Can a Beautifully Styled Vanity Transform Your Bedroom?
It’s working for these chic sleep spaces. Be inspired and pick up some tricks to try at home
Kate Burt
December 30, 2017
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
The bedroom vanity is a classic piece of bedroom furniture and, after the bed, can be both practical and a real focal point of the room. Whether you use the top of a chest of drawers, a vintage desk or a designed-for-the-purpose piece, a vanity will look loveliest if it’s given a little styling help. It’s easy to let daily clutter take over the surface, but that can really reduce the serene mood of your bedroom. Keep it looking beautiful instead — and hide all that clutter in the drawers. Try out these styling ideas.
Slim down. Without the temptation of too much space on which to strew your grooming items, you should find it easy to maintain a dressing table as sleekly styled as this one. (You may find that those drawers, which fan cleverly toward the floor when open, hide a lot of sins. And this is the secret of many a minimalist: junk crammed in hidden spaces.)
Choosing a piece of furniture with this much style will give you a head start. But there’s also a simple styling tip at play here: one picture, one high thing and one low thing.
You can lean the artwork against the wall behind the dressing table or hang it. Then partner it up with two pleasing objects of different heights. (Here it’s as simple as a book and a vase of blooms.) Ensure the items aren’t in the dead center of the artwork. Job done. It’s really that simple. Earn a gold star for tying the colors in the objects in with the colors in the artwork.
Choosing a piece of furniture with this much style will give you a head start. But there’s also a simple styling tip at play here: one picture, one high thing and one low thing.
You can lean the artwork against the wall behind the dressing table or hang it. Then partner it up with two pleasing objects of different heights. (Here it’s as simple as a book and a vase of blooms.) Ensure the items aren’t in the dead center of the artwork. Job done. It’s really that simple. Earn a gold star for tying the colors in the objects in with the colors in the artwork.
Try a tray. A tray has the magical ability to make all sorts of disparate objects look purposeful and somehow prettier.
This midcentury dressing table could well have been a desk originally. Desks can make excellent dressing tables because they often have drawers in which you can hide everything unsightly, leaving room on your tray for several choice items of beauty.
Flowers shouldn’t be reserved for photo shoots and guest visits. This is the place you start your day — flowers are good for the soul, so treat yourself!
How to Create a Flower Bouquet Like a Pro | Midcentury-style dressing tables
This midcentury dressing table could well have been a desk originally. Desks can make excellent dressing tables because they often have drawers in which you can hide everything unsightly, leaving room on your tray for several choice items of beauty.
Flowers shouldn’t be reserved for photo shoots and guest visits. This is the place you start your day — flowers are good for the soul, so treat yourself!
How to Create a Flower Bouquet Like a Pro | Midcentury-style dressing tables
Perfect some polish. Black lacquered surfaces are often a good base from which to create a glamorous scene. A black-and-white photo of a glamorous Hollywood icon continues the theme.
Other key glamour signifiers here include the string of pearls, the silver boxes and that classic boutique hotel favorite, a short-stem white-rose arrangement. A strict color palette will also help you achieve the look — here it’s monochrome, but you could go all white, white and gold or shades of gray, or all neutrals. Just be sure to keep the colors subdued.
Other key glamour signifiers here include the string of pearls, the silver boxes and that classic boutique hotel favorite, a short-stem white-rose arrangement. A strict color palette will also help you achieve the look — here it’s monochrome, but you could go all white, white and gold or shades of gray, or all neutrals. Just be sure to keep the colors subdued.
Be unconventional. There’s a lot going on in this dressing table arrangement, and some quirky style ideas, but the order with which everything is put together gives it the air of a mini art installation.
The lampshade is the offbeat standout here — choose one such object and let it shine rather than crowding it out with other strong statements. Everything else on the table ties in with colors or finishes around the room, so the display is less out-there than it might first appear.
Jewelry is carefully arranged on an unusual tiered glass stand, with carefully being the key word: Overfill a display like this, or let clumps of necklaces spill over the edges, and artful will quickly turn to untidy.
A trio of unusually shaped glass jewelry boxes would be a stylistically comparable display idea — you could even try repurposing a tiny terrarium or two. Go for little ones or those with multiple compartments to avoid bling overload. Stagger the sizes and fill with restraint.
Browse jewelry stands
The lampshade is the offbeat standout here — choose one such object and let it shine rather than crowding it out with other strong statements. Everything else on the table ties in with colors or finishes around the room, so the display is less out-there than it might first appear.
Jewelry is carefully arranged on an unusual tiered glass stand, with carefully being the key word: Overfill a display like this, or let clumps of necklaces spill over the edges, and artful will quickly turn to untidy.
A trio of unusually shaped glass jewelry boxes would be a stylistically comparable display idea — you could even try repurposing a tiny terrarium or two. Go for little ones or those with multiple compartments to avoid bling overload. Stagger the sizes and fill with restraint.
Browse jewelry stands
Keep family close. A 1930s or ’40s wood vanity in good condition needs little styling. This one has been enhanced by a simple framed photograph. Do you have a black-and-white photo of a favorite grandparent or your mother as a young woman? It’s a lovely thing to gaze at while you get ready, and it’ll look at home in this context. Seek out a frame from a suitable era to display it in. Pair it with a simple jewelry box or a small vase of flowers — lilacs would work well — or a scented candle and shove everything else out of sight in your vintage piece’s roomy drawers.
Anchor with symmetry. Starting in the center and building a display outward, as seen here, is one smart way to go for a formal look.
The mirror and mirrored box are framed by the glass candleholders; this enables other items (all lower than the candles) to build out on each side, with a little bit more mirroring going on in the white flowers. A symmetrical centerpiece like this will act merely as an anchor, one that will allow a less formal scattering of objects around it to look well-arranged.
Note, too, the use of color here: Everything is pale pink, peach, off-white or has a clear or reflective finish, but there’s also lots of textures for interest.
The mirror and mirrored box are framed by the glass candleholders; this enables other items (all lower than the candles) to build out on each side, with a little bit more mirroring going on in the white flowers. A symmetrical centerpiece like this will act merely as an anchor, one that will allow a less formal scattering of objects around it to look well-arranged.
Note, too, the use of color here: Everything is pale pink, peach, off-white or has a clear or reflective finish, but there’s also lots of textures for interest.
Make it multilevel. A piece of furniture like this unusual chest of drawers allows for three unique vignettes, one on each level.
If you have different-colored drawers or a busy unit like this, be aware that keeping your displays in the same palette will really help it look good rather than chaotic.
If you have different-colored drawers or a busy unit like this, be aware that keeping your displays in the same palette will really help it look good rather than chaotic.
Use flowers as a focal point. As already mentioned, flowers are a habit worth fostering. You don’t need to spend a fortune — three stems, once a week or even less, will do you.
Tip: If you’re wondering how to get your blooms to look as lovely as those seen in these rooms: Pull off all the leaves that fall below the top of the container you’re putting them in. It may seem brutal, but just look at this example to see how it gives the flowers a professionally arranged look. Then crisscross the stems so they support one another. Change the water daily for maximum bloom life and put just a drop of bleach in the water — it keeps flower-decaying bacteria at bay.
Tip: If you’re wondering how to get your blooms to look as lovely as those seen in these rooms: Pull off all the leaves that fall below the top of the container you’re putting them in. It may seem brutal, but just look at this example to see how it gives the flowers a professionally arranged look. Then crisscross the stems so they support one another. Change the water daily for maximum bloom life and put just a drop of bleach in the water — it keeps flower-decaying bacteria at bay.
Think small. In a compact space, a wall-mounted vanity shelf or drawers may be the answer. And to keep things feeling sleek and streamlined, don’t make the styling fussy. Here you can see how simple it can be to create a focal point that remains functional.
A mirror, a vase with a single leaf in it and a framed picture — that’s it. Everything else can be hidden away for easy access in those drawers. Bear this in mind if you’re going for a minimal look and considering a shelf as a dressing table or vanity area — where will you keep the things you use every day?
Your turn: Show us your dressing table and share your styling ideas in the Comments.
More
Why the Bedroom Is the New Living Room
See more photos of bedrooms with vanities
A mirror, a vase with a single leaf in it and a framed picture — that’s it. Everything else can be hidden away for easy access in those drawers. Bear this in mind if you’re going for a minimal look and considering a shelf as a dressing table or vanity area — where will you keep the things you use every day?
Your turn: Show us your dressing table and share your styling ideas in the Comments.
More
Why the Bedroom Is the New Living Room
See more photos of bedrooms with vanities
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Isn't a vanity a place to apply make-up. etc? If so, some of these fit the bill and are quite attractive; some clearly do not. "Try a tray" and "Symmetry" are gorgeous. "Be unconventional" is what I would call nonsensical. There is so much wasted space. If the picture were hung on the wall a larger much more functional vanity with a mirror could have been used in that corner or if the chair were moved to that corner the small vanity could replace the chair and the existing mirror could at least be accessed. How does it "work" for the occupant with the current set up? "Keep the family close" would enable a child to look into the mirror while standing, but not an adult. Am I missing the point of this story?
I have always loved a dressing table and its great to see it making a comeback.
I love the Opalina Dressing Table from Italian Glass specilaists Tonelli Design
Or how about the more traditional Afrodite Dressing Table from luxury brand Porada ?
And finally a bit of two-tone glamour from Gallotti & Radice - the Selene Vanity Desk
Caroline for Go Modern