A chest of drawers with a mirror is not just an analogue of a small dressing table, where the entire range of women's cosmetics can fit; it is not just a replacement for a bulky wardrobe or additional space for storing things.
Now chests of drawers are a practical, fashionable and aesthetic piece of furniture that has many functions that are indispensable in everyday life.
Particularly convenient are chests of drawers equipped with a mirror or selected in combination with it: such a piece of furniture can be in the hallway, bedroom or nursery, and it will find its use everywhere.
A chest of drawers in a living room interior is best combined with a mirror, because mirrors visually expand the space, and drawers help get rid of bulky furniture.
In addition, the corner of the “large room”, equipped with such a stylish and practical item, attracts attention and draws one of the compositional centers to itself.
Chest of drawers
A display chest is mostly glazed furniture with a minimum number of walls.
It opens up an overview of all the contents, and therefore is ideal for the living room: you can store exquisite dishes in it or equip a minibar.
Such chests of drawers are often equipped with large mirrors or even symmetrical mirror inserts.
For which rooms are there chests of drawers with mirror finish?
A mirrored chest of drawers can be located in various rooms, depending on its purpose:
- Hallway. A chest of drawers with a mirror surface in the hallway will be very appropriate for storing shoes in the lower drawers or folding drawers, and use the upper sections for small items. It can also be equipped with sliding doors or doors. A combination of a chest of drawers with a hanging mirror is considered an excellent option;
- Living room. In this room it is used to store books, crystal sets, alcoholic beverages and household items. Such a chest of drawers will look great on carved legs with drawers or hinged doors;
- Bedroom. It can be equipped with small compartments in the upper part for storing cosmetics, glasses, magazines and large drawers in the lower part for clothes, towels or bed linen. Able to complement the soft style of the bedroom interior and visually enlarge the room;
- Bathroom. It goes well with the interior of the bathroom in light and pastel colors. At the same time, it is equipped with drawers for household chemicals, storage of towels, rags, cosmetics or small appliances. The upper horizon can have cantilever shelves for toothbrushes, sponges or perfume, and can also be used as a base for a mirror.
Hanging models used in small rooms are also popular. They take up less space and give the impression of lightness. May have drawers, open niches or shelves. They are often hung on a mounting strip, as it provides maximum reliability of fastening.
Corner chest of drawers
A corner chest of drawers is usually chosen by owners of small living rooms when they want to advantageously fill corner spaces and smooth out transitions, without losing the feeling of spaciousness of the living room.
The mirror often comes already included, so you don't have to worry about choosing a style. Typically these are compact chests of drawers that resemble dressing tables.
Internal filling
A chest of drawers with a mirror finish is used for household and household items, so the equipment should be practical and convenient. Often, chests of drawers are made with parallel spacious drawers, but modern design ideas allow you to expand the filling options. For example, in a bathroom, a chest of drawers may be equipped to a greater extent with laundry baskets that sort them among themselves. In the living room chest of drawers, the lower part is equipped with open shelves or in addition with hinged doors. A chest of drawers in a hallway is often equipped with folding shelves with nets for shoes and drawers for small items.
Also, modern models are equipped with shelves that are closed with sliding doors, similar to a wardrobe. Hanging mirror chests of drawers can be smaller in height, but quite wide (up to 1.5 meters). Such models may have combined open and closed storage systems. At the same time, only closed facades can have a mirror surface.
Chest of drawers with table
Choose your own chest of drawers with tables or so-called “tabletops”: they are spacious, divided by many shelves and compartments, but they look rough and bulky if you do not fill the space with a narrow and long or a small, round, elegant mirror.
Such models are suitable for lovers of figurines, photo frames and other pleasant little things in the interior.
Types and design of chests of drawers
A chest of drawers with a mirror for the hallway is chosen taking into account the characteristics and the furniture itself. It is important to evaluate the dimensions, capacity, ease of use, and suitability for purpose.
Frame
The design of a chest of drawers in a hallway is standard: sides, bottom, back wall, tabletop, sometimes additional partitions are needed. The façade is formed by shelves, sashes and shelving. The dimensions of the furniture depend on its configuration and the area of the hall. There are:
- narrow - with a width of no more than 50 cm, the height reaches 150 cm. Accessories are often stored here, sometimes shoes and umbrellas. You will need a small mirror;
- classic - has a square or rectangular shape. Width and height range from 60 to 120 cm. Depth can be minimal: for example, the depth of a shoe slip is only 30 cm;
- long - console or floor version with a height of up to 60 cm and a length of up to 200 cm. Here you can install a large full-length mirror;
- corner - uses a usually empty corner. The back wall of the chest of drawers is made of 2 additional sidewalls located at an angle. The mirror is often installed on the tabletop;
- chest of drawers - a furniture complex with a mirror door.
Furniture is made from any suitable material. There are no sudden changes in temperature or high humidity in the hallway, so there are no restrictions on use:
- solid wood - oak, ash, walnut, cherry, pine. The main parameters of choice are the cost and beauty of the wood;
- Chipboard or MDF - particle board. Less strong and durable, but suitable for the hall;
- plastic – both laminated and slab materials are used. The latter is used as furniture finishing in high-tech, modern, and techno styles.
Rarely, glass is also used for glazing individual sections.
Types of chests of drawers by type of placement
Both floor and console models are installed in the hall:
- console – low, long chests of drawers are mounted on the wall at any convenient height. Such furniture looks elegant and visually expands the space. Suspended structures are never solid; the mirror is installed separately;
- floor - rest on the floor. The method of support depends on the nature and number of objects that are stored in it.
Most often, chests of drawers are installed on legs. The height depends on the style, but for the hall it is better to choose models with short - up to 15 cm, massive legs that can take a large load. Sometimes the legs are replaced with 2 massive supports. Often there is a plinth option: the chest of drawers rests on the sides and the front thick strip - the plinth. This design is very stable, but it is difficult to clean the floor underneath it.
Filling
The filling of the chest of drawers in the hallway depends on what is going to be stored in it. The options are as follows:
- open and closed shelves - scarves, hats, gloves, bags, shoe care products are left here;
- drawers - used in the same way. Plus: the contents of the drawers are hidden from view and do not collect dust;
- shoe shelves - inclined wooden or metal lattice. Shoes left on such shelves dry faster and do not become deformed during storage;
- folding drawers - shoes and boots are placed in vertical cells, which are fixed on folding flaps. A very convenient option when there is little space in the hallway, since the depth of such a box is only 30 cm.
Additional elements appear in the chest of drawers: side shelves, narrow drawers for gloves, a key holder, high compartments for umbrellas and bags.
Facade
The facade determines the appearance of the chest of drawers. It depends not only on the material of the front panels and doors, but also to some extent on the opening method. There are:
- retractable mechanism - the drawer slides along guides on rollers or ball elements;
- hinged - when opened, the sash moves down and out. Slims and compartments for umbrellas are equipped with such a system;
- swing sash - opens outward and to the side. Both hidden and overhead loops are used if the latter act as a decorative element;
- sliding - the sash moves along the facade and does not take up space. Characteristic for long chests of drawers.
Whatever the facades are made of, they are divided into 2 types: framed and frameless. The first ones are more practical: the canvas is edged with a metal strip, which prevents rapid wear and change in geometric shape. The ends of the frameless panel are sanded or sealed with a plastic edge. They break down faster and don't look as nice.
A chest of drawers with a mirror is a universal option for a hallway.
Shoes and gloves, bags and keys are stored in drawers on furniture shelves. The mirror allows you to examine yourself before going out and check whether your clothes or shoes are in order. © 2021 Furniture-one.ru — Copying materials is strictly prohibited.
Transformable chest of drawers
Transformable chests of drawers are suitable for small-sized housing, because at the owner’s request they can be transformed into a dressing table, stand or tabletop.
You have to select mirrors for them yourself as needed, but usually these are small modern models with illuminated frames that attract more attention than the simple design of the chest of drawers itself.
Pros and specifications of a chest of drawers with an interior bedroom mirror
Modern chests of drawers can be called a reincarnation of the chests in which our ancestors stored goods, but unlike them, they have become more functional and attractive on the outside. First, the legs were attached to the chest, then drawers that pull out and decorative components were added to the structure. Stylish furniture items have become especially popular with the emergence of options with a mirror surface.
Medieval and modern fashionistas loved them very much, and here's why:
- A correctly chosen model will be able to accommodate not only jewelry and cosmetics, but also bed linen, which is very important for small rooms.
- You can not only save your cosmetics, but also use them for their intended purpose, because the mirror is right in front of your eyes.
- By removing unnecessary things from the chest of drawers, you will make the room much more spacious, and practice shows that it can be an excellent replacement for a bulky closet or wardrobe.
- A large mirror can visually enlarge the space of a small room, and qualified designers use this technique very often.
- A chest of drawers can be an excellent continuation of the style of the selected interior design, since you can install candlesticks, lighting fixtures, other decorative components and related items on it.
The modern furniture market has a large number of different offers, where chests of drawers, presented in a wide variety of models, receive a special place. It seems that this furniture element has no downsides, but there are some. This is associated with the purchase of a low-quality product, for the production of which low-quality materials were used that are not able to withstand excessive load. Solving the problem is simple - you need to choose the right manufacturer, and it is better that real wood is used in production.
Some people confuse a bedside table with a chest of drawers, but these are a variety of furniture elements. The first one basically has one door and several shelves, and the main highlight of the chest of drawers are the drawers that pull out, not covered by a common door.
How to choose a suitable mirror?
We have already talked a little about what mirrors are usually combined with various models of chests of drawers, and now we will give some general tips that will help make this piece of furniture as stylish and presentable as possible.
The materials from which the mirror frame and chest of drawers are made should match or fit well together, unless of course you are experimenting with the avant-garde. Thus, combinations of aged bronze or gold metal and wood usually look advantageous.
The chest of drawers and mirror should be approximately the same size, or the empty space can be filled with paintings and photographs.
It is very easy to check compliance with compositional rules: firstly, everything that lies on the top shelf of the chest of drawers should be reflected in the mirror, and secondly, a smaller mirror should be visible from the other end of the room with the naked eye.
Take care of proper lighting: it is advisable to illuminate the mirror with paired lamps or LEDs.
Stick to a single color scheme. Shades may vary, but do not overuse color.
Not all chests of drawers need mirror fittings: some have mirrored inserts on the doors or are simply aesthetically pleasing without additional “frills,” but a regular chest of drawers or a vanity table substitute definitely needs matching mirrors.
Be sure to make several photo collages of the models you like to see how two interior items will be combined (photos of chests of drawers with mirrors can be found on the Internet, and use online programs for collages)
Determine what role the mirror should play: to be practical to use or just a decorative element of the interior.
How does a chest of drawers work?
When making any furniture, it is important that it not only looks perfect, but is also durable, and this requirement fully applies to chests of drawers for the bedroom. Quite often, they are not only a luxury item and a place to store cosmetics and jewelry, but also carry a serious mechanical load. Careful owners store things and even household appliances in them, so when choosing, it is worth considering what material the structure is made of.
Frame
The durability of the structure depends, first of all, on the strength of the product frame, while the appearance and shape of the chest of drawers affects the visual perception of the furniture. Manufacturers offer both standard sizes and models made according to individual sketches. In specialized stores you can order models of different shapes and sizes, but most often the bedroom is decorated with rectilinear structures that are in the center of the composition. Owners of small bedrooms are happy to buy compact corner models, distinguished by their ergonomics and functionality, not to mention how much space can be saved if they are used.
Our ancestors widely used solid wood to produce furniture - the most environmentally friendly and durable material, but today such designs are not available to everyone. In addition, there is no point in buying expensive and bulky furniture made of pine or oak if you can buy more affordable models made of MDF, chipboard, fiberboard or plastic. In some cases, this may be rattan and other “exotic” materials, but this option is unlikely to be suitable for a high-tech bedroom or a room decorated in a classic style. In this case, composite materials are an ideal option - environmentally friendly, durable and visually attractive at the same time.
Facades
A chest of drawers is a bright representative of cabinet furniture, and if the strength characteristics depend on the type and material of the case, then the facade is its “face”. The length of the facade depends on the size of the body, and it usually consists of a panel and a frame, which are made from various materials, but most often this is the same material that is used to make the frame - chipboard, laminated chipboard, MDF or plastic. Most often, denser MDF is used, which is not afraid of moisture, and any design can be applied to it. The façade can be closed (the classic version) or open, which is used quite rarely.
Also pay attention to the structure of the facade, and it can be solid (solid), in which the sash is a single piece made of one type of material. Among the design options, it is also worth highlighting frame doors framed with a profile made of plastic and MDF. This design is more like a photo frame.
Chests of drawers also differ in the options for opening drawers, and they can be retractable, when the drawers are located one above the other, and pull out towards themselves - a classic option for designing a chest of drawers. In larger structures, hinged doors are used, in which the doors have side fastenings. A special place is occupied by designs with sliding doors, which is ideal when there is a shortage of space; besides, such models look more aesthetically pleasing. Manufacturers also offer models with a folding tabletop, but most often they are equipped with a folding changing table.
Tabletops
The top bar of the chest of drawers is a tabletop, and a lot also depends on the appearance of the material used to make it. Most often they are stationary, but to save space, the structures are often equipped with sliding tabletops, and sometimes, to the surprise of guests, even a full-fledged desk can be pulled out of the structure. A good design solution is a lifting tabletop with a folding mirror. There are other design options, but most often you have to deal with the classics. As for the material, natural wood, MDF, chipboards, plastic and natural stone can be used for the production of countertops. As for the latter, it can be replaced by artificial stone (Corian) - it is lighter, quite durable, although it is not scratch-resistant. But there are no limits to design possibilities, since a product of any shape and size can be made.
Decor options
It is important to care not only about the compatibility of the chest of drawers with the mirror, but also the overall impression that they will create when integrated into the interior of your living room.
For a classic style, choose frames and chests of drawers made of elite wood, do not disdain carvings and ornaments, even reliefs, complement the design with somewhat elaborate details: twisted handles and curved decorative lines. In color scheme, stick to brown or soft cream.
Art Nouveau requires warm colors, asymmetry of shapes, but at the same time smooth lines and transitions. Avoid sharp corners and experiment.
Modern styles like techno or hi-tech call for combining incompatible materials, but at the same time maintaining the correct geometric shapes.
Give preference to lightweight materials (mirrors can be used without frames at all); in color, turn to cold and pastel shades.
Do not forget to adhere to the canons of the chosen style, then both the chest of drawers and the mirror will only brighten up any interior.
Manufacturing materials
This is one of the most important parameters that must be taken into account when choosing. Of course, the stronger and safer the material, the higher its cost. Elite chests of drawers made from solid valuable wood are difficult to compare with budget models made from chipboard. Plastic is a modern and affordable material that has a number of advantages, in particular, it does not swell when exposed to water. The following nuances should be paid attention to:
- The facade can be made of expensive MDF, and the shelves can be made of budget chipboard. This will significantly reduce the cost of the structure without reducing its attractiveness.
- Static shelves are usually stronger than drawers, so you shouldn't load them with heavy objects.
- All drawers must fit tightly against the back wall. If its thickness is less than 6 mm, there is a high probability that it will become deformed when too many things are placed inside the cabinet.
- Glass inserts on the facade add lightness to the furniture and visually expand the room.
- Metal decorative elements look very good in a high-tech style interior, but they can be successfully used for rooms of a different style - it is important to choose fittings that suit the design.
- Inserts made of stone and genuine leather look interesting, but are not suitable for all interiors.
Design features of an ironing chest of drawers, tips for choosing furniture
Array
laminated chipboard
MDF
Chipboard
Glass
Metal
Photo of chests of drawers with a mirror
Frame - materials and dimensions
The frame of a mirrored chest of drawers consists of a body, filling, equipment mechanisms and sometimes a table top. The product has the following dimensions, which determine its convenience and spaciousness:
- Height - must be within 70-120 cm, depending on the purpose, so that all the necessary items can be placed;
- Width - basically, 80-100 cm is used relative to the size of the room, so that it is not very heavy and large, but ergonomic;
- Depth – the standard size is 50 cm for better product capacity. A very deep chest of drawers may not look beautiful and be less comfortable to use.
In the next article we will talk about the topic of a bunk bed with a table and a wardrobe. Let's try to describe this topic in more detail.
Wood is considered the most excellent material for the production of a chest of drawers. It has an elegant texture, environmental friendliness and durability. Birch or pine are considered relatively durable species, but over the years they are subject to deformation and are less resistant to wear. Oak, beech, cherry or walnut are much stronger and better, but also cost more.
MDF and chipboard are considered functional and cheap materials. The slabs have increased strength and provide high structural stability. To increase the working properties, the surface of the boards is covered with laminate or veneer. The thickness of medium density fiberboard or chipboard for furniture production is 16, 18 and 30 mm.
The base of the mirrored chest of drawers is made in the form of legs or a base. In the reception area, hallway or bedroom, it is advisable to choose a model with legs. They will give elegance to the design, especially if there are carved components. They must be stronger, up to 15 cm high, so that they can withstand the greater weight of the chest of drawers. The plinth is a front strip that is used as a support or decoration. It performs its supporting function simultaneously with long sidewalls that take up more than half the load. The decorative base very often hides the legs, which have a modest appearance, spoiling the entire design of the product.
The purpose of the product is determined by the installation location.
For the hallway, they purchase a narrow design with folding doors and inclined shelves, which acts as a shoe rack.
Bedroom furniture stores bedding, spare blankets, pillows, underwear, jewelry, etc. In addition to drawers, it contains compartments with shelves. The countertop often serves as a dressing table.
The model intended for the living room is used for documents, books, photo albums, collectibles, and beautiful dishes. Video and audio equipment is usually located on top.
In the kitchen, a chest of drawers serves to place dishes and various utensils, and its countertop provides an increase in the working surface.
The interior space of bathroom products is filled with: replacement sets of towels, clean linen, household chemicals, and care products. A convenient element is a basket for things waiting to be washed.
