What is smaller than an amoire, bigger than a nightstand, and could almost take the place of either? What one piece of furniture can do triple duty in any room of the house -- one piece that's versatile, decorative, and provides extra storage?

The good news is you probably already own one. More good news – this piece of furniture is not just for the bedroom anymore. It's a simple chest of drawers. And it's one of the biggest bargains you'll find for your home furnishing dollar.

A chest packs a lot of utility into one small space by offering organized storage inside of the drawers as well as a terrific display area on top.

Inside, a chest can hold socks, mittens, videotapes, craft supplies, toys, baby clothes, flatware, gift wrapping, envelopes, scarves, sweaters, photo albums, flashlights, cosmetics, placemats or party items.

The top of a chest can display baskets, candles, photos, lamps, books, a TV, bowls, plants, collections, or a vase of flowers. It can also offer a place to sort the mail and stash your keys, library books and a briefcase.

Chests can be big or small, tall or short, plain or fancy, with one drawer or ten.

Best of all, a good chest can be moved from room to room and from house to house, re-inventing itself for each new room and location. It grows with you and fits into new homes. And, like an old friend, it is a reliable, steady companion.

Look until you find a chest that you love and it will become a treasured item in your home. You might prefer an antique chest with carved drawer fronts or a simple country pine chest. If you have contemporary taste, look for a clean-lined wood or painted piece. Buy something you'll like for a long time, something that will be flexible enough (both size and style-wise) to take on different roles over the years.

Next: > Seven Uses for a Chest

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Page 2: Seven ways to use this functional piece of furniture

Look at some of the ways you can use this simple, yet functional, piece of furniture:

Chest of Drawers
A bedroom is the usual place for a chest. It often works best if placed near your closet. Fill it with the usual items -- socks, T-shirts, hosiery, jewelry, sweaters.

Entry Table
Storage for hats, mittens, umbrellas, coupons, mail. Hang a mirror over it and set a beautiful plant on top next to a basket for the mail.

Sewing Room Storage
Organize your sewing supplies with thread in the top drawer, notions and trims next, and fabrics, mending or ironing in lower drawers.

Buffet
Chests make a great sideboard in a dining room or breakfast room. Stuff with napkins, placemats, serving pieces. Display some china on top. Hang a mirror, art, or decorative plates on the wall above it.

Mud Room Cabinet
A great place to store those last minute items needed as you walk out the door. Assign each family member a drawer for mittens, hats, library books and supplies. Top with a basket for papers and mail. Hang a bulletin board on the wall for calendars and schedules, messages and notes. Add a chair next to it, so you can sit down while you put on boots. Placing coat hooks on the wall nearby will hold your coats or a child's backpack.

Sofa table
A longer chest of drawers can be used behind a sofa or loveseat as a sofa table. Lamps, plants, books, decorative objects are at home here. This is an option when the sofa is placed away from, or perpendicular to, the wall, the drawers of the chest are available for storage.

End table
Set a chest next to a sofa, chair or loveseat, for more storage and bigger display surface than a typical end table. A lamp, flowers, books, collections, and a telephone can go on top. Cocktail napkins, coasters, remote controls, videotapes, party games can go inside the drawers.

Next: > Eight More Uses for a Chest

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Page 3: What else can you do with a chest?

A useful chest of drawers can be indispensable for anyone who moves frequently, since it can be placed in a variety of rooms, and serve a wide variety of functions, as it moves from home to home.

To complete our list, here are more uses for chests in your home:

TV Stand
Place a TV on a chest in your bedroom, family room or guestroom. Use the top drawer for videos, remote controls and TV guides.

Nightstand
Use chests next to your bed instead of smaller (less versatile) night tables. Top with a reading lamp and books. In the top drawer keep pens and paper, notecards, tissues, or reading material. Use lower drawers for phone books, magazines or clothing.

Gift wrap center
Find a place for your gift wrap, ribbons and bows by using the bottom drawers of a chest in your guestroom. Keep scissors, pens and tape there too, along with a supply of gift tags and birthday cards.

Baby changing table
A well-chosen chest of proper height can be set up to work as a changing table for an infant. Later, fill your chest with toddler clothes or toys. A really good piece will grow up with your child and be useful for many years.

Hall Chest
Add interest and function to a wide hallway by adding a chest. Store your photo albums, pictures and scrapbook supplies here. Stock it with lots of pens to date and label photos. Fit a drawer with organizing inserts that will keep your photos and photodisks in chronological order.

Support for a Desk
Make a desk out of a hollow-core door or a length of laminate countertop. Support one side of the desk with your chest. Attach the back and opposite side of the desk to brackets screwed into wall studs, or rest it on top of a small file cabinet. Stock the chest with office supplies and you're in business.

Bathroom Cabinet
Add some texture and interest to a large bathroom by placing a chest on a blank wall. Use it to hold cosmetics, towels or bath toys. Put your favorite decorative objects on top (baskets, pretty jars or boxes) that can hold rolled washcloths, perfume, cotton balls.

Closet Chest
Save yourself some steps when you get dressed each day. If you have enough room in a large walk-in closet, move a chest inside and stock it with all of the small items you may be keeping in a dresser somewhere else. With double closet rods you'll still be able to use the hanging space over the chest. This can also be very helpful in a child's closet too.

Look around your living space -- where could you use a chest of drawers right now? Or, better yet, two or three!

Next: > Storage Tips and Types

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