What is the difference between a chifforobe and an armoire?
Both an armoire and a wardrobe are tall, closet-like chests that are accessed by swinging doors; however, a chifferobe does not contain hanging room on both sides as an armoire does. Rather, a chifferobe has hanging room on only one side, and on the other, it is outfitted with a stack of drawers. For this reason, a chifforobe comes equipped with only one swinging door. The word “chifferobe” derives from the French word “chiffonier,” which is a chest of drawers, often featuring an attached mirror on the top. Because chifforobes contain visible drawers, their design is more modular by nature than an armoire’s. Given that this is the case, it is more common to find chifforobes in modern styles than ornate, traditional styles. On the opposite end of the spectrum, those looking for traditional furniture may have more success hunting for armoires, which tend to more commonly possess traditional French styling.
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Lead photo design by J. Fisher Interiors / Photo by Whit Preston
