What Is a Vanity? A Dressing Table That Can Do So Much More

KatarzynaBialasiewicz / iStock

What is a vanity? In the 1950s and ’60s, this dressing table was de rigueur in lady’s furnishing, stocked with beauty gear, a petite chair, and large mirror. And though today’s homeowner probably no longer dabs cold cream on her cheeks or sets hair rollers in this spot, a vanity can still pull its weight in rooms throughout the house.

“This piece can definitely serve its original purpose as a place to apply makeup, but it can also be a station for storage and display,” says Anna Brockway, co-founder of the furniture design site Chairish.

And for the lucky among us, a vanity can be installed in a walk-in closet, which can upgrade the space as you get dressed and accessorize each day.

“These tables make a closet feel luxe and regal, and if you’ve got the room, add an ottoman for putting on shoes,” suggests Drew Henry of Design Dudes.

For help in selecting a dressing table for every room in the house, here are some great finds along with fun ways this piece can be put to work.

Hollywood glam

Sleek curves and gold accents = a winner

Target

“The right vanity table can bring a touch of femininity and glamour to a space as well as serve as a practical and chic spot for storing and displaying favorite accessories and getting-ready items,” says Brockway.

Homeowners with a penchant for ’60s design or Hollywood Regency style might dig this gently priced option ($199.99, Target). Two deep drawers can hold eye creams, masks, and a flat iron, and the glossy white surface wipes clean easily.

Dressing table as desk

Arrange your makeup or those office spread sheets here.

The Home Depot

If you have the space, choose a dressing table that can also stand in as a desk.

“And there are smaller vanities that can be multipurpose if you don’t have lots of room,” adds Henry, who suggests seeking out a dressing table with a fold-down mirror that doubles as a multifunctional flat surface.

This option ($188.09, Home Depot) is perfectly suited to the task as it’s big enough to hold all of your morning supplies plus a laptop, work folders, and phone charger for those now-common work-from-home days .

Space-saving vanity

Mount this piece low and add a chair, or put it at chest level in a closet.

The Home Depot

Dreaming of a vanity in your closet? Consider one that can be mounted on the wall.

“If you have a built-in closet system, you can rig a piece like this yourself by adjusting your shelves,” says Darla DeMorrow, author of “Organizing Your Home with SORT and SUCCEED.”

But watch out for glare from overhead lighting or a bank of windows behind you, she cautions. “If you’re taking selfies in your closet—and who isn’t these days—you’ve got to consider the light.”

This two-drawer space-saver ($94.04, Home Depot) features pretty crystal knobs, requires just a screwdriver and a level for proper mounting, and can also work as a bathroom vanity.

Vanity for kids

Kids will love having their own vanities, too.

Wayfair

Little ones can benefit from their own tiny workspace—and if it’s adorably constructed like this table ($118.99, Wayfair), then all the better.

Some kids might actually comb their hair here, while others can use it as a desk for math sheets or employ the piece in pretend play with their dolls .

Glass vanity

A glass vanity looks chic and doesn’t bulk up your decor.

Overstock

All of your beauty tools are on display in this glass-cased vanity table ($430.64, Overstock). The glass won’t take up too much visual space in a room, either.

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