Chests of draws can come in a number of styles. Many are large and take up a lot of room. These are usually designed for holding large amounts of clothing, and aren’t all that great for storing smaller, more delicate items. For this reason, the lingerie chest may be a perfect furniture item to consider adding to your bedroom. This type of chest is a tall and narrow piece of furniture. It usually features a single column of draws, numbering between five and seven in total, though there are design and style variations to be found.
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Contemporary Cappuccino Finish Jewelry Box Armoire Lingerie Chest |
5 Drawer Chest – English Isle (Natural) (18″ x 15.5″ x 50.5″) |
Styles and Designs
The designs and styles of lingerie chests available on the market today are numerous. In an effort to meet the needs of consumers, furniture designers have created many unique pieces of furniture which fit into this category.
You can find chests of drawers which sit squarely on the floor or are mounted on legs. Those with legs will feature a variety of design and style variations. Some may take on the appearance of more traditional and ornate furniture, featuring bowed legs with intricate carvings. Others may have simple pedestal legs.
A lingerie chest may have between five and seven drawers, and the drawers may vary in depth. Some chests are taller and wider than others. You may need to consider measurements when determining which is the best for your intended use. The space in which you plan to place the chest can be important in selecting a model, as can be what you plan to store in the chest.
Those chests with seven drawers can sometimes be referred to as Semaniers. They tend to be slightly wider pieces, with shallow drawers. They usually have a very traditional appearance.
Some varieties will have a mirror on the top of the chest. Other mirrored lingerie chests feature double doors which close to conceal the drawers of the chest. These doors often have mirrors mounted on the inside, making it easy to check out your appearance when getting dressed.
A lingerie chest can also have an upper cabinet. These cabinets can sit on top of the five, six or seven drawers. They can also take the place of the upper drawers, replacing the top two or three drawers with a single or double-door cupboard instead.
Potential Uses and Locations
Using a chest for lingerie storage is only one potential use for these conveniently sized and shaped pieces of furniture. They can actually be quite handy in a variety of circumstances and locations throughout your home.
The Semanier-style chest tends to have a slightly more masculine appearance and can therefore be a nice storage area for man. It can easily be used for storing socks, underwear, t-shirts, and ties.
The narrow and tall shape of the lingerie chest also makes it easy and convenient to use in a child’s room or nursery. With its small, shallow drawers, it can be perfect for storing toddler and baby clothing which can easily become disheveled and disorganized in larger chests of drawers.
They are, of course, good for storing lingerie, including slips, bras, panties, hose, and other items. They can also be a good spot for keeping scarves, gloves, belts, and other accessories. Their narrow and shallow draws also make a fine location for keeping jewelry, makeup, and personal care and beauty products.
Selecting a Quality Piece
When choosing a chest of drawers, you should consider the craftsmanship and materials used. Many economy models are readily found on the market. These often incorporate sliding drawers which operate off of plastic wheeled glides. Many are constructed of pressed wood and the color or shades of finishes offered are limited.
A fine quality lingerie chest will feature several key components. The first is that it will be constructed of natural hardwood. It may also feature a veneer topcoat or surface layer, but this will also be painstakingly constructed from quality source materials. The drawers will operate off of ball bearing drawer glides. The finishes available will vary greatly in better quality chests, giving you a wider selection from which to choose.