Chest of Drawers Buying Guide for Modern UK Bedrooms | SOOXOS

Dec 15, 2025

Willow Walnut Brown Wood & Grey Marble Chest of Drawers

The Willow 3 Drawer Chest combines contemporary design with sophisticated materials to create a striking bedroom focal point. Crafted from tobacco walnut wood, this piece features a distinctive grey marble top and matching marble-effect legs that introduce elegant visual contrast and texture.

A chest of drawers is one of the most useful pieces of furniture you can put in a bedroom. It keeps clothes, accessories and everyday essentials organised, gives you a surface for décor and lighting, and can completely change how calm and tidy the room feels.

But with so many sizes, drawer layouts and styles to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. This guide will walk you through how to choose the perfect chest of drawers for your bedroom – from measurements and storage planning to style, colour and layout ideas.

1. Decide what you need to store

Before you even look at designs, think about what you want the chest of drawers to store. This will influence the size and internal layout you choose.

Clothes and everyday essentials

If you’re mainly storing clothes, ask yourself:

Do you need space for T-shirts, jumpers and jeans?
Do you want drawers for underwear, socks and pyjamas?
Will you keep gym wear, loungewear or casual items inside?

Deeper drawers are ideal for bulkier items like jumpers and jeans. Shallower drawers are better for smaller items that you don’t want to get lost at the bottom.

Bedroom extras and mixed storage

A chest of drawers is also perfect for:

Bed linen and pillowcases
Towels in smaller homes
Accessories such as scarves, belts, and small bags
Tech, chargers, notebooks and other daily essentials

If you need a mix, look for a chest that combines smaller top drawers and larger bottom drawers, so everything has its place.

2. Measure your space and choose the right size

The best chest of drawers fits comfortably in your room without blocking doors, sockets or walkways.

Width and wall space

Measure the length of the wall where the chest will stand.
Leave a little space on each side so it doesn’t feel squeezed in.
In many UK bedrooms, chests between 60–100 cm wide work well. For larger rooms, you can go wider.

If the chest is going next to a bed, make sure there is still enough space to open drawers fully and move around the bed.

Height and what sits on top

Think about how you’ll use the top surface:

Around 80–100 cm high is comfortable for a lamp, mirror and décor.
Lower, wider chests can double as media units in bedrooms where you might place a TV on top.
Taller, slimmer chests (sometimes called “tallboys”) are brilliant when floor space is limited, but you still need lots of drawer storage.

Make sure the height works with any mirror or artwork you plan to hang above.

Depth and walkways

Most chests of drawers are around 35–45 cm deep. In smaller bedrooms:

Choose a slightly shallower depth if the chest faces the bed or sits in a narrow walkway.
Ensure you have at least 60–70 cm of space to stand and open drawers comfortably.

Wilton Rustic Acacia Solid Wood 4 Drawer Chest with Grey Detail

3. Choose the right drawer configuration

The internal layout of your chest will make a big difference to how easy it is to stay organised.

Equal-size drawers

Chests with all drawers the same size are simple and versatile.

Easy to remember where everything is.
Good for storing similar items in each drawer (e.g. all knitwear in one, all T-shirts in another).

This layout works especially well if the chest will be used by one person with fairly consistent storage needs.

Graduated drawers (smaller at top, larger at bottom)

Many chests have two or three smaller top drawers with larger drawers underneath.

Top drawers are ideal for underwear, socks, accessories and smaller items.
Deeper bottom drawers are perfect for jumpers, jeans, joggers and spare bedding.

This is one of the best configurations for shared storage or for people who want everything in one place.

Tallboy and slim drawer chests

Tall, narrow drawer units (often called tallboys) are perfect when:

Floor space is limited.
You want more, shallower drawers for small items.
You need storage in a tight gap beside a wardrobe or door.

These pair nicely with a wardrobe and save the room from feeling overcrowded.

Tulip Black Wood & Gold Chest of Drawers Tall Boy

4. Pick a style that works with your bedroom

Your chest of drawers should coordinate with your bed, wardrobe and bedside tables, or deliberately contrast them in a stylish way.

Modern and minimal

For a clean, contemporary look, choose:

Simple fronts with minimal detailing.
Handleless drawers or slim bar handles.
Finishes like white matt, light grey, black or oak-effect.

These designs work especially well in new-build homes and minimalist bedrooms, and pair nicely with sliding wardrobes and simple bed frames.

Warm and natural

Wooden chests of drawers bring warmth and texture:

Light oak and natural finishes suit Scandinavian and relaxed interiors.
Richer wood tones feel cosy and classic.
Ribbed fronts, fluted details or framed drawer fronts add subtle interest.

If your bedroom already has wooden wardrobes or a wooden bed frame, matching or complementing tones can create a cohesive, high-quality look.

Statement pieces and contrast

You can also use a chest of drawers as a statement piece:

Choose a darker or more dramatic finish to stand out against pale walls.
Look for bolder handles, mixed materials or distinctive legs.
Style the top with artwork, a mirror and lighting to emphasise the design.

This approach works brilliantly if the rest of the room is fairly simple and you want one standout furniture piece.

D.I. Designs Wickham Natural Oak Wood Ribbed Chest of Drawers | 4 Drawers

5. Organisation tips: keeping your drawers tidy

A good chest of drawers can transform your storage, but only if it’s organised inside too.

Use dividers and boxes

Drawer dividers and small storage boxes help keep underwear, socks and accessories separated.
Clear or fabric boxes are great for smaller items that might otherwise get lost.
Label boxes if drawers are shared between two people.

Fold smart, not just fast

Fold T-shirts, knitwear and jeans in a way that lets you see everything at a glance (file-style folding works well).
Keep everyday items in the top and middle drawers, and seasonal or occasional items in the lower ones.

Give each drawer a job

To avoid chaos:

Assign each drawer a category – for example: tops, bottoms, nightwear, underwear, activewear.
Try to keep to this system as you put clean clothes away.

This makes it much faster to get ready and keeps the chest working hard for you.

6. Where to place your chest of drawers in the bedroom

Placement is just as important as the chest itself.

Next to or opposite the bed

A chest opposite the bed can be a focal point with a mirror or artwork above.
Placing it beside the bed (especially a lower, wider chest) can sometimes replace bulkier bedside tables.

Make sure there is enough space to open drawers without hitting the bed.

Between the wardrobe and the bed

If you have a wardrobe in the room:

Position a chest between the wardrobe and bed to create a storage zone.
This makes dressing and putting clothes away more convenient.

Just ensure the chest doesn’t block wardrobe doors or restrict movement.

Under a window

Low chests of drawers can sit nicely under a window:

They make good use of otherwise wasted wall space.
The top surface can be used for plants, ornaments or a dressing mirror.

Check that the height doesn’t interfere with opening the window.

6 Drawer Chest Black Ample Space for Storage Ambero

7. Choosing your chest of drawers with SOOXOS

The best chest of drawers for your bedroom is the one that:

Fits your space comfortably.
Offers the right mix of drawer sizes for what you actually own.
Matches or complements your other furniture.
Helps keep your room calm, tidy and clutter-free.

At SOOXOS, our CHEST OF DRAWERS COLLECTION includes:

Compact chests are ideal for smaller UK bedrooms.
Tall slim drawer units for tight spaces and alcoves.
Wider designs with a mix of small and large drawers for maximum flexibility.
Modern, minimal, and natural wood finishes to suit a range of interior styles.

Explore our latest chests of drawers and find the piece that will bring both order and style to your bedroom.

Sorio Multi Drawer Quirky Reclaimed Chest

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