15 Tips You Must Know When Decorating a Dresser

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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There's nothing quite like returning home to an impeccably neat and orderly space. Be it your bedroom or living room, maintaining everything in its rightful place helps create a phenomenal area. A well-kept household environment promotes positive mood, efficiency, and offers a cozy and practical abode.

dresser is one of the most common pieces of bedroom furniture, and is used for storing clothes, socks, bags, and trinkets, among other things. On top of that, a dresser also serves as an accent piece that could be a conversation starter—provided it’s nicely decorated. Here are 15 captivating tips you must know to achieve cohesion in your space when decorating a dresser. 

How to Decorate a Dresser

1) Clear Your Dresser Top and Inside

Image Source: utrdecorating.com

Before anything, start with a clean slate when styling. Make sure you clear all contents inside and on top of your dresser. This will give you a fresh canvas to play with. Also, starting with a bare dresser helps you visualize how you want it to look.

2) Choose a theme

Image Source: utrdecorating.com

If you’re decorating your dresser as a focal point, the decor on the surface must be a standout. Decide on a theme that goes well with the overall bedroom design. The essential thing is to ensure your dresser doesn’t stand out for the wrong reasons. After deciding on a theme, select the most oversized item that fits on top of your dresser and relates to the theme.

3) Keep it diverse

Image Source: bblackandblooms.com

Diversity is crucial in interior design. Keeping decorations diverse involves adding various layers that combine the dresser decorations’ textures, heights, and sizes. For instance, you can display a long vase, and then showcase a shorter jewelry stand and a set of trays. 

4) Display beautiful valet trays

A small dish or bowl holding your trinkets, keys, and small items, like wallets and phones, is a valuable element on top of your dresser. Valet trays are also good organizational items that attract any passerby. Choose stunning valet trays with beautiful designs or carved wooden dishes or bowls.

5) Add greenery

Adding greenery, such as a cactus or small indoor plants, soothes the eyes and mood. Additionally, having plants around the room also helps filter air toxins. Add a small potted plant to your dresser for a more Biophilic interior design. 

6) Mix and match materials

The best dresser decorating tips don’t follow rigid rules. Mixing and matching various textures, materials, and sizes creates that eclectic look for your home decor. You can combine glass jars, ceramic figurines, wooden sculptures, and metal boxes for a well-rounded look. 

7) Play with symmetry and asymmetry

Image source: thespruce.com

Aside from decorating your dresser’s surface, you can pair it with a mirror or picture frames on the wall above it. This could be the focal point, and the decorations on your dresser can serve as complementary design elements. You can display a few things on the surface depending on how the mirror or picture frames are set up. Play with symmetry and asymmetry and see what fits the decor above your dresser. 

8) Hang Wall art above the dresser

Whether it’s a sole piece of art or a collage of small ones, the artwork is another piece that strikes up significant conversations. However, you must consider the other accessories on the dresser’s surface. On average, artwork should be hung about four to eight inches above the dresser. Still, it would depend on the majority of the accessories’ heights. Make sure they don’t obstruct the view. Another option is to lean the artwork on the wall to connect both elements directly. 

9) Use a statement mirror to Enhance the Bedroom’s Style

Image Source: aipmf.com

A large mirror is another must-do home design idea. You’d find a mirror extremely valuable if you have a small space. Mirrors make the area appear larger because it reflects light. It energizes the room with vibrancy through its subtle rays illuminating the room and playing with the vertical lines. Of course, the most important thing is quickly checking yourself before heading out for a busy day. A tall piece of glass is your best bet to serve you in the morning and decorate the house.

10) Personalize with Framed photos

The best dresser decorating tips are those that resonate with you. Whether you’re designing a living room or bedroom dresser, adding a personal touch makes the space more visually appealing. You can curate the best picture frames with moments you want to remember. You can pair the frames with flowers or plants for that nice, chic look. 

11) Display candles

Candles can give your space a more welcoming and inviting appeal. Showcasing well-designed candelabras that weave into the room’s overall style elevates your space drastically. Lighting up scented candles also provides illumination while making your room fragrant. Moreover, lighting candles during winter can also offer some heat to keep you warm. 

12) Grab some decorative boxes

Try boxes if you want to decorate your dresser while adding extra storage for your small to medium-sized items. Grab some decorative boxes that showcase intricate designs and complement the other room components. You may even mix various materials, such as metal and wooden boxes, to keep textures versatile. 

13) Showcase collections

Image Source: housedigest.com

If you have a knack for cute and memorable things, put them on your dresser’s surface. Your collections are your most prized possessions, so it’s just apt to show them where people can see them. You can display collections of figurines, perfume bottles, vases, vintage sculptures, ceramic trays, glassware, etc. If you have some travel memorabilia or souvenirs, don’t hesitate to show them off. 

14) Exhibit antique or mason jars

Adding a vintage touch to your room gives it a warm atmosphere. There’s always so welcoming and comforting about vintage items due to the significant history that goes with them. One of the easiest dresser decorating ideas is exhibiting antique or mason jars. You can find these jars from your local vintage or thrift shops. You may also search from marketplaces to see if you get lucky with some treasured ones. 

Once you have the jars, fill them with small items, such as shells, sand, pebbles, trinkets, and fashion accessories of different shapes to create beautiful textures. I try keeping the jars underneath the lamp to make it visible at night.

15) Do a television set

One of the most apparent dresser decorating tips is displaying a television set. If you have a big dresser, putting a flat-screen TV will be one of your best home design decisions. This is especially useful if you have a small bedroom and can’t display both a dresser and an entertainment complex. A dresser might be more valuable in a smaller space as it can be your entertainment center and clothes storage. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Decorating a Dresser

a) How do you decorate a dresser?

Decorating a dresser starts with the theme and vibe you want. Once you have your ideas in mind, you can use different items to enhance the dresser such as candles, a good lamp, a stack of books, a mirror, a tray with items, decor pieces such as stickers and tags, and colours like gold and green to create balance and more.

Since the dresser will likely be next to your bed, work on both to complement the design. Do not forget the window on the other side too.

b) What should I decorate my dresser with?

There are limitless items you can use to decorate your dresser including;

  • Houseplants
  • Framed photos
  • Books
  • jewellery box
  • Lamps
  • Vase
  • Mirrors etc.

c) How can I make my dresser look nice?

You can build up your dresser to look nice by starting with a mirror at the center of the dresser. The next thing is to ensure the lighting is done properly. Next is to choose colors that complement. Then, use other items such as books, photos, and candles to give the dresser meaning.

d) How to decorate a plain dresser?

A plain dresser is a designer's playground because there is a lot that can be done on it. First, you can paint it with any color you want. Then you can add new handles and knobs to make it look better. You can choose a theme from an artistic period and you will not go wrong. For instance, if you want to pull a quick rococo, you will be impressed.

Conclusion

These dresser decor ideas should help you design a comfortable, functional, and aesthetic space. Another essential step before finding decorations and accessories is searching for the right dresser. Find a dresser size that fits nicely in your room in terms of scale and proportion. Assess your overall room design and decide what decorations are appropriate for your dresser. Of course, enjoy the process while you’re at it!

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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