Small Chest of Drawers: Sizes & Uses

Chests of Drawers and Bedside Tables · 5 available now →

A small chest of drawers is the most versatile piece of furniture in the house. It works as a bedside table, as a surface in the hallway, under a window where nothing tall will fit, in the children’s room and as a side table by the sofa. In this article we clarify the difference between a small, low and shallow chest of drawers, give the suitable dimensions, show which old chests of drawers are small by nature and explain how a small chest of drawers becomes the most beautiful piece in a room. Everything on chests of drawers as a whole can be found in the chest of drawers guide.

Small, low or shallow? How they differ

Small chest of drawers: small in every direction, typically 50 to 70 cm wide, 35 to 45 cm deep, 60 to 80 cm tall. Two or three drawers.
Low chest of drawers: under 75 cm tall, happily wide, to stand under windows, pictures or a television. Often three drawers side by side.
Shallow chest of drawers: little depth, 25 to 35 cm, regardless of width and height. More in Narrow chest of drawers for the hallway.
Bedside table: a small chest of drawers with one or two drawers, 40 to 60 cm tall, as a pair. See the bedside table guide.

Where a small chest of drawers is most useful

By the bed. A small chest of drawers with three drawers offers three times as much storage as a usual bedside table in the same footprint; the right height is the top of the mattress plus 5 to 10 cm. Under the window. A low chest of drawers under the windowsill offers a surface and storage where nothing else will fit; leave 5 cm of air from the radiator. In the hallway. A small chest of drawers on legs needs less space than a hall bench and takes keys, gloves and post; there is more on this under the narrow hallway chest of drawers. In the children’s room. A low chest of drawers is the right height for children and can be repainted when tastes change. By the sofa. As a side table it hides remote controls and chargers.

Old chests of drawers that are small by nature

Most common are small bedside chests of drawers from the 1920s to 1950s: 40 to 55 cm wide, with one to three drawers, often as a pair, in birch or mahogany. The Gustavian and Rococo bedside tables of the 19th century are smaller still and often more beautiful, with curved or fluted legs. Low chests of drawers with three drawers side by side, 100 to 120 cm wide and 70 cm tall, come from the era of Swedish Modern and the 1950s. From our stock, for example, the black-and-white chest of drawers with gold in the Haupt style and the Gustavian chest of drawers in petrol blue with gold (€980 each) would suit. We will gladly give you the exact dimensions on request. The period is explained in Gustavian chests of drawers.

A small chest of drawers with a big effect

Precisely because it is small, a chest of drawers can take more colour and pattern than a large one. A small Gustavian chest of drawers in strong petrol blue with gold is a jewel in an otherwise calm room, where the same treatment on a sideboard would be too much. This is how we often work: the small object gets the bold finish, the large pieces stay black or grey. What this looks like in practice is described in Modernised chest of drawers, and the idea behind it in Furnishing with statement pieces. On the choice of colour: Chest of drawers in white, blue and colourful.

What a restored small chest of drawers costs

With us, restored chests of drawers are currently around €980 to €1,100, and they are in the Chests of drawers and bedside tables category. For that you get solid wood instead of chipboard, adjusted drawers and a hard, wipe-clean finish. Why that makes sense compared with new furniture you can read in Why restore instead of buying new.

Combining a small chest of drawers

A small chest of drawers rarely stands alone. Two identical ones by the bed look like a pair of bedside tables; a small chest of drawers under a mirror in the hallway makes a complete cloakroom; a small piece beside a sofa works as a side table with storage. Choose the colour to match the largest piece of furniture in the room, or deliberately as an accent. A lamp on the top gives light and makes the piece look larger than it is; a mirror above it extends the room visually.

What to look for when buying a small chest of drawers

Stability: small chests of drawers tip more easily. Pull a drawer all the way out and press lightly on the front edge.
Drawer runners: wood on wood should run smoothly; sticking drawers can be adjusted.
Fittings: brass and wooden knobs are period-appropriate and can be refurbished or replaced.
Dimensions: ask about width, depth, height and the interior height of the drawers before you decide.

Small chest of drawers instead of a shelf

Anyone with little space often reaches for a shelf. A small chest of drawers can do more: the drawers hide clutter, the top carries a lamp or plants, and the piece looks like a fixed part of the room. In small flats especially, one piece with substance is better than several cheap elements.

Frequently asked questions

How tall should a small chest of drawers by the bed be?

The top of the mattress plus 5 to 10 cm. With a usual bed that gives 55 to 70 cm. With divan beds you need more, see Bedside chest of drawers.

Must the bedside tables be identical?

No. Two different small chests of drawers in the same colour look more considered than an identical pair in different colours. The height should be roughly the same, though.

What does a small restored chest of drawers cost?

With us currently around €980 to €1,100, depending on period and redesign. Bedside tables are usually sold as a pair, see Bedside tables.