Chest of drawers in the living room interior: types, features, selection rules, photos

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.

Which mattress to choose?

In fact, weight is the last thing you should pay attention to when choosing. The main parameters are the length and width of the mattress. They must exactly match the dimensions of the bed.

The length should be at least 15 centimeters greater than your height. Width – the larger, the more comfortable. It will be comfortable for one person to sleep on a 90-centimeter mattress, or maybe even on a 120-centimeter - single-size mattress. For two people, it is better to choose double mattresses with a width of 160-180 or even 200 centimeters.

Carefully measure the dimensions of your bed, then you will definitely not go wrong with your choice. And take care of transporting the mattress in advance or order home delivery from the store, ask the loader to bring it directly into the bedroom - and how much the mattress weighs will no longer matter. The main thing is your healthy, sound sleep!

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:

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

What are the advantages of chests of drawers?

First of all, it is worth noting the versatility of the chest of drawers. It acts as a closet, only its dimensions are much smaller. In addition, there are chests of drawers with a mirror on sale. Such furniture can replace a dressing table. The chest of drawers has several drawers, so it is possible to arrange things separately.

Many buyers prefer this furniture precisely because of its compact size. A chest of drawers cannot be called bulky, so more and more buyers prefer to buy this furniture. And the most important thing is that you can put a lot of different trinkets or, for example, a TV on the chest of drawers. It would not be amiss to note the attractive appearance of the chests of drawers. Such furniture will be an excellent decoration for any room.

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.

What are chests of drawers made from?

Various materials can be used in the production of chests of drawers. However, in most cases wood is used for these purposes. This material is natural and environmentally friendly. Carvings and various patterns are used as decoration for chests of drawers. In addition, the chests of drawers have excellent fittings and beautiful front inserts.

If we talk about cheaper chests of drawers, they are made of MDF or chipboard. In terms of external characteristics, such products resemble wooden ones. Furniture made from MDF withstands exposure to external factors much better. But chests of drawers made of chipboard are often laminated or finished with veneer. Laminate furniture is available in a wide range of color shades. Such products can easily withstand high humidity and mechanical stress. Dressers finished with veneer look like wood products.

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.

Chest of drawers - history, design features, selection tips.

"Commode" is translated from French as "comfortable."

During the Soviet period, there was a time when chests of drawers, which made it possible to maintain order in a room and provide space for countless things, both small and large, embodied a symbol of philistinism, and their production was very limited in Soviet industry. However, now this piece of furniture, which combines a lot of conveniences, is again returning to the interiors of our homes, calmly and obediently solving new problems demanded by the time.

But what makes a chest of drawers so thoughtful in terms of useful use of every centimeter it occupies in your room? Definitely thanks to the boxes.

A classic chest of drawers is a piece of furniture, the design of which consists of several drawers located on top of each other. A similar definition can be found in the “Russian Language Dictionary” by S.I. Ozhegov. Meanwhile, now chests of drawers are often called furniture items that have additional hinged or sliding doors. And yet, the “type” of a chest of drawers is determined precisely by the presence of drawers. In addition to them, the chest of drawers is equipped with a tabletop, legs or base, and fittings.

There are miniature chests of drawers, similar to bedside tables, and bulky ones, like a small bookcase.

The advantage of drawers over niches and shelves is that the former move forward, so regardless of their depth, objects or things stored even in the most distant corner are always accessible. In addition, drawers can be used to store a variety of items - from bedding to all kinds of small trinkets. It is unlikely that you will be able to fill a closet shelf like this. Its contents will definitely fall out constantly, every time you open the door. This won't happen with dresser drawers. Everything you put in them will stay in its place. Linen and clothes are usually stored in boxes 15-25 cm high, and small items in boxes 7-15 cm high.

It matters how the drawers slide out. There are models of chests of drawers in which the drawer can fall out freely - as soon as you almost calculate the force and pull it out very sharply, which is completely inconvenient, especially if it contains a lot of small items. You will have to spend a lot of time collecting items that have scattered on the floor and putting them back in place. Other drawers have special limiters; they are designed to prevent the drawers from simply falling out of the chest of drawers. However, such drawers have the exact opposite drawback: they often extend only 2/3, sometimes 4/5, in which case things that are located at the back wall of such a drawer are sometimes difficult to reach. Silent cabinet furniture is now gaining popularity. This effect is ensured by the use of carefully thought-out fittings. Without the slightest effort, you can roll out the drawers, silently sliding along the guides until they are fully extended. The drawer closes just as smoothly, without warping or shaking (even with uneven load on its sides), slides inward, and when its front surface is approximately 2 cm from the body, it instantly slows down and silently fits close to the body.

A chest of drawers often comes complete with bedroom and some dining sets, as well as sets for an office or living room. However, it can also be sold separately. It is important that the chest of drawers fits harmoniously into the existing interior; to do this, consult with the seller: specify what style your home is decorated in, what size chest of drawers you need and in what color. It will also be useful to inform you about what you would like to store in it - you may need to provide reinforcement to the bottoms of the drawers and slides designed to allow them to slide, if necessary. Typically, manufacturers make chests of drawers of certain standard models, but you can choose the color scheme as you wish. Almost any company will be able to offer three or four color options, but there are companies that have a much larger assortment.

The chest of drawers is suitable for any room - hallway, bedroom, living room, kitchen or children's room. In the hallway it will be convenient for storing, for example, shoes in its lower drawers, umbrellas, hats, gloves, keys in its upper drawers, and you can attach a mirror above the tabletop. A chest of drawers in the bedroom can be used to store bedding, small items, etc. For example, in a drawer whose size is 90x60 cm and height is 24 cm, you can easily fit two pillows, a sheet and a blanket. Chests of drawers often contain various types of clothing: sweaters (in deep drawers), blouses, socks, handkerchiefs, knitwear, etc. (in shallow drawers).

By “distributing responsibilities” between the pull-out sections of the chest of drawers located in the living room, you can store CDs, video cassettes, etc. in them.

Chests of drawers located in living rooms are often used to store home curiosities, jewelry, letters, etc. And on the tabletop there can be flowers in a beautiful decorative flower pot or a TV.

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;

  • 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.

Structure of a modern chest of drawers

Having decided to buy a chest of drawers, you need to decide on its location. The classic models of this piece of furniture are most often represented by the presence of four drawers equipped with a sliding mechanism, as well as a tabletop, which is convenient as a stand for decorative elements.

There are other models of chests of drawers, for example, those equipped with decorative doors that hide drawers. There are designs of chests of drawers where there is no top drawer, and the space between the second drawer and the countertop serves as a shelf.

Chests of drawers equipped with mirrors have tightly occupied the furnishing niche in bedroom interiors. Classic chests of drawers are often used to decorate living rooms.

When decorating an apartment in the high-tech style, you need to pay attention to the simple design of this piece of furniture, but with a bright and catchy color.

If the chest of drawers is chosen correctly, it will not only perfectly highlight the interior, but can become an indispensable assistant in storing things.

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:

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

Each piece of furniture performs its irreplaceable function. “You can argue with that,” you thought? Yes, things can be stored in a closet, or cabinet, or chest of drawers. The chest of drawers is preferable for those who:

  • no large living space;
  • there are a lot of things and they need to be put in separate boxes;
  • I need to hide my things and buy a bedside table.


The item will be appropriate in any room: it can be placed in the bedroom, bathroom, hallway, nursery, hall and even kitchen.
All this is combined in a chest of drawers. It is compact, has pull-out shelves or doors (depending on the configuration), and allows the top to be used as a cabinet to place everything you need at hand.


If the unity of style is maintained, the chest of drawers will only decorate the interior.

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.

Design ideas for a chest of drawers in a living room interior

The design and equipment of modern models allows consumers to use this piece of furniture as functionally as possible. Inside it there may well be a grid for storing bottles or a drawer for utensils, which will allow it to fit perfectly into the interior of the dining room, living room, or kitchen.

Connoisseurs of antiques will appreciate models made by modern craftsmen based on ancient sketches while preserving the basic elements of the classics, such as carvings. Such a chest of drawers is not just a necessary piece of furniture, but a real decorative addition to the living room.

If you want to add sophistication to your living room interior, opt for a small chest of drawers with mother-of-pearl splashes in the Moroccan style. A strict color scheme and hand-painted design will make it the main element of the decor.

For lovers of Chinese and Japanese cultures, today you can find a model with dark varnish, decorated with bamboo and the finest painting. The choice of colors will also pleasantly surprise you; there are both familiar classic colors and “extreme” colors.

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.

Color solutions for a chest of drawers in the living room interior

The color scheme is a characteristic with which you can always experiment. The right color scheme will help make the chest of drawers a bright element of the living room interior. More restrained colors will add austerity to the atmosphere.

Dark severity.

A dark chest of drawers in the living room interior is a reflection of style and rigor. It will fit well into any interior style. Often, dark wood is used to make a chest of drawers for a living room interior in a classic style. Wenge color is very popular today.

Delicate pastel.

Furniture made in pastel colors visually expands the space and fits perfectly into the interior of a small living room with poor lighting. Such shades tend to diffuse light.

White color.

A white chest of drawers in the living room interior will give the room a special charm. It will ideally reflect the style of modern interiors, such as modern or high-tech. Neutral white color will fit well into the space of a small room without cluttering it up.

The walls of the living room should be in a different color, perhaps even contrasting with white.

Bright colors.

A chest of drawers in a living room interior in a modern style with light walls can be made in bright contrasting colors (orange, blue, lemon). This bold accent will add freshness and mood to the room design. Just don't go overboard with bright colors in small spaces.

No. 9. What else is important to consider when choosing a chest of drawers for your bedroom?

A chest of drawers is one of those items that is bought for a fairly long period of use, so every little detail must be taken into account when purchasing:

  • The back wall of the dresser should be thick enough to support the weight of all your items. Its thickness should not be less than 6 mm, and better - much more;
  • Before payment, you should check the completeness of the accessories;
  • all doors and drawers should open softly and easily;
  • don’t be lazy to measure the basic parameters several times so that the chest of drawers actually fits in the space allotted to it.

And, most importantly, it is better to have a good idea in advance of what kind of chest of drawers you want to buy, otherwise the huge variety may confuse you.

Tags:Bedroom

How to choose a modern chest of drawers for the living room

To choose a suitable product, it is customary to focus on the following parameters: the desired size of the model and its individual sections, the cost of the item and its purpose.

First of all, decide how much you are willing to buy a modern chest of drawers for your living room.

If you have a sufficient financial component, it is advisable to purchase a product made of natural wood. The wooden chest of drawers looks solid and smells nice. Its design does not interfere with air circulation inside the item. The main thing is that it fits into the design style of the living room. If there are any doubts when choosing a suitable model, then you should be guided by general criteria that greatly simplify the selection procedure:

  • Consider models only from a well-known, trusted manufacturer. Remember that Italian chests of drawers are considered to be of the highest quality.
  • Make sure that the material from which the furniture is made is environmentally friendly.
  • Choose a beautiful chest of drawers that matches the overall style of the living room.
  • The model must be functional and roomy.
  • The furniture should be comfortable to use.

Currently, modern chests of drawers for the living room made in Italy are especially popular. Despite their higher cost, they do not lose their leading position, which is due to their high quality and long service life. Products made in Portugal have similar characteristics. They are characterized by the use of environmentally friendly materials, modern design and original shapes.

There are many products from Russian manufacturers on the domestic market. An affordable price and a wide range allow it to compete in our market with foreign analogues. A large selection of models from various materials makes it possible to choose the appropriate furniture option for any interior.

Features of chests of drawers made of various materials

Solid wood

For the rich.

Advantages:

  1. Natural and environmentally friendly material.
  2. Long service life.
  3. Unique appearance.
  4. Relevance at all times. Wood never goes out of style.
  5. Evidence of wealth and high social status of the owner.

Flaws:

  1. Difficulty of care. This is explained by the capriciousness of the material, the fear of both moisture and excessive dryness.
  2. High price. Not every representative of even the middle class can afford such furniture.
  3. Heavy weight. If it falls, a small child could be crushed. There are effective ways to prevent this from happening. About them below.

Chipboard

For rented housing and cottages.

Advantages:

  1. Different colors.
  2. Very low cost.

Flaws:

  1. Not long service life. Of course, it will last for several years, then you will have to buy a new one.
  2. Low quality even if all manufacturing standards are observed.

MDF

For people with average income and less.

Advantages:

  1. Not expensive.
  2. Many colors.
  3. Greater environmental safety than chipboard.

Flaws:

  1. The quality, although not the worst, is still lower than that of chests of drawers made from other materials.

Plastic

For moderately wealthy citizens.

Advantages:

  • Reasonable price. She is not extremely low, but not high either.
  • A wealth of colors and textures.
  • The ability of plastic to imitate wood and some other materials.
  • Light weight. Plastic chests of drawers are the lightest.
  • Good moisture tolerance.
  • Ease of care.

Flaws:

  1. Not high strength.
  2. Fear of high temperatures. Do not place near heating devices.
  3. Easily scratched.

Strained glass

For the middle class and rich.

Advantages:

  1. It withstands even significant mechanical loads well.
  2. Not afraid of moisture and high temperatures.
  3. Durability.
  4. Almost impossible to scratch.
  5. Resistant to corrosion and rot.

Flaws:

  1. Transparency. Everything inside is visible.
  2. The price, although lower than that of solid wood furniture, is still high.
  3. Does not withstand strong shock loads and may crack.
  4. Considerable weight.

There are also combined options made from several materials. In this case, the advantages and disadvantages of each of them should be taken into account.

Types of chests of drawers

To begin with, it’s worth getting your bearings among the colossal variety of chests of drawers. Each country and era preferred its own shapes and decor, for example, in Victorian England, chests of drawers were decorated with white varnish and carvings in the form of a garland, the French created very narrow and compact chests of drawers, and in America painted panels and carved legs were popular.

Modern chests of drawers differ primarily in configuration and size. For example, the smallest model is a chest of drawers with two drawers. At your service are both wide and low oriental-style cabinets and miniature bookcases for small rooms, which often serve as TV stands or even poufs. Very often, such chests of drawers do not have drawers, only open shelves, on which decorative baskets for small items look very impressive.

Memo: it is very important to correctly determine the dimensions, so immediately determine the clear dimensions of the space allocated for the chest of drawers. When purchasing, be sure to measure the distance from the back wall to the edge of the extended drawer or open door. It should be smaller than the space originally allocated for the chest of drawers.

The most common and popular model are chests of drawers with three or four drawers. Such models are roomy and functional and, depending on the decor, can be suitable for absolutely any room and interior style. Do you want such a chest of drawers to attract attention in the room? Create a thoughtful decorative composition on the top shelf: place a lamp, a beautiful vase or figurine, complement them with a painting or family photos in interesting frames.

A tall chest of drawers with five sections can easily replace a full-fledged closet in terms of capacity, but it may look too bulky. To brighten up this impression, it is better to give preference to a narrow model of a chest of drawers with five drawers, which will look more elegant and can visually increase the height of the ceiling.

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