Dresser-top decor
Decorating a bedroom is fun and helps to channel creative energy. Choosing wallpaper and bedspread patterns, selecting paint colors and carpet, and ordering furniture are great ways to bring out the best in a room. But even the small things, such as arranging your dresser top, can make a difference, because this area, which often sits at eye-level, may be one of the first things that guests will notice.
First decide what the theme or tone of your dresser top will be. It should blend with the rest of the room to create a unified effect. For example, if you have used a Southwest decor throughout your bedroom, it might be best to include those ideas for your dresser accents. These could take the form of a lamp shade, scarf or runner to protect the dresser's surface from getting scratched, or a few decorator bottles or collectibles.
When you've chosen your theme, next decide the type of covering, if any, to use. Do you want a scarf that evenly hides the entire surface of the dresser? Or do you prefer a rectangular shape that runs the length of the surface and drapes evenly over both ends? You may even want one or more circular or square-shaped doilies as focal centers for the top of your chest. These can be hand-knit or crocheted, or you can buy some made of polyester or other durable fabric.
Some people set personal things of great meaning on their dressers. These might include a music box, a jewelry box, or a photo of long-dead parents or grandparents as well as those of children or spouse. A carefully preserved figurine or a collector's item, such as a plate or doll, might likewise grace this area. You might find a county fair teddy bear or last night's movie tickets among the other things.
Grooming items for a quick fix-up could number a brush or comb, hand mirror, cosmetics, and scent. A nail clipper or a glass for drinking water late at night might also find a place here. A detachable dental bridge or false teeth could sit in their overnight container at this location, along with hair combs or a headband. Hand rings, earrings, or a casual necklace or bracelet could be laid on the surface temporarily and put away when cleaning up. Face or hand cream is helpful, especially during the winter, along with lip wax.
Practical possessions that are displayed on your dresser typically include keys, loose change, a purse, the current read, notes, receipts, and an accessory item for the next day's wear, such as a pair of stockings or underwear. A clock or wristwatch might lie among the many items of note.
Even though dresser tops can quickly become cluttered and confusing, most people clean them off and tidy them up when company is expected or during the annual spring-cleaning. The wood will be dusted and polished, and the cover will be washed and perhaps even starched. This area should be attractive and functional to maximize its potential in the bedroom. Your dresser top can become a center of attention rather than an embarrassment of chaos.