Nothing is more frustrating than cliché. Our furniture must be different from the neighbor’s, and although taste is subjective, it’s nice to create a wow effect. Even when buying practical furniture at Ikea, the apartment will gain character thanks to small accents, like a small retro style chest of drawers.
The chest of drawers as we know it today appeared in France in the early 18th century. Its predecessor was a massive chest for storing clothing, table linen, silverware, and miscellaneous items, which could also serve as a seat.
A chest of drawers is an essential and incredibly practical piece of furniture. Drawers provide ample space for small items. Unlike shelves, drawers ensure safe storage, nothing will fall out or get lost. Even a drawer’s jumble is more practical than stacks of boxes on shelves.
A chest of drawers does not have to have a special purpose; it must, however, be an ornament for the room. That is why choosing this unique furniture is so important, considering the size, style, and color.
A common mistake is buying a simple white piece of furniture that supposedly matches everything. It may not be a huge mistake, but how much more interesting it would be to place something intriguing and captivating in the hallway.
Retro Style Chest of Drawers – The Most Interesting Proposals
Retro style has dominated interiors for several seasons now. Contemporary forms draw inspiration from the past, but they easily fit into modern apartments.
Retro style is inspired by design from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It was a period full of vibrant colors, geometric patterns, and seemingly mismatched crazy accents. Retro decor may be perceived as somewhat kitschy or even outdated. A few simple rules will help arrange a truly interesting, modern interior with elements from bygone eras, which will be neither old-fashioned nor garish.
What are the characteristics of the retro style?
- Strong colors – not necessarily on the walls. In retro interiors, one can opt for colorful furniture, especially upholstered chairs and armchairs.
- Patterns – retro aesthetics often go hand in hand with intense patterns, like zigzags. Patterns can appear in interiors not only on textiles but also on walls – popular solutions include patterned wallpapers.
- Wooden furniture – coffee tables, side tables, chests of drawers, and sideboards, as well as iconic wall units, are the quintessence of retro aesthetics and the vintage PRL style. They are usually made of darker wood and often combine wood and upholstery.
- Posters – interiors kept in retro aesthetics gain much from additional decorations. They often feature posters from the era or styled to look like they were made years ago.
- Angular or rounded edges of furniture – retro aesthetics combine various contradictions into one whole. On one hand, angular dachshund-style chests of drawers fit this atmosphere, but also chairs with rounded seat and back shapes. Interestingly, these shapes can intermingle and blend within one arrangement.
- Rugs – they frequently featured in homes during the 50s, 60s, and 70s of the last century, so they also look good in contemporary retro-style arrangements.
- Potted plants – retro aesthetics blend beautifully with various green specimens. Potted flowers, even those in XXL sizes, perfectly complement vintage furniture and decor. Popular solutions also include all kinds of plant stands as an element of retro interior decor.
The chest of drawers is experiencing a great renaissance today. This is due to the trend for retro style, with which the chest of drawers is closely associated. It adorned salons or dining rooms, covered with a hand-embroidered cloth, wrapped in veneer, and featured sliding doors.
A significant advantage of the chest of drawers is that individual clothing items, such as underwear, socks, and t-shirts, have their separate drawers, making it very simple to keep clothes organized.
Vigo Chest of Drawers with Drawers in Shabby Vintage Style
In reality, any room and any space can be arranged in retro style. The base for the arrangement can be light walls and a wooden floor. It is important not to overdo the number of colorful or patterned elements in the arrangement to achieve a stylish and interesting effect, not an exaggerated one.
If you like furniture that stands out in interiors, choose a chest of drawers in an original shade.
Although chests of drawers are still not as popular as wardrobes in Polish homes, it’s worth considering the numerous benefits this solution offers. Without a doubt, chests of drawers are universal furniture, and the variety of designs allows for appropriate selection based on individual expectations and the decor of the room.
This beautiful, intricately finished chest of drawers in retro style requires an extraordinary setting that will highlight its charm and make it a gem in our apartment.
This model will look best in a bedroom with a twin on the other side of the bed. Its drawers can hold all necessary items, from the phone to a bedside book.
A significant advantage of the chest of drawers is that individual clothing items, such as underwear, socks, and t-shirts, have their separate drawers, making it very simple to keep clothes organized.
The retro style chest of drawers from Mendler is made from fir wood with light MDF drawers. The handles are interestingly aged, and the fronts of the drawers are decorated with stamped ornaments. Of course, according to the style, the paint is distressed, giving the furniture an antique effect.
Vigo Chest of Drawers features three larger drawers and one smaller, right at the floor level. It’s not too big, making it more versatile. Its dimensions are: 79 x 33 x 43 cm.
Mini Chest of Drawers Retro Design
Simple, modern patchwork furniture fits perfectly into contemporary interiors. The patchwork chest of drawers with drawers in various colors and unique textures evokes warm associations with cozy chat rooms from costume films or personal memories.
Patchwork is a sewing method that combines small, geometric pieces of fabric to create a new pattern. This method, which seemed somewhat forgotten, inspired designers to create incredibly attractive furniture. Many extraordinarily attractive pieces of furniture were inspired by traditional patchwork bedspreads.
The mini retro style chest of drawers from Elbmöbel is a bit of luxury in a limited space. There’s no need to hold back from buying it, as it will fit anywhere.
This charming little piece will unconventionally decorate a large market chest of drawers, hiding the lady of the house’s favorite jewelry inside. Its drawers with various geometric patterns are sure to impress friends.
It also works well as a tool holder, which can be placed next to a sewing machine, but it will also complement the retro design arrangement.
Nothing distracts during work or study at a desk like cluttered small items on the surface. To ease the organization of essential items, choose a small chest of drawers with colorful drawers. From now on, your home office will be orderly and tidy, which will certainly increase the efficiency of tasks performed.
Compact dimensions make it a piece of furniture that can fit in a wall nook or under the sloping ceiling in an attic.
Dimensions: 12 x 30 x 14 cm.
Cadiz Chest of Drawers with Drawers in Shabby Vintage Style
“Their existence is attributed to masterpieces, their finish to hard work.”
Joseph Jouber
The above quote perfectly captures the philosophy of Mendler. The chests of drawers from this company are products developed with great accuracy, and the designs required extraordinary minds.
The product serves excellently as a jewelry organizer, but what you place in the colorful drawers is solely up to you.
Cadiz is a proposal for young romantics. In such a chest of drawers, Joseph Jouber would store his letters.
The literalness of the inscription LOVE, integrated into the drawer fronts, defines the mood of the household and home.
Retro style chest of drawers must be made of wood. The drawer fronts are made of fir and the body of spruce. The handles resemble those from an old library and are aged, creating the impression that yellowed library cards should be inside. This creates an incredible atmosphere of capturing the past. An ideal addition to modern furniture.
Anyone wanting to create retro interiors must primarily think carefully about the accessories and decorations available. The most characteristic are crystal chandeliers, lamps with shades, etc.
Perfect complement to any interior: bedroom, living room, office, or children’s room.
Dimensions: 33 x 48 x 79 cm.
Mendler Chest of Drawers in White Shabby Vintage Style
Paulownia trees have been cultivated in China for at least 2600 years. Paulownia wood is a valuable raw material in furniture making, musical instrument production, boat construction, and aviation, as well as in many other areas where lightweight, waterproof, and aesthetic wood is desired.
White chest of drawers in retro style is a must-have alternative to currently fashionable white particle board furniture. It will perfectly complement a reading nook, paired with a comfortable armchair and potted flowers. The uniqueness of one of the drawers adds age and creates the impression that the furniture had a replacement drawer added. A great idea.
To age the furniture, special paint is required, which is applied over the entire piece. Scratches are then made to reveal the layers of paint beneath the top coat.
The furniture must first be cleaned with warm water and dish soap. Once dried, the entire surface should be sanded to remove excess lacquer. We paint the cabinet with acrylic paint for wood. One or two layers are applied. When the paint dries, we can start the distressing.
White gives the space a unique elegance and luxury, but also visually enlarges the room, which is why this color is recommended for small salons.
In every home and apartment, there are hundreds of surplus items for which it is hard to find a place. How to establish order and not keep unnecessary things on display? The answer is a chest of drawers! It is a clever, convenient piece of furniture that allows us to gain additional storage space.
The chest of drawers from Mendler does not surprise with extravagance; its calm simplicity brings harmony to the apartment and allows pairing with boldly colored elements.
The use of Asian wood guarantees durability and strength. Dimensions: 25 x 30 x 74 cm.
Brown Chest of Drawers from Mendler in Shabby Style
The shabby chic style originates from Great Britain. In the 1990s, it captured the hearts of many Americans. Now it is winning our hearts, taking root in Polish interiors. The name of the style speaks for itself. Shabby refers to worn, ragged. Chic is associated with elegance.
The very attribution of characteristic features and the development of the Shabby Chic style is attributed to Rachel Aswell. As a young interior decorator, she described this arrangement style in her books.
Furniture in the shabby chic style must show signs of time passing. They are worn, slightly scuffed, cracked, and distressed. Of course, in reality, these furniture pieces were not produced in the last century; every wooden piece, even new, can be appropriately transformed into furniture with soul. However, one must have woodworking skills.
Aging furniture has nothing to do with destroying its structure. It’s more about giving the equipment a different character and charm. To age furniture, special paint is needed, which is applied all over the piece. Scratches are made to reveal the paint layers under the top coat.
Brown Chest of Drawers from Mendler is, despite the aged effect, a very elegant piece of furniture. This effect is given by the dark, deep color of the furniture.
The retro style chest of drawers in brown will fit perfectly into a bright arrangement, where it can become the leading element. It’s worthwhile to start furnishing the room with this small piece of furniture.
The chest of drawers is made of paulownia wood and differs from previously presented pieces with additional doors, allowing for other uses of its space. Could it be a mini bar?
Dimensions: 32 x 40 x 81 cm.
Summary
According to the encyclopedic description, a chest of drawers is a boxy piece of furniture with drawers for storing clothing.
Contemporarily, this description is still quite accurate, although the use of this furniture has significantly expanded.
A retro style chest of drawers is primarily a feminine choice. A sense of aesthetics, sentimentality, and nostalgia for the family home makes women want to have a piece of history in their apartments. Moreover, the retro style remains very fashionable.
The retro style gives the interior coziness as we do not want our apartment to resemble a hotel room. Mixing styles should be very cautious, yet following the fashion is a must. Interiors with retro aesthetics are colorful, expressive, and characteristic. They often feature flowers and natural wood, as well as various patterns, and even plastic decorations.
Everyone has old furniture from a grandmother in the attic or garage and can renovate it (or not), incorporating characterful additions into modern furniture arrangements to soften pervasive cliché. It only takes a little imagination and aesthetics.
Retro interiors are above all rooms full of memories. Pay attention to the essential elements of the interior decor. If vintage style is to dominate, choose appropriate doors, focus on characteristic window and floor arrangements.
Styling in retro style also means walls with character. Unlike minimalist arrangements, where white and simplicity reign, choosing decorations in the old style, you can let loose. For one wall, pick an original wallpaper with small patterns or prepare a composition of graphics featuring stars from those times.
Color schemes in retro interiors can be colorful and very diverse. Interiors in this style can be contrasting and very energetic, which is why many other shades, as well as neutral colors like white, black, and various shades of beige and gray, can match them.
The aesthetics of retro is immensely popular and is often chosen for home and office arrangements, as well as for restaurant and cafe decor. Interiors in this style are unconventional and unique, while also quite easy to arrange. Retro-style furniture can be accompanied by period items or objects stylized to appear older – particularly lamps and lighting fixtures, but also radios, gramophones, and small televisions.