We Tested (and Rated!) All the Dressers at West Elm — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
If you live in a small space, chances are your closet situation is pretty dire. You typically get a measly hanging rod that doesn’t offer nearly enough space for all of your coats, jackets, and shirts, and perhaps a couple of shelves that hold about a third of your sweater collection. Everything else is usually relegated to under-bed bins and other inconvenient spots around your room. For these reasons, we’d say that a dresser is the most important piece of furniture in a bedroom — except for maybe a bed. The problem with shopping for dressers is that they can get pretty expensive, and it’s hard to tell online if you’re getting your money’s worth. On the flip side, if you opt for a cheap model, you risk getting stuck with a rickety set of shelves that you’ll likely have to discard in a year’s time.
To help you avoid such problems, we present you with our Personal Shopper series, in which we visit the physical locations of your favorite home retailers, including Pottery Barn, Burrow, and Ashley, to test their furniture and decor in person. Afterward, we provide you with a detailed breakdown of which sofa, rug, dresser, or coffee table is best for your space.
Recently, we reviewed West Elm’s bed frames and rugs, and now we’re focusing on their dressers. In total, we viewed seven models. Although this number may seem small, we believe there’s something for every lifestyle and space. Whether you’re looking for a piece with maximum drawer space or a vertical dresser that’ll fit in a tight corner and still look great, you’ll find it here.
Why West Elm?
West Elm is an editor- and reader-favorite for all things home, including dressers. Their impressive selection not only looks good but also is made of premium materials that’ll hold up amid daily use. West Elm also offers free furniture customization and design guidance, if needed, as well as complimentary swatches to help you find your ideal materials and colors. Below are the exact dressers we tested, including ones from customer-favorite collections and newer models we were excited to finally see in person.
The Criteria
We judged every West Elm dresser in-store based on the following five criteria, giving each category an average rating between 1 and 5. These scores helped us determine whom the dresser suits best, from the frequent mover to the homeowner with plenty of space at their disposal.
Appearance: What style of decor does the dresser suit best? Does its design lean warm and rustic or sleek and modern? Is it classic with a warm wooden finish and detailing or contemporary with clean lines and a mixed-material design?
Storage Capacity: Are the drawers big enough to house most of your wardrobe? Do you get a substantial surface on top for other items? Are the dresser’s legs tall enough for storing items underneath the body?
Space Requirements: How much space does the dresser take up? Does it require a lot of horizontal floor space, or does it make good use of vertical space? How tall is it?
Drawer Glidability: How easy is it to pull out the drawers? Do they catch and require a lot of muscle, or do they glide out easily?
Drawer Depth: How far back do the drawers extend? Are they spacious or compact? Are they all the same size?
Every Editor-Tested Dresser at West Elm
Best for Small Spaces: Parker 5-Drawer Dresser
Parker 5-Drawer Dresser
What impressed us: The marble surface and small footprint.
The Parker dresser takes the mid-century aesthetic that West Elm is known and loved for and adds a glamorous twist with its white-and-gray marble top. The surface is smooth and even has a slight sparkle; just imagine how nice it would look adorned with jewelry boxes, flowers, and other decor. And, at only 3 feet wide and just over 4 feet tall, the Parker is remarkably compact, so it’s perfect for tiny bedrooms. You still get five roomy drawers, making the dresser a solid supplement to an insubstantial closet. We also couldn’t help but admire its tall tapered legs and brass drawer pulls. Indeed, the Parker is elegant without being flashy, and it’s also relatively lightweight, which will come in handy for frequent movers.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Solid marble and solid and engineered wood frame and legs
Available in two wooden finishes
Also available as a 6-drawer dresser
Best Coastal Style: Anton 6-Drawer Dresser
Anton 6-Drawer Dresser
What impressed us: The paneled wood design and slat legs.
To imbue your room with a beachy, rustic vibe, go with the Anton dresser. Not only is it delightfully modular in terms of silhouette, but this six-drawer number also stuns with its irregular mango wood finish. Two slat legs help create a breezy, weightless appearance, even though this was one of the larger dressers we viewed in-store. Specifically, the Anton offers six 27” by 13” drawers that’ll effortlessly house the majority of your clothes or bedroom linens. You’ll also notice that this dresser doesn’t have drawer pulls, which further adds to its laidback nature. Instead, gaps between the individual drawers allow you to reach in and pull out your desired drawer. The drawers aren’t quite as smooth-gliding compared to those on some of West Elm’s other dressers, but this is a minor flaw we’re willing to overlook considering the significant storage space you get. We also want to note that the dresser’s Burnt Wax wood finish might look warm-toned in online photos, but it definitely leans more cool-toned in person.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Kiln-dried solid mango wood frame and legs
Available in two wooden finishes
Also available as a 5-drawer dresser, narrow 6-drawer dresser, 9-drawer dresser, and wide 9-drawer dresser
Most Durable: Hargrove 6-Drawer Dresser
Hargrove 6-Drawer Dresser
What impressed us: The rounded legs and contrasting colors.
Even if it’s not technically the heaviest dresser we viewed, the Hargrove certainly looks weighty and substantial. This is perhaps because of its engineered wood construction and textured finish, which almost give the impression that this piece was just fashioned out of a hulking tree. (The dresser’s rounded legs even slightly resemble tree trunks, albeit refined ones.) Still, this sustainably made anchor piece won’t weigh down your bedroom, thanks to its light-colored finish. Six black rectangular drawer pulls pop against the beige-colored wood, creating an eye-catching contrast on an otherwise minimalist dresser. The legs are also quite tall, further preventing a blocky appearance. And it goes without saying that the drawers can hold a considerable amount. Although this dresser was made for the bedroom, we think its pared-back, versatile, and easy-to-style design could lend itself to other spaces, like a hallway alcove or office.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Solid mahogany wood frame and legs
Available in one wooden finish
Also available as a 9-drawer dresser
Most Versatile: Quinn 6-Drawer Dresser
Quinn 6-Drawer Dresser
What impressed us: The fluted drawers and brass legs.
Although it’s undoubtedly the most showy dresser we viewed at West Elm, the Quinn also doubles as one of the most versatile models on display. You can get it in a brown-and-white color scheme with black drawer pulls, although we saw it in all white with gold-toned detailing. This color duo, coupled with the un-ignorable fluted wood drawers, gives off a glam appearance. That being said, the Quinn can also fit in with subtle spaces; whether it stands out or blends into its surroundings all depends on how you style the room. The inward-curving drawer pulls give way to deep compartments, while tall, skinny legs give you an extra 7 inches of storage space underneath the actual dresser, should you want to utilize that. You’ll also be happy to learn that this pick has built-in levelers, which allow the legs to adapt to different floor levels. In the store, we did notice that the dresser’s white surface had a couple of black scratch marks, so just be sure not to place anything too abrasive on top. Or, if you do, consider using a coaster, runner, or tray.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Solid mahogany wood frame, fluted rubberwood drawer fronts, and metal legs
Available in two wooden finishes
Also available as a 3-drawer dresser, 5-drawer dresser, wide 6-drawer dresser, and 8-drawer dresser
Most Spacious: Mid-Century 8-Drawer Dresser
Mid-Century 8-Drawer Dresser
$1,599 (was $1,699) at West Elm
What impressed us: The varying drawer sizes and glossy finish.
Fans of classic mid-century modern design will love this 8-drawer dresser, which would look right at home in a room with extra square footage to spare. We were instantly taken with its rich caramel-brown hue, as it was glossier and smoother than that of the other dressers we viewed. We would recommend this dresser for homeowners, or at least renters who don’t plan on moving around a lot. Not only is the piece hefty, but its raised legs also give it a grand overall appearance. Another unique feature is the dresser’s varying drawer sizes. Up top, you get two shorter drawers that are good for accessories or other everyday items you reach for on your way out the door. Below, you get six deeper drawers that we think could potentially accommodate an entire wardrobe, depending on the person, of course. Bronze hardware completes the vintage-inspired design, solidifying this dresser as timeless and an eventual heirloom your descendants might very well fight over.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Kiln-dried solid eucalyptus wood frame and legs
Available in three wooden finishes
Also available as a 3-drawer dresser, 4-drawer dresser, 5-drawer dresser, 6-drawer dresser, 7-drawer dresser, and 9-drawer dresser
Best Glam Style: Modernist Wood & Lacquer Dresser
Modernist Wood & Lacquer 6-Drawer Dresser
$1,699 (was $1,999) at West Elm
What impressed us: The brass drawer pulls and mixed materials.
If you’re after a dresser that can hold a lot without looking like it takes up a ton of floor space, try the Modernist dresser. This is hands-down the sleekest model we viewed, a quality no doubt aided by the dresser’s tall cylindrical legs, lacquered frame, and clean-lined silhouette. The star features here, however, are the unique metal drawer pulls. They almost double as small works of art on an otherwise simple monochromatic furnishing. The ash wood drawer fronts further add visual interest, while metal glides ensure an ultra-smooth drawer pull-out every time. We could definitely see the Modernist dresser making a statement in the dining room or front entryway in addition to the bedroom.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Lacquered solid and engineered wood frame and metal legs
Available in one wooden finish
Also available as a 5-drawer dresser and 8-drawer dresser
Best Retro Style: Otto 5-Drawer Dresser
Otto 5-Drawer Dresser
What impressed us: The tall silhouette and rounded side details.
If the Parker dresser is too short for your needs but you still want something relatively compact, go with the Otto dresser. It won’t eat up a lot of floor space, but what it lacks in horizontal storage, it makes up for in height. At 4.5 feet tall, this pick was created with small spaces in mind, and its retro-inspired design is undeniably charming. Made of sustainably sourced mango wood, the Otto boasts an almost orange finish that’ll add warmth to spaces that need it. Its drawer pulls are in the shape of small half-spheres; they’re just large enough for your thumb and index finger to close over and therefore not the most ergonomic, but at least they look interesting. Whether your style leans boho or California-cool, this dresser will instantly make your space feel sunnier and less cluttered.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Kiln-dried solid mango wood frame and legs
Available in one wooden finish
Also available as a 6-drawer dresser and 9-drawer dresser
