Chests of drawers in a modern interior: their purpose, types, placement tips
Content:
- Purpose of a chest of drawers in modern design
- Types of chests of drawers
- Placing chests of drawers in different rooms
- How to decorate a chest of drawers
A chest of drawers is a fashionable and functional piece of furniture that allows you to solve several problems at once. The design with a tabletop and several drawers serves as a place to store things, decorates the home, and plays the role of a bright accent, complementing the style of the room. The variety of shapes, designs, and materials used to make chests of drawers allows them to fit harmoniously into any interior. To successfully choose and correctly place a chest of drawers in the interior, it is worth learning more about this furniture.
Purpose of a chest of drawers in modern design
The main purpose of the chest of drawers is to store clothes, bedding, toys, and accessories. Since such furniture is equipped with quite spacious sections, it can hide a lot of things from prying eyes. On the top shelf, which also serves as a tabletop, people usually put various small things: keys, mail. Also, many families decorate the top shelf with decorative elements - figurines, vases and family photographs, and a nice table lamp will look great on it.
The ancestor of the modern chest of drawers is the ordinary chest. The transformation of a rough chest into such an exquisite piece of furniture as a chest of drawers took a long time. At first it grew a little in height, then it acquired legs that served as supports, and over time, instead of the top lid, through which it was inconvenient to get the contents out, neat drawers appeared. In the 17th-18th centuries, the chest of drawers, which became a symbol of prestige, adorned the most luxurious houses in Europe, and expensive types of wood and gilded decor were used for its manufacture.
Today, a chest of drawers is a beautiful and useful piece of furniture that looks appropriate both in a spacious room and in a modest small apartment. Most dresser models are equipped with several drawers and shelves, and sometimes mirrors. For newborns and their mothers, such a convenient design has appeared as a changing chest, combining the functions of a cabinet for baby supplies and a changing table. Modern chests of drawers are distinguished by their convenient shape, pleasant design, and compactness - it is no coincidence that people often abandon large bulky cabinets in favor of chests of drawers.
Varieties of chests of drawers
A classic chest of drawers consists of several elements: a table top, internal sections and legs. However, design ideas do not stand still, and now customers are offered a huge assortment of chests of drawers, differing in several criteria.
Designs of chests of drawers
Depending on the design features, chests of drawers are divided into several types:
- Chest of drawers. It is a cabinet with pull-out systems arranged in several tiers. Convenient boxes are installed on these systems, each of which is equipped with a separate handle. In height, such furniture can be either squat or tall.
- Combined model. Combined chests of drawers are equipped not only with drawers, but also with hinged doors located on the sides. Each door hides one or more shelves.
- Chest of drawers with niches. Such products, popular in the 19th and 20th centuries, are now back in fashion. This option is suitable for those cases when you want to put some things on public display by placing them on open shelves.
- Chest of drawers with folding board. Buying such a model would be a good idea if there is no space in the room for an ironing board - the folding tabletop is convenient for ironing things. When folded, the structure takes up minimal space and does not interfere with passage.
Dressers also differ depending on the installation method - they can be stationary, mobile, or hanging. If you want to place a chest of drawers in the center of the room, you should pay attention to the island model with doors that open on both sides.
A wall-mounted chest of drawers is suitable for a small apartment, but since its façade looks unpresentable, it will not be possible to place such a structure in the middle of the room. Display chests with a transparent wall, reminiscent of a sideboard, also look great in the interior - most often they store dishes for festive serving.
Material of manufacture
The cost and performance characteristics of a chest of drawers are largely determined by the material used. The assortment of modern stores is represented by chests of drawers consisting of the following materials:
- MDF. Products made from MFO boards are durable, environmentally friendly, and resistant to moisture, mildew and mold. But high temperatures will not benefit the furniture; it is better not to place it near radiators.
- Natural solid wood. Wooden chests of drawers look noble and solid, have a unique structure and natural pattern, smell pleasant, and last a long time. Another important plus is absolute environmental friendliness. True, wood is afraid of moisture, but thanks to the application of waterproofing impregnation and protective film, this disadvantage is leveled out. The range of prices in this category of chests of drawers is very wide: the buyer can choose an inexpensive design made from local wood species - aspen, pine, or give preference to exclusive exotic ones.
- Glass, mirror, metal. Chests of drawers with mirror, glass, and metal inserts are more likely to be designer furniture. If you want to create a spectacular, stylish and original interior, this is what you need.
- Artificial stone. Dressers made from a façade that imitates natural stone are very strong, durable, and affordable. Due to the absence of pores, the surface of the chest of drawers is resistant to moisture and temperature changes are also not a problem for it.
The most inexpensive segment is chests of drawers made of chipboard. Such products look simple, but modern - a good option if you don’t want to invest tens of thousands in furniture. However, the environmental friendliness of the material leaves much to be desired: in the production of furniture from chipboard, components containing harmful formaldehyde are often used.
Colors of chests of drawers
A modern interior is considered complete only if the colors are combined. The shade of the chest of drawers should be in harmony with the overall color scheme: shades of the walls, floors, and other furnishings.
Although chests of drawers successfully cope with the role of an accent in the interior, they are rarely too bright. Traditional colors for a chest of drawers that are purchased for a study are black, dark cherry, brown and other dark tones. White, beige, and silver furniture will fit perfectly into the bedroom and living room decor, where excessive severity is not needed. For a children's room, you can purchase a brighter chest of drawers or a model whose façade is decorated with a funny pattern.
Placing chests of drawers in different rooms
A chest of drawers is one of the few furniture elements that are appropriate in any room. The functional purpose of the chest of drawers can vary significantly depending on the installation location. Here are examples of placing a chest of drawers in the interiors of different rooms.
Living room
Since the living room is the heart of the home, it needs a solid and presentable chest of drawers. In the living room, this piece of furniture can combine the functions of storage space, coffee table, drink coaster and cute accessories. You can place it along the wall, next to the sofa, in a special niche. In a spacious room, a chest of drawers will help to delimit functional areas. If there will be an aquarium, TV or other heavy objects on the tabletop, it is advisable to additionally strengthen it with a lid made of impact-resistant glass.
Bedroom
In the bedroom, chests of drawers are often combined with large mirrors, and sometimes shelves for cosmetics - the result is something like a dressing table. To make the furniture more convenient to use, it is worth equipping it with local lighting placed outside or inside the drawers.
A low chest of drawers can easily turn into a bedside ottoman - just buy a seat cushion of a suitable size. And the chest of drawers is quite capable of serving as the head of the bed - to do this you will have to attach it to the front wall.
Children's room
For a child's room you need a chest of drawers made of environmentally friendly material that can be easily cleaned of drawings and other artwork. To prevent your child from accidentally knocking over compact furniture, it is better to purchase a product that is attached to the wall. The height of the chest of drawers should be small so that small family members can use the furniture without assistance.
Kitchen
The optimal choice for the kitchen is a shallow high chest of drawers that can replace a traditional sideboard. Tablecloths, towels and everyday dishes can be stored in closed drawers; tea sets, expensive cutlery, drinks, and cute trinkets can be stored on open or glass shelves. The surface of the chest of drawers must be waterproofed, otherwise it will quickly lose its appearance due to humidity and elevated temperatures.
Bathroom
In the bathroom, the chest of drawers can be combined with the sink. Internal filling can include household chemicals, personal care items, and bathrobes. There are also chest of drawers with a compartment for a washing machine, equipped with sliding doors.
Hallway
A chest of drawers installed along the hallway wall will become a storage place for bags, umbrellas and shoes, a compact bench, and a stand for things brought from the street. You can place a vase or a decorative basket on the top of the chest of drawers - these accessories are traditionally considered symbols of hospitality. An ideal addition would be a large mirror, a beautiful sconce or a panel placed on the wall above the chest of drawers.
How to decorate a chest of drawers
Decorating a chest of drawers is a process that leaves room for the implementation of creative ideas. For example, you can experiment with finishing by painting the legs or parts of the drawers in contrasting shades. To liven up the interior, you should place pots with live plants, artificial ikebana, and travel souvenirs on the top shelf of the chest of drawers. The main thing is that the decorative elements match each other in color and fit into the overall style. An excellent solution would be to place an aquarium on the chest of drawers, but in this case you will have to abandon other decorative items.
In order not to overload the decor, some accessories - watches, mirrors, paintings, a collage of family photos - can not be placed on the chest of drawers, but hung above it. And don't underestimate the importance of fittings. It is enough to decorate the chest of drawers with new original handles made of glass or ceramics - and the interior composition will sparkle.
The online store Garga Decor sells designer chests of drawers, each of which resembles a work of art. High-quality materials were used in their manufacture: wood, MDF, polished steel, natural and artificial marble. Luxurious shapes, noble colors, exquisite finishes – Garda Decor products are made in the best traditions of luxury furniture design. The store's consultants will help you choose a model that is ideal for your interior.