Bedside Chests
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Cabinets
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Napoleon III Bedroom Sets
Walnut
Vintage 1970s British Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Teak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Furniture
Wood
2010s American Modern Dressers
Hardwood, Ash, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Wood
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Night Stands
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century Austrian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Walnut
Antique 1880s Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1880s European Late Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Pine
Vintage 1930s British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1970s Colombian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Early 19th Century Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Rattan
Antique Early 1900s Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1870s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Pine
Antique 1860s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Early 1900s British Late Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1860s Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Vintage 1950s British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1920s British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Great Britain (UK) Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
20th Century American Night Stands
Wood
Vintage 1960s British George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1890s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1860s English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
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Bedside Chests For Sale on 1stDibs
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Finding the Right Commodes And Chests Of Drawers for You
Shopping for a commode or a chest of drawers?
Commode is the French term for a low chest of drawers, but it is also sometimes used to denote any case piece with a particularly intricate design. The commode dates to circa 1700 France, where it was used as an alternative to a taller cabinet piece so as to not obscure paneled, mirrored or tapestried walls. Coffers, or chests, which were large wooden boxes with hinged lids and sometimes stood on ball feet, preceded chests of drawers, a fashionable cabinet furnishing that garnered acclaim for its obvious storage potential and versatility. The term commode was also used to refer to a piece of bedroom furniture — a washstand or nightstand that contained a chamber pot.
As time passed, French and British furniture makers led the way in the production of chests of drawers, and features like the integration of bronze and ornamental pulls became commonplace. Antique French commodes in the Louis XV style were sometimes crafted in mahogany or walnut, while an Italian marble top added a sophisticated decorative flourish. This specific type of case piece grew in popularity in the years that followed.
So, what makes a chest of drawers different from a common dresser? Dressers are short, and chests of drawers are overall taller pieces of furniture that typically do not have room on the top for a mirror as most dressers do. Tallboys and highboys are variations of the dresser form. Some chests of drawers have one column of four to six long drawers or three long drawers in their bottom section that are topped by a cluster of small side-by-side drawers on the top. To further complicate things, we sometimes refer to particularly short chests of drawers as nightstands.
Even though chests of drawers are commonly thought of as bedroom furniture to store clothing, these are adaptable pieces. A chest of drawers can house important documents — think of your walnut Art Deco commode as an upgrade to your filing cabinet. Nestle your chest near your home’s front door to store coats and other outerwear, while the top can be a place to drop your handbag. Add some flair to your kitchen, where this lovable case piece can hold pots, pans and even cookbooks.
When shopping for the right chest of drawers for your home, there are a few key things to consider: What will you be storing in it? How big a chest will you need?
Speaking of size, don’t dream too big. If your space is on the smaller side, a more streamlined vintage mid-century modern chest of drawers, perhaps one designed by Paul McCobb or T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, may best suit your needs.
At 1stDibs, we make it easy to add style and storage to your home. Browse our collection of antique and vintage commodes and chests of drawers today.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023Yes, a chest of drawers can be used as a bedside table, provided that you have enough space beside your bed to accommodate it. If you want to be able to easily reach items on the top of the chest, choose a piece that is about 2 to 4 inches taller than your mattress. Shop a variety of bedroom furniture on 1stDibs.
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