West Elm Penelope 5 Drawer Chest Acorn

Our furniture reviewer spent hours in a west elm store to personally test how each bedroom furniture they have in the showroom would fare in terms of durability and comfort.

Redecorating your home can be overwhelming, especially when you have a busy schedule involving work, family, and other personal commitments. Fortunately, you can do most of your shopping right from your phone. Unfortunately, furniture is one of those things that can get really difficult to shop for without seeing it in person. Furniture products run a much higher risk of not meeting your expectations when you purchase them online.

The question then becomes, how can you ensure that that gorgeous bedframe you saw online at west elm is just as beautiful in person? How can you tell it's durable and will withstand your kids jumping on your bed while you're in the shower without taking them there and checking it out for yourself?

If you've had these questions, you've come to the right place!

I took the afternoon and spent hours in the Jacksonville, Florida west elm and evaluated every piece of bedroom furniture they have in their showroom. I laid down on each bedframe and bounced around to see if it wobbled or creaked. I checked the joints and durability. I also checked out all the different dresser options, to see which ones were actually made to hold all your clothes and which ones are more just for show. Fortunately, I found some that combine both of those characteristics really well!

Table of Contents

• Methodology
• west elm Complete Bedroom Collection Reviews
  • Mid-Century Bedroom Collection
  • Modern Collection
• west elm Nightstand & Dresser Reviews
  • Audrey
  • Modernist Wood & Lacquer
  • Roar & Rabbit Brass Geo Inlay
  • Penelope
  • Wood Tiled
• west elm Bedframe Collection Reviews
  • Andes Collection
  • Grid Tufted Collection
• west elm Bedroom Collection Round-Up Winner

Related: All west elm Furniture Reviews Here | West Elm Bedding Review | West Elm Rugs Review | West Elm Curtains Review

Methodology

But before we dive into the reviews, let me lay out what I look for in bedroom furniture, and how I approached structuring this review. When it comes to choosing furniture for your home, everyone is going to have their own individual style and preferences. Your priorities may not line up with mine. In those cases, I did try to imagine a situation where someone would want to purchase a particular piece, and what areas of the home or functions that they would work well in.

For me, I'm looking for furniture to complete my primary bedroom. My wife and I decided that we needed a makeover in our room, and want to create a more upscale "adult" space. Right now, we have an eclectic mix of furniture and pieces, mostly acquired as young adults, and the current style I would describe as kind of hippie bohemian. There are a lot of bright colors, heavy drapes, and a mismatch of furniture pieces.

We're hoping to get a bedroom set that matches across the room, to create a more cohesive space. We're both very artistic and really want pieces that have interesting elements, rather than the old bureau from your grandparent's home. We really like the mix of vintage and modern, too.

Other than aesthetics, durability is essential when we are choosing furniture. We would really like only to have to make this purchase once in our lives, so something that's going to stand up to the wear and tear of daily usage is a must. We prioritize high quality, as well, which is why we're visiting west elm. They are known for their vintage aesthetics and quality construction.

Another note: since the west elm showroom is only just that – a showroom for their furniture collections, they only have a limited number of samples. One of the top reasons folks choose to purchase furniture from west elm is that they are really big on offering design services to help you customize your room to precisely the way you want it. You can't walk into a west elm and walk out with a bed frame in most cases.

To that end, I've decided to split these reviews up by west elm's bedroom furniture collections. First, the complete collection features those that have matching pieces for your entire room: from bedframe to dresser to nightstand. Second, I looked at the bedroom collections that offered secondary pieces like dressers, chests, and nightstands, but no matching bedframes. And finally, the last section looks at the different bedframe collections that Jacksonville's west elm had on display. Depending on where you're focusing your bedroom design, you should be able to find the perfect piece or pieces to complete your vision!

With that out of the way, let's dive into our west elm bedroom collection reviews!

west elm Complete Bedroom Collection Reviews

Mid-Century Bedroom Collection

Details:

• Available color options: Acorn, Pebble, White, White/Acorn
• Products:
  • Bed Frame
    • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
    • Boxspring optional
    • Comes with bed slats
  • Dressers
    • 3-drawer
    • 4-drawer
    • 5-drawer narrow
    • 6-drawer
    • 8-drawer
  • Nightstands
    • Regular
    • Grand
    • Charging nightstand
    • Grand charging nightstand
    • C-shaped
  • Daybed
  • Bench
  • Armoire
  • Chiffarobe
• Additional Details: Fair Trade Certified & Greenguard Gold Certified

Overall impression: The mid-century collection is the most popular and best-selling series that west elm has. It's their quintessential design and heavily influenced by vintage details. I don't particularly like this aesthetic in my home, because it's a little too dull for me. What was interesting though is that the dressers themselves don't look as sturdy as they should. I know that he angled and tapered legs are a vintage detail, but they seem a bit flimsy. The variation of the different knobs and pulls, however, gives it a bit of a crisp edge. But I'm more concerned that the weight of my things would cause this to fall apart!

The bedframe, on the other hand, has a lovely solid headboard that's about 4' tall, which gives you bed a bit of prominence, but it won't take over your whole room. I do like how the headboard does have tapered and defined poles on each side, which brings a cohesive symmetry as they match the tapered legs. The platform frame seemed much sturdier than the dressers, which leads me to believe that the chests aren't made to hold all your clothes, as they do in my home. All in all, while I like this bed frame, I probably wouldn't purchase the whole bedroom set since the dressers don't really instill confidence in their durability.

Modern Collection

Details:

• Available colors: Linen/Natural only; white/acorn
• Products:
  • Bed Frame
    • Sizes: Full, Queen, King
    • Boxspring not recommended
    • Comes with bed slats
  • Dressers
    • 3-drawer
    • 5-drawer
    • 6-drawer
  • Nightstand
• Additional Details: Fair Trade Certified. Sustainably sourced materials.

Overall impression: Interestingly enough, the dressers in the Modern collection are much sturdier than they appear. This collection also has the angled legs, but they're thicker and more sturdy than the ones in the Mid-Century collection. They also have a more geometric design, offering more stability to the dresser above. I liked how well the drawers slid in and out, and I have real confidence that this could hold all my clothes, no matter how much I tried to stuff in, without compromising it. I'm not a massive fan of the white and acorn coloring, and the lacquer seemed to chip easily. The floor model had a big chunk taken out of it, so as far as wear-and-tear is concerned, you might run into a problem with longevity.

The bed frame was made from solid wood with a headboard that's framed in matching wood, plus an upholstered middle. The legs match the dresser and nightstand well and really do work to create a nicely integrated space if you decided on furnishing your room only using the Modern collection. I did notice there was a bit of wobble when I pushed on the headboard, but not so much that I'd be too concerned that it would break off. My one grievance is that as a platform bed, it's suggested to use this without a box spring, and I felt like it was shallow to sit on. I like a higher bed (think Princess and the Pea!), so that's kind of a bummer that I can't add a box spring. However, that's really the only criticism I have of the whole series. Everything is pretty solid and would work nicely to create a modern vintage style bedroom.

west elm Nightstand & Dresser Reviews

Audrey

Details:

• Available colors: Mist grey or parchment
• Products:
  • Dressers
    • 3-drawer
    • 5-drawer
    • 6-drawer
  • Nightstand
    • Regular
    • C-shaped
• Additional Details: Sustainably sourced materials & Greenguard Gold Certified.

Overall impression:When I first looked at this dresser on the floor, I was immediately drawn to it! I love the feminine feel of it, and parchment color is kind of light, very light mint color, and would work in a variety of spaces. The honeycomb texture, however, is the real star of the show in this series. It brings a bit of interest to your room, and accented by the brass pulls, it could definitely work as a statement piece! That's pretty much where the pros stopped, though. As far as function goes, I'm concerned about the durability. It's very light, and almost had a particle-board feel like something you'd get from a big-market retailer and put together yourself at home with an allen wrench. That's disappointing for a piece that's supposed to be in a high-end store. I definitely wouldn't feel comfortable loading my stuff up in this dresser as my primary clothes storage! I can see it busting really quickly.

Modernist Wood & Lacquer

Details:

• Available colors: Natural/White
• Products:
  • Dressers
    • 3-drawer
    • 5-drawer
    • 6-drawer
  • Nightstand
• Additional Details: Fair Trade Certified.

Overall impression:At first look, nothing stood out about this dresser. It was sort of in the corner of the showroom, and next to the Audrey collection, which definitely looks more exciting than this. However, on closer examination, I noticed that the front panels of this dresser were white-washed wood and not lacquer as I initially thought! The frame and top of the dresser are lacquered with a shiny white finish, and it created a nice contrast with the matte whitewashed wood front. I also liked how the drawers didn't overlap the frame of the dresser from the front. This allowed the lacquered finish to create a skinny border all the way around the front of the dresser. The brass pulls complement the overall aesthetic well, and the drawers had a gentle glide without any resistance. I didn't like how thin the legs were, though, and could quickly move it around. I wouldn't put this on a hardwood floor without grips or pads on the bottom. But as far as durability goes, I think this would hold my clothes and then some! They drawers were deep and functional, and it seemed like a sturdy piece for our home.

Roar & Rabbit Brass Geo Inlay

Details:

• Available colors: Raw Mango or Bone
• Products:
  • Dressers
    • 3-drawer
    • 6-drawer
  • Nightstand
• Additional Details: Fair Trade Certified. Constructed from solid mango wood sustainably sourced from mango trees no longer producing fruit.

Overall impression:This design is definitely not something you see every day and can be a real stand-out piece in your home. The hairpin legs are really cool, and I like the look of the reclaimed wood with brass touches to create a rustic industrial vibe. It's very light, but because it's made of mango wood, which is characterized as a hardwood due to its strength and durability, I'm not too terribly worried about longevity with the dresser itself. The legs, on the other hand, do give me pause. I did note, however, that the edges of the brass inlay details are sharp and catch efficiently. I can see getting threads or clothes getting stuck and pulling threads on them. Not really what I want in something that's supposed to hold my clothes! But it's a beautiful piece, and as such, it doesn't have to be used as a traditional dresser. I think that the nightstands would work well as side tables in a living space, and the chest could be a good substitute for a credenza to house table clothes or other linens that aren't used often.

Penelope

Details:

• Available colors: Acorn, Feather Grey, Oyster
• Products:
  • Dressers
    • 3-drawer
    • 5-drawer narrow
    • 6-drawer
  • Nightstand
    • Regular
    • Grand
• Additional Details: Fair Trade Certified. Sustainably sourced materials. Solid marble top.

Overall impression:If you're looking for a dresser that's really different, but also traditional in detail and color, the Penelope collection is perfect! The oval shapes of these dressers are really cool and can soften the edges if you're designing a bedroom that has a lot of angles in it. Alternatively, they'd work in a room that doesn't have any corners, and enhance the feel of the roundness of the room!

The top of these dressers and nightstands are solid marble, which gives it a really glamorous look and feel. Again, however, the legs are really on the Penelope collection, and they're thin, which makes me think that this dresser could topple over easily. But when I tried to rock it to see how sturdy it was, it didn't really budge at all, which was a pleasant surprise! I really like the unexpected nature of this collection due to the rounded nature of all the pieces, especially in that classic acorn color. It's unexpected and traditional at the same time!

Wood Tiled

Details:

• Available colors: Raw Mango or Bone
• Products:
  • Dressers
    • 3-drawer
    • 5-drawer
    • 6-drawer
  • Nightstand
• Additional Details: Solid wood frame with a white lacquered finish. Metal handles are plated with the antique-bronze finish.

Overall impression:I really like how the front of this collection is created by piecing small, uniformed tiles of wood together like a puzzle. There are slight variations in each piece, but they come together to create a fascinating and cohesive look. The white lacquered finish of the dresser frame brings out the differences in the different tiles, too, which really highlights the handcrafted nature of the piece. I did notice that the base and pull handles were scratched. Whether this is intentional because it's that "antique" look or not, I can't tell. But it's something to keep in mind if you don't like that vintage look. I tried to move it around, and it was much heavier than it looks, so I'm confident that it's reliable and durable. And the drawers moved out smoothly, and they were much deeper than I expected, as a pleasant surprise. I could totally keep all my clothes in here and not worry about breaking the dresser!

west elm Bedframe Collection Reviews

Andes Collection

Details:

• Available colors: 65 solid colors, 19 patterns, or 7 leather options to choose from
• Available Sizes: Full, Queen, King
• Leg Options: Light bronze or dark pewter
• Headboard options: Regular, Tall, Wide
• Additional Details: Storage bed frame is also available.

Overall impression:The Andes Bedframe I looked at was a regular height headboard, and had dark pewter legs. The regular headboard is about 4' high and upholstered in distressed velvet. The bed frame itself was also upholstered in the same fabric, which made it look like a cohesive piece. I found it to be pretty solid when I rocked it with minimal wobble and no creaking. The height of the bed itself was average without the use of a box spring. I think if you did have a box spring, you might need a step stool or a running start to get into it, but that can also be good if you have mobility problems. One thing I didn't like is that t here's a significant lip between the edge of the bed and the mattress because the frame itself does have some depth to it. I would guess about a 3-inch lip that you'd need to maneuver yourself over each time you got in and out of bed. I'm not so sure if I like that since I think I'd be more apt to rest my feet on the lip and even step on it to get in and out of bed. That might compromise the integrity of the frame since I'm not sure it's created actually to step onto. But if you're taller, you probably wouldn't have that problem and can get in and out without worrying about stepping on and breaking the frame.

Grid Tufted Collection

Details:

• Available colors: 45 upholstery options
• Available Sizes: Full, Queen, King
• Headboard options: Regular, Tall
• Additional Details: Storage bed frame is also available. The headboard may be purchased separately from the bed frame.

Overall impression: The Grid Tufted bedframe that I looked at was a regular size headboard and covered in grey velvet, I think. I wasn't a big fan of this look. Though the tufting does give it an interesting detail, I felt like it belonged on a couch rather than on a bed frame. The frame itself is also upholstered in the same fabric to give it a cohesive look with the headboard, and the lip between the mattress and the frame isn't as large as it is on the Andes collection. The model in the showroom did have a box spring and a mattress on it, and it was super tall! I had to run and jump to get on it! But that also allowed me to check the durability and stability at the same time. I'm proud to say that my running and jumping not only didn't break this bed frame, but there was barely a shift! I think if there was a different upholstery color, I'd like this a little more, but the one in the showroom just didn't do it for me.

west elm Bedroom Collection Round-Up Winner

If I were to outfit my bedroom, I'd want all the pieces to match to create a cohesive space. To that end, my favorite was definitely the Modern collection. I thought that all the pieces were really well-made and gave me confidence in their durability. The dressers and nightstands were sturdy, and I think all my clothes and belongings would fit without straining the structure. Plus, when you throw the bedframe in the mix, I think the highlight is that all the pieces have the same exciting legs. They're both sturdy but have that vintage characteristic carried through all the parts.

Which collection would you want in your bedroom?

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West Elm Penelope 5 Drawer Chest Acorn

Source: https://www.homestratosphere.com/west-elm-bedroom-collection-reviews/

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