4 Types of Chiffonier for Small Bedrooms

Chiffonier are really useful pieces of furniture, and a great way to incorporate more decorative elements into your room. In this article, we'll show you some of the different types you'll find on the market.
4 Types of Chiffonier for Small Bedrooms

Last update: 30 August, 2019

Chiffonier (from the French, chiffoniere) are tall, narrow dressers that are commonly found in bedrooms. While they might not be an essential piece of furniture, they continue to be widely used today. Not only useful for storing clothes and other objects, chiffonier also provide an extra surface where you can display your favorite decorative items.

When it comes to decorating small bedrooms, knowing how to make the most of your space can be a real challenge. It can often be hard to find room for all the furniture you need and/or want. It’s at times like this that you need to unleash all your creativity and ingenuity.

Truly eye-catching furniture

Bedroom furniture.

It’s important to mention that chiffonier aren’t always completely straight. You can also find designs with curved sides, and even some that are completely circular. However, the latter are less suited to small bedrooms, as they tend to take up more space.

The drawers of a chiffonier are usually stacked one on top of the other in a straight line. However, modern chiffonier often feature more unusual designs, arranging the drawers in asymmetric and zigzag patterns. There are many different options to choose from.

Types of chiffonier

Chiffonier can be classified in several different ways. For example, we could classify them according to layout (vertical or horizontal), by design (baroque, modern, minimalist, etc.) or even by height, width, or the number of drawers.

The most common design is a tall, narrow chiffonier with a series of drawers arranged in a straight line from top to bottom. This layout will usually feature a minimum of 4-6 drawers, with a maximum of 12-14, depending on the overall size.

Because they don’t take up much space, these tall, narrow chiffonier are perfect for small bedrooms. You can place them in any corner of the room, or even next to the door.

Tall chiffonier can act as a sort of “pedestal”, upon which you can display a special decorative object such as a vase, demijohn, photograph etc.

Design

Matching furniture.
  • Monotone, minimalist, 6-8 drawers, no feet. This design favors functionality above all. It’s easy to incorporate into the rest of your decor, especially if you choose matching colors. Some designs don’t have handles; instead, there is a small hole which allows you to pull the drawer open.
  • Colorful, Indian-style, 4-5 drawers, with feet. These tall, narrow chiffonier are beautiful and eye-catching. While they are no less practical than classical chiffonier, they also serve as great decorative objects. These ornate designs will bring a touch of joy and character to any room.
  • Industrial style, 2+ drawers with feet and wheels. This is a fairly modern design. While it is no less understated than a classic chiffonier, it is impossible for these designs to go unnoticed.
  • Trunk-style. This type of chiffonier doesn’t usually have feet, and the number of drawers can vary greatly. Resembling old-fashioned trunks, these elegant vintage dressers will fill your room with a wistful sense of nostalgia.

Types of chiffonier to avoid

When it comes to decorating small rooms, its best to avoid baroque and rococo style furniture, as it’s easy for it to overwhelm your room. While it all depends on your personal preferences, the style of the room, the rest of the furniture and the amount of space available, it’s generally best to avoid these two classical styles.

Similarly, we advise that you avoid:

  • Excessively wide designs.
  • Narrow chiffonier measuring more than 5 ft in height.
  • Designs that are made up of several different pieces, eg. those that are made up of individual drawers of different sizes and styles, that you need to assemble separately.
  • Chiffonier with oversized drawers. These tend to make rooms look smaller. 
Wide, modern chiffonier.

Conclusion

Before you incorporate a chiffonier into a small bedroom, it’s important to think about whether you actually need it, or whether you could use another type of dresser.

If you decide that you definitely want to buy a chiffonier, you’ll need to take the time to find one that is practical and works in harmony with the rest of your furniture.

Remember: although they are narrow and take up very little space, they often include eye-catching features such as decorative handles, elegant moldings, and intricate carvings… After all, understated doesn’t have to mean boring.