drawers of different widths. The most common option is several wide drawers at the bottom and 1-2 drawers, divided in half or equipped with partitions. Small drawers are good for storing jewelry, thread, needles and other small items that need to be kept organized.

Sometimes you can find chests of drawers with secret drawers, which are also closed with doors, or models with a random arrangement of drawers. The design of the chest of drawers often includes shelves with doors (often glazed) or without them. There are also exclusive design solutions, for example, a chest of drawers whose drawers slide out in any of the four directions.

Interesting: linen, clothes, and various household items are placed in drawers. Books, dishes, souvenirs and other things that can be shown to guests are stored on open shelves with glass doors.

In a high-quality product, doors and drawers open easily and without additional effort. The drawers should not fall out even when pulled out sharply.

All chest drawers in the closed position should be in maximum contact with each other and adjacent to the body. In addition, they must fit tightly to the back wall and rest on a special bar - this removes part of the load from the side guides.

Extension mechanism

Roller guides are relatively cheap, but have several disadvantages: the possibility of the drawer skewing, its incomplete opening (maximum 5/6 of the length), noise when moving. True, incomplete opening of the box protects it from accidental falling out. The guides themselves can be either plastic or metal - this is a more reliable option.

Important: to prevent the risk of the drawer skewing, its width should not exceed 60 cm. The thickness of the steel of the roller guides should be at least 1 mm.

For silent operation of the box, you should choose mechanisms with rubber rims on wheels.

Ball guides - withstand significant loads, ensure complete and silent drawer extension. Disadvantages: high price and the possibility of the drawer skewing. Such a mechanism requires careful handling.

Concealed mounting guides - unlike previous mechanisms, they are attached not to the walls of the box, but to its bottom. This system ensures maximum opening of the drawer, but at the same time prevents it from falling out. Concealed mounting guides are easy to use and have a long service life.

Kitchen

The classic kitchen chest of drawers is called “credenza”. Traditionally, such a credenza is narrow and of small height. It is intended for storing dishes and cutlery. The upper part contains drawers, and at the bottom there are doors behind which dishes are placed on shelves. Among modern kitchen furniture sets, you can rarely find a traditional credenza; its functions are performed by cabinet tables with drawers or doors. Of course, these are close relatives of the chest of drawers, but they are made in the same format as the rest of the kitchen furniture, due to which they lack the individuality and decorativeness that a classic chest of drawers has.

Dimensions

The dimensions of the chest of drawers depend on the dimensions of the room, the location of the product and the number of things that are supposed to be stored in the model. A large chest of drawers in a small room and a small one in a spacious room will be dissonant with the environment.

If the chest of drawers is installed close to the wall, then its dimensions can be any. If the model will be located next to other furniture or stand in a corner, then it is necessary to measure the free space. You should take into account the presence of a plinth (it will not allow you to place the model close to the wall), drawer drawers and the width of the dresser door, which will require additional free space.

Therefore, in order not to be mistaken with the dimensions when choosing a chest of drawers, measure the distance from the edge of the open door to the back wall of the product. It is desirable that the results be less than the parameters of the location where the model is planned to be installed.

The size of the chest of drawers is also affected by its purpose. This exquisite model, which performs a primarily decorative function, is small in size. The same applies to furniture for storing small items. A chest of drawers designed to store linen, clothes, books and other things will be much larger.

Important: in order to correctly place accents in the interior using a chest of drawers, you should choose the optimal ratio between the height of the room and the height of the furniture. A room with a low ceiling requires a narrow and tall chest of drawers, while a room with a high ceiling requires a wide and low model.

Chest of drawers for vintage style

If you love vintage style, you will choose painted or red facades or furniture, perhaps decorated using decoupage technique using floral motifs. You can choose a retro chest with drawers to restore it to its former glory, or you can give the chest of drawers in your bedroom a vintage look by sanding it down or adding a layer of bronze or lilac.

For an extra touch of authenticity, non-conformist pieces with special designs can be part of the vintage decor. Bedroom dresser models that imitate a stack of assorted old books with drawers and a tabletop that can hold all sorts of items, or those that imitate a pile of old suitcases or boxes of different sizes, one on top of the other, can create a warm look with their retro artistic look. and a romantic atmosphere in the bedroom.

Location

In the living room, a chest of drawers is used as an analogue of a closet: clothes, books, dishes, and photo albums are stored in it. Therefore, such a chest of drawers should be quite spacious.

A chest of drawers in the living room often serves as a TV stand. In this case, two options are possible: install the TV on a wide tabletop (classic) or hang it on the wall, and the chest of drawers will be under it (modern). It is advisable that the furniture have legs and several small drawers. The chest of drawers is perfect for storing DVD players, discs, and 3D glasses.

It is better to choose a chest of drawers with a mirror for the bedroom as an alternative to a dressing table. In this model you can store not only cosmetics, but also bed linen, children's clothes, and toys. You should not choose a tall chest of drawers, as it does not fit well with low bedside tables, banquettes and poufs.

In the kitchen, a chest of drawers is rarely used, although such furniture can become an additional storage place for dishes and other kitchen utensils. The chest of drawers should have a durable, easy-to-clean and moisture-resistant coating. The same applies to bathroom models.

The chest of drawers fits perfectly into the corner of the room, where the closet either will not fit or will take up too much space. In this case, a fairly spacious and compact chest of drawers will be an excellent solution. You can choose a corner model that will fit perfectly into the corner of the room.

Important: if the chest of drawers is placed next to a doorway, make sure that the furniture will not interfere with the opening/closing of the door.

White chest of drawers in the bedroom

Scandinavian style has been a popular interior design trend for several seasons. It focuses on purity, transparency, and the main color is white . First of all, this style needs light, so when decorating a bedroom according to Scandinavian motifs, you should choose bright colors, preferably white. White walls should be insulated with natural, slightly whitewashed wood elements.

Wooden furniture, preferably also painted white, will go perfectly with light walls. White goes perfectly with the style of the bedroom, which then seems clean and calm. A bedroom furnished in this way will be an ideal place to relax after a long day.

A wonderful piece of furniture to complement your bedroom decor is the white chest of drawers , which looks stunning and brings a certain class and lightness to the interior. A chest of drawers for a bedroom, in addition to its decorative function, will also be an ideal console on which you can place decorative elements.

Style

Rococo - graceful curvilinear forms (curved walls and legs), rich decor, pastel shades. Material: valuable wood species, such as mahogany or oak.

Classic - strict symmetrical shapes, a minimum of decorative elements, restrained tones. Material – various types of wood, MDF, chipboard.

Modern is a combination of grace and simplicity. The color scheme is pastel. Material – various types of wood, MDF, chipboard in combination with metal, plastic and glass elements (corners, inserts).

Provence is reminiscent of Rococo style chests of drawers, but it is characterized by rougher forms and simpler decor. Unlike previous styles, chests of drawers are usually not varnished. Colors are pastel. Material: simple wood, such as pine or birch.

High-tech/minimalism – simple geometric shapes, lack of decor, black and light colors. Materials: metal, glass, plastic.

Classic chests of drawers for the bedroom

The classic style has two design options: restrained, simple lines that highlight the wood grain or curved shapes, richly decorated with sculptures, gilded, inlaid, with many decorative finishes.

These models are usually made of wood, are durable and massive, have curved edges and legs, convex sides, and may have bronze inserts, veneer and Japanese-style lacquered ornaments.
Wood is the first choice for classic models and the most used wood species are pine (soft, resistant to swelling, shrinkage and deformation, with a uniform texture), beech (reddish-white tones, light cream or gray, sensitive to insects, moisture and fungus ), alder (soft wood, white-reddish), poplar (uniform texture, light brown). You can also choose more expensive hardwood options: walnut (hard, dark, beautifully textured), oak (durable, light), bamboo (exotic-looking, very strong and durable), mahogany (fine-grained, reddish-brown, very durable) or cherry (reddish color, flexible, durable, special texture). There are convenient, inexpensive models made from MDF , made from soft wood fibers mixed with resins and wax, or the cheapest option, chipboard.
A chest of drawers is the most popular choice and is made from solid wood and has many spacious drawers that are often divided into clothing and accessory categories for storage and organization. Handles can be patinated with metal.

Color

The color of the chest of drawers, like its style, should be in harmony with the interior of the room. You can focus both on the color of nearby furniture and on the shades of the floor, ceiling, and walls. Products that are too light in most cases are discordant with the decor, while products that are too dark look bulky. An interesting option would be a chest of drawers that combines two different colors, made from two materials - MDF and chipboard.

Laminated chipboard imitates well the color of natural wood of almost any species. This allows you to find a model that suits a specific situation.

The chameleon chest of drawers looks very impressive - for it to change its color, just change the angle of view. This illusion is achieved by combining different varnishes. Chests of drawers with photo printing (reproductions of famous paintings, family photos) are also popular.

Equipment

Handles are made in different versions: from antique-style to ultra-modern “push-out” systems (opening occurs by lightly pressing the facade).

Legs – can be either adjustable or non-adjustable. Adjustable legs make the chest of drawers stable on uneven floors.

Doors can be hinged (traditional), sliding (similar to a wardrobe) or lift. In the latter case, the door first pulls out and then lifts up. Some models combine two types of doors, for example, lift and hinged.

Closer – ensures smooth closing of the drawer with little effort. It is important that the closer moves smoothly and does not cause a sharp collision of the drawer with the body, otherwise this may damage the product. A closer is simply necessary if there are small children in the family - it will prevent possible injury (pinching the baby's finger).

Stopper – prevents the drawer from accidentally falling out, which is important if there are small children in the house. On the other hand, practice shows that in wide chests of drawers such a lock makes it difficult to access small things at the back wall of the drawer. Also, when deciding whether a stopper is needed or not, consider the length of your arms.

Illumination makes it easier to use the chest of drawers in the dark: to find the right thing you do not need to turn on the light in the room. This function is found in models made in high-tech style.

Wall mounting – increases the stability of the chest of drawers. This fastening is important if there are children in the house who can hang or climb on the chest of drawers. Users note that some chests of drawers may become unstable if several drawers are opened at the same time. The disadvantage is the complexity of installation.

Important: if there is no such fastening, it is better to open the drawers one by one.

Types and features of book sofas

The peculiarity of a book sofa is that when unfolded, its backrest leans back, and the seat, moving slightly forward, falls back onto the frame, while the process itself resembles turning over the pages of a book. This is how it got its name. To unfold it, you need to make a minimum of effort and spend a few seconds of free time.

Photo: What a sofa book looks like (folded and unfolded)

The main advantages of these models should be added:

strength and reliability. This furniture has stood the test of time;
long service life of the transformation mechanism;
practicality. Models are upholstered in various textiles: leather, jacquard, chenille;
ergonomics. When folded, they take up little free space;
wide range of models;
affordable price.

As for the varieties, book sofas are equipped with: armrests, linen drawers, different types of mattresses and fillings.

With or without armrests

Products with armrests are classified as classic, while products without them are considered modern. Products without armrests (without sides) look more compact and are suitable for small rooms. Their advantages include:

ergonomics and compactness of the furniture item;
stylish and original appearance;
the ability to install soft ottomans or a coffee table on the sides of the sofa;
lower cost of the product.

When choosing a sofa without armrests, it is worth considering that if the furniture is used as a sleeping place, then the pillows will slide off it during sleep.

But, if there are small children in the family, it is better to choose furniture with soft armrests, as they are safer.

Armrests, in turn, can be wooden or soft. Wooden handrails have:

wear resistance and durability;
naturalness and environmental friendliness;
availability of additional space for a laptop, tablet or any other items;
ease of use.

Soft armrests are easier to care for. But they are pleasant to the touch, you can lean on them while watching a movie or having a friendly conversation.

With linen box (storage system) and without box

Most models of book sofas are equipped with additional linen drawers. They significantly increase the use process, since they have space for pillows, blankets, bedding sets and other things.

Some models are equipped with one spacious drawer, others with several. Also, laundry drawers, depending on the chosen furniture model, differ in size and depth.

Linen drawers in book sofas can only be accessed in the disassembled position of the furniture item. Although there are models that always have access to them.

With independent spring block, with Bonnell spring block, springless

All book sofas are complemented with different types of filling. They can be like on a spring block, i.e. with a spring mechanism and with a springless one:

Bonnell blocks are classic and use dependent springs of large diameters. Such products are distinguished by a medium degree of rigidity and a low orthopedic effect;
mattresses with independent springs promote complete relaxation of the muscles and spine. These products are practical, comfortable and durable;
springless mattresses. They come with PPU (polyurethane foam), or are filled with latex, coconut fiber, etc. They have a high degree of rigidity and belong to the economy class. Springless mattresses are not very durable, and when choosing, preference is given to models that use solid material.

You can often find products with combined fillers on sale. Such sofas can use a spring mattress, polyurethane foam, and coconut fiber at the same time. The composition can be very different. Therefore, before buying, you should sit on the sofa or several models you like in order to assess the degree of comfort and only then make a choice.

Narrow, wide

Which sofa to choose: large or compact is up to the buyer to decide. Here preference is given to more convenient and practical models. Also, when choosing a narrow or wide sofa, the area of the room where it is installed is taken into account. For small rooms, you should limit yourself to more compact narrow models, while large and wide products look beautiful in spacious living rooms or bedrooms.

Fabric, leather, with combined finishing

The upholstery is selected depending on the stylistic direction of the room and the personal preferences of the buyers. The main thing is that the product is easy to use and maintain. The following upholstery materials are considered the most popular:

jacquard. Refers to semi-natural fabrics with high technical characteristics. It is quite dense, wear-resistant and resistant to negative factors. This fabric is available in a wide variety of colors, textures and patterns;
velours. It has a soft and delicate surface. Its composition is dominated by natural and synthetic fibers that are resistant to deformation and fading under direct sunlight. Velor is easy to clean, retains its bright colors for a long time, and does not lose its original qualities;
flock Imitates velvet or suede. It is soft, wear-resistant and easy to care for. This is ideal if there are pets in the house;
chenille Hypoallergenic and abrasion-resistant material with a fleecy structure. Does not absorb odors, easy to clean.
eco leather. New generation material that looks like genuine leather. It is characterized by moisture resistance, elasticity, and resistance to mechanical damage.

On a metal frame and wooden

Metal products are more wear-resistant and can withstand heavy loads. Although most consumers prefer wooden frames made from pine, beech, plywood, and chipboard. Products made from chipboard and pine are a budget option. It is unlikely to please consumers with a long service life. In the middle price category there are models whose frame is made of plywood or beech

Its service life directly depends on the strength of the sofa frame.

Photo: Operating principle of the book-sofa transformation mechanism
The book-sofa is equipped with a unique transformation mechanism that provides a flat sleeping place. There are two types of layout:

The classic version (see photo above) is equipped with an extremely simple mechanism. It has only two moving parts - a back and a seat. To unfold the furniture, you need to lift the seat up and lower the back onto the frame. The seat rises until a click is heard. Then it goes down, forming a sleeping place;
Roll-out book. The sofa is convenient because it does not need to be moved away from the wall. It is enough to slightly push the mechanism forward and unfold it according to a similar principle as described above.

Photo: Roll-out sofa book

A classic sofa book should not be placed close to the wall, since when unfolding it you will have to move it away each time.

Adviсe

First of all, the chest of drawers must be safe for health, which is confirmed by a quality certificate.
The chest of drawers must have detailed assembly instructions.
The surface and walls of the chest of drawers must be smooth and free of defects. Avoid purchasing furniture with cracks or chips.
You need to make sure there are no defects in the model. Check the reliability of connections and retractable mechanisms.
It is worth checking the convenience and quality of the fittings (handles, hinges, drawer guides) and locks, if any. It is better to choose more expensive metal fittings (aluminum or steel) than cheap and unreliable plastic ones.
The optimal thickness of the material from which the case is made is 18 mm.
The thickness of the back wall of the chest of drawers must be at least 6 mm, otherwise it may become deformed from impacts from the drawer during intensive use of the model. If the wall is poorly secured, then this model is not worth purchasing. Some models do not have a back wall at all - they are not suitable for zoning a room.

To make the chest of drawers last a long time, you should follow several recommendations:

filling the chest of drawers must be done from the lower shelves and drawers - this will more evenly distribute the load on the product;
regularly check the quality of work and reliability of retractable mechanisms;
provide the chest of drawers with normal temperature conditions without sudden changes;
periodically carry out dry and wet cleaning;
do not overload the boxes, otherwise their bottom may not hold up;
To protect the top of the chest of drawers from harmful influences (moisture, hot drinks, etc.), it is worth purchasing protective glass.

Types of chests of drawers

There are four main types of these furniture elements.

Wall-mounted, as the name implies, are located near the walls. The most common option. The back wall is usually made of simple material that is not particularly attractive. Most often, such chests of drawers do not have wheeled casters, since the need for movement arises quite rarely.
Suspended, in fact, are a subtype of wall-mounted. The only difference is the placement method. They can be placed on special wall supports; in addition, there are no obstacles to placement in a conventional floor format. To do this, just purchase the legs and screw them to the bottom edge of the chest of drawers.
Islanders are more mobile. Their back walls are made of the same material as the facade, so they can be installed in any part of the room or in any position without compromising the overall appearance of the room. Often, rollers with stoppers act as supports, ensuring the mobility and stability of the chest of drawers.
Add-on units are supplied complete with other pieces of furniture, for example a sofa or armchair. They are specially designed to fit perfectly into the overall design of the room.

Accordingly, when choosing a chest of drawers, you should keep in mind the characteristics of the room and the intended layout. A chest of drawers for the living room in Kirov can be viewed here, and various options for chests of drawers for the bedroom can be found in this section of the site.