How to Choose a Vanity Table With Mirror and Drawers

It is safe to say that dressing tables with mirrors are a type of furniture piece which you are sure to use everyday, and under stress, at that. Measure the necessary things correctly and have enough mirrors and drawers, and you will be done with your morning/night routine quickly enough. Otherwise, get ready to strain your eyes and struggle with finding the lipstick and hitting the drawers with your knees.

This guide is dedicated to measuring the required things, such as the correct mirrors, the proper amount of drawers, and finally, the type of the seat you will use. Our measurements are based on vanity desks and mirrors from our range of goods.

The quick answer

• Width: 100 to 120 cm is best for small spaces and routines; use wider options starting from 150 cm if you have an extensive collection or there are two people using the vanity.
• Depth: 40 to 55 cm. Anything deeper than this will make walking in front of the vanity difficult.
• Height: most vanity tables stand at around 74-81 cm. It should be combined with a seat that provides enough knee space in front of the drawers.
• Mirror: the ideal mirror size is two-thirds of the entire table width with sufficient light coming from the front.
• Drawers: for a basic routine, 7-9 for a full collection of cosmetics and skincare, and 11 or even more for collectors and content creators.
• Sitting area: there should be 60 to 75 cm of free floor space behind the front end of the vanity for comfortable sitting and getting up.

If you already have your dimensions, head right to our vanity and dressing tables.

What size vanity table do I need?

Do not measure the table, but the space on the wall first. Find the width of the gap between the wall, pathway, bed, wardrobe and electrical sockets.

Width: match it to the wall and your routine.

Billie Vanity Desk Pro 

Vanity desk with length of 100-120 cm would help you fit the mirror, tray of necessary things, as well as space for your smartphone or hair accessories. Length of Billie Vanity Desk Pro and Diana Vanity Desk is 120 cm. It is perfect size for the average bedroom.

However, if there are many things you wish to show off, it

Should your collection be large enough, it's better to get a lit mirror along with a ring light or share the space with someone else; then you need to consider 150 cm and above. Our Eva-RGB Vanity Desk Pro measures around 152 cm long.

In the case when you have a smaller bedroom or an apartment, it's recommended to go for a narrower table along with a wall-mounted mirror rather than a wider table with a freestanding mirror.

Depth: the measurement most people forget

The usual depths for standard vanity tops range from 40 to 55 cm. In our case, the depth of both Billie and Eva RGB is 55 cm. This should also consider that the mirror standing on the top of the vanity takes some place.

If the vanity will be positioned next to the bed or opposite the closet, please note that the doors of the drawer do not interfere with the closet door.

Leave room to sit down

Diana 8 Drawers Vanity Desk Includes a Soft Hidden Stool With Storage Space

You will need 60 to 75 centimeters of floor space behind the front part of the desk so that you can move your chair into position to sit and stand. If you do not have enough space for a traditional desk chair, you could look into getting a desk stool that fits neatly under your desk, such as the Diana 8-drawer vanity desk with stool.

Which mirror suits a dressing table?

It’s the mirror that gets looked at the most often; therefore, it should get more consideration than the table.

Size the mirror to the table.

It is recommended that the size of the mirror be approximately two-thirds the width of the table itself. If smaller, it will appear lost; if larger, it will seem top-heavy and may hang over the sides.

If you are sitting down, the centre of the mirror must be at approximately the same height as your eyes. A landscape mirror will show more of your hair and shoulders horizontally, but a portrait mirror, such as our 60 x 80 cm Marilyn, will show more vertically.

Tabletop, wall-mounted or full length

• Tabletop: easily portable without any need for drilling, making it ideal for renters. However, it occupies surface space.
• Wall-mounted: makes your entire tabletop free from clutter and is more secure with children and pets around. You can get our Marilyn Hollywood mirrors in both types.
• Full Length: an 80 x 175 cm A Marilyn full-length mirror placed near the vanity verifies that you look perfect before you step out.

Lit mirrors: bulbs, strips and colour temperature

The front light doesn't create shadows under your eyes and under the chin. When you have only ceiling lights, it is more likely that you will have such shadows; therefore, the vanity mirror with light helps solve this issue.

• The Hollywood lights will spread the light evenly over your face.
• LED strips are less bulky and will perfectly suit a modern interior.
• In this case, it would be more reasonable to pay attention to the colour temperature rather than brightness. The neutral white light will be the easiest choice for putting on the makeup. The warm light is pleasant to look at, but it doesn't show true colours, while the cold light shows all the details. An adjustable dimmable mirror with customizable colour imitates the natural or night light.

The RGB mode and Bluetooth speakers will be quite interesting features for young people and content creators, but first, it is crucial to choose the proper white light. You can find more information in the article about the 10 best Hollywood makeup vanities with lights.

How many drawers do you need?

Consider only what you will place on your vanity because the number of drawers depends on that. Here is how it matches:

• Three drawers: a straightforward system including skincare, some makeup essentials, and a brush holder on top. Vanity & Dresser with RGB has three drawers.
• Seven to nine drawers: an extensive makeup and skincare product line, hair implements, and jewellery, each having its drawer. It is the place for our 7-drawer glass-fronted vanity, 8-drawer Diana desks, and 9-drawer makeup vanity storage unit.
• Eleven to thirteen drawers: makeup collectors, makeup artists, and content creators who need a separate drawer for every category. The Priscilla Vanity Desk has eleven glass-fronted drawers, while the Eva-RGB has thirteen drawers.

There are a couple of other factors that are just as important as the dimension:

• Small drawers are good for keeping your makeup. All lipsticks and palettes lay flat so that everything is visible. Put in some dividers for organisation purposes.
• You do need at least one drawer that's bigger for your hair dryer, straightener, or other bottles.
• Glass-faced drawers allow you to know what's inside them without opening them up.
• If you have desks such as Billie or Eva-RGB with charging ports, all of your electronics will be charged right where you use them.

Buying on a budget? Take a look at our budget friendly vanity guide.

Vanity table height and the right stool or chair

Bella Swivel Vanity Chair

The height of most vanity desks is in the range of 74 – 81 cm. Our Billie and Eva-RGB desks are really tall, measuring 81 cm in height, which will be perfect for tall individuals using high chairs.

The key thing here is the distance between the chair and the tabletop surface. It is the moment when you need to make sure that your forearms can comfortably lay on the table surface without having your shoulders tight and your knees fit under the table drawer/table frame with the chair pulled away.

Chair is an absolute necessity in the room. Standing at a vanity table is not comfortable, and the dining chair may be too tall.

• Stool: will fit perfectly under the desk, saving much floor space. It's good for shorter activities and small spaces.
• Backed chair: more comfortable for longer use, filming or studying. A swivel base will help you to change the position without moving your chair. Check out our Anna Swivel Vanity Chair or Bella Swivel Vanity Chair, for example.
• Built-in stool: The Diana 8-drawer desk comes with a comfortable hidden stool inside the desk.

Where to put it: light, power and safety

• Light: the best place for light would be next to the window, either to the side of the window or in front of it, but not behind it. Light coming from behind will put your face in the shadow.
• Power: for mirrors that require lighting and desks with charging points, there should be a power outlet nearby. Make sure that the length of the cord is suitable prior to the decision on the placement on the wall.
• Safety: secure your vanity and any high mirrors on the wall to prevent children climbing into it if you have kids. Place all heavy objects in the lower drawers and use one drawer at a time.

Looking for more furniture to fill out your bedroom? Read our guide about top bedroom furniture in Australia!

Matching our vanity desks with a mirror

The vanity desks in our company can be bought independent of the mirrors that come along with them; therefore, you are free to choose what size of lighting you want. The following are comparisons of the different vanity desks, along with their mirrors' sizes, based on the two-thirds rule.

Our prices vary according to sales; hence, you should check the product pages for current pricing. Not sure about how to combine your desk and mirror? Our staff at the showroom can assist you.

Frequently asked questions

What height should a vanity table be?
They are generally between 74 to 81 cm tall. Pick a table where you can have your forearms comfortably resting on the table while having enough space for knees underneath.

What size mirror for a vanity table?
Approximately two-thirds to the full width of the table. For example, for a vanity that is 120 cm, you can use an 80 cm wide mirror. If the vanity is 150 cm, then use approximately a 100 cm-wide mirror.

Do I need a stool or chair?
Yes, if you will be sitting for longer than just a few minutes. The stool that fits under helps to save space, but a swivel chair with a back provides comfort.

Can I use a desk as a vanity table?
Certainly. As long as the desk is of equal height to the others, it will work with the mirror and proper front lighting. The vanity desk is designed with drawers and lighting, and some with charging ports.

Is a dressing table the same as a vanity table?
Yes, mostly. Australians commonly use 'dressing table', whereas 'vanity table', 'vanity desk', and 'makeup table' refer to the same thing.