Tall or Wide Chest of Drawers? Small Bedroom Guide | Bossy Cat

Tall or wide chest of drawers? How to choose for a small bedroom, and how to stop it tipping

In a small bedroom, every bit of floor counts. So when it comes to a chest of drawers, the question is simple: do you build up, or spread out?

We've put the two head to head over five rounds, using one HOMCOM design that comes in four different sizes so it's a fair fight. Then, because tall furniture needs it, there's a short guide to anchoring a chest so it can't tip.

Same chest, four sizes

Our HOMCOM chest of drawers with open shelves comes in rustic brown or grey wood effect, all at 29cm deep. Only the width and height change:

Size (W x D x H)	Floor it takes up	Type
60 x 29 x 85cm	Smallest	Narrow
79 x 29 x 85cm	Medium	Standard
98 x 29 x 85cm	Largest	Wide
79 x 29 x 101cm	Medium	Tall, with 7 drawers and 2 open shelves

The tall version uses the same floor space as the 79cm standard one, but stands 16cm higher. That's where the extra drawers come from.

The head-to-head

Round 1: Floor space. Winner: tall. A tall chest gives you more drawers without taking any more floor. In a box room or a bedroom where the bed fills most of the space, that's the deciding factor.

Round 2: Reaching the top. Winner: wide. Everything on a wide chest sits at waist height or below. With a tall chest, the top drawers and shelf are higher up, which matters if the chest is for a child or someone who struggles to reach.

Round 3: Stability. Winner: wide. The taller and narrower a piece of furniture is, the easier it is to pull over. The tall HOMCOM chest is 101cm high but just 29cm deep, around three and a half times taller than it is deep. That's why it should be anchored to the wall (see below).

Round 4: Surface space. Winner: wide, just. The 98cm top gives room for a lamp, a mirror and a few photos. The tall version claws some back with two open shelves above the drawers, which suit books, plants or an alarm clock.

Round 5: Fitting under a window. Winner: wide. At 85cm high, the wide and standard sizes are more likely to slide under a window sill. Measure your sill before choosing the 101cm tall version for that spot.

Final score: wide 4, tall 1. But that one round, floor space, is the one that matters most in a small bedroom. If floor is tight, go tall and anchor it. If you have the wall length, go wide.

How much can the drawers hold?

Check this before you load up. On the tall HOMCOM chest, the limits are:

Part	Weight limit
Each drawer	3kg
Top shelf	15kg
Middle shelf	10kg
Whole unit	35kg

The drawers are fabric, removable and foldable, so they're made for folded T-shirts, underwear, socks and scarves. Heavy jumpers and jeans are better kept in a wooden chest with solid drawers. You'll find both in our chest of drawers range.

How to anchor a chest of drawers in four steps

Any chest can tip if drawers are pulled out and weight goes on the front, and tall ones tip more easily. RoSPA recommends fitting anti-tip straps to furniture and televisions where children could pull them over. It's a ten-minute job.

Check the box. Look for a wall bracket or anti-tip strap in the fittings. If there isn't one, buy a furniture anti-tip strap kit.
Find something solid. On a brick or block wall, use the right masonry plug. On a plasterboard wall, fix into a timber stud, not just the board.
Fix high. Attach the strap to the back of the chest near the top, then to the wall, and pull it tight so the chest can't lean forward.
Load from the bottom. Put the heaviest things in the lowest drawers, and never stand a TV on top.

If you rent, ask your landlord before drilling. Many will agree, as it protects their walls as well as your family.

Small bedroom tips that help either way

Use the adjustable feet. The HOMCOM chest has them, so it sits level on uneven floorboards and doesn't rock when you open a drawer.
Keep 5cm in mind. That's the gap under the tall HOMCOM chest, enough for a hoover nozzle but not for storage boxes.
Open one drawer at a time. Several open drawers move the weight forward, on any chest.
Measure the doorway first if you're carrying a built chest between rooms.

The verdict

Short on floor: buy tall, and anchor it on day one. Short on height or buying for a child: buy wide. Either way, check the drawer weight limit before you fill it.

Tags: Bedroom storage, Buying guide, Chest of drawers

Frequently asked questions

Is a tall or wide chest of drawers better for a small bedroom?

Tall, if floor space is your main problem. A tall chest of drawers gives more storage on the same footprint: our HOMCOM 79 x 29 x 101cm version fits 7 drawers and 2 shelves in the space of the 85cm high standard model. Wide wins on stability, reach and top surface, so choose wide if you have the wall length.

Do tall chests of drawers need to be fixed to the wall?

They should be. A tall chest of drawers tips more easily than a low one, and our tall HOMCOM model is 101cm high but only 29cm deep. RoSPA recommends anti-tip straps for furniture children could pull over. Fix the strap near the top of the chest and into a brick wall or a timber stud.

How do I anchor a chest of drawers?

In four steps. Check the box for a wall bracket or strap, or buy an anti-tip kit. Find a solid fixing, using masonry plugs on brick or a timber stud on plasterboard. Fix the strap to the back of the chest near the top, then to the wall, pulled tight. Finally, load the bottom drawers first.

How much weight can a chest of drawers hold?

As little as 3kg per drawer on some models, so check each listing. Our tall HOMCOM chest of drawers allows 3kg per fabric drawer, 15kg on the top shelf, 10kg on the middle shelf and 35kg overall. That suits folded T-shirts, underwear and socks. For heavier jumpers and jeans, choose a wooden chest with solid drawers.

What size chest of drawers fits a small bedroom?

The narrowest you can manage while meeting your storage needs. Our HOMCOM chest of drawers comes in 60, 79 and 98cm widths at 85cm high, all just 29cm deep, plus a 79 x 29 x 101cm tall version. Measure the free wall, check the window sill height, and leave space to pull the drawers out.

Will a chest of drawers fit under a window?

A low one usually will. Our 85cm high HOMCOM chests of drawers are more likely to slide under a window sill than the 101cm tall version. Measure from the floor to the underside of the sill before ordering, and allow a little extra if you plan to stand a lamp or plant on top.

Can a child use a tall chest of drawers?

Only if it's anchored and the top drawers are within reach. A tall chest of drawers puts drawers and shelves higher up, and children may try to climb the drawers to reach them. Fix it to the wall with an anti-tip strap, keep tempting items off the top, and consider a wide, low chest for a child's room instead.

Can I buy chests of drawers from Bossy Cat?

Yes. Our chest of drawers range includes HOMCOM tall and wide chests with open shelves, fabric drawer units in 4, 6, 7 and 8 drawer sizes, and solid wood chests from Artisan Furniture. Delivery is free on all orders to UK mainland addresses and arrives in 3-5 working days, with no hidden fees. If you change your mind, you can return your order, but the return postage is paid by you.