The Different Types of Chest of Drawers

If you have decided to improve your home with the addition of a chest of drawers you might be a bit surprised by the number of options that are currently available. There are hundreds of different types available and choosing between them can be hard. In this article we won’t be able to cover every type of chest of drawers but we will look at some of the most popular.

Old Fashioned Chest of Drawers

People have been using chest of drawers as a furniture items for hundreds of years. In the past this was actually something that people took with them when they travelled from place to place. In fact it originates from a travelling chest that just had some drawers added to it. The old fashioned chest of drawers developed into a furniture item with two large drawers on the bottom and two smaller drawers side by side at the top. This was the style that was most popular for a long time and it is still quite popular today.

Dresser Chest of Drawers

This item will normally come with a mirror positioned on top. There are usually two rows of drawers with a small drawer to keep jewellery and other small items. This type of chest of drawer is most often seen in people’s bedrooms. You can also find vanity models that come with a chair for people to sit while using the mirror.

Rustic Chest of Drawers

All rustic furniture has a natural look and this can be very appealing to the eye. This type of chest of drawers is quite charming to look at and a popular choice.

French Chest of Drawers

The French designs are highly decorative pieces of furniture that can are really eye catching. Within this type of chest of drawers you will find hundreds of additional subdivisions; for example, French rustic or French contemporary.

Contemporary Chests

There is a huge selection of contemporary chest of drawers to choose from and these offer a really modern feel. New designs are appearing all the time and this is a very exciting area of development for this type of furniture.

How to Choose the Design Type of Your Chest of Drawers

We have only mentioned a few of the possible designs for this type of furniture and we have hardly scratched the surface. There is just so much to choose from and picking the best type can be a challenge. Here are a few tips to make the process that bit easier.

• It is a good idea to consider the current style of the room where you plan to put this piece of furniture. You probably don’t want to choose something that is going to clash with everything else. If you have a rustic style already in the room you will probably want something that fit in with this.

• Deciding on your budget before you begin your search can also help you reduce the number of options you need to choose between.   

Wood: A Solid Floor beneath Your Feet

When choosing the floor to your dream house, it is important to know what the quality is that will be supporting your (and many other people’s) feet. Of course there are also the practical considerations (e.g. cleaning etc.) as well as the very important aesthetic qualities of your floor of choice.

When it comes down to a choice of solid wood flooring, you have to know what a solid wood floor holds in for you before making the decision to have one installed.

Solid wood flooring is made out of solid wood; i.e., made out of one piece of wood. The planks are usually made out of Red Oak, White Oak or Maple, but depending on where you live, the planks can also be made out of any other hardwood suitable for flooring.

The boards are generally ¾ inch (1.9 cm) thick by 2¼ inch (5.7 cm) wide. This, however, doesn’t mean that the planks come only in these sizes. Some wood mills also cut their planks in longer strips and a little thicker. So sizes are customizable depending on your requirements.

The reason for the specific sizes is that solid wood flooring is generally used for structural purposes. This means that the planks are installed perpendicular to the wooden support beams of the structure. However, there are few houses being built that still makes use of wooden structures, so these days solid wood flooring is used mainly for its appearance.

There are some limitations to using wood for your floors: It is not advisable to install wooden floors directly above concrete floors as the concrete holds humidity and cold and may cause the planks to buckle. For the same reasons, it is not advisable to install wooden floors below grade (under ground level e.g. basements).

However, the wooden planks have a thick sandable area which means that it can be re-sanded and re-sealed several times and still keep its beauty.

An important factor to keep in mind is the wood’s characteristics. Wood tends to expand and contract with the fluctuations of temperature and humidity in the house. This could lead to the wood developing unsightly gaps where the planks have been joined together. It could also lead to what is known as ‘cupping’ – the planks begin to buckle because of the lack of expansion room.

The planks are therefore fitted with tongues and grooves to facilitate the installation process, as well as to allow for some expansion. Then there is the option to either glue the floor, or to use nails to secure the planks. Many installers prefer nailing down the planks, but the glue option is very viable.

Once the floor is installed, it is easy to maintain. It is sanded down and sealed and is as durable (if not more) than any conventional floor made of non-organic material. It could last 100 years or more if well taken care of.

Definitely an option to have underfoot.