Use a chest of drawers in any room of your home.

If ever there was a multi-purpose piece of furniture, it's a chest of drawers. A chest of drawers can be tall and narrow with many drawers one on top of the other or short and wide with drawers side by side. It can be small enough to serve as a nightstand or large enough to hold an entire season's worth of clothing.

 Versatility

While you can't hang clothes or install a television in a dresser, it's almost as versatile as a closet. A dresser can serve as a decorative piece or provide plenty of extra storage space where you need it. Outside, it's an interesting piece that takes up a large wall. Inside, it's a great storage space.

Whether the chest has two drawers or 15, whether decorative or utilitarian, drawers can hold (or hide) a multitude of small household items, giving youa cleaner, more organized space. But more than just drawers are useful. The top of a tall, large chest is a great place to display plants, photos and baskets. The top of a short chest is ideal for lamps, candles, books, TVs or a flower display.

When buying a chest, think about your entire decorating scheme. If you like the country style, look at a simple oak chest. If your style is more formal, you might consider a beautiful antique reproduction piece. For a contemporary interior, a simple piece with clean, sleek lines will enhance your home.

Regardless of the style or size you choose, remember that you will have the dresser for a long time and use it in many places. Choose wisely and it will serve you well.

A dresser works in every room. These are just a few of the ways this super versatile piece of furniture can impact your home.

In the bedroom

• Chest of drawers were originally made for storing clothes, and a bedroom is a logical place to find one. Small items of clothing naturally find a useful home here.
• A low, low chest and low chest with two drawers works well for a nightstand with books and personal items. Place a lamp on top to shed a little extra light on your nighttime reading.
• If you have a large walk-in closet in the bedroom, place a chest of drawers inside the closet and store small things there, out of sight. If the ceiling is high and/or the chest is short, you can still hang things over the chest.

In a child's room or nursery

• If you're looking for a good way to organize your child's space, the dresser is ideal. Use one drawer to store books, one for puzzles, one for art supplies and one for other small items. When there's a place for everything, the room will stay neater while keeping toys handy for when needed.
• Place a small chest in your child's closet to help free up more floor space in the room. Store small clothes in the drawers and hang items above on the clothes rail.
• A dresser with a pad and surrounded by a frame can do double duty as a changing table and storage chest. Diapers, wipes, clothes and miscellaneous items are convenient in the drawers below.

In the living room or family room

• A small waist-high dresser serves as a side table next to the seating. The top offers more space than a traditional table and the drawers provide storage for everything you don't want to find in the sofa cushions.
• A tall or low chest is perfect for a family room to store exercise equipment, puzzles, games, art supplies or books.

In the dining room

• A long, low chest can take the place of a sideboard. Use the top for serving and storing placemats, napkins, tablecloths and trays in the drawers.
• A smaller chest provides a place to arrange a tea service, floral arrangements or seasonal decor. Drawers are a perfect place to store silverware and other items.

In a hall or in the mud

• A chest of drawers is the perfect small piece of furniture for a large foyer. Add a small side chair to the side. Use the chest drawers to hold gloves, scarves, keys and mail.
• A small chest at the entrance is perfect for corralling hats, mittens, coupons, shopping lists and mail.
• With a low dresser, each family member can have his or her own drawer to collect papers, hats, supplies, tools and chores. A decorative basket or box on top holds mail and notes.

 

In a guest room

• Any guests in yourhome will be grateful if you have a place to store their personal belongings. Reserve one or two drawers for occasional use, but use the other drawers for items you will use from time to time.
• This is also a great place to store gift wrap supplies, ribbon pins, labels, scissors, pens and tape.
• Hobby supplies can find a home in an underused guest room. A dresser holds painting supplies, sewing notions, fabrics or scrapbooking items. When guests arrive, simply slide them into the drawer.