What is Tallboy Furniture and How to Style It

A tallboy consists of three drawers of different sizes stacked atop each other. It serves the same purpose as a storage chest and looks visually appealing. Although this tailored piece of furniture has transformed over time, its striking height and narrow structure remain unchanged. In this article, we will elaborate on what defines a tallboy, the ideal height and width, and how to style this piece of furniture.
What is a Tallboy Furniture Piece?
Typically placed in a bedroom, a tall boy is a tall vertical storage cabinet with two or more drawers pulled out from the front used to store clothing and personal belongings. The term “tallboy” which is widely accepted today was first used in 18th century Britain when it described a high chest of drawers comprising two pieces. Now, the term refers to a variety of vertical and narrow storage furniture ranging between 120-140 cm tall.
Concisely put, a tallboy is a vertical storage solution, unlike wider dressers that have more breadth-driven storage capacity. This form factor often means less floor space is needed, making tallboys great for small to medium-sized rooms with restrictive storage space.
Traditional wooden pieces and sleek modern designs are just a few of the styles available for tall boys. Some designs combine cabinets with drawers and others have a single configuration of only drawers.
Tallboy Size and Dimensions
The standard dimensions of a tallboy usually include:
- Height- 110 to 213 cm
- Width: 38 to 76 cm
- Depth: 40 to 50 cm
Antique and statement pieces often exceed these dimensions while some mini tallboys may be shorter. Other features to consider when buying a tallboy include:
- Ceiling height– Leave 30-35 cm between the top of the tallboy and the ceiling.
- Door clearance– Ensure the tall boy can fit through doorways and hallways.
- Drawer accessibility– The highest drawers should be reachable without the use of a step stool.
A tailboy’s ideal size depends on personal preference. A narrow tallboy for a small bedroom would be 38-40 cms wide. A wider model would be more suitable for primary bedrooms with higher ceilings.
How to Style a Tallboy Dresser: Creative Tallboy Decorating Ideas for Every Room
Understanding how to style a tallboy dresser will show you just how this piece of furniture can perform as a breathtaking focal point to increase the aesthetic value of the room. The vertical design of tallboy dressers, along with their generous storage capacity, creates a stark difference in styling opportunities when compared to horizontally placed dressers. With these tall boy decor ideas, whether you have a vintage or modern piece, you will be able to beautifully style the space while maintaining a functional aesthetic balance.
Grasping The Basics of Tallboy Dresser Styling
The secret to successfully styling a tallboy dresser is in bending its height to your will and working with its vertical proportions instead of trying to fight it. Unlike wide, low dressers, tallboys create dramatic vertical lines which can improve the perceived height and space of the room. When thinking of how to style a tallboy dresser, attempt to achieve harmony by incorporating features and elements that help rather than clash with the incredible height the dresser boasts.
Styling A Tallboy Dresser
The placement and decor surface of a tall boy determines its styling. Here are some ways to aid you:
Placing the Furniture and Its Relation with the Room
- Bedroom Corners: When placed in a corner, the tallboy aids in establishing equilibrium in the layout while not constricting the room’s flow.
- Entryway Statement: A tallboy in an entryway can serve both as a functional storage unit and as an elegant piece of furniture where decorative items can be kept.
- Bathroom Storage: A tall boy can be kept in larger bathrooms to store towels, bathroom essentials, and toiletries, thereby adding architectural interest.
- Living Room Accent: In the living room, a tall boy can be put against a wall to store and display media items, games, or linens.
- Hallway Utility: A tallboy aids in storing household items and breaking up long wall expanses in broader hallways.
Decor Surface Talk Formulation Approaches
- Rule of Three: On the surface of the tallboy, placing three objects such as a lamp, a framed photo, and a decorative box can be an ideal combination.
- Vertical Emphasis: Slender table lamps and tall vases with dried pampas grass can accentuate the tallboy’s vertical lines.
- Balance with Width: Arrange a matching set or pair of items to create horizontal weight balance against the tallboy’s height, such as a tray set on a low table.
- Functional Styling: Integrate diverse and practical accessories such as a jewellery box, a small clock, and a daily essentials tray.
Different Rooms Tall Boy Decor Ideas
Tallboy Stlying for Bedroom
When setting your tallboy dresser in the bedroom, aim for a calm and sophisticated look that is tidy.
Every jewelry and small item deserves a place on the dresser. To help with organization, use decorative trays.Place personal touches that embody you such as framed photos, soft glowing table lamps, and meaningful trinkets. Always consider what you see when you view the bed, make sure whatever style you choose promotes peace.
Tallboy Arrangements in the Living Room
When learning how to style a tallboy dresser in living spaces, think about how best to entertain guests and display items. Books, calendars and an unspilled television could be placed on the dresser.
Persistent with the room’s color scheme and its ethos mark, intersperse items adapted to your personality and interests.
Tallboy Styling in Entryway
The combined need of efficiency and a warm, inviting look makes styling this tallboy challenging.
A table lamp for calm light, a decorative bowl for misplaced keys, a small plant, seasonal decor, while inviting with usable styling representative of the way you would like clients to be received when they walk into the house.
Creative Ideas for Decorating a Tall Boy
Tall Boy Styling for Bedroom
While placing the tallboy dresser in the bedroom, create a sleek appearance while making it look calm and sophisticated.
All jewellery and small items should have space on the dresser. To decorate it and assist with organisation, use decorative trays. Put into place soft glowing table lamps, photos, and meaningful trinkets that embody you. Always think of what is in your view when looking at the bed, make sure there is peace with whatever style you go with.
Tall Boy Arrangements in the Living Room
When learning how to style a tallboy dresser in living spaces, keep in mind style and how best to serve guests. Arrangement could include books, a calander, an undisplayed TV.
Persistent cases should respect the ethos mark of the room’s colour scheme, so blend items remodelled to fit your liking and ones adapted to your personality.
Tall Boy Styling in Entryway
The need to be efficient at first glance and warm and welcoming creates the tallboy’s most challenging styling problem.
Decorative Bowl for misplaced keys, a bit more plant, seasonal decoys, table lamp for soft light, all invite while obverse style representative of how the clients should imagine being welcomed facing towards the guests while being turned away.
Decor Ideas for Tallboy
Modern Minimalist
- Choose a tall boy with clean lines and a matte surface.
- Use a simple modern lamp or a sculptural object as the centrepiece.
- Reduce wall decoration to create a clutter-free space.
- Use brushed metal for the hardware or integrated pulls for a seamless look.
Traditional Elegance
- Find a tall boy made of wood featuring classic detailing or carved elements.
- Style with a traditional table lamp with a fabric shade.
- Add a small silver tray for jewellery or cologne.
- Mix in a frame containing a vintage photo or botanical print.
- Think about adding a small upholstered footstool.
Coastal Casual
- Opt for a tallboy made of weathered wood or seafoam, navy, and white painted versions.
- Use a glass lamp with shells or coral for natural elements.
- Add woven baskets for additional storage.
- Add jute or rope embellishments via the hardware or ornamental objects.
Bohemian Eclectic
- Select tallboys with colourful painted patterns or interesting aged surfaces.
- Decorate with a set of small plants placed in varying types of pots.
- Hang a uniquely shaped mirror over the tall boy.
- Incorporate blended craft items like ceramic vessels or wooden bead adornments.
- Use softer elements like multilayered tassels or macrame pieces.
Industrial Chic
- Choose at all boyy made of wood with exposed metal details or distressed finish.
- Add an industrial-style task lamp for lighting.
- Increase storage space with metal containers or vintage storage boxes.
- Use unrefined materials such as copper accessories, poured concrete, or leather.
- Hang a simple round mirror or some metal wall art above.
Best Polishing Suggestions for Tallboy Dressers
Furnishing the Tallboy Dresser
The accessories placed on your tallboy dresser provide a unique chance to maintain diversity in height. For example, you can place a tall table lamp, a medium plant, and a small decorative bowl to make a cohesive but interesting arrangement. This creates effortless movement and decor flow while at the same time avoiding the surface looking too busy or aesthetic.
Artwork Integration
Using a mirror or artwork piece above the dresser is one of the best tall boy decor ideas. The pieces chosen must also be in proportion to the width of the dresser. Ideally, it should be two thirds of the dressers width. Round mirrors soften the angular lines of a tallboy and rectangular artwork emphasize the dresser’s geometric appeal.
Bringing in Plants
For tallboy dresser styling, plants work excellently as they add softness to the straighforward lines and structure of the dresser. Trailing and upright plants might work the best as they provide balance to the tallboy proportions. Snake plants, fiddle leaf figs, or taller succulents would be ideal to use with this design.
Practical Tips for Tallboy Functionality
- Drawer Organization: Use divider boxes to store small items; this will maximize the use of space.
- Weight Distribution: To avoid tipping hazards, store heavier items in lower drawers.
- Anchor for Safety: In homes with children or areas prone to earthquakes, taller pieces should be secured to the wall for safety.
- Hardware Updates: Refresh knobs or handles on older tallboy units with modern knobs or handles for a more contemporary look.
- Lighting Consideration: The ambient or task lighting around the tallboy needs to be sufficient if you intend to use the surface for practical purposes.
A tall boy dresser offers both practical storage and aesthetic appeal, making it a versatile addition to any home. Whether you choose a heritage piece with history or a contemporary design with modern functionality, your tallboy can serve as both a storage solution and a style statement. By considering its placement, styling its surface thoughtfully, and selecting the right size for your space, you can make this classic furniture piece a highlight of your interior design.