How to choose a dressing table with a cosmetic mirror

Published September 24, 2021

A dressing table is a separate area for beauty, which is located in the bedroom, hallway or living room. It performs a utilitarian function (used for placing cosmetics and creating makeup) and is an accent, a “highlight” in the interior of the room. When choosing a product, it is important to correctly determine the required dimensions, because competently carried out calculations determine whether it will be convenient to use the piece of furniture and store the necessary little things in it.

What factors are important to pay attention to when buying a table?

Which dressing table to choose so that it harmoniously complements the design and performs utilitarian functionality? Experts recommend giving priority attention to the following details:

Configuration - for a large room, a group with two bedside tables is suitable, but for a small room it is better to prefer a console, a wall-mounted model with a folding tabletop, or a small table with a sliding drawer.

dressing table with 2 bedside tables

Table placement

Regardless of whether the dressing table is small or large, it can be installed in any room where there is space. But most often the following places are used for this:

Near the window - this location allows you to save on electricity during daylight hours. In addition, makeup applied in natural light looks more natural.
The dressing room is a good option if there is free space there.
At the head or foot of a bed or sofa.
In the bathroom or hallway.

In an open-plan apartment or in a small room, the dressing table can be placed behind a screen in one of the free corners.

How to determine the height of an interior item?

There are no universal tips on how to choose a dressing table. Designers advise taking into account two key characteristics of the product: the height and dimensions of the tabletop. The first depends on the height of the woman who will use the piece of furniture. It is important that there is at least 2-3 cm of space between her knees and the tabletop, sides and back wall, otherwise, instead of the pleasure of makeup, the owner will experience the discomfort of having to huddle in a cramped space.

The standard height is 750 mm. It increases depending on:

the height of the hostess;
the length of the furniture (as a rule, as it decreases, the height increases).

The maximum height of standard table models is 800 mm. This is not a strict restriction: at her own discretion, the housewife can choose the product above, but it will have to be made according to individual measurements.

To make the makeup corner convenient to use, it is important to choose the right seating furniture to match the height of the tabletop. The chair, pouf or armchair should be such that the legs of the sitting woman are at right angles. This position is considered anatomically the most comfortable. If the angle is acute, compression of the blood vessels occurs, which leads to a feeling of heaviness in the lower extremities.

Competent fit into the interior

Any furniture must be able to be integrated into the existing space. This is a difficult task, because you need to proceed not only from considerations of beauty, but also from comfort. A table can be beautiful, but it doesn’t fit in with the design of the room. It may not fit in size into a composition consisting of existing furniture. The interior involves both aspects and should be taken into account before purchasing.

The first goal is choosing a location. For the most part, this is either a bathroom or a bedroom. The issue of size is immediately resolved - the bedroom is clearly larger than the bathroom, often therefore the size of the table for the bathroom will be smaller than for the bedroom. But if the dimensions of the room allow you to fit a large dressing table, then you should only care about the design.

An excellent solution for a dressing table for the bedroom Source hoff.ru

With the bathroom, again, everything is simpler: as a rule, the room is made in several colors, with patterns, but nothing more. The overall composition in the bathroom has fewer details than in the bedroom, so new furniture will complement or dilute it, but will not be superfluous.

After choosing a place, you need to correctly position the dressing table:

Not only to save space, but also to preserve and complement overall design elements, different designs can be used. The table can be inserted into one of the sections of the wardrobe, which will save space and add charm to the interior.
Combined tabletops are used - a mirror is placed on one part, a computer monitor can be placed on the other, and at the bottom there will be a compartment for the system unit and wires. This again saves space, and in addition, the table will have several purposes: as a toilet and as a work table;

Dressing table as part of a wardrobe Source woodscraft.ru

The ideal solution for organically fitting into the interior would be to place the table in the corner. A good solution would be to place the dressing table by the window, but this must be done correctly.

It is necessary to take into account that it will replace the bedside table, but in terms of its dimensions it is much larger than it, so it is necessary to place the table at a small distance from the bed (20-40 cm to make it convenient to get up) and from the window, but so that the table, with a large width, does not block his. But its location near the window will allow you to avoid unnecessary reflections and distortion of perspective in the mirror, which means nothing will interfere with its use.

Table by the window Source dizajngid.ru

After choosing a room and a specific location, you can now think about how the vanity will fit into the surrounding space.

First of all, you need to know who will use the table and in what room it will be located. This will allow you to determine in advance which type is more suitable.

How to choose the width of the tabletop

The width of the tabletop determines whether the housewife can place all the cosmetic accessories and necessary small items on the surface. It is believed that the minimum value of this parameter is 260 mm, the maximum is 500-550 mm. It depends on the personal preferences of the housewife and the configuration of the piece of furniture. For example, the following standards are used:

classic models (with legs) are produced in widths of 400-500 mm;
The dimensions of the hanging dressing table should be more modest - 300-350 mm wide, otherwise the design will not look organic.

The width of the piece of furniture increases to 500-550 mm if there are spacious drawers in its lower part. As a rule, they are not used to place cosmetics, but are used to store linen or other household items.

If you install plywood partitions or shelves in the lower drawers, the space can be used to place hairsprays, mousses, sprays and other hair care products. This will allow the housewife not to go to the bathroom every time there is a need to “refresh” her hair.

A width of 400 mm is considered compact. These are dressing tables without a nightstand. As a rule, they are equipped with drawers for storing cosmetic accessories. The models fit perfectly into the interior of a small bedroom.

A model with a width of 500-550 mm is more suitable for a spacious bedroom or living room. As a rule, it is equipped with two bedside tables at the bottom of the tabletop. They are located along its edges so that there is space in the middle for the legs of a seated woman. Be careful with such solutions in small rooms: they will seem unnecessarily bulky.

How to choose the length of the product?

The length is determined based on the other dimensions of the dressing table (width and height) and the functional purpose of the piece of furniture. In practice, the following combinations of parameters are used:

For a width of 400-450 mm, the optimal length is 800 mm. This is a compact piece of furniture that will look harmonious in the interior of a small room.
For a width of 500-550 mm, a length of 1 m is selected. This is a more bulky option with one cabinet below for a spacious room.

If the table is equipped with two side tables, then its length should be at least 1.2 m to comfortably accommodate the owner.

The choice of length is influenced by the presence and location of sliding drawers. If they are placed on the sides, the product will be longer, if under the tabletop - higher.

If the table is equipped with a mirror, then its length often increases. It can reach 1.3 and sometimes 1.5 m, so that the dressing table is stable and matches the dimensions of the tabletop. Such models are good for spacious rooms. Their important advantage is that along with the size of the product, the capacity of drawers, shelves and cabinets also increases.

Position of the mirror surface

It's hard to imagine a modern dressing table without a mirror. Without this crucial detail, it loses its functionality. What accommodation options are possible?

On the wall. For this purpose, a large full-length mirror is most often used. Much less often you can find round and quadrangular ones, measuring 50 x 50 cm.
Mirror attached to the tabletop. A “back” made of the same material as the tabletop is attached to the table, and a mirror surface is attached to it.
Folding mirror. Mounted on the inside of the tabletop, which can be raised as needed. Inside such a table there are also sections for storing cosmetics and jewelry.

If the dressing table is not equipped with a mirror, then you can use a portable one on a stand. Most often it is small in size.

A mirror plays an important role not only in applying makeup, but also in creating interesting interior accents: a large one can visually expand the space, and a small one can add coziness.

How to place a mirror?

The optimal dimensions of a dressing table with a mirror are determined by the same rules as for mirrorless models. However, an additional nuance appears - the need to maintain the correct proportions between the dimensions of the tabletop and dressing table. Follow these design tips:

the mirror must end to the edge of the table, otherwise it will protrude unattractively, creating visual dissonance;
if the dressing table is suspended, it will look good if it is twice as narrow as the tabletop;
If a backlight is provided for the mirror surface, its size should be larger than the standard one, because part of it will be “stolen” by the lighting elements.

To hang a mirror correctly, follow the advice of experts. Sit on a chair and draw a straight line from eye level to the wall. The center of the dressing table should be at this point. Such calculations are necessary so that you can see your reflection both in a sitting position and while standing. If this arrangement does not seem convenient to you, you can move up or down 100-150 mm from it.

Do you need lighting on your dressing table?

To decide whether you need backlighting, analyze your habits. If you wear full makeup and perform regular hygiene procedures, you cannot do without additional lighting. If you spend no more than 5-10 minutes a day at the cosmetic corner, it is enough to purchase a model without lighting and thereby save money.

The dimensions of a dressing table with a mirror and lighting depend on the method of organizing the lighting. Until recently, the most popular option was that lamps (or light bulbs) were placed around the perimeter of the dressing table. This creates an even light that is bright enough to apply makeup. For such a model to look organic, its length should be 100-120 cm.

A modern lighting option is LED strips. They are placed along the edges of the mirror on strips of metal and take up less space than light bulbs or lamps. The peculiarity of such devices is the possible distortion of color perception, which reduces the quality of makeup. To avoid this problem, choose ribbons with a warm glow and moderate brightness.

The third option is to install table lamps or lamps on the sides of the mirror surface. It is suitable if the length of the tabletop allows it. The lamps should be located at the hostess’s eye level to avoid the formation of unnecessary shadows and glare. Give preference to simple (undecorated) lampshades with a matte surface.

In bathroom

If you plan to install a table in the bathroom, then you need to carefully consider the ventilation system. If this is not done, the mirror will constantly fog up and will have to be wiped frequently. The best option for the bathroom is a plastic bedside table with a mirror. If there is a window in the room, then you can convert the window sill into a tabletop, and install drawers under it to store necessary items.

When there is very little space in the combined bathroom, the dressing table is placed between the bathtub and toilet. However, not every woman will agree to this. In addition, in this case it is recommended to have another place to apply makeup, otherwise the time for this event will be limited.

How to choose the configuration of a piece of furniture

The optimal size of a dressing table with a mirror for a bedroom, living room or hallway depends on the configuration of the product. The assortment of furniture stores includes the following types of products:

Classic version

This is a familiar table with 4 legs, pushed against the wall. As a rule, there is a mirror above it, and one or more sliding drawers are made in the tabletop. The classic model is compact. It perfectly complements any interior: from high-tech to baroque.

Console

This is a model in which the table top with drawers is attached to the wall, and there are no legs. This table is narrow and elegant, made in a classic or modern style. Great for small spaces because it gives the interior a light, airy feel.

Trellis

This is a table with a mirror with 3 doors. The central compartment does not move, and the angle of placement of the side compartments can change depending on the needs of the housewife. The product shows the reflection of the owner from several angles simultaneously, which is necessary when creating complex hairstyles and makeup. The disadvantage of this model is that it takes up a lot of space and is only suitable for spacious rooms.

Table with folding mirror

This is an interesting solution for tight spaces. The mirror surface is “hidden” under a hinged lid. When the woman completes her makeup, the lid closes and leaves a flat tabletop. As a rule, such products do not have legs; they are attached to the wall.

Dressing table

This is a model with a mirror surface located on the inside of the countertop. To see her reflection, the hostess opens a special lid. This way the mirror does not gather dust and requires minimal space. The design is made in a straight or angular version. In the second case, it is more spacious and compact.

Transformers

These are modern solutions that can take different forms depending on the specifics of the situation. For example, the product looks like a cabinet and is used to store linen, but as soon as you move the top panel to the right or left, additional space is created for comfortable application of makeup. After completing the maintenance procedures, the owner returns the panel to its place, and the piece of furniture takes on its usual appearance.

If you have a small bedroom, but want to have your own cosmetic corner, give preference to a mirrorless table model. The best solution is a product with a narrow tabletop or console. You can use a small portable mirror or hang a dressing table on the wall. This solution will save space without losing comfort.

How to choose a stylistic solution

The size of the dressing table with lighting and mirror is not the only point that deserves your attention. The product must correspond to the overall design of the apartment. For example, for a classic design of a bedroom or living room, a symmetrical model with 4 legs made of natural wood or chipboard is suitable.

If the room is decorated in a high-tech or minimalist style, you should choose a geometric product in restrained color shades, without unnecessary decor. Console or transformer models would be appropriate. For baroque bedrooms, on the contrary, you should purchase tables with a variety of decorations, for example, carvings or stucco.

There is a wide variety of dressing tables available in the market. Start your selection by finding the optimal sizes. It is important that the product performs utilitarian functions, is convenient for the housewife, but at the same time does not “argue” with the surrounding interior. Focus on standard dimensions, but be sure to compare them with your own sense of comfort and aesthetics. Remember that if the model you need is not available in furniture stores, it can be made to order.