Compact but perfectly formed vanities for when every inch counts
Hello bijou bedrooms, we have a beautiful selection of dressing tables for you.
Once a ubiquitous piece of furniture in bedrooms, the dressing table or vanity unit has become something of a luxury in urban homes, giving way to chests of drawers, desks or shelving, where maximum storage is key and space is often tight.
Therefore the large, chunky forms of old have been consigned to country piles, stately homes and old movies, while dressing tables with new, sleek, slimline profiles have emerged.
See our edit of the best bedside tables.
Despite the changes in our lifestyles – we’re far more likely to ‘wash and go’ than spend hours pampering in front of a mirror – there is something to be said for the touch of glamour and luxury that a dressing table brings to a bedroom, not to mention to our beauty routines.
We might not be Bette Davis or Joan Crawford dabbing our noses with a powder puff or spritzing with an atomiser in a film noir, but it still feels deliciously decadent to be blending and brushing at a dressing table, whether you go the full Kardashian with contouring and drag-style lashes or prefer a more natural look.
Our edit consists of compact dressing tables that will fit neatly into small corners or bay windows, those that double up as desks, and all have minimal frames.
See our edit of the best four poster beds.
At the affordable end of the scale, check out the Bow from John Lewis & Partners, the Liana by Sebastian Cox for Made, or the Sten from Swoon. There’s also the Whitely Bay from Houseology and the Salina by Ercol, available at Heal’s.
For designer looks we’re loving the Pebble from Living Divani, Ren by Neri & Hu and the Chapeau from Alivar.
Find more bedroom inspiration here.
Salina dressing table, £630, Ercol at Heal’s
Part of a wider collection of bedroom furniture, this compact piece is made from solid ash and finished in a white washed stain and clear matt lacquer.
Liana dressing table, £379, Made.com
Designed by Sebastian Cox, this timber and rattan piece combines soft rounded contours with clean lines.
Bow dressing table, £299, John Lewis & Partners
Made from solid oak, this compact piece has a roomy drawer for storing hair and beauty paraphernalia and an oval mirror for getting ready every day.
Sten dressing table, £349, Swoon
Complete with a marble 'pampering plinth' for perfumes and power puffs, this is the ultimate piece for beauty prep.
Pebble vanity, from €4,809.60, Lanzavecchia + Wai for Living Divani at Cavigioli
Inspired by the organic form of stones, the pebble vanity has a slim profile that would suit modern spaces.
Ren dressing table, £5,448, Neri&Hu for Poltrona Frau at Nest
Designed by Neri & Hu, this award-winning piece exudes luxury and refinement.
Tray desk, £3,300, Neri&Hu at De La Espada
This clever piece doubles up as a desk or vanity table.
Whitley Bay dressing table with drawer, £507.60, houseology
A double handed storage drawer and moveable mirror make this a stylish and practical piece.
Chapeau dressing table, £2,540, Alivar
Doubling up as a desk, with its fold-away mirror, this is a versatile piece.
