What is the Difference Between a Dresser and a Bureau?

What is the Difference Between a Dresser and a Bureau?

Put simply, the main difference between a dresser and a bureau is where they belong in the house. A dresser is usually placed in the bedroom or closet. In contrast, a bureau usually lives in a space like an office or library. In terms of structure, a dresser and a bureau are virtually indistinguishable. Both are chests of drawers that are used for storage, though a bureau may sometimes refer to a type of writing desk, similar to a secretary desk. For this reason, there may be some assumption that bureaus are taller than standard dressers—the thought being: bureaus possess vertically-stacked drawers as opposed to horizontally-stacked drawers. Both bureaus and dressers come in a variety of sizes and styles, including traditional and modern styles.

3 Classic Dresser Styles—That Also Count as Bureaus!

The Neoclassical Commode

You don’t need to be a staunch traditionalist to appreciate the appeal of a Neoclassical commode. A boxy frame is visually softened by tapered legs and bronze mounting on the facade and sides. Maison Jansen is perhaps the most famous of designers to tackle the Neoclassical commode. Their ebonized interpretation is the perfect hybrid of provenance and flashy 20th Century panache. Thanks to their relatively minimalist aesthetic, designers frequently use these dressers in tandem with modern furniture pieces.

The Empire Dresser

Stately columns lend the Empire dresser architectural formality that makes it an excellent candidate for an office or end-of-the-hallway bureau. To accommodate the columns, Empire dressers tend to be a bit taller than the average six-drawer bedroom dresser, making it appealing to those who crave dresser-style storage that doesn’t lead with its bedroom connotations. If the Empire design appeals to you, but you’re inclined toward something a touch more neoteric, consider a Biedermeier dresser.

The Danish Modern Dresser

When it comes to dressers with major mutability, few designs top the Danish Modern dresser. Key to their versatility is their sleek lines, which allow them to play nice with virtually any modern style. In addition, Danish dressers come in an abundance of different silhouettes. Whether you have your heart set on a lowboy or a highboy dresser style, vintage Danish dresser options are plentiful.

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Lead image by Katie Charlotte