What is the difference between a dresser and a chest?
The main difference between a dresser and a chest is that a chest (which is short for “chest of drawers”) is a case piece that consists only of drawers, while a dresser is a case piece that also contains drawers, but often has a mirror attached. Given that a dresser often comes equipped with a mirror, dressers are frequently wider than they are tall. Chests are often the opposite. They are taller than they are wide. Because their dimensions are similar to a credenza or sideboard, it is common to see dressers used outside of the bedroom in hallways, entries, or dining rooms. Chests, or chests of drawers, are also known by other names such as “highboys.” Worth noting is that the word “chest” can also be used interchangeably with the word “trunk.” Oftentimes, low, wide storage vessels with the flip-up lid (generally called “trunks”) are also called “chests.”
Shop Dressers >>
Lead photo by Richard Powers / Photo courtesy of Eberlein Design
