What is the difference between a dresser and a chest of drawers?

These are two very similar types of furniture used in the bedroom as storage. Generally, dressers are longer and therefore have longer drawers. They are usually not very tall, so the surface can be used to hold a mirror or other items. Chests are typically taller and narrower, making them better suited to hold jewelry or children’s clothing.

Do I still need a dresser if I hang all of my clothes in my closet?

While you can find substitutions to dressers, you probably still want one for items you do not hang, like socks. If you will only be storing a small amount of clothing in your dresser, you may want to get a smaller chest instead.

Can I use my dresser for anything besides clothes storage?

Yes! Many antique dressers were originally designed to hold dishes and a lot of offices use drawers for storage. As long as what you want to store fits, go for it.

Why are some dressers so much more expensive than others?

A lot of the price is determined by materials and construction. Handcrafted, solid wood dressers with the highest quality hardware will be more expensive than dressers made of particle board. Depending on your budget and your usage, you should determine the balance of price and material to fit your needs.

How do I move a dresser? Do I really need to take all of the clothes out?

This depends on how large your dresser is and how much stuff you have managed to pack inside. You will most likely want to rent a dolly and some straps to attach it. If it will be too heavy to move with all of the clothes in it, remove as many drawers as you need to make it manageable. Then move the drawers one at a time, putting them back in when you get to your destination. Make sure to pad the dresser before attaching it to a dolly or sliding it along the floor so you do not damage your home or the dresser.