15 Stunning Makeup Vanity Ideas to Elevate your Glam

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This post shows you 15 ways to elevate the decor and organization of your makeup vanity to take your beauty routine to the next level.

Your makeup vanity is supposed to be a sanctuary for your beauty routine, and yet it often ends up being an afterthought when trying to decorate or furnish an entire home.

However, a vanity offers a great place for you not only to get ready but a space where you can relax and take care of yourself. Whether you love spending hours glamming up or you prefer a few touches and go, your vanity should make getting ready feel special every day.

Here are some ideas to elevate your makeup vanity and make sure that you never again have to roam around your house, looking for a stray mirror or a lost hairbrush (haven’t we all been there!).

Makeup Vanity: Organizing Your Beauty Routine

When choosing or decorating a makeup vanity, it’s always best to first think about how it will serve you. Are you planning on doing your makeup there every day and looking for natural lighting? Do you need plenty of space for your hair tools? Do you prefer a clean surface or do you want to fill it with objects you love?

These questions are important as they can help you decide what makeup vanity items and upgrades are worth investing in based on your routine.

Now that you have spent some time thinking about what type of space you are trying to create for your makeup vanity, let’s look at some simple and chic ideas to bring some organization and elegance to your vanity. I promise you’ll never want to procrastinate getting ready again!

15 Stunning Makeup Vanity Ideas

1. Comfortable Seating

You will likely spend a lot of time sitting at your vanity. You want to make sure to choose a chair that is as comfortable as it is stylish.

While stools can be a cute addition to a vanity, an actual chair will make getting ready a much more enjoyable experience. We all know that a blow-out can be be workout (Dyson Airwrap I’m looking at you…), so focus on choosing seating that can support your back while elevating the style of your vanity.

A small, compact chair like the one above is the perfect replacement for a puff – just as chic and a much better companion to your beauty marathons.

2. Elegant Light Fixtures

Lighting is one of the secret weapons you can use to elevate the look of your makeup vanity.

Wall sconces are the perfect tool to avoid ugly lamp cables while, at the same time, providing all the lighting you need to make sure your makeup looks great. Looking more sophisticated than their plugged-in counterparts, wall light fixtures can add a touch of glam to your beauty area.

Play around with cold and warm lighting based on what fits best your home and how available natural light is in your space. Don’t let the set-up intimidate you – if you are renting or simply do not want to commit to something permanent on your walls, use battery-powered ones!

3. Perfectly Organized Drawers

There is nothing worse than trying to get ready in a hurry and not being able to find the perfect product you are looking for. While your friends may forgive you because the real ones will understand that the perfect lipstick doesn’t wait on anybody, I’m sure your boss is less likely to support the cause.

Perfectly organized drawers are a great way to make sure all your products have a designated spot – this will save you time and make sure your makeup isn’t getting lost or stored improperly.

White drawer organizers like the ones pictured above can seamlessly blend in with the interior of your drawers and guarantee that your vanity is just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside.

4. Oversized Mirror

Mirrors can be your secret weapon to make any room look larger. Especially if your makeup vanity is tucked away in a small corner or is located far away from natural sources of light, a mirror might be exactly the item you are looking for.

Oversized mirrors in particular can help ground your vanity in the room, adding dimension and elongating vertically the space your vanity is visuallly occupying. They are perfect if you do not have a built-in vanity as they can prevent your vanity desk from looking like a random table placed against a wall.

If you find a light enough mirror, this can even be renter-friendly as it will be sufficient to lean it against the wall and block it with a sturdy vase. However, if your mirror frame is thick and heavy, make sure to secure it first.

5. A Touch of Vintage

There is a common misconception when talking about home decor and interior design: you need to choose a style and stick to it at all times. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Adding a vintage piece to your makeup vanity can create a more sophisticated style and prevent your space from looking like a furniture showroom. Vintage (or vintage-looking) pieces, like the mirror above, add layers to your decor and make the overall arrangement more interesting.

The trick for a cohesive look? Make sure that your vintage items and your modern furniture share at least one common characteristic: color, material, and style. Have fun and don’t be afraid to do some mix-and-match!

6. Makeup Organizer to store your favorite products

Sometimes makeup is too pretty to store inside of a drawer. Makeup vanities after all are also meant to be the perfect display for all the beauty products that make you happy and bring joy into your daily beauty routine.

Storing makeup on top of your vanity table is also a great way to keep things readily available.

A clear makeup organizer with a gold rim can be an elegant touch for your makeup vanity and, at the same time, provide all the convenience you need. Make sure you prioritize storing daily makeup in such containers and items you keep forgetting to try – by making them easily accessible, you’ll make sure to never let a product expire again.

7. A Tray

Placing a tray on top of a flat surface never moving it from there seems like a silly idea. However, as a reformed tray-skeptical (I hope you’ll soon join the club), I have to say they are underrated pieces of decor.

When it comes to your makeup vanity, a marble tray (or a mirrored one if you are looking for something more classic) can take your decor to the next level.

Trays are used to add dimensions to any environment. By creating an elevated surface that is somewhat visually separated from the greater plane, trays will help you showcase your favorite items and, if fragile, help protect them from dirt and spills.

8. A Signature Scent (Candles/Diffusers)

Perhaps Jane Austen should have debuted with “It is a truth universally acknowledged that everyone loves a great perfume” because there is nothing more pleasant to the senses than entering a room that smells like heaven.

You want to make sure your makeup vanity area smells just as good as you look by the end of your beauty routine and your best friends to achieve this are two: scented candles & diffusers.

I have always loved to keep a diffuser on my vanity as I find it safer given the multitude of hot tools that enter the area. I already have to check a few times that my flat iron is off before leaving, better not to add a candle to my list of to-dos.

9. Pops of Color

In the world of minimalistic and beige decor, this idea might be a bit unpopular. However, I am a firm supporter of bringing color into households as there is nothing more elegant than a well-curated palette.

If you are a renter or an owner with commitment issues when it comes to your walls, your makeup vanity offers the perfect area where to introduce a pop of color into your home.

A colorful pouf like the golden one in the photo is extra chic. Play around with materials and styles to make sure your colorful items still fit cohesively within your space.

10. Faux Flowers

While everyone agrees that fresh flowers are beautiful, they are a huge commitment in terms of upkeep. As soon as they start to wither you need to replace them otherwise they will make your makeup vanity look dull and unkempt. Let alone think about the cost of a weekly flower subscription (not in this economy, thank you!).

If you don’t want to give up on the x factor flowers bring in terms of beauty and color, but at the same time are looking for something that will make your makeup vanity more elegant and your schedule less busy, you should consider faux flowers.

Fake flowers have a bad reputation but high-quality silk fake flowers like the ones linked above are an elegant alternative that will look great on your makeup vanity. Make sure to avoid perfect-looking flowers, and plastic-based plants, and, if you’re wanting to go the extra mile, add some water to your vase. Nobody will be able to tell the difference!

11. Beauty-Themed Wall Art

Gallery walls are usually only associated with staircases and living rooms, however, a small selection of art can be the perfect way to express your style and create a unique background for your makeup vanity.

Especially if you are someone who strongly prefers a table mirror, hanging a few frames with feminine, on-theme art can truly change your space. I love minimalistic line drawings and vintage magazine covers – the contrast of modern and classic gives the vanity area great character.

A useful tip for all the renters reading (I understand you, I am also part of the club): simply lay the frames against the wall – no need to create holes you will then have to fill in. A cute coffee table book will do the trick of keeping your art in place.

12. Something Monogrammed

Monograms are a tricky topic as they are usually more appreciated when they come in small doses. The good news is that your makeup vanity is your alone, so if you are a fan of monogrammed everything, this is the perfect place to incorporate your taste into your home decor.

I love how elegant the makeup case above looks – in saffiano leather, fully customizable, and very spacious – it’s the perfect item for monogram lovers wanting an understated, elegant look.

Other items I think are perfect candidates to display your initials are vases, ceramic makeup holders, or a beautiful candle. The more eclectic your style, the more extravagant you can be with your choices!

13. A complementary shelving unit

If you are a makeup aficionado, you may find it difficult to choose a vanity desk that can accommodate all of your products. No need to worry – shelves are here to save the day.

You can be creative and re-purpose a bookcase or shelving unit to store and display your additional makeup, product backups, and accessories.

A light golden frame with glass shelves shown in the picture above is a great compromise to expand your storage options while not taking up too much space visually. Especially if you are working with a small makeup vanity area, make sure to choose shelves that allow for light to pass through or your room will look even smaller – light-colored frames, metals, glass, or mesh shelves will be your best friends for this.

14. Wallpaper

I am a huge fan of wallpaper, it can turn an average room into a breathtaking interior. In my opinion, it has an unparalleled capacity to bring personality into a room and elevate a space beyond belief.

Fortunately for all of us, in the modern day wallpaper is no longer an expensive, impossible-to-get-right, and owner-only option. Let me introduce you to…peel and stick wallpaper, i.e. one of my favorite inventions in the history of interior design.

Apply it to the wall behind your makeup vanity or frame sheets of it as art, wallpaper is guaranteed to make your vanity a dreamy space.

15. Sculpture-like Jewelry Holder

Have you ever seen those hand-shaped jewelry holders? Well, this tip takes that idea and turns it into an iconic addition to your makeup vanity.

A sculpture, especially a bust, can be the perfect jewelry holder – your necklaces will stand out against the background if you go for white marble, and you will never have to google “how to detangle a necklace” again! You will find plenty of options online (one linked above for you on Amazon), but don’t forget to check out your local antique market – it might be hiding exciting surprises.

Bonus tip: give your friend a name – she can become your makeup vanity bestie!

How to Style Your Makeup Vanity

This post showed you 15 makeup vanity ideas that could take your beauty space to the next level.

When choosing how to decorate your makeup vanity, remember that this space needs to feel like you, showcase your style and personality, but also remain practical so you can use it every day and have it accommodate your beauty rituals.

Make sure to step outside your comfort zone and don’t be afraid to experiment with your makeup vanity decor. Whether you have a small apartment or can’t think of ideas on how to fill a huge empty spot in your home, a stylish and functional makeup vanity is a great addition to your space!

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