Storage furniture buying guide

Traditional storage furniture

Traditional storage furniture is wooden, hardwearing and beautiful to look at. The beauty of wood is that every piece is different, with its own particular colour and individual wood grain – traditional oak bookshelves or an oak chest of drawers are timeless choices, many with lovely detailed touches such as carving, panelling, ornate handles or overhanging tops.

Look out for:

• Beautiful, quality wood such as oak
• Polished surfaces
• Elegant design elements such as panelling, beading and chamfered or bevelled edgesFeatures such as dovetailed or finger joints and marquetry
• Look out for storage furniture from Old Charm – with elegant detailing and plenty of vintage style.

Luxury storage furniture

Storage may be practical, but that does not mean it can’t be beautiful and even luxurious too. Think marble topped sideboards, mirrored chests of drawers, semi-fitted slider wardrobes with fabulously glossy finishes and stunning contemporary bedside cabinets with sleek wood veneers.

Look out for:

• Elegant lines and beautiful craftsmanship
• High shine, glossy finishes
• Metallic detailing, for example drawer handles
• A modern mix of luxury materials

Industrial storage furniture

In that wonderful combination of metal and wood, industrial storage furniture is both useful and incredibly stylish – the perfect choice for the modern home. Choose a cool coffee table with storage or funky industrial style shelving in the living room, a wood and metal sideboard for the dining room or industrial bedside cabinets for the bedroom.

Look out for:

• Reclaimed wood, with every piece unique
• Black metal or chrome legs or handles
• Bold contemporary design
• Edgy, industrial look

Dutch furniture company Habufa make exciting contemporary industrial style storage furniture with very little waste.

Mid-century storage furniture

Storage furniture with that mid-century modern look is very in vogue, especially statement sideboards with tapered legs and inset handles. Mid-century furniture suits Scandi and Nordic and almost every contemporary style of décor. You can find bedside cabinets, chests of drawers, display cabinets and coffee tables with storage all in the ever popular mid-century style.

Look out for:

• Beautiful yet functional storage furniture
• Straight or curved lines, with softly rounded corners
• Bevelled edges
• Splayed or tapered legs
• Pale oak, ash, beech or elm finishes

The Originals range of British furniture makers Ercol typifies the mid-century modern style, and their contemporary storage furniture continues the elegant, functional tradition.