Outfit Your Bedroom With an Editor-Approved Dresser

As is often the case with furniture that gets daily use, the search for the best dresser is deeply personal. There are, of course, certain parameters that are set in stone: A smaller bedroom may require a tall dresser that takes up less floor space, while a fixed detail like large windows may warrant a lower profile choice. But there are also a number of considerations to make that are dictated entirely by individual preference. Is the perfect dresser solid wood, metal, or rattan? Is the surrounding bedroom furniture traditional or modern, bohemian or industrial? Will three drawers be enough to accommodate an ever-growing wardrobe, or is a six-drawer dresser the bare minimum?

It’s these details, after all, that can mean the difference between purchasing a placeholder piece and one that will be enjoyed for years to come. It’s no exaggeration that something as seemingly straightforward as a bedroom dresser can not only enhance the functionality of a space, but also help define the experience of inhabiting it: The warm tones and ornate detailing on interior designer Paige Blodgett Scher’s vintage wood dresser adds to her studio’s transportive, traditional aesthetic; the three-drawer double dressers in Adut Akech’s nursery boost its focus on touchable texture and functional, modern design.

Suffice it to say, the best dresser is the one that works best for you. But to jump-start the decision-making process, we’ve asked AD writers and editors to share reviews of five best-dresser contenders—and to round out the list, we’ve added five more high-quality pieces from tried-and-true retailers we love. Get inspired below.

Our Editors’ Top Picks

Best All-Around

Thuma Nest Dresser

Read more

$1,155

Thuma

Best for Minimalists

Article Lenia 4-Drawer Chest

Read more

$999

Article

Best for Small Spaces

West Elm Mid-Century 5-Drawer Dresser

Read more

$1,299 $1,199 (8% off)

West Elm

“I wish I could gift this to everyone I know and love,” says commerce writer Julia Harrison of Thuma’s Nest Dresser, which has racked up over 350 five-star customer reviews. It’s easy to see why: Nest boasts a sleek, minimalist profile and 100% upcycled wood construction—and, perhaps most notably, its modular design allows shoppers to choose from an array of configurations based on the number of drawers they want and the amount of floor space available. (Some lower configurations could even double as tabletops or TV stands.) Other perks include soft-close drawers, easy assembly, and an adaptable look that straddles multiple reference points. “It looks totally certain of its place between Scandi design, mid-century influence, and ’70s California to me,” says Harrison.

Despite its minimal design, this quality dresser comes with loads of figurative frills: soft-close drawers, solid wood legs and handles, and prompt and trouble-free delivery among them. For senior entertainment editor Rachel Wallace, however, the most enticing benefit is space. “It holds even more than it seems like it would from the outside,” she reports. “Each individual drawer is very spacious—I put all of the clothing I needed in this dresser and I still have plenty of room [left over].” Have more to store? Lenia comes in six- and nine-drawer configurations—and as a two-drawer nightstand. No matter the size, its elegant simplicity makes it an ideal starting point for those decorating a room from scratch: “I just moved into a new apartment and simply putting my old furniture into my new space wasn’t quite working,” Wallace says. “My aesthetic felt a bit disjointed and I was struggling a bit to figure out which direction I wanted to go. Since getting this dresser, I have a clearer idea of what I want to do with the rest of the room. The light wood is a great base to start layering more colorful art and textures.”

City dwellers, take note! This best-selling, tall but sturdy dresser from West Elm just may be the small-space storage solution you need. “I would 100% recommend this to fellow New York City residents who are working with limited square footage,” says commerce producer Lauren Arzbaecher. “I only have one narrow wall to devote to a dresser, and finding spacious storage that fits within a small footprint is difficult. This mid-century option is the perfect size for what I needed without feeling like it’s taking over my space.” Though compact, Arzbaecher reports that its frame is solid (“it doesn’t wobble at all, even with fairly tall tapered legs”), and its drawers roomy (“they don’t buckle under the weight no matter how much you stuff inside”). The icing on the cake? It’s designed to stick around: “It feels like a piece that I could pass down to my future family.”

Senior commerce editor Nashia Baker was initially drawn to Lulu and Georgia’s Suzette Tall Dresser for its timeless design and generous size, but its smaller details are what made the most lasting impression. “The soft-close drawers are one of my favorite features,” she says. “My old dressers typically always screeched shut, so the soft glide of this one has been a welcome change.” She also appreciates its grasscloth paneling, delicate brass knobs, and statement-making height, but cautions shoppers to consider their own size before purchasing. “I’m around five-foot-four and the top of the dresser hits right below my chin for me,” she says. “It’s nice that I can look down into each drawer, but I would keep its height in mind depending on whether you like a shorter or taller dresser.”

Looking for something more unique than a basic wood dresser? This Bauhaus-inspired design is minimalist with a twist, offering just enough whimsy to stand out thanks to curvy metal supports and matching spherical knobs. “Schoolhouse always delivers on unique, vintage-inspired designs that don’t take themselves too seriously,” says commerce director Rachel Fletcher, who praises the dresser’s versatility, sturdy construction, and exceptionally deep drawers. Plus, she says, its fun details make an impact in more ways than one. “[The dresser] is so cute. Looking at it really does make me happy.” While Fletcher went for white details, a pale green is also available for anyone seeking color.

Castlery Crescent 6-Drawer Dresser

$1,549

Castlery

Castlery’s Crescent dresser combines drawer storage with open space shelving to make a bold statement in the bedroom or the living room. Its exaggerated curves and airy cutout design are a nice contrast to stereotypically angular silhouettes (which are slightly more imposing on your space) and we like that you can get creative with what you display in the open storage. In fact, if you love watching your favorite shows from the comfort of your bedroom, the backless shelves can help manage cables while you keep your wardrobe safely tucked in the dresser’s burl drawers. It’d be equally at home in a media room where extra storage would be appreciated, if you’re so inclined.

Pete Deeble Furniture Elaine Dresser

$4,200

Etsy

We recommend Etsy time and time again for its robust inventory of high quality new and vintage furniture and decor gems, like this custom dresser that’s a dream for Scandi design devotees. Carved drawers in lieu of traditional handle pulls give a streamlined look while exposed support legs add sculptural appeal. While white oak will help you achieve an authentically Scandi look (think: Ikea but better) the piece is also available in walnut, cherry, and mahogany.

Arhaus Danny 5-Drawer Dresser

$4,600

Arhaus

With rounded curves and a glassy marble top, this tower dresser from Arhaus is easy on the eyes. The materials list includes light or dark oak wood, matte brass drawer pulls, and your choice of either carrera or royal cream marble. While this combination could easily become overstimulating, it’s well balanced by the minimal, but still modern silhouette. The stacked drawers make this a nice option if your square footage is on the modest side and soft close glides ensure you’re never at risk of an accident when trying to find your favorite cashmere sweater in a frenzy.

Namesake Liberty 6-Drawer Dresser

$899

Wayfair

Green bedrooms are having a moment, so lean into the verdant hue with the Liberty six-drawer dresser. Details such as apothecary style fronts, tapered feet and scalloped apron distinguish it from more basic models. What's more, this model comes fully assembled so you don’t have to worry about looking for that screw driver.

Walker Edison Atticus Dresser

$550 $470 (15% off)

Amazon

Take a page out of a midcentury-modern look book with the Walker Edison Atticus solid wood dresser with a beveled detail. It comes in a warm caramel hue or a darker walnut and is made from sustainable solid pine wood. The design will look especially striking when paired with wall art above or perhaps a mirror with a geometric frame.

Crate & Barrel Anneli 9-Drawer Dresser

$2,699

Crate & Barrel

The Anneli natural wood dresser is the latest addition into the Crate & Barrel repertoire of curvy furniture. This soft-edge grained oak style comes in nine-drawer and six-drawer versions, both punctuated with burnished brass knobs that practically wink at the rest of your bedroom.

Ikea Storklinta 4-Drawer Chest

$200

Ikea

We’ve long admired IKEA for its reliable, budget-friendly furniture and home decor. Its dresser options are a mainstay of modern, minimalist bedrooms worldwide; the Storklinta pairs a simple silhouette with a choice of three neutral finishes at a refreshingly approachable price point. Adding to its range: It’s also available in three-, five-, and six-drawer options, as well as in nightstand form.

Pottery Barn Summerville 7-Drawer Dresser

$1,999

Pottery Barn

A furniture store synonymous with classic-meets-contemporary design, Pottery Barn offers a trove of options for buyers in search of future heirlooms. The Summerville seven-drawer dresser, for one, places vintage-inspired details like turned feet and drop pendant knobs alongside modern touches such as metal glides and anti-tip mounting hardware. The Tuscan brown finish is still full price, but the Harbor is on sale and is $500 less.

West Elm Burl 6-Drawer Dresser

$1,999

West Elm

Can’t bear the thought of another white dresser? Look no further than West Elm and its modern take on design with a twist like this six-drawer dresser and its commanding swirling burl veneer footprint. Senior design editor, Sydney Gore, fully supports the trend, especially for someone looking to add a natural look to bedroom design. This dresser earns bonus points for durability, English dovetail joinery, and metal glides.

In seeking out the best dressers, we prioritized picks that reflected a diverse range of design sensibilities, would fit a range of different sized spaces, and had the functionality to store everything our testers hoped to keep safe within each drawer. Our top choices were also builds that shipped out quickly, weren’t a complete nightmare to set up, and emphasized good materials (your dresser should definitely outlast those Zara jeans, after all).

We also brought you the pros and cons of each tested pick, including any thoughtful design details our editors and writers were particularly fond of, great (or not so great) delivery experiences, as well as styling tips to help curate which silhouettes could make sense in your space. And, because we haven’t had the chance to test out every dresser on the market just yet, we included a section of alternative picks for shoppers that we think you should know about based on style and brand reputation.