What does chiffonier mean?
A chiffonier is a tall, narrow chest of drawers, often equipped with a mirror and used for storing clothing, jewelry, or household articles. The word is especially associated with traditional bedroom furniture and appears readily in descriptions of antique pieces, formal interiors, and period houses. Unlike a broad dresser, a chiffonier is usually a slender upright piece, sometimes with a mirrored or adjustable dressing surface. Its name can be misleading because it contains the spelling chiffon; in ordinary use, however, the word denotes furniture rather than fabric. Chiffoniers remain recognizable features of period and traditional interiors, although the term now sounds more specific and somewhat old-fashioned than the everyday phrase chest of drawers.
nounA tall, narrow chest of drawers, often fitted with a mirror and used for storing clothing or personal articles.
- A tall, narrow chest of drawers, sometimes with a mirror or dressing surface.
"She placed her grandmother's silver bracelets inside the mirrored chiffonier."
"An ornate chiffonier stood against the wall beside the dressing table."
"The auction catalog described the lot as an early nineteenth-century mahogany chiffonier."
The regular plural is chiffoniers.
"Two matching chiffoniers flanked the mirror."
Before it became a bedroom landmark, the chiffonier was originally a frame for needlework.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does chiffonier come from?
The word entered English from French chifonnier, originally a frame used for needlework and later a small chest or cabinet. It belongs to a family of French words associated with chiffon, a rag or scrap, and with the Old French source chipe, meaning a small piece. English cognates in this family include chiffon and chiffonade.
How chiffonier is actually used
The word is chiefly encountered in descriptions of antique, traditional, or period furniture. It is more specific than the everyday phrase chest of drawers and can sound somewhat old-fashioned or trade-specific in modern usage.
Easily confused with chiffonier
Chiffon is a light, sheer fabric, whereas a chiffonier is a tall chest of drawers.
Chifonier is a less common variant spelling of chiffonier and refers to the same piece of furniture.