Preparing a nursery is an act of love, a careful curation of items that will surround your new baby. As parents, we obsess over every detail, from the softness of the crib sheets to the color on the walls. But when it comes to furniture, the stakes feel infinitely higher. We’re not just looking for something that matches the decor; we’re searching for a piece that is fundamentally safe, free from harmful chemicals, and sturdy enough to withstand years of use. The search for the perfect dresser often feels like a quest for the impossible: a piece that combines heirloom quality, non-toxic materials, and timeless design without compromise. The fear of choosing poorly—ending up with a wobbly dresser made of particleboard that off-gasses harmful fumes—is a significant source of stress. This is precisely the challenge the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser aims to solve, presenting itself as a premium, safety-certified solution for discerning parents. We decided to put it to the test to see if it truly delivers on its promise.
- SAFETY FIRST: Soho Baby Nursery Furniture is made to the highest safety standards set by the CPSC and ASTM; Our furniture endures...
- PREMIUM QUALITY & CRAFTSMANSHIP: Made from fine solid woods and veneers with multi-step wire brushed finish, the 6 dresser drawers...
What to Consider Before Buying a Nursery Dresser
A nursery dresser is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for organization, a functional changing station, and a long-term piece of furniture that should grow with your child. Its main benefit lies in providing accessible storage for countless onesies, diapers, and blankets, keeping the nursery tidy and essentials within arm’s reach during late-night changes. A well-chosen dresser becomes the anchor of the room, defining its style and functionality for years to come. It’s an investment in both safety and sanity.
The ideal customer for a premium nursery dresser like this is a parent who prioritizes safety certifications (like GreenGuard Gold), material quality (solid wood construction), and longevity. They are willing to invest more upfront for a piece that won’t need to be replaced after a few years and that contributes to a healthier indoor environment for their child. Conversely, this type of product might not be suitable for those on a tight budget, families living in a temporary space, or those who prefer lightweight, easily movable furniture. For them, a fabric drawer unit or a smaller, more basic model could be a more practical alternative.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Measure your nursery meticulously. The Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser stands at 56 inches wide and 34 inches high. Ensure you have adequate floor space and that its height is comfortable for you, especially if you plan to add a changing topper. Consider the depth (19 inches) and how far the drawers will extend when fully opened.
- Storage Capacity: Six drawers offer substantial storage, but think about how you’ll organize them. The top drawers are often used for diapers and wipes, while larger drawers hold clothing and bedding. Evaluate if six drawers are sufficient for your needs or if you might require a taller chest with a smaller footprint.
- Materials & Durability: This is where the difference between a cheap and a premium dresser becomes clear. The Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser uses solid woods and veneers, which offer far greater durability than particleboard or MDF. Look for construction details like French Dovetail joints and smooth, ball-bearing glides, which indicate a higher standard of craftsmanship and a longer lifespan.
- Safety & Certifications: For any nursery product, safety is non-negotiable. GreenGuard Gold certification is the gold standard, ensuring the product has been tested for over 10,000 chemicals and VOCs, contributing to cleaner indoor air. Also, verify that it meets ASTM and CPSC safety standards and includes an anti-tip kit.
After considering these factors, you’ll be well-equipped to decide if this dresser is the right foundation for your nursery.
While the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
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First Impressions: Unboxing a Substantial Piece of Furniture
The first thing we noticed upon the arrival of the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser was its sheer weight. At over 100 pounds, this is not a flimsy, flat-pack piece of furniture. It signals substance and solid construction from the moment you try to move the box. One of its most significant selling points is that it arrives fully assembled, a massive relief for any expectant parent dreading the thought of deciphering confusing instructions. Upon unboxing, the Graphite Gray finish is immediately striking. It’s a sophisticated, deep gray with a multi-step wire-brushed texture that adds depth and a touch of rustic charm, making it versatile enough for a nursery, a child’s room, or even a master bedroom. The hardware is understated and elegant, complementing the finish perfectly. The drawers glide smoothly, and the velvet lining in the top two drawers is a luxurious touch that you typically find on much more expensive furniture. However, our initial excitement was tempered by a small but noticeable dent on a back corner, a stark reminder of the perils of shipping heavy, pre-assembled furniture—a concern echoed in several user experiences.
Key Benefits
- GreenGuard Gold Certified: Ensures low chemical emissions for healthier indoor air, a critical feature for a baby’s room.
- Premium Construction: Built with solid woods, veneers, and French Dovetail drawer joints for exceptional durability.
- Arrives Fully Assembled: Saves hours of frustration and effort, allowing for immediate use right out of the box.
- Elegant Design & Features: The wire-brushed finish, velvet-lined top drawers, and smooth glides give it a high-end feel.
Potential Drawbacks
- High Risk of Shipping Damage: Multiple reports and our own experience show that the unit is susceptible to dents, scratches, or broken parts upon arrival.
- Difficult Return Process: Its large size and pre-assembled nature make repackaging and returning a damaged item a significant challenge.
A Deep Dive into the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser’s Features
A dresser is more than its dimensions; it’s about the daily experience of using it. Does it feel sturdy? Are the drawers reliable? And most importantly, is it safe for our little ones? We spent weeks with the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser, evaluating every aspect from its core safety features to its long-term functionality.
A Commitment to Health and Safety: The GreenGuard Gold Standard
In a world of invisible threats, peace of mind is priceless. The single most important feature of the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser is its GreenGuard Gold Certification. This isn’t just a marketing buzzword; it’s a rigorous, third-party certification that guarantees the dresser has met some of the world’s strictest standards for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals, commonly found in paint, finishes, and engineered wood products, can pollute indoor air and have been linked to respiratory issues and other health problems. For a nursery, where a baby spends a significant amount of time sleeping and playing, minimizing exposure is paramount.
Knowing that this dresser contributes to cleaner, healthier air in our home was a profound reassurance. There was no harsh chemical smell upon unboxing, just the faint, pleasant scent of wood. This certification, combined with its compliance with CPSC and ASTM safety standards, places the Chandler dresser in an elite category of nursery furniture. It’s a tangible commitment by Soho Baby to the well-being of its most vulnerable users. For any parent prioritizing a non-toxic environment, this feature alone makes the dresser a compelling option worth serious consideration.
Craftsmanship and Materials: The Feel of True Quality
Running a hand over the wire-brushed Graphite Gray finish, you can immediately feel the quality. The texture is subtle but distinct, giving the piece a visual depth that a flat, painted surface could never achieve. This isn’t a sticker or a cheap laminate; it’s a multi-step finishing process applied to solid woods and veneers. The result is a durable surface that feels substantial and looks beautiful. This attention to detail extends to the very structure of the drawers. The Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser features French Dovetail construction, a classic joinery technique where the front of the drawer is interlocked with the sides. This method creates an incredibly strong, durable joint that resists being pulled apart over time—a stark contrast to the staples and glue found in budget dressers.
The drawers themselves are a pleasure to use. They operate on premium side-mount ball-bearing glides, which allow for a smooth, quiet, and effortless motion, even when fully loaded. The built-in safety-stop mechanism is another crucial feature, preventing the drawers from being accidentally pulled all the way out by a curious toddler. The velvet lining in the top two drawers is a standout luxury feature. It provides a soft, protective surface for delicate items like jewelry, keepsakes, or even small baby accessories, preventing them from sliding around or getting scratched. These combined elements—the solid materials, classic joinery, and thoughtful features—are a testament to the dresser’s intended quality and design philosophy.
The Double-Edged Sword of “Fully Assembled”: Convenience vs. Consequence
The words “fully assembled” are music to the ears of any parent-to-be. The convenience of having this beautiful, 100-pound dresser ready to go right out of the box cannot be overstated. It saves you from an afternoon of potential frustration, poring over diagrams and fiddling with an Allen key. You can unbox it, position it, and start organizing your baby’s clothes immediately. In a perfect world, this is a game-changing feature that justifies a portion of the price tag.
However, this convenience comes with a significant risk. Our experience, and that of other users, reveals the dark side of pre-assembled delivery. A heavy, rigid piece of furniture is highly susceptible to damage during transit. The user feedback is telling, with reports of “dented & discolored” sides, “broke” top drawers, and even mysterious holes drilled into the top. When damage occurs, the “fully assembled” benefit instantly transforms into a logistical nightmare. As one user lamented, returning it requires disassembling the item and placing it back in the original packaging—packaging that is almost always destroyed during the unboxing process. Maneuvering a damaged, 100+ pound dresser for a return is a monumental task that no new parent wants to face. This is the central conflict of the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser: its greatest convenience is inextricably linked to its biggest potential flaw.
Design, Storage, and Nursery Integration
Beyond its construction, the dresser’s design is thoughtfully executed. With dimensions of 56″W x 19″D x 34″H, it has a commanding presence without being overly bulky. The height is ideal for use as a changing station, and Soho Baby offers a compatible changing topper (sold separately) that secures to the back, creating a safe and integrated changing surface. This dual functionality is a major plus, extending the useful life of the dresser. Once your child is out of diapers, you simply remove the topper to reveal a beautiful, classic dresser that will look appropriate for years to come.
The six drawers are spacious and deep, providing ample room for clothing, bedding, and other essentials. We found the top two slightly shallower drawers perfect for organizing smaller items like socks, hats, and diapering supplies, while the four larger drawers easily accommodated stacks of sleep sacks, onesies, and blankets. The clean lines and sophisticated Graphite Gray color make it a versatile piece that complements a wide range of nursery styles, from modern to rustic to traditional. It’s part of the larger Chandler Collection, allowing parents to create a cohesive nursery set with a matching crib, but it’s also stylish enough to stand on its own. This adaptability is a key part of its appeal for design-conscious parents.
What Other Users Are Saying
Our experience with a minor shipping flaw seems to be part of a larger, more significant pattern. The prevailing sentiment among users who have received damaged units is one of deep disappointment, precisely because the product itself is so promising. One user noted that it was a “beautiful dresser” of “seemingly great quality” but that it arrived “dented & discolored.” Another expressed frustration after paying a premium price only to find “both top drawers came broke.”
The core issue highlighted is the disconnect between the intended quality and the delivered condition. The most poignant feedback came from a customer who received a unit with a hole drilled in the top and was then faced with the Herculean task of repackaging the massive dresser for a return. These reviews confirm that while the design, materials, and safety certifications are top-notch, prospective buyers must be prepared for the possibility of a frustrating delivery experience. Despite these issues, many are still drawn to the dresser’s premium features, which you can view in full detail here.
How Does the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser Compare to the Alternatives?
To understand its place in the market, it’s crucial to compare the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser not just to similar products, but to different categories of storage solutions that parents might consider.
1. Sorbus 6-Drawer Fabric Storage Dresser with Wood Top
- 6-DRAWER DRESSER (PINK) — Style meets function with this dresser chest, complete with a wood surface and colorful storage drawers —...
- DISPLAY & DE-CLUTTER — Wood top provides hard surface for displaying books, lamps, alarm clocks, electronics, and more — Drawers...
This Sorbus model represents a completely different approach to bedroom storage. It uses a lightweight steel frame and collapsible fabric bins instead of solid wood construction. The primary advantages are its significantly lower price point, light weight, and ease of assembly. It’s an excellent choice for those on a strict budget, living in a temporary apartment, or needing a secondary storage unit for a playroom or closet. However, it lacks the durability, aesthetic appeal, and heirloom quality of the Soho Baby Chandler. It is not designed to be a permanent, central piece of furniture and offers none of the safety certifications like GreenGuard Gold.
2. Delta Children Lancaster 3 Drawer Dresser with Changing Top
- BEST DRESSER FOR YOUR NURSERY OR KIDS ROOM: Dresser features 3 spacious drawers and removable changing topper; Available Dark...
- EASY GLIDE DRAWERS: Drawers feature metal drawer guides with safety stops for years of worry free use
The Delta Children Lancaster is a much closer competitor and a compelling alternative. Like the Chandler, it is also GreenGuard Gold Certified, making it a safe choice for a nursery. The key differences are size and value proposition. The Lancaster is a more compact 3-drawer unit, making it better suited for smaller nurseries. Crucially, it comes with the changing top included, offering a complete changing station solution out of the box at a potentially lower overall cost. A family with limited space or one looking for an all-in-one package from the start might prefer the Delta Lancaster over the larger, à la carte approach of the Soho Baby model.
3. Sorbus 8-Drawer Kids Dresser
- VERSATILE STORAGE - The Sorbus 8 Drawer Dresser keeps household clutter manageable - Store and organize clothing, toys, blankets,...
- QUALITY DESIGN - The Sorbus Dresser for Bedroom is made with a strong steel frame and durable wood top that offers stable support for...
Similar to the other Sorbus model, this 8-drawer unit prioritizes capacity and affordability over material quality. It offers even more individual storage compartments, which can be great for organizing small toys, craft supplies, or different categories of kids’ clothing. Its playful color options are aimed squarely at a child’s room. However, it shares the same limitations: the fabric drawers cannot support heavy items, and the overall construction is not built for longevity. This is a practical, organizational tool rather than a foundational piece of furniture like the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser.
Our Final Verdict on the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser
The Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser is a product of contradictions. On one hand, it is a beautifully designed, exceptionally well-specified piece of nursery furniture. The commitment to safety with its GreenGuard Gold certification is commendable, and the use of solid woods, dovetail joinery, and premium hardware speaks to a design intended to last a lifetime. In its perfect, undamaged state, it is everything a parent could want: safe, sturdy, functional, and stylish.
On the other hand, the pervasive and well-documented issues with shipping damage and quality control cannot be ignored. The very feature that should be a massive convenience—arriving fully assembled—becomes its greatest liability when things go wrong. We recommend this dresser with a strong caveat: it is for the parent who values non-toxic, heirloom-quality materials above all else and is willing to accept the risk of a potentially difficult delivery and return process to get that perfect piece. If you are prepared for that possibility, you will be rewarded with a truly exceptional dresser. For those who prioritize a seamless, risk-free purchase experience, exploring alternatives might be a more prudent path.
If you believe the superior quality and safety features are worth the risk, you can check the latest price and availability for the Soho Baby Chandler 6-Drawer Dresser here.
Last update on 2025-11-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API