Choosing a chest of drawers. What should you pay attention to? Compare the pros and cons of dressers for different rooms. Where to put the chest of drawers

A chest of drawers is a very popular piece of furniture that has not gone out of fashion for several centuries in a row. Its design changes depending on the interior styles, but the essence still remains the same - comfortable to use, compact, but roomy cabinet with a table top on top.

To answer the question of how to make a chest of drawers with your own hands, first of all you need to decide what it should be in height and width, as well as how many drawers the owners need. Therefore, first of all, a sketch or drawing is made, in which all dimensions are affixed, taking into account the space that can be allotted for a similar cabinet-type cabinet. Based on the developed drawing, calculations of the quantity necessary materials, their purchase is carried out.

The chest of drawers can be made of natural wood or chipboard. Quality wood and its processing will cost, of course, more expensive than wood composite, but it is not only an environmentally friendly material, but also more durable than a pressed board made of shavings and glue.

If the task is to make a really beautiful and comfortable piece of furniture, it is very important to choose a high-quality material and make from it, exactly in size, all the details, which then need to be processed well, to smoothness, and adjusted to each other.

However, the first step is nevertheless choosing a model of a chest of drawers, depending on its purpose and the height of the owner, so that both spaciousness and ease of use are combined.

Chests of drawers are made in different options, depending on the purpose of their use. And in order to correctly determine the choice, it is advisable to consider several models.

Standard linen chest of drawers

Traditional dressers have always been designed to store linen and small items of clothing. Unlike massive cabinet designs, they take up small area and look quite aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, this piece of furniture is quite popular today.

"Classic" type of linen chest

Its convenience lies in the compact storage of various things separately from each other, which makes them easy to find. A chest of drawers for linen can be equipped with a different number of drawers with a width of the structure, there can be from two to six, but there are other models that provide large quantity smaller drawers.

And, of course, the countertop also becomes a "useful area", where the items for decorating the interior of the room are asking for.

Chest of drawers

Chests of drawers can be of different shapes and heights. Since the hallway usually has a small area, a compact, narrow and high version, a pencil case, which is also quite roomy, is more suitable for it.

It can store multi-season shoes, various means to care for her, as well as hats and scarves. For all these items, one way or another, it is necessary to find a place, and they may well become such a convenient piece of furniture as a chest of drawers-pencil case.

Chest of drawers for a children's room

A chest of drawers for a children's room can be called a necessity, since it can replace several pieces of furniture at once. A special design has been developed with a hinged panel that opens when necessary and closes so as not to interfere with the use of drawers.

In such a chest of drawers, you can fit a large number of children's accessories and items necessary for the baby, distributing them among the drawers. Since this piece of furniture is quite compact, it will not clutter up the space of the child's room, which is very important for a child.

This furniture accessory will not become superfluous even when the baby grows up, since in the chest of drawers you can store not only clothes, but also toys. If the wardrobe is originally finished in delicate pastel shades for children, then as the child grows up, it can be repainted in other, more "adult" colors.

Chest of drawers with open shelf for living room or bedroom

This version of the chest of drawers is perfect for the living room. You can install a TV on it, and open cabinets use to store books that you want to have at hand. In the closing boxes, various little things will perfectly hide, of which there are always a lot of them in any house.

In the bedroom, this chest of drawers will be an excellent bedside table, suitable for storing linen, installing a night lamp and other accessories often used in this room.

A similar design is quite suitable for a bathroom, but in this case, for its manufacture it is necessary to choose just natural wood, which is to be treated with moisture-repellent compounds.

From the information on how many functions this piece of furniture can perform, and how comfortable it is in operation, a logical conclusion suggests itself that a chest of drawers can be considered a necessity for most houses and apartments. If you have a desire to make it yourself, then before starting work, you must definitely familiarize yourself with the technology of the process in order to be able to really assess your own strengths.

An example of preparation, processing of parts and manufacture of a chest of drawers

The quality and appearance of the finished product will directly depend on how accurately the parts are made and processed, so first you need to consider the nuances of this process.

Parts for each model are made according to a specific drawing, and their connections can be different. The table below summarizes the various aspects of woodworking and dresser assembly that often raise questions. By the way, the given example can also be considered as a "role model" by adjusting the demonstrated model of the chest of drawers to fit your size.

The chest of drawers shown in the table is made of natural boards and beams 20 mm thick, using plywood inserts 10 mm thick.

Illustration	Brief description of the performed operation
	The edges of the board should be perfectly flat, for this they are cut off, processed on a planer.
	It is even better if you have a thicknessing machine at your disposal, passing through which the boards acquire an ideally accurate size in thickness. You can, of course, carry out this process manually, but it will take much more time and effort. So it makes sense to contact a carpentry workshop to get blanks.
	To obtain solid panels from the boards, they are glued together and pulled together in clamps, leaving in this position until the glue is completely dry. In order not to damage the wood with clamps, the assembled panel is covered with a bar, and clamps are already installed on it and tightened.
	The grooves and spikes in the bars are cut using a router with a special nozzle. The machine can be professional stationary or manual, but the skill of working with is not required in any case.
	The illustration shows a tongue-and-groove connection of two bars. In this way, the frames are assembled, of which, in some designs, the frame for the drawers consists.
	The joining of the frame bars is carried out with wood glue and must be tightened in clamps until completely dry.
	The frame during its assembly must be constantly checked for evenness of right angles. This is done with a square and measuring the diagonals.
	To check the rectangularity of the structure and high-quality subsequent drying of the connecting nodes, the frame is placed in a special template assembled from plywood and a bar fixed exactly at a right angle. Having straightened the frame according to the template, one thin nail is driven into its joints at an angle.
	In the side walls, which are made from the boards previously glued into shields and dried, a groove is cut along the edge with the help of a router - the so-called quarter. It will help to connect the parts more tightly, which will make the structure more rigid.
	Then, on the side walls, grooves are marked and cut out into which the support frames for the boxes will be glued. The grooves are cut with a router and trimmed with a chisel. The beginning of the groove should be 15 mm from the edge of the panel.
	In order for the frame to fit tightly into the groove, corners are cut on it, equal in size to the depth of the groove and the distance of its distance from the edge, in this case - 15 mm.
	Further, the grooves are coated with glue, and the frames are tightly installed in them.
	The upper frame, installed on glue in a quarter cut along the edge of the side panels, is additionally fixed with nails or thin self-tapping screws with a pitch of 100 ÷ 120 mm.
	The illustration shows the fixing of the frames to the structure.
	When the glue in the structure is dry, it is turned and laid with the front side down. When turning, the structural elements may shift slightly, so the squareness must be checked by measuring the diagonals. They, of course, must have the same length.
	In the next step, the back wall of the structure is cut out of 10 mm thick plywood, its edges are processed. It is then placed in selected quarters of the side panels. The sheet is fixed to the walls with carnations or self-tapping screws, the caps of which must be immersed in the wood. Then, the dresser is lifted and placed on the bottom panel.
	In this model, the space between the two upper frames must be divided to accommodate two drawers. To do this, the middle of the front part of the chest of drawers is determined, and in this place a vertical piece of the board is installed. Such a jumper will not only become a dividing element, but also make the structure more rigid. The partition is fixed in the desired marked place with self-tapping screws through the upper and lower frame, with the obligatory preliminary drilling of thin holes for fasteners to prevent cracks.
	Next, you can proceed to the manufacture of drawers. The most difficult thing in this process is the toothed connection of the corners, which will be practically impossible to form by hand, therefore, you cannot do without a machine with a special milling nozzle.
	Before starting to cut the teeth, a quarter is cut out along the edge of the boards to accurately join the two panels. They are fixed in a special clip located along the edge of the workbench. One board is laid horizontally, the other vertically, butt to each other in the selected quarter. The edges of the boards are offset relative to each other by a tooth pitch. Then they are clamped from above with a template, along which the cutouts will be made.
	The cuts are made by a router with a cutter of the selected configuration - straight or dovetail type, intended for this process.
	In this photo, you can see that the connecting teeth are cut with a cutter at the same time on one and the other board. Thus, after it is turned over from the panels of the panel to be joined, and the edges are aligned, the teeth and grooves should ideally match each other.
	In addition to spikes, for corner joints, before assembling the structure, grooves are selected with a router in all three boards-walls of the box and in the front wall, into which the plywood bottom panel will be installed.
	The next step is to assemble the walls of the box. Barbs spike connection are combined with each other and gently tapped with a wooden mallet.
	After that, the bottom part is pushed into the grooves of the walls, and then the front part of the box is installed.
	Further, control over the evenness of the corners is carried out - for this, the diagonals of the box are measured. Then the plywood bottom is fixed to the front board of the box with studs.
	Then, the front panel is fixed to the front wall of the drawer, to which the selected handles are screwed.
	If you plan to raise the chest of drawers on legs connected by an arched jumper, as shown in the illustration, then for the convenience of marking, you should first make a template.
	To make the legs, three boards are first fastened at the corners with a toothed (spike) connection. Then, markings are made on the facade board according to the template. Further, two arcs are connected by a straight line, which is drawn along a ruler (along a horizontal level).
	According to the same principle, and using the same template, markings are made on the sides of the base.
	Then, along the indicated lines, with the help of a jigsaw, neat cuts are made, and then their edges are processed.
	When the legs are cut and connected, a bar is glued along the upper edge of the resulting structure, and then screwed with self-tapping screws, which will create the necessary platform for installing a chest of drawers with an internal frame on top of it.
	Further, the upper edge of the stand under the chest of drawers needs to be refined - for this it is processed using a curly cutter.
	Then, the dresser is turned over again so that the legs can be secured to the lower frame. The structure of the legs is first set on glue, and then screwed on with self-tapping screws.
	From the back of the chest of drawers, a triangular kerchief is glued to the legs, and then screwed on, with a cutout made in its lower part for a bar, fixed on the side legs.
	The top edge is screwed onto the side leg and the bottom edge is screwed onto the frame frame. This ensures the rigidity of the structure of the chest of drawers.
	The next step is to cut out and try on the tabletop. In the frame under it, the places are marked where holes will be made and countersunk through which the panel will be fixed to the frame of the frame and the sidewalls using dowels inserted into it.
	Further, the tabletop is fixed on the upper frame of the structure from below, with self-tapping screws having a length of 5 mm less total thickness table top boards and frames underneath.
	The countertop panel can be processed in advance or after it is fixed on the walls of the chest of drawers - the edges of the boards on both sides are rounded off with a cutter and sanded to perfect smoothness.
	If the product is planned to be left in its natural form, without staining, then if desired, you can highlight the texture of the wood using a special brush with a metal bristle.
	If you plan to paint or varnish, then this process is carried out in several layers with water-based compositions.

On the given example, the assembly with joints, which have traditionally been used for a long time for the manufacture of various cabinets from natural wood, was demonstrated. But, it should be noted that such operations lend themselves only experienced craftsmen, armed, to everything, special tool professional grade. However, in our time, the task can be simplified if you purchase various fasteners, which are presented in a large assortment in furniture fittings stores.

"Classic" chest of drawers with six drawers

This version of the chest of drawers is made of boards and plywood 19 (20) mm thick; in its manufacture, you can safely rely on the instructions given in the above table.

Construction details

To make this model of a chest of drawers, you will need the following materials and parts:

the name of detail	Part size, mm	Quantity, pieces
Details for making the chest of drawers itself
Foundation facade (board)	90 × 89 × 787	1
Back of the base (board)	19 × 89 × 445	1
Base sides (board)	19 × 89 × 445	2
Base beam (board)	32 × 32 × 89	4
Front apron base	19 × 64 × 800	1
Base apron sides (board)	19 × 64 × 470	2
Back plate of the base apron (board)	19 × 64 × 673	1
Sidewalls (plywood)	19 × 432 × 1029	2
Back wall (plywood)	19 × 743 × 1029	1
Front and rear drawer support strips	19 × 89 × 743	12
Side strips for drawer supports	19 × 89 × 235	12
Front apron strip	19 × 89 × 724	1
Back apron strip	19 × 89 × 572	1
Apron side strips	19 × 89 × 337	2
Front frame struts	19 × 38 × 1029	2
Runners	6.4 x 19 x 425	6
Front frame cross members	19 × 38 × 686	7
Corner braces	19 × 89 × 89	4
Lid	19 × 470 × 800	1
Parts for making boxes
Decorative facades	19 × 146 × 711	6
Side walls	19 × 114 × 419	12
Front walls	19 × 114 × 654	6
Back walls	19 × 101 × 654	6
Bottom part (plywood)	19 × 406 × 654	6
Guide bars	6.4 x 19 x 419	12

And this table shows the connecting and hardware elements necessary for assembly:

Name of elements	Element size, mm
Countersunk screws	6 × 44
Wooden pins	6.4 × 31.8
Countersunk screws	6 × 19
Finishing nails	22
Wood screws	64
Finishing nails	55
Countersunk screws	6 × 32
Handles - on your own	12 pcs.

Chest base

Drawing number 2 - assembly of the base of the chest of drawers.

• Details for the base of the chest of drawers are made according to the dimensions given in the table and in the drawing. The front and side elements that form the legs in this model have curvilinear shapes, so they are marked out according to a template and cut out with a jigsaw. This process is detailed and shown in the table above. Notched cuts are made only from the front and sides of the base, while the back panel consists of a whole board.
• The assembly of finished elements is carried out on corner beams. The bars are glued to the front edges of the side panels and to the edges of the back strip. Then they are flush fixed to the panels with countersunk screws.

• Further, the rear edges of the sidewalls are coated with glue and fixed on the bars screwed to the back plate, and also twisted.
• The base facade is glued to the sidewalls and screwed last.
• When the base is assembled, it must be tightened in clamps and the evenness of the corners must be checked with a square and the measurement of the diagonals.

• A frame called an apron must be laid on the base. Four planks are cut to size to form the frame, one side of the planks is processed with a cutter, which gives a semicircular shape to the edge of the board. Then, the edges of the planks, from which the front part of the apron will be formed, are cut off at an angle of 45 degrees.
• The finished parts must be fixed to the base with glue. The adhesive is applied to the end face of the base elements and corner beams. Further, strips are laid on the glued surface one by one. Their ends in the corners are also coated with glue, and after that the apron is pressed against the base with clamps until the glue is completely dry.

Frame fabrication

While the glue on the base dries, you can start assembling the frame.

Drawing number 3 - Side wall of the chest of drawers.

• The panels of the sidewalls of the structure are cut from the prepared boardboards according to the specified dimensions. Then, the marking is made, based on the presented drawing, and a fold is selected at the edges of the parts, and then the grooves into which the support frames for the boxes will be installed. How these works are carried out is also shown and described in the first table.

The back panel is made of plywood according to the specified dimensions.

Drawing No. 4 - assembly of support frames for chest of drawers.

• Further, the frames are made, which will become the supports for the boxes. Planks are cut out of the board, corresponding to the given dimensions. The finished parts are assembled into a single structure using dowels, which are set on glue - how this is done can be clearly seen in the drawing and in the table. The lower support frame is fixed to the apron strips, and the rest of the frames for the boxes consist only of support parts. Having assembled the frame with glue, its diagonals are measured and compared, and then the structure is pulled together with clamps. In the middle of the assembled frame, a runner is fixed using 19 mm screws with countersunk heads.
• The next step in the grooves cut in the sidewalls, the frame-supports for the boxes are installed on the glue. They are pushed into the groove space as far as to be flush with the leading edges of the side panels.
• Having installed all the frames in the grooves of the sidewalls, you need to fix the back wall of the chest of drawers, which will give the structure rigidity. The plywood wall is attached to the sidewalls with glue and then fixed with 22 mm finishing nails.

Fastening the frame to the base

• The next step is to attach the chest of drawers to the base apron. Work must be done carefully and only after the glue has completely dried, in order to prevent skewing of the structure.
• The frame is installed on the base apron, and its back wall must be flush with the base. From the front part and on the sides of the structure, the apron should protrude 19 mm relative to the sidewalls of the frame. After fitting and making markings on the apron, the frame is removed from it. After that, glue is applied to the apron according to the markings, then the frame is set in place and fixed to the apron with screws 64 mm long.

Fitting the front frame

• Lateral and transverse strips of the facade frame are made of the board, according to the dimensions given in the table. The connection of these parts is carried out using dowels, which are set on glue.
• The distance between the cross members should be 165 mm, as they will later be attached to the front end side of the support frame for the boxes. After the frame is ready, it is fixed to the sides and frames with glue and nailed with finishing nails 50 mm long.

Dresser top

• The table top for the chest of drawers is cut to the specified dimensions from well-processed boards glued together into a shield. The edges of the backboard are processed with a semicircular cutter - they must match the appearance of the edge of the dresser apron.
• Further, in the upper corners of the frame, corner spacers are installed, which are rectangles. Two holes are drilled in them for screws with a size of 32 mm, which are countersunk and expanded to the shape of an ellipse. The spacers are fixed in the corners of the frame with glue and screws.
• After the glue has dried, a countertop can be mounted on top of the frame. It is laid so that its back side is flush with the back wall of the frame, and the overhangs of the front and side sides equally extend beyond it.
• The tabletop is fixed from below, it is fastened through the holes countersunk in the spacers with screws 32 mm. No glue is used when installing this panel, since it should be able to move slightly in the countersunk holes when the temperature and humidity in the room change.

Dresser drawers

Drawing No. 5 - assembly of drawers of a chest of drawers.

• The walls of the boxes are made of prepared processed boards according to the dimensions given in the table.
• In the lower part of the walls, grooves are cut into which the bottoms of the boxes made of plywood are inserted.
• In this model of a chest of drawers, the walls of the drawers are connected at the corners not by toothed spike joints, but by means of a cutout of the grooves, as shown in the drawing-figure. The walls of the beginning are fastened with glue, and then pulled together with self-tapping screws. After the back wall is connected to the side ones, the bottom is installed, and then the front wall of the box is mounted.
• Further, it is necessary to process the front panel, which is fixed to the front wall of the box. To do this, its edges are processed with a milling cutter, which will round the corners of the board. Facade panel first fixed with glue, and then screwed with 32 mm self-tapping screws from the inside of the box. Before fixing the handles to the boxes, their location is marked, and holes are drilled at the necessary points through which mounting screws or screws are screwed into the handles from the inside of the box.
• After the box is almost completely ready, on the outside of its bottom part, in its middle, two guides are fixed at a distance of 22 mm from each other. These parts are fixed with glue and pressed with clamps until completely dry. After that, the box is tested. It is installed so that the frame rail is located between the two drawer rails. If there are problems with the easy movement of the box, then you need to grind the runner or the guides, slightly expanding the distance between them.

There are six such drawers for this model, and, collecting each of them, it is necessary to try on, installing them in the frame of the chest of drawers. You need to make sure that they not only move freely along the runner, but also beautifully dock with each other.

After final assembly and the installation of boxes, you can proceed to finishing operations.

Chest of drawers with five drawers

Such a model of a chest of drawers can be made of natural wood or chipboard. If you plan to install this piece of furniture in a children's room or bedroom, then it is best to choose well-processed boards for manufacturing.

The design of this version of the chest of drawers differs from the previous one in that the drawers are equipped with modern metal guides, which eliminates the rather complicated process of manufacturing and assembling frame support frames.

To make this version of the chest of drawers, you will need to make the following parts, based on this drawing:

the name of detail	Part size, mm	Quantity, pieces
Table top (lid) of a chest of drawers	900 × 530 × 15	1
Mounting (support under the cover)	858 × 80 × 10	2
Base	858 × 500 × 10	1
Sidewall	784 × 500 × 15	2
Plinth	858 × 50 × 10	1
Small drawer facade	442 × 181 × 15	2
Facade of a large box	886 × 64 × 15	3
Drawer side walls	450 × 131 × 15	10
Front and back wall of small drawer	364 × 131 × 15	4
Back wall of large drawer	801 × 131 × 15	6
Divider panel between small drawers	484 × 164 × 15	1
Rear panel for attaching the separator panel and support rail. But, if the back wall is made of plywood, then this element is not needed in the structure.	858 × 164 × 15	1
The bottom of a small box (fiberboard)	448 × 394 × 15	2
Bottom of a large box (fiberboard)	448 × 831 × 15	3
The back wall of the chest of drawers (plywood or fiberboard)	732 × 888 × 10	1
Pens	On your own	8
Guide	450	10 sets

The assembly of the cabinet takes place in the following sequence:

• Markings of places are made on the sidewalls of the chest of drawers cut to size:

- where the grooves will be cut for installing the bottom part;

- installation flush with the walls of the support strips under the table top;

- cut the rear bottom corner under the plinth so that the chest of drawers can be installed close to the wall;

- the lines for securing the guide boxes are made according to the drawing below and the table with dimensions:

Designation in the drawing	Required size, mm
N-1	160
N-2	343
N-3	526
N-4	693
N-5	144

• Further, grooves are cut out along the markings.
• After that, all the elements are cut out according to the sizes indicated in the table - the chest of drawers will be assembled from them. This is a bottom panel, two support strips, a rear wall of the structure, a plinth strip and a dividing piece that is installed between two small drawers.
• Guides are fixed along the marking lines on the sidewalls.
• The bottom panel slides into the bottom grooves up to the rear edge.
• On top of the sidewalls from the front and rear edges, support strips are placed in the grooves and fixed. After their installation, the structure will receive sufficient rigidity for further work.
• Further, the back wall is closed with plywood. It is screwed on with self-tapping screws or nailed.
• Now you need to find the middle of the support strips and the back wall, since along this line the dividing panel will be fixed with guides for the drawers fixed on it on both sides. It is fixed through the support strips and the back wall with self-tapping screws.
• The next step is under the bottom panel in the front part, between the side walls, a plinth strip is fixed. It can be fixed on metal corners, installing them from the inside, or using dowels, hammering them through the side walls.
• From above, the entire structure is closed by a table top, which must be laid flush with the rear wall, and the front and side overhangs must have the same width.
• Further, all the details for the boxes are made. They are assembled according to the same principle as in the previous version, but the roller guides installed on their side walls, which are mounted according to the drawing, are an exception.

Chest of drawers with a baby changing table

This chest of drawers can be called multifunctional, as it will serve young parents not only for storing a large number of baby's clothes, but also an excellent place for massage, changing clothes or getting a child for a walk, as well as an ironing surface. All these functions become feasible thanks to the fastening of the sides and the folding part to the table top, with the help of which the horizontal surface of the chest of drawers becomes almost twice as large.

For the manufacture of this model of a chest of drawers with overall dimensions 960 × 600 × 450 mm, the following parts will need to be manufactured:

the name of detail	Part size, mm	Amount
Table top (cover)	600 × 460 × 15	1
Back rail of the table top guard	100 × 555 × 15	1
Side rail	100 × 410 × 15	2
Hinged side bar	100 × 380 × 15	2
Hinged cover	600 × 265 × 15	1
Side panel	800 × 430 × 15	2
Tightening bar	75 × 563 × 15	2
Rear wall (prefabricated, plywood)	735 × 295 × 10	2
Drawer front	177 × 595 × 15	4
Drawer side wall	100 × 400 × 15	8
Drawer back	100 × 505 × 15	4
Drawer bottom	535 × 400 × 10	4
Roller guides	400 mm	4 sets
Decorative handle	-	8
Connecting bar	-	1
Heel	-	4
Euro screws (confirmations)	7 × 50	28
Screw	3.5 × 16	32
Screw	3.5 × 30	8
Dowel	8 × 35	16
Nails	35	50 ÷ 70
Eccentric with stem	d-25	2

How to make the details of the chest of drawers and assemble them into a common structure has already been described above. In this model, as in the previous one, the movement of drawers is carried out using metal roller guides fixed on the walls of the box and on the sides of the drawers.

Therefore, in this case, it is only worth focusing on the manufacture and installation of elements that are not present in any of the above models - these are side slats and a folding table design.

According to the given drawings, side rails and folding rails are made. The side edges of the parts are marked along the marked radius and cut out with a jigsaw.

The table top, the hinged cover and the back of the fence are cut to the dimensions indicated in the table. All parts must be well processed with a milling cutter, rounding their ends.

Before installing the tabletop on the chest of drawers, a stationary enclosing and folding structure is mounted on it.

To connect the rear and side walls, grooves are cut along the vertical edges of the rear wall. Side strips are glued into them and additionally fixed with self-tapping screws from the back side, which will be installed permanently. Then, this structure is fixed along the edges of the table top with glue and dowels.

While the glue dries, the folding part of the table is made. To do this, at the edges of the hinged panel, places are marked on which the strips will be fixed. When closed, the hinged panel must completely cover the side and rear wall mounted on the table top. Therefore, before installation, you must carefully measure the place where the fastening screw will be installed.

Having determined this point, holes are drilled in the side and flap bar, into which a screw with a mortise countersunk nut is installed - an eccentric, which allows the hinged structure to open and close freely. After that, a test of the folding part of the chest of drawers is carried out, and if everything went well, the tabletop can be mounted on a ready-assembled box.

The table top is installed on top of the box walls and fixed with dowels glued into the ends of the sidewalls.

Drawers are assembled according to the same principle as in the previous version of the chest of drawers, and the parts for them are made according to the dimensions given in the table.

It is impossible to name the manufacture and assembly of the chest of drawers simple process, since all its parts must be manufactured and processed with the utmost precision. For this, of course, you need at least minimal experience in working with woodworking tools. However, everything can be learned. And if you have a great desire to start working with wood in order to make various pieces of furniture from it, you should try your hand at this fascinating craft.

And in conclusion - very interesting video, in which, albeit an unprofessional, but still a master shares his secrets and conducts a detailed analysis of the mistakes he made when making a chest of drawers.

Video: do-it-yourself chest of drawers - "debriefing"

A chest of drawers is a piece of furniture equipped with pull-out drawers in which clothes are stored. It has long been an indispensable part of the furnishings of any home. But in our time they began to forget about him. And in vain. Chest of drawers, especially white, look very nice in modern interiors... It is quite convenient to store laundry and other necessary things in it.

Besides, the subject the furnishings are characterized by a large capacity. It will easily fit the underwear of all family members.

Pros and cons of a chest of drawers

Today, chests of drawers are starting to gain popularity again. They are bought in the bedroom, in the corridor, and in the living room. Usually they are placed near the closet, as they serve to store items of clothing.

Manufacturers offer many models of dressers, differing from each other in colors and a constructive solution. White is considered a classic. Its versatility allows it to blend perfectly with the rest of the decor colors. Chest drawers delight with their convenience, and their shape makes it easy to view their contents.

From the photographs of the white chest of drawers, one can draw conclusions about its advantages:

• It is multifunctional. A dresser with a mirror above it is a great alternative to a dressing table. And the model, equipped with bumpers, can be used as a changing table.
• This is a great base for choosing other furnishings.
• This product can be used for space zoning.
• Models of this palette will look good in rooms designed in a variety of styles.
• This will optimal solution for a small room, because white will visually increase its area.
• The undoubted advantage is the invisibility of dust on a white surface.
• High quality models have a long service life.

The disadvantages include the following points:

• The problem of caring for a chest of drawers if there are pets or a child in the apartment.
• The need for an even distribution of the contents of the boxes to prevent overloading and distortions.
• Possible fragility and instability.

The ambiguity of the drawbacks of white chests of drawers allows you to compensate for them with careful and accurate use. Products made of high quality material will serve faithfully for many years.

Types of dressers

There are many types of dressers. Let's take a look at some of them.

The classic model is the most popular. It is perfect for furnishings in any color. Such a product, equipped with several convenient drawers and high-quality fittings, has a very stylish appearance. A width of 60 cm is considered optimal for such pieces of furniture.

A chest of drawers with a glossy white surface will wonderfully complement the minimalist furnishings. Gloss will add sophistication and elegance to a bedroom or living room. Surface mirroring is achieved using a modern seamless laser system.

Models in the Provencal style are quite widespread. They are ideal for antique interiors. The main hallmark is antique styling. The surface of such chests of drawers is aged, old drawings are applied to it. Using decoupage, you can make a lovely Provence style product from an ordinary chest of drawers with your own hands.

A white changing chest of drawers will be a great solution if there is a baby in the family. It can store diapers, powders, diapers, sliders, etc.

Models equipped with mirrors will decorate any room. On them you can put frames with photographs, various figurines and trinkets. Such dressers can play a role dressing table.

Corner models with spacious drawers in the shape of a triangle look interesting. They can be used to store not only clothes and linen, but also children's toys. Such chests of drawers are distinguished by their versatility. They are ideal for small, cramped rooms.

When choosing a chest of drawers with drawers, one should proceed from the number of family members. Corner model will fit a family of three to four. If more people live in the house, then it would be more appropriate to opt for a product in a classic style.

What chests of drawers are made of

This necessary furniture attribute in every home can be made from:

• wood:
• plastic.

Chests of drawers made of natural wood are classified as elite. They will nicely decorate the furnishings in the style of classic, baroque, empire, rococo, etc. Such products look very luxurious and elegant. They are also considered environmentally friendly, as they do not contain glue and harmful chemical substances... Usually, bleached oak wood is used for the manufacture of elite class chests of drawers.

Plastic furniture is appropriate if there is a child in the apartment. This is a necessary component of any nursery. It is less dangerous to children than its heavy wooden counterparts.

In the manufacture of chests of drawers, forged and glass elements can be used. Products decorated in this way look very interesting and original.

The main thing when buying a chest of drawers is to focus on general style setting. Only then will the purchased product harmoniously fit into the interior.

The specifics of the white palette

White belongs to classic colors... Headsets of this range are appropriate in any interior. Now they can be found, probably, in every home. White has many tones such as milky, pearl, alabaster, etc.

This palette has the following properties:

• Visual increase in space.
• Giving furniture volume.
• Adding lightness, brightness and spaciousness to rooms.
• Good compatibility with other colors. The black and white chest of drawers looks especially bright and stylish.
• A symbol of luxury and wealth.
• Variety of shades.

To decorate rooms with white furniture requires special knowledge - harmony with products of a different color is not enough. You can overdo it - and then the result will be a hospital environment.

To prevent this from happening, it is enough if only the chest of drawers is white in the room, and the rest of the furniture will be made in a different range. But do not combine white furniture with gray, pale green or Brown color... These tones "pollute" the whiteness of the white. The effect will not be the same.

How to care for a white dresser

White furniture looks stylish and elegant. But some people are afraid to buy headsets of this palette, as they get dirty easily and quickly and require special care. In fact, for the white product of the furniture industry to please you long years, you just need to follow the following guidelines:

• An onion can be used to remove grease and dirt. It is necessary to treat the contaminated place with its half, and then wipe it with a dry cloth.
• Glossy façades do not tolerate abrasive cleaning compounds. Before using any cleaning agent, it must be applied to an inconspicuous area to check how the material will react.
• Oak models made on the basis of chipboard should be regularly wiped with a damp cloth. You can add a little soap to the water.
• It is not advisable to use rags made of hard material. The best option- viscose napkins.

A white chest of drawers in the bedroom or in the nursery is great choice... The main thing is to properly care for it - and then it will serve you for many years.

Photo of a white dresser

Organized and orderly storage of things and clothes determines how neat and clean it will be in the house or apartment. Functional furniture helps to free up the useful area of ​​the room, to compactly fold things. A dresser for a bedroom, living room or nursery is a convenient and practical piece of furniture with spacious drawers in which you can store home textiles, bedding and underwear, clothes. It is important to remember that the chest of drawers has different sizes, but there are certain restrictions on the dimensions of the furniture so that it is comfortable to use.

When choosing a product, the dimensions of the room must be taken into account. Bulky furniture in a confined space looks unorganized, and a chest of drawers that is too small large room can bring dissonance to the visual perception of the general environment. The defining parameters are the size of the chest of drawers in length, depth, height. For correct installation furniture, you need to take into account the shape of the product, provide for how many things will be stored in it. All dimensions for furniture detailing are in millimeters.

Height

The chest of drawers allows you to partially free the room. One sliding wardrobe is not enough, moreover, not all things are practical to hang on a hanger. It is convenient to fold hosiery, underwear, bedding or baby things. There are several of the most common height options:

• low - the height does not exceed 1000 mm. It is believed that furniture, the height of which is less than 850, is no longer a chest of drawers, but a large cabinet. They win in terms of spaciousness due to the depth of the boxes and the length of the structures;
• medium - standard chest of drawers in height - 1000-1300 mm. Looks organically against the background of the rest of the furniture. Usually there are three to five boxes - depending on the size of the elements;
• high - suitable for spacious rooms. The height of the products varies from 1300 to 1600 mm. An interesting solution is a high and narrow chest of drawers, reminiscent of a pencil case with drawers.

The choice of the height of the product should meet the optimal requirements for comfortable operation. In addition, you need to take into account the presence of a plinth, the size of the legs, so that the furniture can be moved close to the wall. It is necessary to pay attention to the sockets and switches located on the wall - the chest of drawers should not cover them. If the model is made without legs and stands on the side walls, a cutout must be made under the plinth or the surface of the tabletop must be increased by 30-50 mm.

Length

For a chest of drawers, length is a parameter that shows the distance between the outer surfaces of the side walls. This is exactly how much space will be occupied by a model installed against a wall or furniture of an island or suspended type of installation. The longer the chest of drawers, the more items you can fit. It is irrational to purchase furniture less than 500 mm - such a product cannot be called practical and functional. Chest length parameters:

• minimum - 600 mm. Short models convenient to use for hallways for storing shoes, bags, accessories. Not very relevant wide dressers with a changing surface for a children's room - 600-800 mm. Small chests of drawers hold one vertical row of drawers;
• furniture with dimensions 800-1000 mm - standard. Medium-length models are most in demand for arranging any room - living room, hallway, bedroom, nursery, bathroom, if free space allows. The filling elements can be with full-length facades in one row or located in two sections;
• from 1000 mm - are considered long models, and there can be two or three rows of boxes. All-wall products for the living room and bedroom look beautiful if the chest of drawers does not coexist with other spacious furniture - a wardrobe, a wardrobe. The number of sections can be any.

The appearance of the chest should be balanced. If a product with a length of 2000 mm will have a one and a half meter height, such a model will not fit into any design. The chest of drawers occupies a central place only in the living room if it is the only furniture for storing things.

Standard

Depth

All models of dressers can be classified into narrow (shallow) and wide. Depth determines how much items can be accommodated. Narrow options are chosen for rooms with limited usable area. In this case, it is rational to place furniture close to the wall, and the length and height of the product should compensate for the small depth, possible options:

• narrow products with a depth of 300 mm. If the model is narrower, then it will be impossible to store things. From 300 mm, 20-30 mm of usable space will go to the rear wall and the thickness of the facade;
• depth standard - 400-500. Optimal size for arranging any room. It is convenient to use boxes, to get content from distant areas;
• depth of 500-600 - if the model is more than 600 mm, the comfortable use of the boxes is impaired. Items stacked near the back wall are inconvenient to reach.

A deep chest of drawers takes up a lot of space, so you can choose a wide model with a short length or choose an angular design. Tabletops of wide low models can be additionally used as a work surface, table or stand for souvenirs, accessories, lighting fixtures.

Standard

Standard sizes

Manufacturers produce cabinet furniture according to standard sizes or custom-made. Before choosing a model, you need to assess the availability of free space. If the space allows you to install any chest of drawers, you can choose a finished product made in standard sizes:

• the height is 1300. It is not intended to use the table top as a work surface. The product fulfills exclusively its functional purpose - storage of things;
• length is 900 mm for models with one row of drawers, 1800 for versions with two sections. The length of the chest of drawers is determined by internal filling- large, small boxes, superstructures, shelves;
• the depth is 400-500. Drawer guides are installed inside. Their length changes in 50 mm increments, so the size of the runners determines the depth of the model.

The most common standard sizes of dressers: 800x100x450, 800x1200x500, 800x1100x550, 1300x900x500 mm. At the same time, the internal usable area (depth) will be less by 50 mm, since the space is taken by the facades of the boxes (18-20), the back wall made of fiberboard (4), technological gaps and allowances plus the furniture edge.

Maximum value

There are no strict requirements for the maximum parameters of the chests of drawers. The dimensions of the products depend on the configuration, type and purpose of the structure, as well as convenient use interior item. Recommended maximum product values:

• a chest of drawers for a children's room, combined with a changing table, should not exceed 1000 mm in height. Chest of drawers length - 800, depth - 500;
• model for the living room with many compartments, including a glass display case for storing dishes, souvenirs. Length - from 1800 mm and more, depth - no more than 600, height - 1300;
• option for a bedroom with a mirror, replacing a wardrobe and dressing table. Furniture parameters in height - 850, in length - unlimited, possibly in the entire wall, in depth - maximum 600;
• model for the hallway, corridor. There are two options - a chest of drawers 1600x600x400 (short and high) or 1300x1000x300 (narrow and low);
• for storing children's things and accessories. The chest of drawers should be stable, roomy, not very high. Maximum dimensions - 900x1000x450 (height, length, depth).

The main condition for choosing the optimal ratio of the size of the chest of drawers is sufficient roominess and ease of use.

The height of the furniture affects the storage capacity of the product and the installation characteristics. The tabletop can simultaneously be used as a work surface for a dressing table or a stand for decorative items, souvenirs.

Drawer sizes

The inner filling of the chest of drawers is very diverse. There are many options for the location of the boxes and their parameters. Furniture can be divided into sections with elements of different capacity or consist of one vertical row. The main dimensions of the boxes:

• height - minimum 100 mm (with facade 130), standard 170 mm (with facade 200), maximum 350-370 mm (with facade 400);
• depth - the maximum value is 300 mm minus the gap for the thickness of the facade (16-18 for chipboard) and 4-6 mm for the back wall of the fiberboard;
• the standard for the depth of the drawers for the guides is 450, the maximum value is 600;
• the length of the drawers located in one vertical row is standardly equal to the length of the chest of drawers minus 26 (allowances of 13 per side for maneuver);
• the length of the drawers, separated by a partition, corresponds to the length of the chest of drawers in half minus the allowances and the thickness of the partition and side walls.

The standard number of boxes is four to six. The lower elements are the same size, while the upper ones are separated by a bridge and are half as long. But this requirement is optional - there can be any number of boxes, their sizes are determined design features constructions.

Forms of products

Functional pieces of furniture, in addition to diverse content, can have classic and original contours, as well as unusual decoration. All models can be conditionally divided into several types according to their form:

• rectangular - standard design with several wide bottom drawers and two upper ones, separated by a partition;
• angular - take up a minimum of space, can have an L-shaped, L figurative form, the contours of the trapezoid, consist of five walls;
• radius - instead of the usual strict angles, the models have convex or concave surfaces, curvilinear shapes;
• combined - chests of drawers with moving modules, relevant in the design of modern interior styles.

Combined

Radial

Distinguish between design models, which are given unusual shape, carry out products in non-standard dimensions. The type of installation of the product depends on the shape of the chest of drawers. Furniture can be installed along the walls, placed in an angular way, hung on the walls, placed in the center of the room - island options with drawers that slide out in both directions.

The chest of drawers is a hybrid of a wardrobe and a chest. The first involves storing things on hangers in an orderly way. The second is the placement of folded things without any order. The chest of drawers is devoid of the disadvantages of both products, but combines their advantages.

A chest of drawers is not included in the top three compulsory furniture in the bedroom, but as soon as the area appears, preference is given to this item, which is convenient in all respects.

The height, length and depth of a piece of furniture literally determine its fate. And here every centimeter is important: the width of the opening sash, the size of the drawer extension, the wall thickness that does not allow installing the chest of drawers in a niche - everything is important.

Minimum dimensions

The classic version looks like a rectangular design with a number of drawers. The latter are located on top of each other, forming a vertical row. Most small option includes 2 drawers.

The possible dimensions of the chest of drawers are determined by the ratio of the useful volume and the area of ​​the room.

• Minimum height is 850 mm. Otherwise, the structure turns into a curbstone. An exception is a hinged chest of drawers: it can be fixed at any convenient level, so its height may be less.
• Length- more than 50 cm. A shorter length is not justified either from a user or from a structural point of view.
• Depth- 30 cm. There is no way to store things on shelves and in drawers of shallower depth. Moreover, the actual depth is less, since the rear wall and facade take 2 more – 3 cm.

For the bedroom, such tiny dressers do not rearrange interest: the bedroom requires storage space for bed linen and blankets, and these things, even when folded, are quite voluminous.

Photo of a small chest of drawers

Usage standards

The optimal sizes are calculated based on the height of the average person. In reality, the dresser should be examined in the store and see how convenient or uncomfortable it is to use it.

• Optimal height leaves 130 cm. The chest of drawers is not a work surface and cannot replace a table with the exception of a special chest of drawers-secretaire.
• Depth- no more than 50 cm. The same restriction applies here as with the shelves of the cabinet: at a depth exceeding the length of an arm, it is inconvenient to use the drawer.
• Length can fluctuate and quite significantly. Two vertical rows of drawers are considered optimal, this is about 180 cm. But as an interior detail, a long chest of drawers is a horizontal element, therefore it can have a greater length.

The boxes in the classic version have the same dimensions, but their different sizes are also allowed.

Standard size model

Maximum product size

In principle, the height and length of the product is not limited. From the user's point of view, a chest of drawers, the top drawer, which cannot be reached, is not a good idea. But the designers have repeatedly suggested and offer models that resemble a filing cabinet in a library, but at the same time stylish and original

• Maximum height, as a rule, it is limited to 120 cm, however, there are models with a height of up to 160 cm. – install a lamp or leave books there. But at the same time, the useful volume increases – many handy drawers.
• Length- may exceed 2 m. But usually folding models with a movable tabletop or the ability to shuffle modules reach this value.
• Depth- still no more than 50 cm. Very deep drawers are inconvenient.

Large size product

Drawer sizes

In one chest of drawers, there may be boxes of the same size and shape, or maybe the most diverse. Moreover, they constitute both a classic rectangular design and an irregular one.

• Small drawers- down to the size of a tea box. These are used to store bijouterie.
• High and deep- designed to save linen, blankets and pillows. There should be a couple of these drawers in the dresser. It is also very convenient to store warm knitted sweaters and dresses here.
• Long and deep – for thin wearable and bed linen. Suitable for knitwear and hosiery.
• Narrow and long- for accessories: scarves, scarves, ties and others.

Multi-colored chest of drawers

Forms and placement

Perhaps no other type of bedroom furniture can boast so many options. And at the same time, the design methods: designers willingly use a chest of drawers as a decorative element.

Stationarity or mobility

• Initially chest of drawers installed on legs or the basement and moved only when necessary - moving to another apartment, redeveloping the premises, and so on. This option is called stationary.
• Mobile chest of drawers- modern version. Instead of legs, it has rollers with a lock: by lifting the last chest of drawers, you can easily move it to another place, and by lowering the lever, you can fix the item. In addition to its traditional function of storing things, the model also plays the role of a mobile partition. Convenient and useful tool for bedrooms combined with a nursery or study.

Mobile chest of drawers

Dresser shape

• The vast majority of furniture is made in a traditional form - rectangular structure, and are placed along the wall or on the wall.
• - occupy a corner of the room and have many modifications: five-walled, trapezoidal, L-shaped. The sizes are very different - from the independent corner element, to a structure that occupies a hefty area.
• Radius- have curved contours, as a rule, close to a semicircle or ellipse, but with a large length, the chest of drawers can include both convex and concave surfaces. The furniture looks very original and fits perfectly into the modern or high-tech interior.

A very original variation is the round chest of drawers. The boxes are located inside the radius section, the sections rotate relative to each other. Two or three people can use it without interfering with each other at all, simply turning their section towards themselves.

• Combined - a modification that can change shape if desired. This option is being implemented different ways... The most common is a movable top tabletop, which is placed parallel, perpendicularly, forming a corner, or on top, turning it with drawers into a compact chest of drawers.

No less interesting, but less common are designs with modules moving relative to the frame. The fact is that the design of such models is carried out only in modern styles and with classic interior does not match in any way.

• - the chest of drawers, if desired, can be given any absolutely fantastic shape. Both wood and plastic from which this item is made – the material is flexible and durable, and allows you to embody the most enchanting ideas. As a result, chests of drawers appeared, made in the form of a figure of a naked woman, the head of Nefertiti, a woodpile, a corset on high legs, and a shape that cannot be described in words. At the same time, the useful volume is practically not reduced.

Designer model of the product

Location and fastening

• Floor chest of drawers- installed on the floor, has a plinth or legs. It is meant to be located against the wall, so the back wall is most often made of fiberboard.
• Wall- this includes a structure fixed to the wall. It is convenient because it is located at any desired level. But on the other hand, it is completely motionless.
• Often wall-mounted floor chests of drawers it is recommended to additionally fix it to the wall. This usually applies to a product in a children's bedroom, where there is a high probability non-standard use: For example, as a climbing trainer.
• Attached- is part of a furniture ensemble.
• Ostrovnoy- plays the role of both storage and partitions. For convenience, it is equipped with drawers that slide out on both sides.

Unusual chest of drawers "under the tiger skin"

Decorative techniques

The chest of drawers does not belong to the primary furnishings, therefore it often ends up in the bedroom after the interior has been selected. Finding a product that matches the style, color and texture is not always possible. But you can always give the dresser the desired look.

The basis is the simplest rectangular structure with three drawers made of chipboard.

• Classic interior- the preferred option is with legs and not massive. To give a standard product a correspondence with the spirit of the classics, it is quite enough to replace the round handles with forged - black or “bronze” ones, and stick a curly thin molding on the drawers. From the sides, the molding is glued exactly along the borders, and from the top and bottom with an indent of 5 mm.
• Baroque or Empire style- the molding will need a more fancy one. Imitation gold is perfect. It is also better to choose handles "gilded" and intricate shapes. The surface of the chest of drawers should be treated with a glossy varnish - transparent or colored.
• Provence, Mediterranean, Country- assumes antique imitation. Ideal if the drawers of the base dresser are curved, but the usual one will do. The paint and varnish layer is removed from the surfaces with a wash or emery paper, then the product is primed and covered with stains of two different colors: first dark, and then lighter by 2 – 3 tones. It turns out a wonderful chest of drawers in the "retro" style. Ready product opened with varnish.

Craquelure technique is used. In this case, the effect of antiquity will be more striking.

Today the dressers in the interior are irreplaceable thing in the living space. They are great for any room.

They are quite often used to store things and small attributes of everyday life.

Modern dressers in the interior are a mini-cabinet design that can accommodate enough household items. Basically, bedding is stored here, as well as personal hygiene items.

Today, a chest of drawers is great for apartments with small space... It takes up a small area while keeping the room in perfect order.

The main functions of the chest

More than a dozen years ago, a chest of drawers was an element of luxury that self-sufficient people could afford. The model was presented in a classic direction, but modern technologies do not stand still.

V furniture stores you can find a huge variety of the lineup. Here you can find chests of drawers made of various materials and stylistic direction. Modern models consist of several parts, such as:

• legs;
• drawers;
• table top.

Quite often in the furniture department you can find non-standard models of dressers. They can vary considerably in width and capacity. Thanks to these parameters, the models fit perfectly into any room design.

The main advantage of such furniture is its versatility. Here you can store both things and dishes. Drawers allow you to put various items in their places.

For lovers of the classic mood, there is a huge selection of models with swing doors... Most often, these chests of drawers fit perfectly into the interior of the kitchen or bathroom.

To add an element of antiquity to the design, you can use a chest of drawers with an artificially aged surface, while the model is in no way inferior to the furniture of that time. It will also feature vintage fittings and carvings.

The chest of drawers can be designed according to your wishes. On its surface, a drawing can be applied in the same theme as the entire space in the design.

The most popular are light models. A white chest of drawers in the interior is able to add a bit of freshness to the finished interior composition.

Color palette

For working area, models made in dark variants... For the bedroom and kitchen, you should choose more pastel shades that long time will look stylish and fashionable.

Ikea dressers in the interior, help create a warm atmosphere in the living area. The lineup of this company is distinguished by amazing models that are distinguished by their versatility.

Such pieces of furniture will not leave anyone indifferent. In the photo of dressers in the interior, the latest trends in the field of furniture fashion are presented.

Materials for making dressers

Dresser designs are made of lightweight materials that have a low price range. Mainly used by:

• rattan.

Decorative elements can be made from:

• glass;
• plastics;
• aluminum.

Furniture made of MDF is distinguished by its strength and reliability. As for chipboard, chests of drawers made of this material will also last a long enough period of time, the main thing is that the surface does not have chips and scratches.

V recent times, many consumers prefer models with a picture in the form of a photo print.

On the surface of the chest of drawers, you can apply absolutely any image that will help add zest to the interior.

Photos of stylish dressers in the interior