15 of the best simple, Scandinavian-style chests of drawers

Despite the fact they’re a staple of many bedrooms, finding minimalist chests of drawers is surprisingly tricky. If you like the rustic cottage look then you have loads to pick from, but if you prefer clean lines with no unnecessary details you’ll find the selection is somewhat smaller. In fact very few of the brands I usually turn to for understated design even seem to make chests of drawers nowadays. That may be because built-in storage is becoming more and more popular, but freestanding pieces are sometimes the best (or only) option and so the lack of choice in this category strikes me as odd.

To help those struggling to find a pared-back chest of drawers, I’ve trawled the web and put together a selection of 15 beautiful options – now fully updated for 2025. There’s a range of sizes, finishes and price points to choose from, but all combine a simple, Scandinavian aesthetic with lots of useful storage. I’ve also included a few tips to bear in mind when choosing a design for your home, which you’ll find towards the bottom of the page.

1. ‘Morten’ whitewashed solid oak and oak veneer three-drawer chest of drawers, £879, Heal’s
2. ‘Berkeley Nordic’ solid oak four-drawer chest of drawers, supplied with both oak and black-metal handles (also available as a 10-drawer version), £599, Cotswold Company
3. ‘NORDLI’ particleboard 12-drawer chest of drawers in white (also available in numerous other sizes and in ‘anthracite’), £535, IKEA
4. ‘Laval’ solid oak and oak veneer four-drawer chest of drawers, £499, La Redoute [AD – affiliate link]
5. Ercol ‘Salina’ solid ash and ash veneer four-drawer chest of drawers (also available as six- and eight-drawer versions), £1,305, Heal’s
6. ‘Penn’ solid oak and oak veneer six-drawer chest of drawers (also available in dark-stained oak and various other sizes), £799, MADE
7. ANYDAY ‘Bonn’ solid oak and particleboard three-drawer chest of drawers, £124, John Lewis
8. ‘Nordic’ solid oak three-drawer chest of drawers, £2,179, Ethnicraft
9. Montana ‘Carry’ lacquered MDF three-drawer chest of drawers in ‘anthracite’ (also available in numerous other colours), £1,645, Utility Design
10. ‘Ravi’ solid pine six-drawer chest of drawers, £599, La Redoute [AD – affiliate link]
11. String Furniture ‘Relief’ tall five-drawer chest of drawers in beige (also available in ash, white, grey and orange, and in several other sizes), £1,410, Utility Design
12. ‘Citi’ oak veneer three-drawer chest of drawers with metal legs, £390, Perch & Parrow [AD – affiliate link]
13. ‘Durham’ solid oak five-drawer chest of drawers (also available in tall and six-drawer versions), £349, Oak Furniture Land
14. Case Furniture ‘Valentine’ walnut-stained four-drawer chest of drawers (also available in natural oak and a black stain), £1,826, Nest.co.uk
15. ‘BJÖRKSNÄS’ solid birch and leather five-drawer chest of drawers, £315, IKEA

Tips for choosing a chest of drawers

Chests of drawers can be fairly chunky pieces of furniture, so if you have a small room and want to avoid overwhelming it, look for a design with slender legs that lifts it off the ground. Being able to see a bit of floor and wall around it will instantly create the illusion of more space.

If you have a particularly tight corner to deal with, then compact designs such as the Heal’s ‘Morten’ are ideal. These can even double as nightstands and side tables, allowing you to incorporate a little more storage in your home without the need for additional furniture. Tall, narrow options can also work well, but be careful in low rooms as they’ll only emphasinse the lack of ceiling height.

Conversely, if you have a lot of space to fill and want to pack in as much storage as possible, you could consider doubling up chests of drawers. This works best if you choose a design that’s totally flat down the sides, with no overhanging top, rounded edges or protruding legs, so that you can push two right up against each other and create the impression of one seamless piece. It’s also worth taking a look at IKEA’s ‘NORDLI’ design, as it’s part of a modular range that be configured in numerous different ways.

If you’re really struggling to find a chest of drawers that fits your home, I’d recommend Tylko (below). I haven’t included it in the above selection because its pieces are customisable and made to order, meaning no two are the same. You just choose from a number of basic designs and then select the dimensions, the finish, the amount of drawers and whether or not you want any sections left open. It’s a great way to get a bespoke item that meets your needs, suits your taste and works perfectly in whatever space you have.

Finally, as many of the above chests of drawers are part of wider product series, I want to address a question I’ve been asked a few times recently: whether or not you should choose matching bedroom furniture from the same range. Whilst I’d never say never, it’s definitely worth proceeding with caution as it can look very twee and old-fashioned. I normally prefer to mix things up, incorporating pieces that introduce interest and contrast while ensuring a few common elements – for example the same materials, similar shapes or recurring black metals legs – to keep things cohesive. Where matching can work is if you restrict it to just a couple of items – perhaps your chest of drawers and bedside tables – that don’t sit right next to each other and are broken up by other bits of furniture.

Please note this post contains affiliate links (all clearly marked), which means I will receive a small commission on any resulting sales. You won’t pay any more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites directly.

All photography via the brands above