A foodie has a favourite food, a bookworm has a favourite book, a painter has a favourite hue, a dancer has a favourite mudra. Just so, an interior designer could also have a favourite piece of furniture. I have one, too. It’s called chest of drawers.

Believe you me, it’s the only home furniture that is a rare combination of aesthetics and functionality, with added versatility — it can be placed in any room and does wonders to all kinds of setting.

The USP

Smaller than a wardrobe and bigger than a side table, a chest of drawers can almost take the place of either. The best thing about it is that it packs a lot of utility into one small space, offering organised storage in its drawers with a display area on top.

You can customise chests to your specific requirements. You might prefer an antique chest with carved drawer fronts or a simple country pine chest. If you have contemporary taste, look for a clean-lined wood or painted piece.

A good chest can be moved from room to room and from house to house, re-inventing itself for each new room and location. It grows with you and fits into new homes. And, like an old friend, it is a reliable, steady companion.

Practise prudence

Remember that you access a drawer from the top. So, don’t go overboard with the height of the chest. It is best that it be a maximum of 4 feet (for adults).

While shallow drawers can move in and out of their casing without any mechanical guidance, the deeper ones must be directed on drawer slides (also called runners and channels). An average pair of slides can be bought for Rs 200, though there are upmarket versions for as high as Rs 800.

Handles with comfortable grips are more suited than knobs to operate the drawers.

Frequently-used chests are best finished with laminates; the painted and polished ones must get a coat of sealer and PU lacquer. If you are constantly using the top of the chest, place a thin piece of clear glass on it.

Drawers are probably more prone to getting jammed than hinged shutters. So, don’t go wild stuffing them with things.

Applications

Entry table: Use it in the entrance foyer for keeping keys, mail and footwear. Hang a mirror over it and set a beautiful plant on top next to a basket for the mail.

End table: Set a chest next to a sofa or chair for more storage and bigger display surface than a typical side or corner table. A lamp, flowers, books, collections and a telephone can go on top. Cocktail napkins, coasters, remote controls and CDs can go inside the drawers.

Buffet: Chests make a great sideboard in a dining room. Keep napkins, mats and serving pieces inside drawers and display some china on top. Hang a mirror, art or decorative plates on the wall above it.

Hall chest: Add interest and function to a wide hallway or passage by placing a chest. Store your photo albums, pictures and scrapbook supplies here.

Dressing storage: A bedroom is the usual place for a chest. It often works best if placed near the wardrobe. Fill it with the usual items — socks, T-shirts and hosiery.

Nightstand: Use chests next to your bed instead of smaller bedside tables. Keep a reading lamp and books on top. In the top drawer, keep pens and paper, notecards, tissues or reading material. Use lower drawers for phone books, magazines or clothing.

Baby changing table: A chest of proper height can be set up to work as a changing table for an infant. Later, fill your chest with toddler clothes or toys. A really good piece will grow up with your child and be useful for many years.

Support for a desk: Make a desk out of a hollow-core door or a length of laminate countertop. Support one side of the desk with your chest. Attach the back and opposite side of the desk to brackets screwed into wall studs, or rest it on t op of a small file cabinet. Stock the chest with office supplies.

(The author is an interior design consultant, specialising in the design of corporate and residential interiors. As a senior faculty member at a Calcutta institute, she has delivered lectures, guided research and conducted projects in the field of housing & interior design for over two decades. She can be contacted at kusumsmail@yahoo.com)