With so many styles and trends on quick rotation, preserving all our outfits and accessories is important. If your closet provides limited storage and organization options, investing in an armoire or a chest might be exactly what you need. From art deco to minimalistic styles, armoires and chests come in various styles and design features that will bring function and style to any bedroom. Continue reading to learn how to choose the right armoire and chest to complete your bedroom look.
Originating from the Latin word armarium, meaning a place to store things, it first took the form of a simple bookcase to hold tools, weapons, and armor. Now armoires have come a long way. Modern-day armoires have become taller and narrower and are often outfitted with drawers and doors that provide extra storage in a discreet way.
Types of Armoires
If you are looking for a timeless piece of furniture that adds charm or a luxurious feel to your room, an armoire may be right for you. Depending on the style and design of the armoire, they typically feature doors, hanging rod, shelves, and drawers. Here are the two common types of armoires:
Wardrobe Armoire
Wardrobe armoires are usually built with one to two doors with either shelves, drawers, or both. Sometimes they offer a hanging rod, shelves, and drawers.
If you’re itching to showcase your organizational skills, open wardrobe armoires may be perfect for you. This open-concept armoire doesn’t have any doors and are crafted with all different types of materials, from wood to metal to plastic. For a more closed-concept option, consider wardrobe chest armoires which usually has a door to hide your hanging garments, while the other side is designed with a stack of drawers.
Media Armoire
Media armoires, as the name implies, is originally designed to house the TV, cables, and other tech devices. But these storage pieces can be used for safekeeping anything, including clothes. You can find computer armoires or larger television armoires to keep all your gadgets discreetly out of sight behind closed doors.
What Is a Chest?
A chest of drawers is a narrower and taller type of dresser with visibly stacked drawers. The difference between the two is that a dresser is typically low and wide, making it ideal to place a mirror on top of it that can help you get dressed (hence the name), while a chest optimizes floor space with its compact form and taller stature.
Chests are excellent in smaller rooms or as an add-on to overflowing closets and dressers. If you’re looking for storage, but don’t want something as bulky as an armoire or dresser, a chest of drawers is an excellent compromise. Here are a few different common types to consider:
Standard Chest
Also known as a vertical chest, a standard chest is an ideal alternative to a dresser for those looking to fill a narrow space. Regarding designs, some chests offer deeper drawers for bulkier clothing, while some are constructed with a combination of shallow and deep drawers to accommodate various items. There is a wide selection of chest styles, ranging from traditional to contemporary, glam, rustic, and more.
Lingerie Chest
A lingerie chest is skinnier and taller than the standard chest. It is the perfect furniture piece to help sort smaller items, such as undergarments and bathing suits, jewelry, hair and skin products, hats, or small purses. Lingerie chests are sometimes placed inside large closets to enhance organization with its drawers.
Gentleman’s Chest
A gentleman’s chest can vary by design, but typically they feature a combination of a tall cabinet section, traditionally used to hang suit pants and jackets, as well as drawers of varying sizes. The deep drawers are commonly used to house shirts, while shallow drawers are for ties, dress socks, and belts.
Tips for Choosing the Right Armoire or Chest
Proper measurements of your space are key to choosing the best armoire, chest, or both for your room. You’ll want to select one that not only fits into the available area but also offers ample space for your clothing and other belongings. Start by measuring the wall your furniture will be placed against, then consider these additional factors.
Height
Since armoires and chests tend to be taller, take extra care with measurements when it comes to rooms with low ceilings. To avoid scraping any wallpaper or paint, you want to ensure that wherever you place your furniture, it will leave room between itself and the ceiling.
Width
When considering the width of your armoire or chest, take into account the location and spacing between doors, windows, baseboards, outlets, and other wall fixtures to avoid blocking anything. You also want to ensure that the size of your furniture fits harmoniously with your other furniture.
Depth
If there is other furniture placed against the same wall where you’ll be placing your armoire or chest, we recommend measuring their depths to make sure your new investment will look proportionate. And because your body is already in tune with how far your other furniture sticks out from the wall, choosing your new furniture with the same depth will reduce the risk of stubbed toes and tripping. If the armoire or chest of drawers will stand alone, ensure there’s enough clearance for you to walk between it and other pieces. The new addition should complement the flow of the room.
Safety Consideration
Because of their sturdy nature, armoires and chests tend to be fairly heavy. When moving or installing your new piece, make sure to ask for help and never do it alone. For extra safety, consider anchoring your armoire or chests to the wall to prevent it tipping over — especially for homes with small kids.
Make a Statement With Furniture.com
The right armoire and chest will add visual interest and organization to your room. At furniture.com, you can browse armoires and chests by sizes, styles, and more.