Putting a Dresser Inside a Closet | Why & How

posted by Megan on October 11, 2024 This post may contain affiliate links.

Without a doubt, one of my very favorite space-saving solutions is to put a dresser inside a closet. But sometimes, this is a bit easier said than done (just ask anyone who’s tried to cram a bulky dresser into a very confined space!) Today, I’m breaking down when and why you should consider this clever storage solution, as well as my best tips and tricks for making the setup look great and work even better!

Tall grey dresser inside a skinny bedroom closet

More about the closets featured in this post: A Fun and Functional Nursery Closet | Adding Storage to a Tiny Teen Bedroom

Table of Contents

Why Put a Dresser Inside the Closet?

There are three main reasons you might consider putting a dresser inside a closet (and these goals are not necessarily mutually exclusive).

To save floor space
To create more/different storage inside a closet
To fake a “built in” look

1 – Save Floor Space

The most obvious reason to move a dresser into a closet is to save floor or wall space in a small room (just as I showed in my teen’s small bedroom).

Dressers, by their very nature, tend to be big and bulky; and when you’re trying to keep floor space open for walking, playing, or other necessary furniture (like the bed, nightstands), its a logical piece to “eliminate.”

Utilizing the floor inside a closet allows you to keep the dresser inside the room and still very usable while also opening up space for larger items that really can’t go anywhere else.

2 – Add More/Different Function Inside a Closet

Most household closets are outfitted with a single hanging rod with a long shelf above it. Regardless of how much hanging space you need/use, this leaves a lot of open, un-used space that can be outfitted more appropriately.

Closet floors are often among the least utilized spaces in our homes. And when we don’t intentionally use that space, it becomes all to easy to clutter it up with shoes, racks, discarded clothes, hidden presents, to-return items, and so many other things.

Putting a chest of drawers inside the closet allows you to add more/different storage where there is none, essentially filling up the floor/hanging space that might otherwise sit empty or cluttered.

If your closet is outfitted with several shelves but you really want to put in a dresser instead, just remove them! While wood versions can be more involved to remove, wire shelving can usually be popped right out.

3 – Fake a “Built In” Look

Finally, one more reason you might consider putting a dresser inside a closet is to “hack” the look of custom closet built-ins.

If you’re desperately needing drawers inside a closet but just can’t afford or commit to a custom installation, using a dresser is usually a cheaper, easier, and more temporary (for us renters!) means to achieving the look and function you want.

My Best Tips for Putting a Dresser Inside a Closet

Now, before you jump up and go attempt to wiggle your dresser into your closet, here are some tips and tricks for ensuring it looks AND functions just right!

Can You Get the Dresser In?

I can’t provide a math equation to figure out if your dresser will fit inside your closet (although I’m sure there is one). But what I can tell you is that just because the dimensions of the dresser should technically fit within the available closet space, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to get it in there (been there, done that).

The width and depth of the closet, the width and depth of the dresser, AND the size of the closet opening ALL need to be analyzed in order to determine if your dresser will ultimately slide in.

Anecdotally, I can tell you that the deeper your closet and/or the wider the opening, the more likely you’ll be able to ultimately maneuver the dresser in.

Dressers can be heavy and awkward. Furniture sliders are especially helpful in working a dresser into a tight space.

A Tip on Dresser Width

If you’re trying to find a dresser that fits perfectly within your closet door opening for a more custom, built-in appearance (like we attempted to do in our teen’s small closet, below), keep in mind that many dressers have tops or bases that are wider than the dresser frame/drawers themselves. And it’s these wider top/bottom measurements that are usually reported (in online descriptions) as the total width of the dresser.

I searched (and searched and searched) for a dresser that would perfectly match our son’s closet opening. While the top and bottom fit the clearance perfectly, I didn’t realize the drawers sat inset to the top of the dresser by an inch+ on either side until it was fully assembled and moved into place.

The easiest way to to eliminate this awkward gap and truly achieve that custom look is to find a dresser with drawers that fit just inside your closet opening.

Watch for Drawer Clearance

Even if the dresser will technically fit inside the closet, be sure to also ensure the drawers open all the way. If your dresser is skinnier than the door opening or the closet is much deeper than the dresser, opening the drawers likely won’t be an issue.

However, if you’re trying to fit a dresser within the door frame (like shown below) or in a shallow closet, measure, measure (and measure) again to be sure the dresser drawers will open fully.

DIY Drawer Dividers

Add a Topper

When we pulled this tall dresser to the front of our son’s closet, we immediately worried about items sliding off the back of the dresser. Not only was there a good 8″ of space behind the dresser for items to fall into; but since the dresser fit the full width of the closet, we had no easy way to retrieve them when they did.

Our solution? A wooden topper!

We custom cut (and then stained/sealed) a piece of plywood to fit the entire width and depth of the closet; and it sat right on top of the dresser. It completely eliminated any gaps between the dresser and the closet walls AND expanded the depth of the display space on top of his dresser.

If you are going for that “faux” built-in look, this easy and inexpensive fix is well worth it!

A grey dresser inside a closet topped with trophies and souvenirs

Consider Removing the Closet Doors

With a deep enough closet, you may be able to put a dresser inside AND close the doors. However, I’d challenge you to consider removing the doors completely. Here’s a few reasons why:

Removing the doors eliminates one barrier to your items. If putting things away is already a challenge, keeping the doors off will likely force you to keep the closet space tidier.
Removing the doors can help with drawer opening. Depending on how the drawers overlap the door frame, eliminating the door edge can make pulling drawers in/out a smoother experience.
Removing the doors will enhance that “built-in” feel – especially if you fill the entire door opening with the dresser itself.

Need to remove the doors for the drawers to slide freely but do NOT want your closet fully exposed? Mount a curtain rod above the closet (on the outside) and use a curtain(s) to cover the closet instead!

Add Some Fun

Whether or not you choose to take the doors off (but especially if you do!) consider painting or adding some fun wallpaper/artwork behind the dresser itself. This added detail will help the “nook” look separate and special but also keep it connected to the larger room.

You can add even more function to your closet by putting a bulletin board, pegboard, hooks, knobs, or other wall-mounted organizer up on the wall above the dresser. These storage solutions can hold thing like jewelry, hair supplies, accessories, diaper changing supplies, books, etc.

What About Hanging Items?

The specific dresser we chose for our son’s room obviously prevented us from hanging anything, but he actually doesn’t have much. His one blazer and Scout uniform are stored on hangers on the hook behind his bedroom door. All of his other clothes are folded (e.g., shirts, jeans, sweaters), which is why we prioritized a taller dresser.

If you want to put a dresser inside a closet but don’t want to sacrifice ALL the hanging space too, here are some ways to make it work:

Kids’ clothes (as well as adult shirts and pants) are often short. Picking a lower dresser can keep space open above the dresser for these clothing items.
In a wide closet, consider putting a dresser to one side to keep the other side open for longer items.
Where else can you store hanging items? If you really need drawers in a specific closet, consider where else in the house hanging items can be stored instead (e.g., guest room).

Putting a Dresser Inside a Closet | Why & How