Chests: Quality Storage

Our classic tool for storing clothing and other things like tools may have ceded some popularity to closets and shelving, but chests remain standard in most homes.  That's because chests of drawers help us keep our things, and therefore our lives, organized.  A well-made chest can be a great asset for the bedroom if it matches our decor and is sized appropriately for our rooms.  People in search of a chest will be confronted by an almost endless variety of chests of drawers, and that's not even including tool chests, which are a thing unto themselves (a tool chest may be very specialized and finely crafted to reflect the importance of the tools they contain).  The same goes for toy chests and so-called treasure chests, not to mention the blanket chest used for seasonal storage of winter bedding.  Whether you are looking for a plain white chest of drawers or an exquisite antique chest of drawers, getting a sense of what's out there can help you focus your search and this article is here to help.

The first thing to consider is how important it is to you to get a quality chest.  When it comes to quality, furniture can be roughly divided in low, average, and high quality.  If you're going after the lowest priced chest you can find, you don't really need this guide.  All you need to do is compare some prices and pick the cheapest one you can find.  This approach almost guarantees low quality, however.  This article will only deal with average and high quality chests, as the low quality furniture being produced today is virtually disposable and is neither a good investment on the individual level nor a sustainable way to purchase furniture.  You could very well end up having to buy a new chest and discarding the cheap one you got because it is junk, and the last thing we need is more junk in our landfills.  So how do you tell if a storage chest is junk?  If you know what you're looking at, it is usually possible to tell at a glance how well or poorly made a thing is.  A cheap chest made of particle board or MDF will tend to break easily and not support much weight.  Check the back of the chest and the edges if it's made of wood.  Is it some type of particle board with veneer glued on to disguise it?  You might want to give it a pass.  Of course, MDF board may also be quite sturdy.  A lot of companies actually make use of this in most of their furniture, though they use better quality MDF and disguise it in a way that is more acceptable.  These could be considered medium quality and may do well for your needs if you don't plan to keep it for a lifetime.  Although such chests will usually feature at least some solid wood, often for the sides of the drawers, they don't usually feel like solid wood and have heavy finishes to disguise wood of mediocre appeal and joined wood.  Again, the quality on such pieces is acceptable and you can expect to get several years of use out of such items.  Some chests that do use solid wood and are of a more simple design can also be found, however.  IKEA offers a lot of quality furniture that is simple and a good value.  You may also be able to find a pine chest in some places that is of decent quality and doesn't cost too much as pine tends to be cheaper.  It still looks like wood, however, in contrast to furniture that has a heavy finish to conceal construction that is designed to save costs.   

High quality chests are obviously more expensive, at least to purchase.  But if you look more closely at the situation, they may actually be the cheapest chests of all.  That's because quality usually means durability, and a durable chest will not need to be replaced in your lifetime or even your grandchildren's lifetime, if properly cared for.  It used to be that a wooden chest was created to be used for lifetimes, not years or even decades.  This was back when furniture was made by woodworkers who cared about their work- they had to, because no one wanted to buy something that wouldn't outlast them.  Chest drawers were more often than not dovetailed, as dovetails are the strongest joint we have.  The cedar chest was common, as cedar contains natural oils that repel moths and other insects- great for storing those wool sweaters during the summer.  Buying quality is for those who have the foresight to see that a quality item will pay for itself.  With the cheap furniture you get nowadays, you probably end up paying more to replace broken pieces anyway.  And having quality furniture creates a nicer ambience in the home.  Today, you can still contract a woodworker to make the chest that you want, a chest that will hopefully be passed down from generation to generation.  Happily, it is also possible to get quality chests that are factory produced, though this is something or a rarity.  You are more likely to come across an antique chest that was made in a factory in the 30s, as is the case with pieces from the Arts and Crafts movement. 
Hopefully this article has made you consider getting quality storage chests.  It's the best way to go if you think you will be able to pass the chest onto your children or other loved ones at some point in your life.