What is the Difference Between Chest of Drawers and Dresser

The main difference between chest of drawers and dresser is that the chest of drawers do not have a mirror attached whereas dressers have mirrors.

Dressers and chests of drawers are two pieces of furniture we usually see in many bedrooms. As mentioned above, the main difference between chest of drawers and dresser is the presence of a mirror. Chests of drawers are only used for storage while dressers are multifunctional since dressers have space for a mirror.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Chest of Drawers 
     – Definition, Use
2. What is a Dresser
     – Definition, Use
3. What is the Difference Between Chest of Drawers and Dresser
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Chest of Drawers, Dresser

What is a Chest of Drawers

A chest of drawers is a piece of furniture that has an upright frame into which drawers are fitted. These are usually used for storage. A chest of drawers usually come with three, four or six drawers. We can use these drawers to store clothing, lingerie, bed linen, table linen, etc.

Chests of drawers come in different designs and shapes. You can choose a one that suits you based on your specific needs – what do you plan to store in it, how much space do you have in the room, etc. In modern houses, chests of drawers can not only be seen in the bedroom, but also in the living room. In the living room, the top of the chest of drawers is usually used to place decorative items such as candles, figurines and plant tops.

What is a Dresser

A dresser is a bureau, usually surmounted by a mirror, in front of which a person can sit while dressing and applying makeup. They usually have multiple parallel and horizontal drawers stacked one above another. Moreover, they usually reach a waist height and has space for a mirror. The word dresser is actually the shortened version of the word dressing table.

The word dresser also has another meaning in British English – a sideboard with shelves above for storing and displaying plates and kitchen utensils. It can also refer to a large piece of open shelves on top and furniture with drawers and cupboards at the bottom. However, this second meaning is obsolete.

Dressers placed in bedrooms are usually used to store and organize clothes, accessories and makeup. Since the top of a dresser is usually waist-high, you can easily match and model outfits using the mirror attached to the dresser.

Difference Between Chest of Drawers and Dresser

Definition

A chest of drawers is a piece of furniture that has an upright frame into which drawers are fitted while a dresser is a bureau, usually surmounted by a mirror, in front of which a person can sit while dressing and applying makeup.

Mirror

A chest of drawers does not have a mirror attached to it while a dresser comes with a mirror attached to it.

Function

While chests of drawers are only used for storage, dressers also help in dressing or grooming in addition to storage.

Storage

Chests of drawers are used for general storage, whereas dressers are usually used to store clothes, accessories, lingerie, etc.

Cost

Moreover, chests of drawers tend to be less expensive than dressers.

Conclusion

The main difference between chest of drawers and dresser is that chests of drawers do not a mirror attached whereas dressers have mirrors. Hence, chests of drawers are only used for storage while dressers are multifunctional since dressers have space for a mirror.

Reference:

1. “How to Decide Whether to Get a Chest or Dresser.” San Diego’s Fine Furniture Store. 27 Jan. 2018. Web. Available here.
2. “Chest of Drawers.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 Feb. 2020. Web. Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “670075” (CC0) via Pxhere
2. “Brown wooden dresser with mirror” (CC0) via Pikrepo