A vanity can mix flairs of Victorian, Hollywood Glamour and modern style.
The vanity, or dressing table, so popular in the Victorian era and again during the height of Old Hollywood is back in vogue. The dressing table is not only about function and providing a designated area to get ready for the day or evening ahead, but it is also about style. The vanity itself is only part of it; other elements include comfortable seating, storage, lighting, mirror and accessories. You don't need furniture designed specifically for a vanity, however. You have other ways to achieve the same look, feel and function of a vanity using your own personal style.
Whole Unit
If you already own a vanity you want to use, you are well on your way. If not, shop in your personal store and look for a desk, table, bureau or buffet table you can repurpose. The height of the piece you select should allow you to sit comfortably at the vanity and preferably allow you to pull your seating under the middle or one side of it. If nothing you already own appeals to you, shop in secondhand stores for vintage pieces and search online at an auction or classified site. If you prefer something new, vanities are widely available today at major retailers and specialty stores, and you can expand your search by including desks, tables, bureaus, and buffet tables as options. If you find a piece you want to use, but it is dated or not the right color, paint it according to your preference, and replace drawer knobs with newer ones in your style.
Pieces
Design your dressing table to suit your style and needs; using a ready-made unit isn't necessary. Create your vanity with one shelf mounted to the wall with decorative brackets, and add complementary shelving above it if desired. Leave room over your main shelf for your signature mirror. A vintage door or gate topped with a glass or Plexiglas top are other options; the glass/Plexiglas will create a smooth and even surface and also make cleaning easier. Place your repurposed top over trunks, storage cabinets, bookshelves or end tables to create the whole unit.
Seating
Traditional vanity sets often include a small stool with a low back, or no back at all, but you can select any type of seating you want. Depending on the height of your new vanity, consider an ottoman or a full-size dining room chair with a high back. Stools with built-in storage are also available in an array of colors, textures and patterns. Add a luxurious pillow to your seating for a decorative and comfortable touch.
Mirror and Lighting
A large mirror on top or over a dressing table is a signature of the traditional vanity. Shop your own inventory, and use a decorative wall mirror you already own, if possible, and do the same for lighting. Repaint mirror frames, wall sconces and lamp bases to match your dressing table color scheme, if desired, and replace lampshades with others you own or purchase.
Accessories
Decorate your vanity with accessories that make you feel good and add to the ambiance, such as candles, vintage perfume bottles, a jewelry stand or box, fresh flowers, picture frames with favorite photos and trinkets with personal meaning to you. Repurpose other household items for decorative but functional accessories; use vases, glasses, bowls, tea cups, plates and bowls to store or place items you want at your fingertips rather than ready-made storage solutions found in bed and bath stores. Add a decorative and plush rug to the foot of your new dressing table as a final touch and barefoot comfort as you prepare for the day or evening ahead.
Tags: dressing table, your dressing, your dressing table, your vanity, your vanity with, evening ahead, glass Plexiglas