Styling a chest of drawers is all about striking the right balance between intentional organisation and thoughtful accent pieces. The key to styling a chest of drawers is to start with a clean slate. So clear everything off of your drawers, give it a good dusting and then read our tips below to learn how to style your chest of drawers.

5 Ways to Style: Chest of Drawers

1. Start With an Anchor

When styling a chest of drawers, the first thing you'll want to take note of is the space above it. Choose an essential like a wall mirror or framed art to anchor the drawers in their place. Circular mirrors help to visually balance the vertical lines of a chest of drawers. If your drawers are tall, centre the mirror or art directly above it. If your dresser is wide, place the mirror or art on one side of it. If your chest of drawers sits in front of a window, then there's no need to worry about an anchor. Simply let the natural light into your bedroom without any obstruction.

2. Create Height

Once you've got your anchor, give your chest of drawers some height by adding tapered candlesticks, a bone-inlay vase or a lamp. If you're decorating chest of drawers that are wide, place any tall objects on the opposite side of the mirror or wall art. Make sure that the tall object is shorter than your anchor so that the two aren't competing for attention.

Tip: Place the mirror or art on the left side of the drawers and the tall object on the right; that way your eye will naturally 'read' the chest of drawers from left to right like a book.

3. Include a Few Unfussy & Understated Pieces

Now it's time to curate a few intentional accent pieces. Since you'll be looking at your chest of drawers daily, it's important to choose thoughtful touches that bring calm or highlight a fond memory. Try clustering together a couple of framed photos or a stack of our favourite books. If your drawers are on the smaller side, try stacking books underneath your tall object to give it a bit of extra height. Chest of drawers decor ideas are all about mixing materials and shapes – like a wooden bowl and marble bookends.

4. Add Thoughtful Storage

Styling a chest of drawers is just as important as keeping it organised. Add a thoughtful storage accessory to make sure the top of your drawers stays neat. Ceramic bowls and rattan accent trays make for great accent pieces and the bowl is ideal for dropping in your keys and or everyday jewellery. Use a tray to organise perfumes, face oils or vitamins. Storage is important as you don't want the top of your chest of drawers to become overcrowded.

5. Layer, Edit & Repeat

Styling a chest of drawers isn't just a onetime thing – let your pieces evolve with the seasons and the transitions of your style. Keeping a bit of blank space on the surface of your drawers is important for getting ready in the morning. To do this, start by layering pieces. Small frames can be leaned up against larger ones. Candles and other decorative pieces can live on top of a stack of books. Keep trying new chest of drawers decor ideas until you find a setup that works for you.

Enjoyed this article? Then you might also want to read our chest of drawers buying guide and these gallery wall ideas to try at home.