I Tested (and Rated!) All the Dressers at Pottery Barn — Here Are the Best Ones for Every Space

Last year, I had to furnish an apartment from scratch. I kept telling myself not to stress over the fact that I couldn’t get all of the items I needed at once. I still stand by the importance of patience, but if I could go back in time, I would prioritize different pieces of furniture from the outset. For example, instead of focusing on getting a coffee table right away, I would’ve instead focused on getting a dresser. The moment I got one, I felt like I could finally live properly and efficiently in my new space.

Of course, not just any old dresser will work for any home. You have to find the right one for a given room, considering things like its size and appearance. I considered all of this and more when I viewed the dressers at Pottery Barn’s Flatiron store for Apartment Therapy’s Personal Shopper series.

I’ve already looked at a bunch of furniture categories from Pottery Barn and written shopping guides for them, including sofas, bed frames, accent chairs, and dining tables. Now, I get to share my thoughts on one of my personal favorite categories: dressers. Keep reading to see which model is right for your space.

As one of the premier home retailers across the country, Pottery Barn is a reliable brand that has demonstrated its ability to stay on top of trends, ahead of production and shipping delays, and true to its best-selling classic Americana roots. 

Beyond this, Pottery Barn has its Design Crew to help with planning, logistics, and aesthetics. Not only can you take your pick from virtual, storefront, or in-home meetings with crew members, but they’ll also listen to your every desire when it comes to your dream space — be it one room or your entire home — and develop custom renderings. Oh, and they’ll do it for free. Yep, free. No need to purchase anything, though I can pretty much guarantee you’re going to want to.

I judged every Pottery Barn dresser in-store based on the following five criteria, giving each category an average rating between 1 and 5. These scores helped me determine whom the table suits best.

• Appearance: What style of decor does the dresser suit best? Does its design lean warm and rustic or sleek and modern? Is it classic with a warm wooden finish and detailing or contemporary with clean lines and a mixed-material design?
• Storage Capacity: Are the drawers big enough to house most of your wardrobe? Do you get a substantial surface on top for other items? Are the dresser’s legs tall enough for storing items underneath the body?
• Space Requirements: How much space does the dresser take up? Does it require a lot of horizontal floor space, or does it make good use of vertical space? How tall is it?
• Drawer Glidability: How easy is it to pull out the drawers? Do they catch and require a lot of muscle, or do they glide out easily?
• Drawer Depth: How far back do the drawers extend? Are they spacious or compact? Are they all the same size?

What impressed me: The gently curved surface and marble top.

The Scarlett model is pretty small for a dresser, so much so that I initially thought I was looking at an oversized nightstand. But when I read its tag, I was happy to learn that Pottery Barn carries such a stylish dresser for small spaces. It has an almost reddish-brown body, which is nicely contrasted with a sleek white marble top. What I love most, though, is that the dresser’s surface has a slightly wavy front edge. It’s almost like a scallop pattern, but not enough to look overly trendy.

I found this dresser’s drawers to be a great size — nice and wide. They have quaint doorknocker-style pulls. All of the different elements (the classic wood, the modern marble, and the antique-looking pulls) create an enticing whole and kind of gave me apothecary vibes. If I didn’t already own a dresser I loved, I’d definitely be eyeing the Scarlett for my tiny bedroom.

How I Rated It:

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as a 5-drawer dresser
• Dimensions: 38″ long, 20″ wide, 36″ high
• Finish: Available in acacia wood

What impressed me: The cool-toned Seadrift finish and old-fashioned knobs.

I grew up in a small farming town, and this dresser genuinely looks like something that could’ve been in my childhood best friend’s room. It instantly gave me nostalgic vibes with its no-nonsense craftsmanship, slightly textured wood finish, and support beams that run along its base. The matching round wooden drawer pulls make it even homier, and I also like that the edges of the dresser’s surface extend out past the body a little bit. All of these touches are what made me deem it the best traditional style.

Storage-wise, the Farmhouse dresser has two drawers on top that are shorter than the four on the bottom. So, I’d use the bottom ones for clothes and the top ones for miscellaneous accessories, like hats and scarves. Although this is one of the larger dressers I looked at, I didn’t get the impression that it’s oversized, perhaps because its design is so unpretentious.

How I Rated It:

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as a 4-drawer dresser and 7-drawer dresser
• Dimensions: 66″ long, 21″ wide, 36″ high
• Finish: Available in a Seadrift, Montauk White, Gray Wash, Sienna Brown, and Charcoal finish

What impressed me: The small top drawers and traditional molding.

The Sausalito dresser is a lot like the Farmhouse dresser because of its light wood finish and classic design elements. Still, I think it’s great that Pottery Barn carries so much variety; there truly is an exact style for every interior aesthetic.

I found this one to have a weathered, cool-toned brown finish and equally weathered-looking drawer pulls, almost like ones you’d see on an antique find. The Sausalito is definitely oversized, too, and looks busy as a whole. If you’re after a minimalist aesthetic, this one isn’t for you. But it would work well in a large family home; I think a couple could get away with sharing it, even. The slightly ornate legs and molding are a nice finishing touch to an otherwise very practical storage solution.

How I Rated It:

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as a 4-drawer dresser, 5-drawer dresser, and 6-drawer dresser
• Dimensions: 66″ long, 20″ wide, 36.5″ high
• Finish: Available in Seadrift

What impressed me: The rounded edges and rustic finish.

The Aptos dresser strikes a perfect balance between modern and traditional design. On the one hand, it has a clean, contemporary silhouette punctuated by tall legs, rounded edges, and a generous but not oversized surface. On the other, its rustic Sandwash finish and weathered drawer pulls add an air of vintage charm.

I had the easiest time opening and closing this dresser’s drawers; not only was the glide super smooth, but the bottom four were impressively deep, tall, and wide. The top two are spacious as well, but a more suitable size for a sock collection than a stack of sweaters. Also, because this model has curved corners, I think it’s a safer choice for homes with young kids than some of the sharp-cornered dressers in this guide.

How I Rated It:

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as a 4-drawer dresser and 5-drawer dresser
• Dimensions: 60″ long, 18″ wide, 36″ high
• Finish: Available in Sandwash

What impressed me: The blocky silhouette and slightly coarse texture.

After looking at a series of light-colored dressers, the Rockport was a refreshing departure. Its deep brown finish helps it serve as somewhat of an anchor piece for a bedroom. If you style it with white bedding and other pale-colored decor, it would stand out especially well.

Also of note are the Rockport’s ultra-textured finish and chunky silhouette. I don’t normally see these design elements paired together, so I appreciate the uniqueness of this new Pottery Barn offering. As for its storage, the dresser has deep drawers, though they are of a medium height and width. I could envision this pick in a first home for young adults; it’s suitable for both apartments (so long as they’re not too tiny) and houses.

How I Rated It:

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 60″ long, 19″ wide, 35″ high
• Finish: Available in Cocoa Brown reclaimed pine wood

What impressed me: The recessed platform base and industrial-looking drawer pulls.

The Oakleigh dresser has a lot going on, from its three small top drawers to its busy mango wood finish to its antique-looking iron drawer pulls. I would recommend it to people after a cozy or cottagey vibe, versus a modern one. It didn’t look overly long to me, and at 57 inches across, it’s comparatively not. But this dresser is tall (it went up to my hips, and I’m 5’6”) and relatively deep.

Although I think the three smaller drawers on top contribute to the Oakleigh’s busy aesthetic, I do think they’re practical for storing things like jewelry, mail, souvenirs, and other random things you want to keep on hand without displaying. Again, I think this pick would work well in most houses, but not so much for apartments.

How I Rated It:

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as a 3-drawer dresser, 5-drawer dresser, and 9-drawer dresser
• Dimensions: 57″ long, 20″ wide, 36.5″ high
• Finish: Available in an Heirloom Brown, Heirloom Wheat, and Biscotti finish

What impressed me: The powder-smooth texture and no-frills drawers.

It’s no secret that the Cayman collection is my favorite furniture collection at Pottery Barn. I think every piece within it is perfectly executed, and this six-drawer dresser is no exception. It has a perfectly modular silhouette, and I appreciate that the platform base is short, so it doesn’t look like a separate part of the overall design. Everything fits within a neat cube, essentially.

I also adore the Cayman’s powdery wooden texture, which is literally soft to the touch, as well as its lack of drawer pulls. Looking at the piece feels so satisfying. Additionally, this pick would work in small spaces because at 52 inches long and 18 inches wide, it’s about the size of your average loveseat. If you ask me, it’s perfect!

How I Rated It:

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as a 3-drawer dresser, 5-drawer tall dresser, 5-drawer wide dresser, and 9-drawer dresser
• Dimensions: 52″ long, 18″ wide, 32″ high
• Finish: Available in a Biscotti, Heirloom Wheat, Coffee Bean, and Warm Black finish

What impressed me: The cane panels and brass detailing.

Consider the Westly dresser your most coastal-glam option. Coastal because of its white frame and cane panel drawers, and glam because the flat brass drawer pulls add a little razzle-dazzle that certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. Obviously, this model would fit a boho aesthetic, too, and unlike some of the chunky anchor piece dressers I viewed, it would likely make your room feel light and airy.

As a whole, this dresser is a normal size, though it is tall (again, hip height). The first word I wrote down to describe it was “cute,” and looking at photos of it weeks after seeing it in person, I stand by that characterization. Obviously, you’d want to take care not to damage the white finish. Coasters and quick spot-cleaning are a must!

How I Rated It:

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as a 5-drawer dresser
• Dimensions: 60″ long, 18″ wide, 34″ high
• Finish: Available in a Chalk White finish

What impressed me: The tall legs and wide drawers.

I deemed the Calistoga dresser the most versatile model because, like the Aptos dresser, it feels simultaneously modern and traditional. Also, it has eight drawers and therefore offers plenty of storage, but it’s not oversized. Finally, this pick could fit in with a variety of interior decor styles, whether you’re into a farmhouse, transitional, modern, or eclectic aesthetic.

The Calistoga has a homey wood finish. It might look like a basic medium-brown in photos, but in person, it’s pretty whitewashed. The tall legs and round brass drawer pulls further distinguish the dresser from others in the category. Keep in mind that there are eight drawers, and they’re not the tallest. But you get optimal depth and width, which is still pretty impressive.

How I Rated It:

Specifications:

• Styles: Also available as a 9-drawer dresser
• Dimensions: 59″ long, 18″ wide, 37″ high

Finish: Available in a Fog and Dusty Charcoal finish