Narrow Chest of Drawers for the Hallway – Dimensions, Depth, Colour

The hallway is the room in which the chest of drawers works hardest and gets the least attention. It takes keys, post, gloves and hats, withstands wet jackets and knocks from shopping bags, must not block the passage and yet should look like something when the door opens. A narrow chest of drawers for the hallway solves the problem that most hallways and small bedrooms have: the wall is there, the depth is not. This article shows which dimensions count as narrow, what you gain and lose, which old chests of drawers are narrow by nature and what should hang above. Everything on chests of drawers as a whole is in the chest of drawers guide.

What is a narrow chest of drawers? The dimensions

The standard chest of drawers is 45 to 50 cm deep and blocks a passage 100 cm wide. A narrow chest of drawers, 30 to 40 cm deep, does not.

• 30 cm deep: the narrowest that works with drawers. Holds jumpers stood on edge, scarves, gloves, papers. For hallways and corridors.
• 35 to 40 cm deep: takes almost everything except large folded garments. The most common compromise in the bedroom.
• 60 to 70 cm wide: narrow in width, for niches and walls between doors. Often with two drawers side by side.
• Narrow and tall: 40 cm wide, 100 to 130 cm tall, five to six drawers. The most storage per square metre of floor of all types of chest of drawers.

Bear in mind: the depth is measured at the carcass. Drawer fronts, beading and handles add 2 to 5 cm, and an open drawer needs as much free space in front of it as it is deep.

The dimensions for the hallway: the passage counts

Leave at least 80 cm of free width beside the chest of drawers, better 90, or bags and shoulders will scratch it. This gives three types: the narrow hallway chest of drawers, 30 to 40 cm deep, 60 to 100 cm wide and 80 to 90 cm tall (standard for apartment hallways), the tall narrow chest of drawers, 40 cm wide and 120 cm tall, for niches, with five drawers for the gloves of a whole family, and the low chest of drawers or bench with drawers, 45 to 50 cm tall, on which you can sit to put on your shoes. The latter needs a wider hallway. As a rule of thumb: hallway width minus 85 cm gives the maximum depth; in a hallway 120 cm wide, therefore at most 35 cm.

Colour and finish that can withstand a hallway

The hallway is the dirtiest room in the house: sand, damp, fingers. A white chest of drawers looks worn after six months. Black, dark green, dark blue or dark brown hide signs of wear and give the hallway weight, and a satin lacquer withstands considerably more than high gloss. Brass fittings acquire a patina from the hands, which is an advantage. The top should wipe clean easily: lacquer, not untreated wood. More on the choice of colour in Black chest of drawers and Chest of drawers in white, blue and colourful.

What belongs above and beside

A mirror above the chest of drawers is the classic solution and makes a narrow hallway look twice as wide. Hang it so that its centre is 150 to 160 cm above the floor. Brass hooks go beside the chest of drawers, not above it, so that jackets do not cover the mirror. A bowl on the top for keys, a drawer for gloves and hats, one for post. Lighting from the side, with a wall light or a small table lamp on the chest of drawers, instead of cold ceiling light. The rest of the hallway stays empty; the chest of drawers should be the only piece of furniture.

Old chests of drawers that are narrow by nature

Before 1950 apartments were smaller and chests of drawers narrower. The Swedish Grace chest of drawers of the 1920s is typically 40 cm deep and 80 cm wide, tall and slim with three or four drawers; the period is explained in Swedish Grace furniture. The Gustavian hallway chest of drawers is often 38 to 42 cm deep, see Gustavian chests of drawers. The secretaire with a fall front is 35 to 40 cm deep when closed and offers drawers and a writing surface. A Rococo chest of drawers in black lacquer is the statement for anyone who wants guests to stop in the hallway – for example the off-black chest of drawers in Rococo style (€1,100). The black-and-white chest of drawers with gold in the Haupt style (€980) is also an example of our selection. Ask us for a particular depth: we often have pieces in stock that are not yet on the website. All current pieces are in the Chests of drawers and bedside tables category.

How we redesign a narrow chest of drawers

Narrow chests of drawers are often simpler in form than wide ones and take colour gratefully. A birch chest of drawers from the 1930s in matt black lacquer with brass knobs becomes a modern piece that suits anywhere, a Gustavian one in deep green or pearl grey becomes a classic. We adjust the drawers, replace cracked bases and refurbish the fittings or replace them with period-appropriate ones. What this looks like is shown in Modernised chest of drawers.

Frequently asked questions

Is a chest of drawers 30 cm deep usable?

Yes, for everything that stands on edge or lies flat: rolled jumpers, scarves, gloves, papers, charging cables. Not for large folded clothing.

Does a narrow tall chest of drawers tip over?

It can, if several drawers are opened at the same time. Secure every chest of drawers over 100 cm tall to the wall, especially in households with children.

Can a wide chest of drawers be made narrower?

In principle yes, but the carcass and drawers would have to be rebuilt, which is rarely worthwhile. Look instead for a chest of drawers that is narrow from the start.