10 Pretty Dressing Tables That Will Elevate Your Morning Routine

A pretty dressing table or makeup vanity makes getting ready feel more luxurious.
Whether you’re adding a custom built-in makeup niche with millwork or a freestanding dressing table, a dedicated primping station doesn’t need a lot of space. Designers are clever enough to carve them out between vanities, under the eaves, in walk-in closets, and even showers. These indulgent ideas from Emily Griffin, Sarah Richardson and Lynda Reeves are as practical as they are pampering. Scroll down!
“Try a patterned wallpaper in a niche or dressing table area — too many neutrals can get boring,” says designer Nyla Free of her clients’ ensuite in Calgary. Pretty fluted sconces frame the mirror.
- Photographer Phil Crozier
- Designer Nyla Free
In her Notting Hill flat, Canadian Designer Amanda L. Hoyle of Sey Studios chose a powdery pink hue for her dressing room walls.
- Photographer Anna Stathaki
- Designer Sey Studios
In this lakeside home by Lynda Reeves Design Studio, a skirted dressing table with matching drapes brings Old School charm to the principal ensuite.
- Photographer Stacey Brandford
- Designer Lynda Reeves Design Studio (design)/Paul Roth Architecture (architecture)
A window niche in Jaime Polan Zimmerman’s principal closet is the perfect place for a built-in dressing table with a curvy chair.
- Photographer Lauren Miller
- Designer Jaime Polan Zimmerman
Atmosphere Interior Design customized a makeup vanity in their clients’ spa-like ensuite. Natural light fills the tucked-away niche, and a fold-out mirror creates a three-sided view.
- Photographer Eymeric Widling (bathroom)/D&M Images (portrait)
- Designer Atmosphere Interior Design
The makeup station in this renovated bedroom by designer Emily Griffin, makes it fun to get ready for a night out. Emily splurged on a three-way custom mirror with integrated lighting that follows the roofline.
- Photographer Donna Griffith
- Designer Griffin Houghton
Designer Sarah Richardson carved out a spot between the two bathroom vanities in her country home. Light lavender walls and a pretty painted chair that tucks under the counter enhances the fresh, garden-like vibe.
- Photographer Stacey Brandford
- Designer Sarah Richardson
Originally a shoe closet, this nook at the end of a hallway was transformed into a whimsical, albeit tiny, dressing area courtesy of a nature-inspired wallpaper. An iconic Saarinen stool adds a splash of vibrant red.
- Photographer Michael Graydon
- Designer Sabrina Albanese
Everyone knows natural light is the best for applying makeup, so this showhome’s petite primping station is set in front of a window for maximum clarity. The nook is a natural spot for a tropical plant, and extends the counter so there’s plenty of room for a couple to share the space.
- Photographer Michael Graydon
- Designer Brian Gluckstein
In the former city home of Lynda Reeves, a petite dressing table has a graceful oval shape that enhances flow. Lynda waited over 10 years to renovate her principal bathroom, and the effort was worth it. “Finally, I have a dressing table in my bathroom! Across from the shower, mirrored closet doors hide suitcase storage. I installed marble on the door surrounds to match the shower,” Lynda recalls.
- Photographer Alex Lukey
- Designer Lynda Reeves