The dresser for the guest room
September 26, 2021 7:25 PM Subscribe
Is there a piece of furniture that magically fits our requirements and could act as a dresser and landing space for guest's cosmetics?
We have this small guest room that could be easier to get furniture for, if it wasn't for the placement of all the dang return and air vents. It's a square room, and on the wall with the bedroom door, we've decided it might be best to get a dresser (wide rather than tall) to sit opposite of the bed, with a mirror above it. Only issue is I can't find a wide dresser that is tall enough to not cover up the return air vent on that wall. The air vent is about 16 inches tall and 12 inches wide. I thought about putting a tiny dresser from Ikea (about 30 inches wide) to the right of the return air vent in the corner, but then the room looks lopsided, and there is no stud on that side/corner of the wall for a mirror.
Ideally, it seems like a kitchen buffet with tall legs might be the best piece of furniture to fit (wide, relatively narrow so it doesn't jut out a bunch from the wall, tall legs and space underneath for the return vent) as opposed to a traditional 6 drawer wide dresser. But often I can't find one that isn't extremely expensive. Thought about a console table, but most I find are quite short in length compared to a traditional dresser, so it seems to also look to small for the space. Alternatively, I thought about pulling a normal dresser like 5 inches from the wall to still get air flow, but I'm not sure that's enough. With it being a small room, pulling it any further out risks it hard getting between the dresser and the bed to get to the closet.
Are there any furniture pieces I'm not thinking of that I can search for? I even thought of like a floating desk, so there's at least a space to put cosmetics and things on top, but it won't necessarily hold clothes with the lack of drawer space. Open to creative furniture ideas!
We have this small guest room that could be easier to get furniture for, if it wasn't for the placement of all the dang return and air vents. It's a square room, and on the wall with the bedroom door, we've decided it might be best to get a dresser (wide rather than tall) to sit opposite of the bed, with a mirror above it. Only issue is I can't find a wide dresser that is tall enough to not cover up the return air vent on that wall. The air vent is about 16 inches tall and 12 inches wide. I thought about putting a tiny dresser from Ikea (about 30 inches wide) to the right of the return air vent in the corner, but then the room looks lopsided, and there is no stud on that side/corner of the wall for a mirror.
Ideally, it seems like a kitchen buffet with tall legs might be the best piece of furniture to fit (wide, relatively narrow so it doesn't jut out a bunch from the wall, tall legs and space underneath for the return vent) as opposed to a traditional 6 drawer wide dresser. But often I can't find one that isn't extremely expensive. Thought about a console table, but most I find are quite short in length compared to a traditional dresser, so it seems to also look to small for the space. Alternatively, I thought about pulling a normal dresser like 5 inches from the wall to still get air flow, but I'm not sure that's enough. With it being a small room, pulling it any further out risks it hard getting between the dresser and the bed to get to the closet.
Are there any furniture pieces I'm not thinking of that I can search for? I even thought of like a floating desk, so there's at least a space to put cosmetics and things on top, but it won't necessarily hold clothes with the lack of drawer space. Open to creative furniture ideas!
Could always put longer legs on a dresser to dodge the vent.
posted by leslies at 7:45 PM on September 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by leslies at 7:45 PM on September 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
Could you get a dresser that otherwise fits the space and then modify it by removing the bottommost drawers and lower dividers? If the legs are on the side like this one, it should work.
posted by mezzanayne at 8:08 PM on September 26, 2021
posted by mezzanayne at 8:08 PM on September 26, 2021
A few ideas:
A writing desk with a hutch (try "writing desk" as a search term) would give you the clearance, the right spot for mirror placement, and some drawers. Here's an option with only one drawer.
How important is it that the guests have extensive storage space in drawers? If you want more drawers, then I say to get a decent quality dresser and add tall legs. You'd have to think through the proportions of it all, and your style preferences may vary, but there are lots of table legs in various heights available.
posted by bluedaisy at 8:39 PM on September 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
A writing desk with a hutch (try "writing desk" as a search term) would give you the clearance, the right spot for mirror placement, and some drawers. Here's an option with only one drawer.
How important is it that the guests have extensive storage space in drawers? If you want more drawers, then I say to get a decent quality dresser and add tall legs. You'd have to think through the proportions of it all, and your style preferences may vary, but there are lots of table legs in various heights available.
posted by bluedaisy at 8:39 PM on September 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
How about something along the lines of THIS, and just remove the bottom basket?
Or maybe buy an inexpensive OPEN SHELF UNIT and add your own STORAGE BASKETS, but not put any baskets on the bottom shelf?
posted by SageTrail at 8:45 PM on September 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
Or maybe buy an inexpensive OPEN SHELF UNIT and add your own STORAGE BASKETS, but not put any baskets on the bottom shelf?
posted by SageTrail at 8:45 PM on September 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
Aesthetic might be weird, but a dining room side table or side board seems like it might have the shape. Otherwise I'd also be thinking a low sideboard with some add-on legs, though Frankensteining has risks and labor.
posted by Jack Karaoke at 9:15 PM on September 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Jack Karaoke at 9:15 PM on September 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
I think what you want is a narrowish dresser and a narrow table. You could either put something on top of or under the shorter piece to give a more continuous surface on top, if you want.
The table could also be a little wider to give space for someone to sit at it with a small chair.
posted by amtho at 10:25 PM on September 26, 2021
The table could also be a little wider to give space for someone to sit at it with a small chair.
posted by amtho at 10:25 PM on September 26, 2021
Ladies' vanity table with drawers
Modern takes at Amazon, Wayfair, Overstock
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:30 PM on September 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
Modern takes at Amazon, Wayfair, Overstock
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:30 PM on September 26, 2021 [2 favorites]
How much room do you have on either side of the vent? Could you do two 18-24" wide dressers, three or four drawers each (with trays on top to corral personal items), and hang a full-length mirror above the vent? (Art, shelves or hooks would go above the dressers, instead of a mirror.)
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:40 PM on September 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:40 PM on September 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
I thought about putting a tiny dresser from Ikea (about 30 inches wide) to the right of the return air vent in the corner, but then the room looks lopsided, and there is no stud on that side/corner of the wall for a mirror.
Some mirrors will attach to the dresser itself ("Mounting Brackets, included with Matching Dresser"), and angling the dresser in the corner might help with the visual balance.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:55 PM on September 26, 2021
Some mirrors will attach to the dresser itself ("Mounting Brackets, included with Matching Dresser"), and angling the dresser in the corner might help with the visual balance.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:55 PM on September 26, 2021
If you do a search for "wall hung storage" on IKEA's US website, you can see examples of storage you can attach to the wall, above the vent. I'm not suggesting you need to buy anything new, but that should give you some decorating ideas.
If the room feels a bit cramped, wall storage without legs tends to make the room feel more spacious visually as well. Something like this open wardrobe from IKEA might be another approach, if you were willing to put a mirror on the back of the closet door, say.
posted by Bella Donna at 1:41 AM on September 27, 2021
If the room feels a bit cramped, wall storage without legs tends to make the room feel more spacious visually as well. Something like this open wardrobe from IKEA might be another approach, if you were willing to put a mirror on the back of the closet door, say.
posted by Bella Donna at 1:41 AM on September 27, 2021
Could you get a small bedside/chest of drawers, and use that on that right side underneath the floating desk? Would leave space for a chair so they can sit down too.
I take it a pedestal desk isn't an option because there isn't room either side of the vent for pedestals?
posted by stillnocturnal at 2:30 AM on September 27, 2021
I take it a pedestal desk isn't an option because there isn't room either side of the vent for pedestals?
posted by stillnocturnal at 2:30 AM on September 27, 2021
Credenza is a good search term. You'll find some $1,000+ midcentury or designer ones, but you can also find some, e.g., on Amazon and other sites, for far less.
posted by limeonaire at 4:48 PM on September 27, 2021
posted by limeonaire at 4:48 PM on September 27, 2021
If Ikea hacking is an option, I would consider mounting two 30 inch wide, by 15 inch high Sektion kitchen wall units on the wall above the vents. You can make them as cupboards (buy your preferred Ikea 15x15 inch doors and hinges) or you can make them as drawers (buy shallow drawer components from Ikea and drawer fronts - you can get three shallow drawers in that space, or 1 deep and 1 shallow, or 1 extra deep). You will need to cover the top sides and base with cover panels but Ikea also sell those. I did something very similar in my last house to fill an alcove, where I had similar issues. I chose the equivalent of the Bodbyn off white doors for a more traditional look, although it would lend itself well to a very modern look with high-gloss Ringhult doors.
posted by plonkee at 6:35 AM on September 28, 2021
posted by plonkee at 6:35 AM on September 28, 2021
I'm having trouble picturing this (some clearer dimensions and budget would help - are you trying to clear 16 inches from the floor?) but maybe a 'bar cabinet' or 'cocktail cabinet' might yield some other options too, or some sort of credenza or sideboard on legs with some baskets inside for clothes (I mean..how much storage do guests need? Or is it in constant use?). You can get custom legs on etsy etc that you could add to a piece, e.g. DIY dresser with hairpin legs
posted by AnnaRat at 8:24 PM on September 29, 2021
posted by AnnaRat at 8:24 PM on September 29, 2021
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You could remove the backing on the seat side in this instance. A lovely small bench or chair and you have surface and some room for belongings.
posted by beccaj at 7:39 PM on September 26, 2021 [2 favorites]