Dressers take up a lot of space in a room and are a major furniture investment. Fortunately, there are several alternatives you can use in place of a dresser or with an existing dresser to expand your storage options. Our comprehensive list of dresser alternatives will help you choose the perfect piece that will meet a dresser’s functional purpose while also looking decorative in your room.
The following items can all be used as an alternative to a dresser:
- Armoire
- Trunks or chests
- Bed with drawers
- Cubicle organizer
- Garment racks
- Wall-mounted clothes organizer
- Storage units
- Stackable boxes
- Step cabinets
- Lockers
- Lingerie chest
- Laundry basket drawers
These items can be used as a substitute for a dresser or added to provide additional storage options. Read on, and we’ll describe how to utilize each of these options to your advantage.
Why Choose A Dresser Alternative?
Dresser alternatives may be needed if your room is small, and a large piece of furniture like a dresser would take up a lot of space and overwhelm your room. Alternatively, you may already have a dresser that is overflowing, and you need an option for additional storage without adding a second dresser.
Existing dressers can become cluttered if you tend to toss items on the top of the dresser. Using an alternative option can help you avoid clutter, keeping your room neat and tidy. Let’s explore the alternative options to a dresser below.
1. Armoire
An armoire provides a storage option for those with a large amount of space for furniture. They do take up some real estate in your room, but the trade-off is a large amount of storage with space to hang clothing as well as drawer space. Armoires can blend well with traditional or contemporary styles.
Click here to see this armoire on Amazon.
2. Trunks or chests
Trunks or chests are essentially large boxes with lids. These present a great option for storing folded clothing or larger bulky items like sweaters and blankets. Placed at the end of your bed, a chest also provides a beautiful focal point that can double as a seat.
Click here to see this chest on Amazon.
Trunks and chests can blend with a large variety of decor. The material of the trunk will change the look of the piece. Trunks may be constructed of wood or covered in leather or fabric. The look achieved can range from vintage to contemporary.
3. Bed with drawers
A platform bed with built-in drawers is the perfect option for replacing the storage you’d have in a dresser. These units work well if you are tight on space as they don’t require any additional room beyond your bed.
Click here to see this bed on Amazon.
4. Cubicle organizer
Cubicle organizers consist of a frame into which baskets are slid for storage. They are another option that is perfect for the storage of folded clothing or shoes. Cubicle organizers can be neutral or provide a pop of color to a room.
Click here to see this colorful cubicle organizer on Amazon.
Click here to see this neutral cubicle organizer on Amazon.
5. Garment racks
Garment racks provide room to hang clothing as well as stack shoes or handbags. These come in small streamlined, and larger options depending on how much storage you require. Garment racks display your clothing and work well for seasonal or capsule wardrobes.
Click here to see this garment rack on Amazon.
If having your clothing visible bothers you, a cover can be purchased to go over the rack to hide it. Some garment racks are set on wheels, making it very easy to move them around in your room. This style can blend well in an industrial styled room or choose a wooden rack for more of a natural look.
Click here to see this garment rack on Amazon.
6. Wall-mounted clothes organizer
A wall-mounted unit can expand your storage greatly. Not only can you store clothing but shoes, handbags, and other items. Organizers provide many storage solutions combining drawers and cubbies with hangers.
Click here to see this wall mounted clothes organizer on Amazon.
7. Storage units
Consider an over the bed storage unit to replace your headboard while expanding your storage space. This option works well in small spaces or a spare room that is tight on space.
Click here to see this storage unit on Amazon.
8. Stackable boxes
Stackable boxes present a versatile storage option. These can be stacked or slid under your bed to store off-season clothing. Look for an option with a clear window to aid in seeing what is inside the box.
Click here to see these stackable boxes on Amazon.
9. Step cabinets
A step cabinet contains drawers or cubbies arranged in stair-step fashion. This cabinet can fit into an otherwise unusable space to extend your storage options.
Click here to see this step cabinet on Amazon.
10. Lockers
Lockers are an overlooked but fun alternative to a dresser. This style looks great with an industrial or steampunk style.
Click here to see these lockers on Amazon.
Have fun with colors to incorporate a locker into a child’s or teen’s bedroom.
Click here to see these lockers on Amazon.
11. Lingerie chest
A lingerie chest is a tall, narrow chest of drawers. This will fit more readily into small spaces. As its name suggests, a lingerie chest will hold your undergarments but could also be used in a child’s room for smaller clothing items.
Click here to see this lingerie chest on Amazon.
12. Laundry basket drawers
Laundry basket drawers can become a functional alternative in your bedroom. Many of today’s options are pretty enough to serve as a place to store folded, clean clothing.
Click here to see these laundry basket drawers on Amazon.
Do you need a dresser in your bedroom?
Turning your bedroom into a relaxing haven requires attention to the large furnishings as well as the small details. The choice to include a dresser in your room will depend on a few factors. A large room will look better with furnishings placed along a wall that would otherwise look empty and sparse. A dresser can take up bare space in your room.
Many bedroom furnishings are sold in sets, including a dresser along with the bed. A matching set ties together the look of the room.
Consider the storage space in your room. If you already have a large walk-in closet, a dresser may not be a necessary piece of furniture. That space may be better suited for a cozy chair for reading. However, if you are short on closet space, a dresser will allow you to store clothing in an organized fashion.
Small spaces offer the opposite problem of a large room. A dresser may look out of place in a tiny room. One of the options listed above will give you the storage you need without taking up as much space as a dresser.
What’s the difference between a chest of drawers and a dresser?
A chest of drawers is a furniture item that contains only drawers. A dresser also contains drawers but often has a mirror attached. A chest of drawers will not have a mirror. Chests of drawers are also designed vertically and tend to be taller, where a dresser may have a broader, horizontal layout.
What clothes go in dresser drawers?
Clothes that would be best folded and stacked go well in dresser drawers. These items would include T-shirts, sweaters, pajamas, sweatpants, and sweatshirts. Jeans can also be folded and placed in a dresser drawer. Delicate undergarments and socks are easily organized in a dresser drawer. Hang items such as dresses, pants, and things that are difficult to fold or would take up a lot of space in a drawer.
Create Your Bedroom Haven
When choosing your bedroom storage, there are many factors to consider, your room’s size and layout, existing decor, budget, and how much you need to store. Traditional dressers may suit some styles, but consider an alternative in place or in addition to your dresser. By experimenting with the styles above, you’ll find just the right piece to complement your bedroom haven.