Apothecary cabinets are the perfect way to add a touch of old-world charm to your home. Though they may seem like something only found in dusty antique stores, these cabinets are actually quite easy to find and relatively inexpensive. In this guide, we’ll show you where to find the best apothecary cabinets and how to use them to create a truly unique and stylish home.
What is an Apothecary Cabinet?
An apothecary cabinet is a type of storage unit that was traditionally used by pharmacists to store medicines and other medical supplies. These cabinets are usually made of wood, with many small drawers that are each labeled with the contents. Today, apothecary cabinets are still used by some pharmacists, but they have also become popular as home decor items.
Apothecary cabinets can be found in a variety of styles, from antique to modern. They can be used for storing anything from books and papers to clothes and linens. If you’re looking for an apothecary cabinet that will be both functional and stylish, we recommend checking out the selection offered by Restoration Hardware.
5 Best Apothecary Cabinets
1. HYGGEHAUS Rustic Jewelry and Makeup Organizer Countertop – Storage Organizer
If you have tons of jewelry and makeup brands, then you need a storage organizer from Hyggehaus. It is well designed and finished to keep the house décor on point.
Features
Storage space: The organizer has 24 drawers of different sizes fitted horizontally and vertically. Hyggehaus designed the cabinet to ensure that all categories of the home items (may it be tools, jewelry, sewing accessories, beautiful arts, or kitchen necessities) have space.
Each family member can have their own drawers to arrange their items. Besides that, you have a wide area on the benchtop to arrange the decoration items including flowers, arts, and toys among others.
Construction materials: The cabinet is built from sustainable pine wood. This is because pine does not decay. The organizer is strong enough to last for decades. Also, the wood is light, machinable, and naturally beautiful. This means that we do not need tons of decorations and hand tools to make the cabinet appealing.
Details: The Hyggehaus organizer has a plain finishing. However, simple cabinet knobs have been fitted on each drawer for pulling out. Generally, the exterior design of the cabinet complements the home décor.
2. Powell Company Parcel 13-Drawer Cabinet
Complement your living room entryway or bedroom with this Apothecary cabinet from Powel company. The eclectic organizer is creatively designed to add value to any space.
Features
Storage space: The drawer cabinet has 13 drawers which can be categorized into 4 sizes. This means that you have enough space to organize your odds and ends. Also, its top table has ample space to arrange complementing items such as flower vases.
Construction material: The cabinet is built from distressed wood frames, although it looks metallic.
Details: The wooden cabinet is finished with a metallic theme, and that’s why it’s interestingly rusty. Also, its drawer faces are multicolored to complement the room. The drawer doors are fitted with fancy metallic handles for pulling out. Finally, the entire cabinet is finished with a vintage design that gives it an industrial flair.
3. Household Essentials Victorian 8-Drawer Chest
This apothecary cabinet was designed to store essential items in the house. It can also act as an entryway table. The level of creativity used makes the cabinet elegant.
Features
Storage space: The Brundrett accent chest has 8 drawers whereby four of the drawers are large-sized, while the rest are small-sized. This means that you can organize all your household essentials (including fabrics) depending on their sizes.
The lower shelf has a wider space for storage of large fabrics including carpets, blankets, charts, or even towels. You can arrange attractive items on the top table to beautify the space. Moreover, you can use it as a table anywhere in the house.
Construction materials: The attractive cabinet is built from mahogany wood. Besides mahogany being strong, it’s machinable and resistant to environmental changes. This means that the apothecary cabinet can be used for decades. Also, the wood is naturally beautiful that’s why the output is adorable.
Details: The final appearance of the cabinet is a combination of style, creativity, and quality. Here, the entire cabinet has black bars holding the drawers in position. Also, it is decorated with a scrolling metal, making the organizer attractive.
The drawers are painted in earth tone colors that make them stunning. All the cabinet drawers are fitted with black handles that match with the supporting bars and the scrolling metal.
- Functionality: This dresser table organizer features 8 drawers and a lower shoe shelf to provide ample storage for a variety of personal items. Use it in the bedroom as a dresser chest to store clothes, socks, and underwear, or in the entryway or hallway as a console table to organize hats, gloves, scarves and boots.
- Designer's Thoughts: The Victoria series is a flexible storage series with a romantic feel. The decorative metal scrollwork on the sides and top hint at Victorian influences while the Walnut finish top and multicolor drawers make this piece fit well into Farmhouse, Vintage, Traditional, or even Western styles.
- Quality Materials and Construction: Durable steel legs and frame paired with high quality engineered wood finished in scratch resistent wood grain laminate, cloth drawers, and plastic handles.
- Good to Know: The fabric drawers can be arranged in a variety of ways.
- Mahogany hard top
4. Christopher Knight Home Distressed Wood Cabinet
Liven up your living room entryway with an apothecary cabinet from Christopher Knight organizers. It has an amazing appearance that adds value to your home décor.
Features
Storage space: The modern cabinet has two cabinets and four equal-sized drawers. This offers enough space to store most of your household essentials. You can also arrange some on the top table in case you find the storage areas inadequate.
Construction materials: The stunning organizer is built using faux wood. Besides the wood is affordable, it is also attractive, resistant to climate change, and environmentally friendly. This means that the cabinet may last for ages, if well-maintained.
Additionally, the faux wood is resistant to water that’s why it’s appropriate to wipe the cabinet with water. On the other hand, its legs are designed from birch wood. This is because the wood does not rot. Also, it is strong, durable, and stains well. These properties give the cabinet legs a magnificent look.
Details: The front and the top face of the cabinet is painted with 5 different colors which blend well with the wood used. The drawers are fitted with adorable brass handles for pulling out. The distressed design applied to the cabinet gives it an antique appearance.
5. Kate and Laurel Apothecary Wood Desk Drawer Set
Enhance your home décor by adding an apothecary cabinet for household organization. Check out whether this product from Uniek furniture will impress you.
Features
Storage space: The cabinet has 9 voluminous drawers that are horizontally arranged. With this, you can have all your household essentials organized. Also, you can place decorating items on its top table to enhance the space. Interestingly, the cabinet can also act as a kitchen counter, office table, or bedroom table.
Construction materials: The apothecary cabinet is built from premium woods. This is because hardwood is strong, thus; durable. Its natural beauty gives the furniture an elegant look. Moreover, it is easy to machine and stain.
Details: The attractive cabinet is painted white. This will enhance the look of any décor. Each drawer is fitted with an adorable brass handle for pulling out. Also, a label holder is stylishly installed to hold the label papers.
- OLD WORLD APOTHECARY LOOK: Decorative wood apothecary drawers desk organizer with 9 drawers and rustic finish
- MULTI DRAWER STORAGE: Includes 9 drawers each with an inner area of 3.25 inches by 3 inches by 2 inches high
- VINTAGE-DESIGN DESKTOP ORGANIZER: A chic look for the desktop. Display dimensions are 12 inches wide by 7.5 inches high by 3.5 inches deep
- SEAMLESS ORGANIZING: Small drawers are perfect for organization and decoration on your office desk, kitchen counter, or bedside table
- ANTIQUE METAL FINISH PULLS: Drawers are constructed of wood with distressed brass metal label holder drawer pulls; Label paper is not included
What are Apothecary Cabinets?
Apothecary cabinets are multi-drawer units. There are several styles and sizes available. Some are free-standing cabinets, while others hang on a wall or set on a table.
The original Apothecary’s cabinets were used for storing items used for preparing medicines in days gone by. Apothecaries were sort of the pharmacists of yesteryear.
They were the ones that mixed medicines. Their cabinets gave them a place to neatly store and organize the various ingredients they used to make medicine. Each cabinet had several rows of drawers and each row had multiple drawers in line which made organizing easy.
Today, however, the term “Apothecary cabinet” is used more freely in reference to the style of the multi-drawer unit used by Apothecary.
Each cabinet has drawers of the same size going across and down in rows. Instead of being designed with the intent of storing medicinal supplies, today’s models are designed for any number of things.
In fact, some are designed specifically to only hold particular types of items like CDs and DVDs.
Different wood finishes
The cabinets come in a large variety of wood finishes so you can easily match your current décor’. Oak, walnut, or cherry wood is often used for the cabinets designed for certain uses such as a nightstand.
These fine woods are also used to construct many of the larger media cabinets that are apothecary styled. You can also find painted and laminated cabinets so choosing a unit to accentuate the rest of your furniture should be easy.
Some of these multi-drawer cabinets are general purpose units meaning that their drawers aren’t designed specifically for something like a DVD.
These make wonderful pieces of vintage furniture cabinets for storing craft parts and sewing notions, office essentials like paper clips, rubber bands, etc… The list of uses for these cabinets is endless.
They can also be used for storing collections of small items, jewelry, or even socks.
The best part is that you can give a multitude of different types of items their own little home in one of the drawers and know where it is when you want to use it again; it won’t get lost in the clutter of a large drawer because it has its own little space.
Antique apothecary cabinets
Antique apothecary cabinets in good condition go for big bucks at antique shows and flea markets.
The construction techniques used at the time by skilled craftsman to hand-make these cabinets are phenomenal.
To look inside a handcrafted cabinet that was created years ago, it is a marvel to see the tightness of the dovetailing and the straightness of the drawer’s tracks as well as several other details appreciated by woodworking craftsman of today.
The original creators of these cabinets really had a job set out for them when they commissioned the order of creating a cabinet with multiple drawers that had to be the same size and line up straight across and straight down.
What a daunting task they had when only using hand tools!
Some of the most popular apothecary chest brands on the market with solid reputations to back their products are; Linden Street Cherry Road and JCPenney in Library Style Storage, CD storage styles.
Apothecary’s chests
Apothecary chests are quite stylish and have been in style for a long time. With an ever-growing need to organize personal possessions or collections so that they can be retrieved quickly.
There’s no doubt that this style of cabinet and apothecary chest will remain a favorite for years to come. It’s a time saver and a step saver to keep things neatly organized and an apothecary cabinet can help you do that.
They are a great investment since they are useful as well as decorative. In fact, because of their usefulness, they are worth the investment of an heirloom-quality cabinet.
Buying Guide
When shopping for an apothecary cabinet, it is important to keep in mind what you will be using the cabinet for.
If you are looking for an antique piece, be prepared to pay a high price. The same is true if you are looking for a cabinet that is made specifically for storing DVDs or CDs.
However, if you are willing to compromise on some features, you can find a multi-drawer unit that will suit your needs and fit within
Dimensions
The dimensions of the apothecary cabinet you choose should be based on the items you plan to store in it.
If you are looking for an apothecary cabinet to store your collection of vintage postcards, you don’t need one as large as if you were looking for a storage unit for your sewing supplies.
The height and width of the drawers are also important to consider when shopping for an apothecary cabinet.
You will want to make sure that the tallest and widest items you plan to store will fit comfortably in the drawers.
Style
When shopping for an apothecary cabinet, it is important to choose one that will match the style of your home.
If you have a traditional home, you will want to choose a traditional-style apothecary cabinet. If your home is more contemporary, you may want to choose a more contemporary-style apothecary cabinet.
Material
The material of the apothecary cabinet is also important to consider.
If you are looking for an antique piece, you will want to choose a cabinet that is made from wood. If you are looking for a contemporary piece, you may want to choose a cabinet that is made from metal or plastic.
Price
The price of the apothecary cabinet is another important consideration.
If you are looking for an antique piece, be prepared to pay a high price. The same is true if you are looking for a cabinet that is made specifically for storing DVDs or CDs.
However, if you are willing to compromise on some features, you can find a multi-drawer unit that will suit your needs and fit within your budget.
When shopping for an apothecary cabinet, it is important to keep in mind what you will be using the cabinet for. If you are looking for an antique piece, be prepared to pay a high price.
The same is true if you are looking for a cabinet that is made specifically for storing DVDs or CDs. However, if you are willing to compromise on some features, you can find a multi-drawer unit that will suit your needs and fit within your budget.
DIY Apothecary Cabinet
How to Make an Apothecary Chest
Apothecary’s chests go back to the Middle Ages. An apothecary, a medical professional that dispensed medication, would use the chests to store ingredients and medications in these chests. Today, apothecary chest reproductions can be used in the home as storage pieces.
You can buy a variety of styles of apothecary chests, but they can get quite expensive. Making your own apothecary chest saves you money and gives you the opportunity to customize the color and other aspects of the design to suit your taste and décor.
Final Words
An apothecary cabinet is a great investment since it is useful as well as decorative. In fact, because of their usefulness, they are worth the investment of an heirloom-quality cabinet.
When shopping for an apothecary cabinet, it is important to keep in mind what you will be using the cabinet for. If you are looking for an antique piece, be prepared to pay a high price.
Last update on 2024-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Table of Contents
