Wardrobe Vs Dresser: What's The Difference?

The terms wardrobe and dresser are often used interchangeably, but these two pieces of furniture are actually very different in design. Whether you're looking to invest in a genius clothing storage solution for a bedroom without a closet or simply want to fill your home with functional furniture, knowing the difference between these two fixtures is beneficial. Both a wardrobe and a dresser are used to store clothing, but their shape, the items they typically hold, and the way they hold them differ. Broadly speaking, a dresser is a shorter piece of furniture with drawers, and it's designed to hold folded clothing. A wardrobe, on the other hand, is tall and has doors and a rod for hanging clothes. 

There are, of course, variations within the broad category of wardrobes and dressers. Wardrobes can also have a few drawers for storing undergarments, folded clothing, and accessories in addition to the rod that defines them. Dressers are usually shorter than wardrobes, but they can also be on the taller side, depending on their design and the number of drawers they contain. The main differentiator between the two types of storage furniture is the inclusion of a rod for hanging clothes and, typically, doors that conceal what's inside the wardrobe. If an item checks both those boxes and performs like a freestanding closet, it's a wardrobe. If it doesn't, you're dealing with a dresser.

If you're trying to decide whether you need a wardrobe or a dresser for your bedroom, you should consider the clothing you reach for the most and how you prefer to store it. Generally speaking, folding is best for casual wear made from stretchier fabrics, while hanging is ideal for garments that wrinkle or crease easily. You'll likely need a rod to hang at least some of your clothing — unless you're willing to test some hacks to fold and store clothes to minimize wrinkles or keep an iron or steamer close at hand. If your clothing collection consists of suits, dresses, or button-down shirts, a wardrobe is a sensible choice. If you have a more casual, laid-back style and own mostly sweaters, tees, and athleisure wear, you could probably get away with just a dresser.

Do you already have a closet in your bedroom? Then adding a wardrobe probably won't be necessary, unless you have an overflow of clothing that needs to be hung up. A dresser, on the other hand, would still be a great option for garments and accessories that don't wrinkle easily, especially if your closet is on the smaller side, already crammed full of stuff, or doesn't have an abundance of easily accessible shelving. Decorate your dresser with a mirror, some intentional clutter, and a candle or two, and it'll become a stylish feature in your bedroom rather than a simple closet extension.