In a small bedroom, the dresser competes with the bed, the door and the walkway for every inch. Most of the time the answer is to go up rather than out: a tall chest gives you as much storage as a wide dresser on about half the floor space. Here's what type of dresser works best in a small bedroom, where to put it, and other small bedroom storage ideas.
What Type of Dresser Is Best for a Small Bedroom?
1. A tall chest of drawers
A tall chest (also called a tallboy or "tall dresser") is usually the best choice. Five drawers stacked about 47–50 in high take about 2–3 sq ft of floor. The Curva 5-Drawer Chest is 32.8 in wide. The Nacre 5-Drawer Chest is 31.5 in wide and rated for 40 lb per drawer.
2. A narrow dresser
A narrow dresser, roughly 24–30 in wide, fits beside a closet door or in an alcove. The Sartelle Upholstered Drawer Chest is only 25.9 in wide but 49.2 in tall. It adds an open upper shelf with built-in 3-color LED lighting, so it also works as a night light.
3. A low dresser that doubles as a nightstand
In very small rooms, skip the nightstand and use a 3-drawer dresser beside the bed. The Orbis 3-Drawer Curved Dresser (31.5 in W × 31.5 in H) does both jobs. See our nightstand height guide to match it to your mattress.
How to Choose a Small Dresser
Measure before you buy
- Width: measure the wall between the door trim, the closet and the window.
- Depth: leave about 30 in in front, ideally 36 in, so the drawers open and you can stand there. If that doesn't fit, look for a shallower piece.
- Height: a tall chest shouldn't block a window or a light switch.
Check drawer quality
Smooth slides, drawer stops and a load rating that suits what you store matter more in a small dresser, because you'll use every drawer every day.
Raised legs make it look lighter
A dresser on legs shows more floor, which makes a small room feel larger. Curva and Nacre chests have about 6.3 in of space underneath, enough for a robot vacuum.
Where to Put a Dresser in a Small Bedroom
- Beside the closet: keeps clothes storage in one zone.
- In an alcove or corner: a narrow chest fills dead space.
- At the foot of the bed: a low dresser or chest about the height of the mattress can sit at the end of the bed, facing out. Leave at least 30 in on the other side to walk. You can also use a storage bench or blanket chest here.
- Inside the closet: a chest inside a walk-in or reach-in closet frees the bedroom floor completely.
- Feng Shui tip: avoid placing a dresser where its corners point at the bed. Rounded designs like the Orbis collection soften this.
Small Bedroom Storage Ideas Beyond the Dresser
- Under the bed: a bed with drawers or a lift-up platform.
- A wardrobe for hanging clothes: if there's no closet, a slim wardrobe plus a chest beats one big dresser. See wardrobes.
- Vertical wall storage: shelves above the dresser or bed, and hooks on the back of the door.
- A nightstand with drawers: extra small storage beside the bed (see our nightstand with drawers guide).
- Drawer dividers: folding clothes upright (file folding) fits about a third more in each drawer.
Styling a Dresser in a Small Room
Keep the top light: a lamp, one tray and a plant. Hang a mirror above the dresser to reflect light and make the room feel bigger. Choose a light finish or one that matches the walls, so the dresser blends in. More ideas are in how to style a dresser.
Safety in Small Rooms
Tall chests are top-heavy, especially when the upper drawers are full. Anchor every chest to a wall stud with the included anti-tip kit, keep heavy clothes in the lower drawers, and open only one drawer at a time.
FAQ
What is a tall, narrow dresser called?
A chest of drawers, tallboy, highboy or "tall dresser". The names all mean a stacked single-column piece.
How deep is a narrow dresser?
Usually 15–20 in. Width is what makes it narrow: about 24–32 in.
What can I use instead of a dresser in a small room?
Under-bed drawers, a wardrobe with internal drawers, a closet organizer, or a nightstand with three drawers.
Compare sizes in our dresser dimensions guide, or browse dressers and chests and small-space furniture.