Do You Really Need a Dresser? Organizer explains

If you have ever tried to outfit a home with furnishings, you have likely run into the issue of space. One of the most common areas is lacking space in the bedroom. Because of this, you may be looking at your bedroom set, which is likely quite a large group of furniture and trying to figure out what pieces you can keep and which pieces can go. 

Aside from the bed, one of the largest pieces of bedroom furniture is typically the dresser. While most people find this piece of furniture a necessity in the bedroom, the truth is that you don’t need to have a dresser in your bedroom.

In this article, you will learn how you can live without a dresser in your bedroom and what you can use in place of a dresser. 

Do bedrooms need dressers? 

Contrary to popular belief, a bedroom can be complete without the use of a dresser. A dresser is a great piece of furniture that provides a place for you to organize your clothes.  Often, the top of the dresser is used as a location for storage in the bedroom. 

While it is common for a dresser to be placed in the bedroom, it is not a piece of furniture required to complete a bedroom set. Because of this, you may find yourself questioning the true necessity of a dresser. 

What Is The Purpose?

You likely know the overall purpose of a dresser, which is to store folded clothing. It can also be referred to as a chest of drawers or a bureau with a mirror. Many people choose to place a dresser in their bedroom to provide a neat and organized place to keep their clothing and other small belongings that they may not wish to display.  

A little-known fact about the true purpose of the dresser was that it was created as a place that you could get dressed in front of.  Instead of using the top for storage, it was meant to be used as a table to place your clothing on before putting it on.  This is also why it is popular to find dressers with mirrors attached. 

If at any point you want to remove the mirror from your dresser, I got you covered with this step-by-step guide!

Are There Different Types of Dressers?

When looking at dressers, you will find there are several different types and styles to choose from.  Some people choose a dresser for necessity, while others choose it as an item of décor. The most common types of dressers you will find are:

Long dresser:  This is one of the most common types of dressers. It is typically waist high and houses long drawers that you can place your garments in.  Long dressers are a versatile piece of furniture because the large surface area on top allows you to store and display items.  Many people choose to place a TV on top of a long dresser.  

Tall dresser: Just as the name suggests, this is a rather tall and column-like piece of furniture.  It doesn’t take up as much space as other dressers and is composed of several drawers stacked upon each other. These dressers typically come to just about chest level.  The surface area on top is quite minimal, so it doesn’t offer much of a storage option.  For small spaces, this may be ideal.

Storage dresser: A storage dresser may be found in any room of the house.  They can be tall or short and can serve many purposes.  Some storage dressers have both drawers and a cabinet, making them ideal for different locations.  The variety of sizes also makes it easy to fit into many spaces. 

Double dresser: A double dresser is about waist high and has two rows of drawers instead of one.  This usually means the piece of furniture is longer than a tall dresser and requires more space.  There is also a triple dresser option which has three drawers.  Typically the middle drawers are a bit more narrow and are often used for small items. These dressers require a lot of wall space. 

Armoire: This is a unique dresser option because it doesn’t look or function like the traditional dresser.  An armoire can be very decorative or simple.  The drawing factor of an armoire is the ability to store both hanging and folded clothes in it. It will take up more space than most dressers, but it also provides a decorative element that many seek.

As you can see, there are many options when it comes to dressers.  Whether you need one in your bedroom is completely up to you.  If you don’t have a closet or other area for clothing storage, it would be wise to invest in some dresser, whether large or small. 

Do you know the difference between a tallboy and a lowboy? Let me tell you.

Do you need a dresser if you have a walk-in closet?

Many people find themselves deciding if they need to use a dresser if they have a walk-in closet.  Most walk-in closets provide more than enough space for storing clothes.

Because of this, you may not feel the need for an actual dresser. While initially, it may seem like a dresser is unnecessary, it is wise to evaluate the closet space you have to work with.  All walk-in closets are designed differently. 

Types of Walks in Closets

Just like dressers can vary, so can walk-in closets.  Some walk-in closets are very small, with only room for hanging clothes with a couple of shelves on the wall. In comparison, others are elaborate areas that have shelves, drawers, and ample space to change. 

If you have a small walk-in closet, you will likely want to invest in a dresser to help with storage. Most everyone has clothes that are better stored folded up. Because of this, a dresser will help you keep your clothing neat and organized.  

A large walk-in closet is a completely different situation. If the walk-in closet has built-in drawers to store your folded items in, there is likely not a need for a separate dresser.  The best thing you can do is look at the drawer space and determine if your clothes will fit appropriately. 

Can I put a dresser in the closet? 

Perhaps you have a walk-in closet or a reach-in closet which leads you to contemplate putting the dresser inside. You will be happy to know there isn’t a “rule” about where you should place a dresser in a bedroom, so you can feel free to move it into your closet.  However, it would be best if you considered some things before making a move. 

How big is the closet? The size of the closet you are planning to move the dresser into matters.  It is likely not a good idea if you have a very small closet that will just fit the dresser.  You have to remember that you will likely need your closet to store hanging items.  If the dresser takes up that space, you are not going to have room. 

How big is the dresser? Along the lines of thinking of the closet size, you also need to consider the dresser size. If the dresser is large, it may not fit appropriately into the closet. The size needs to factor in both the height and length of the dresser. 

Does it improve access? Before moving your dresser into the closet, you need to consider the accessibility you will have.  Are the drawers going to be able to open fully?  Can you still put things on top of your dresser? If you cannot answer yes to these questions, you may need to re-think your decision. 

Knowing that you can put a dresser into a closet without making a design faux pau may bring you a sense of relief.  It may also bring some questions to your mind about the reason behind putting a dresser into a closet. 

Why Put a Dresser into a Closet?

You may be wondering what would possess someone to put a dresser into a closet. If you have ever lived in a small space, you likely understand the reason, but it may be tough to wrap your mind around if you have only had large areas to decorate.  There are several reasons to move your dresser to the closet. 

Make space: If you live in an apartment or have a small bedroom, you are likely constantly searching for extra space.  Short of knocking down a wall, it is not easy to come by.  However, if you have a walk-in closet or a large reach-in closet, you may be able to free floor space by sliding your dresser inside.  

Moving the dresser into the closet essentially clears floor space and allows you to have more open living space in the bedroom.  If the area is cramped, the addition of a few square feet can make all the difference. Learn about folding your clothes effectively here.

Add storage: You may choose to put a dresser into a closet to add extra storage to your room. Remember, not all dressers are large, so you may be able to find an option that sits below your hanging clothes that can serve the purpose of a shoe rack as well as storage drawers. 

Efficiency: By placing your dresser into the closet, especially if it is a walk-in closet, you can get completely changed right in the closet.  You no longer have to move from the closet to the dresser to retrieve clothing items so you can get ready.  This may not save a tremendous amount of time, but every minute saved is beneficial if you find yourself in a time crunch. 

Economical: Many people choose to have custom-built drawers placed into their walk-in closets.  If this is in your budget, then by all means, go for it.  However, most people don’t have the extra few hundred to drop on storage drawers.  If you want to save money and get the same function, moving a dresser into the space will likely work, given the space is adequate. 

No matter what reason you choose for moving a dresser into the closet, as long as it fits properly, it is likely a good design move. 

A Dresser in a Closet is a Centerpiece

You have likely never thought of your dresser in a closet as a design centerpiece, but it most certainly can be.  If you have a large reach-in closet, you can make it a focal point in the room and still make sure your closet is functional. 

Most reach-in closets have two large sliding doors that close off the room.  While this hides the clothing and possible clutter, it can also close off an already small room.  If you remove the closet doors, paint the closet’s interior, and move the dresser in, you can create added space. 

Here are some great ways to modify your old dresser to get some more use out of it.

Will This Work for All Closets?

When choosing to use the dresser in the closet as a focal point, you want to make sure you have enough room to hang clothes neatly so they aren’t on top of the dresser.  It would also be good to see if you can add any decorative elements to the space.  For example, are there pictures or wall decorations that could fit in the space? 

If you find yourself looking at a small reach-in closet, it will likely not be wise to remove the doors to place the dresser in because the space isn’t great enough.  The idea of using the closet and dresser as a focal point is to make sure there is enough space for both function and fashion.  If there isn’t, you are likely to find yourself frustrated with the outcome? 

Final Thoughts

A dresser is not a mandatory piece of bedroom furniture, but it is extremely useful.  If you do not have a closet with built-in drawers or a way to neatly store your folded clothing, you will likely want to invest in a dresser. If a small space is an issue, see if you can improvise and move the dresser to the closest.  No matter what you choose to do, a dresser is a functional piece of furniture but not always necessary.

Next, you can learn how to store your socks and underwear without a dresser. I also made a guide to how to fold ALL your clothes to save space here. It also has video and step-by-step illustrations so that you won’t make any mistakes.