Dressing Table Styles

Of all the furnishings in a woman's bedroom, the dressing table may be the most luxurious and desirable item. Sometimes called a vanity or a make-up table, these mirrored pieces of furniture serve as the place that is well-lighted for make-up application, have storage space for personal items, and may function as a decorative accent, especially when adorned with photographs, perfume bottles, flowers and keepsakes. A dressing table can serve as an island of femininity in a shared household. Does this Spark an idea?

Simple Dressing Tables

The least elaborate dressing tables may be simple rectangles with four legs, with or without drawers. Like all dressing table, it must be equipped with a mirror built onto the table or hung at a convenient height over the table. These styles are made from wood, painted or natural in color, metal and glass, and wood and wicker combinations, and may be accompanied with a matching stool.

The Desk Style

Many dressing tables or vanity tables look very much like wood desks. Below the rectangular top, the table is equipped with either one bank of drawers and one row of legs or two banks of drawers. The space for a stool or chair is centered. Mirrors may be attached or hung above the table; most are simply framed with materials similar to the table. A few of these styles are designed with lift tops where the mirror is revealed when the top is lifted, and the space below is intended for storage.

The Kidney-shaped Table

One of the most popular traditional styles of dressing table is the kidney-shaped table, an oval with a curved indentation in the center front. This variety may have drawers under the tabletop, may have a skirt attached to adjustable wings on either side of the center, and may include a pretty matching stool.

Other Details

Because the dressing table is a feminine accent in many homes, its styles have tended to vary from standard bedroom furniture. Some varieties have shapely curved legs, as in the Queen Anne style or the elaborate French styles. These often have mirrors with ornate frames. The table itself may be made of wicker, glass, mirrored glass, and fanciful painted wood. The shabby chic look of battered elegance has long remained popular for dressing tables, and a pastel painted table equipped with tiny cubbyholes and drawers might be the most feminine of all.