In this guide, we’re going to help you understand all there is about makeup vanity tables. If you are looking to buy one of these for yourself, you need to know about their different types, the materials that they are typically made from, the features they should ideally have, and so forth.

Once you are through this guide, you will have a clear idea of what makes a makeup vanity table good and what makes it otherwise.

Let’s get started.

if you are looking to buy one, check out our collection of Vanity tables. 

Types of Vanity Makeup Tables

We have listed some of the main types of vanity makeup tables below. 

1. Traditional vanity tables

Traditional makeup vanity tables are usually made of natural wood and are distinguished by their old-fashioned curved wood details and contours. The drawers and storage spaces in these tables are all wooden, and they consist of rounded designs when it comes to elements like knobs, handles, and so on.

In these types of tables, the design consists of drawers—sometimes even small cabinets in the lower portions—along with a large mirror up front. These tables go right down to the floor and have a niched space as legroom for the person sitting in front. They can be quite heavy and bulky, and they can take up a significant portion of the room.

Why should you buy a Traditional Vanity Table?

There are quite a few reasons why these tables are an excellent choice to pick.

1. They can be highly aesthetic. The wooden construction of these tables along with their characteristic curved and contoured details can look very elegant. They can lift the look of the whole room.
2. They can provide a lot of storage space. Since these tables usually come with drawers and cabinets, they give you a lot of options for storing your makeup items and accessories.
3. Thanks to their large size, they can hold up large mirrors. As you will learn moving forward in this post, some types of vanity tables can be quite light. They can have trouble holding up large mirrors, due to which the latter has to be installed on the wall instead. But this problem does not exist with traditional vanity makeup tables.

What are some of the downsides of Traditional Vanity Makeup Tables?

Along with the upsides, there are some downsides to these tables as well. For example,

1. They can be quite heavy and difficult to move around. This is due to their design and the material that they are usually made with, i.e., natural wood.
2. They can look dated and old-fashioned in newer homes. Homes that have sleek surfaces and sharp-angled architectural elements aren’t the best places to put a traditional vanity makeup table.

1. Modern vanity tables

Modern vanity tables or commonly known as vanity tables with mirror and lights are the opposite of traditional vanity tables. They feature modern-looking elements, such as sharp and sleek tabletop surfaces and legs, minimalist storage options, and thin, skeletal designs.

These tables also have bright colors instead of the somber brown of natural wood. There are many benefits that these tables gain thanks to their lighter designs, but there are a few aspects that they lose as well.

These tables can be a great fit in newer homes, where their traditional counterparts look old and dated. And, of course, apart from that, there are many other reasons to buy them as well, which we’ve mentioned below.

Why should you buy a Modern Vanity Table for your home?

• They are aesthetic and in a modern way. While traditional and modern tables both share the characteristic of being aesthetic, the latter does it differently (yet just as effectively) as the former.
• They are light and easy to move around. Since these tables don’t have the sort of design that reaches the floor and since they are not heavily set with natural wood, they can be easily moved around when the need arises. The materials used in these types of modern tables typically include wooden boards, steel, etc.
• They can be more comfortable to use. Their lighter design can provide a more generous legroom when being used. While this depends on the exact design that you buy or make, these tables can generally provide more freedom of movement.

If you want to buy one, you should know the proper dimensions of a vanity table that fits your needs. Read our blog on ideal makeup vanity dimensions. 

What are some downsides of Modern Vanity Tables?

• They don’t give as many storage options as other types of vanity tables. Especially when compared to traditional makeup tables, the storage space typically given by modern tables can be quite lacking.
• They are not as tough and hardy. Considering the materials and sleek details that these tables feature, they are not as tough as other types of tables, especially traditional ones.

1. Contemporary vanity tables

Contemporary vanity tables are a blend of traditional tables and modern tables. They bring together the storage capacity of traditional tables and the sleek looks of modern tables. You can get a bit of both.

These tables can be great if you are looking for a table that does not look outdated but also has a few handy storage areas where you can stow away your makeup items and accessories.

Why should you buy a Contemporary Vanity Table?

• They can give you the best of both worlds in terms of looks. One of the biggest reasons to buy these tables is their looks. They give you both the modern sleekness and the old-fashioned curved appearance.
• They come with storage but not too much of it. Many people can have a small number of makeup items and accessories—which can leave the usual amount of storage in a traditional table unused. For these people, a contemporary table can be the ideal choice.
• They are stable and weighty—but not too weighty: While these tables have enough weight to not move around and to adequately support large mirrors, they are not too heavy. They can be moved around more easily as compared to traditional tables.

What are the downsides of buying a contemporary vanity table?

There is not much to worry about when it comes to the downsides of these types of tables. The only one to really give consideration is:

• Their storage options can be sometimes a bit lacking. Many people can opt for contemporary tables due to the storage options they provide as compared to modern vanity tables. However, despite that, since contemporary tables aren’t as storage-centered as traditional ones, the overall space can sometimes be a bit lacking. 

1. Compact vanity tables

Compact vanity tables are characterized by their small size. They are made to be fitted in small spaces and not to take up too much of the room. Usually, these types of tables come with a basic tabletop along with a few drawers and shelves for storage. Their design typically consists of an open space below the tabletop and does not have any cabinets, etc.

These types of vanity tables can be great for people who don’t have many makeup items and accessories in their possession. They can also be great for people who don’t have a lot of space in their room to keep a larger vanity table.

Compact vanity tables have a great many benefits, along with a few understandable and expected downsides. Let’s take a look at those.

Why should you buy a Compact Vanity Table?

Buying a compact vanity table can be a great idea for the following reasons:

They can be affordable and inexpensive. One of the main benefits of buying a small and compact vanity table is that they are affordable. These tables use fewer materials and fittings, and thus they don’t cost as much as modern vanity tables and traditional ones.

They can be a great choice for small spaces. Since they are small, these tables can fit in small spaces. Even if you don’t have a lot of room to place a big vanity table, you can simply buy a smaller one and enjoy the basic functions all you want.

They can be very easy to move around. Being small, another advantage these tables come with is that they can be moved around quite easily. If you ever change your mind and want to change the layout of your room, you can do it easily without calling in extra help.

What are the downsides of a Compact Vanity Table?

The downsides of a compact vanity table are the aspects that you can expect when getting one. For instance,

• They don’t have a lot of tabletop space and storage space: While they are suitable for people with limited items and accessories, they can get insufficient in terms of storage and space if you decide to buy more stuff.
• They can have trouble supporting bigger mirrors on top: In a lot of vanity mirror designs, the mirror is affixed to the table using either an extended arm or brackets at the bottom. For such mirrors, it is necessary for the table to be stable and heavy enough to support all the weight.

1. Floating vanity tables

Last but not least on our list, we’re going to look at floating vanity tables.

Floating vanity table have one simple defining attribute: they don’t have legs. They are not supported on the ground by any means. Instead, they are affixed to the wall.

This design has many benefits, but it also has its fair share of disadvantages as well. In a nutshell, a floating vanity table can be great for people who are set on a specific layout and style for their room, and are not planning on moving the table around. Once fixed, the legless design can be great in terms of aesthetics and comfort.

Why should you buy a Floating Vanity Table?

• They can be very comfortable to use. When your vanity table doesn’t have legs to hold it up, you can simply sidle into the chair in front and use it comfortably. The floating design makes the table very easy to work with.
• They can look incredibly aesthetic. A floating design can inject a touch of elegance and modernity into your room. Contrary to typical and traditional table structures, a floating table simply affixes to the wall, which can be very aesthetic and minimalist.

What are the downsides of a Floating Vanity Table?

The following are some of the cons that you should consider before getting a floating vanity table.

• They are fixed to the wall and cannot be easily moved. Unlike other types of tables, floating vanity tables cannot simply be dragged to a different spot in the room when the need arises. If you have to move a floating table, it requires taking it off the wall, repairing the damage left by it, and then placing it elsewhere.
• They cannot be too large and heavy. Since these types of tables have to be fixed to the wall by one end, they cannot be too large and heavy. They cannot feature too many shelves and drawers, otherwise the design becomes unpractical.

Things to Look for When Buying/Building a Vanity Makeup Table

Now that we’ve discussed the different types of tables that you can buy, we want to point out some other important aspects to keep in mind when you make your purchase.

Below, we’ve mentioned some things to look for when buying or building a vanity makeup table.

1. Material

The material of the table is one of the most important things to keep an eye on. If you pick a strong and sturdy material, you can enjoy your table for a long time.

Here are some of the materials that are usually utilized to make vanity makeup tables.

• Natural wood
• MDF
• Steel
• Glass
• Marble

Glass, marble, and steel are not used to make tables completely on their own. Rather, they are used for smaller details in the design.

The primary materials typically used for vanity makeup tables (for things like the tabletop and table legs, etc.) are natural wood and MDF.

Natural wood can be expensive, but it is hardy, durable, and visually appealing. It can last long and give your room a natural aura.

MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), on the other hand, is a manufactured material. It is cheaper than natural wood and easy to clean, but it is not as durable.

You can pick from these two options as the primary building material based on your budget.

Moving on, the secondary materials that we mentioned are:

• Glass: Can be used for the tabletop to add a touch of style. Glass can be easy to clean, and it can look great, but it comes with the price of fragility.
• Steel: Can be used for the table legs and for components like shelves. It is easy to maintain but it can dampen the aesthetics of the table.
• Marble: Can be used sparingly for the tabletop and for inlays for aesthetic purposes. Marble is heavy, which is why it cannot be used too much, but it can add a unique touch of style to the overall table.

1. Size and weight

You should consider the size and weight of your vanity makeup table according to your needs and requirements. The bigger the size, the heavier and more cumbersome the table becomes to manage.

If you have enough storage and working space on the table in a smaller size, picking a bigger one just for the looks can be impractical. It can take up more space than you like and also become difficult to move.

For someone who has a lot of things to store and use simultaneously, a bigger table is necessary. This decision—of sacrificing size for comfort and sacrificing comfort/portability for more room and space—depends on your requirements. You should carefully deliberate on it before making your purchase.

1. Mirror and lighting

The mirror that accompanies the vanity table is also something you should pay attention to. You should carefully check whether the mirror meets your requirements and preferences or not.

There are different types of mirrors that you can find with vanity tables. Some common types of mirrors include:

• Extended arm mirrors
• Circular mirrors
• Magnifying mirrors
• Tri-fold mirrors

And so on.

Lighting is also an important component to consider when getting a makeup vanity table. It is important for the mirror to have some lighting options around it so that it can be used even in dark and dim settings.

Final Thoughts

And with that, we’re going to wrap this guide up.

Vanity makeup tables are an important piece of furniture for any home. They can help you put your makeup on and do your styling easily. However, the same sort of vanity table doesn’t work for everyone else, and that is why there are so many types available.

In this guide, we’ve looked at five different types of vanity tables that you can find in the market nowadays. They all have their pros and cons, which we’ve explored in detail.

Other than the design, of course, there are other things that have to be considered before a table is purchased. They include the material, size and weight, and mirror/lighting. We have elaborated on all of these elements in detail as well. We hope you had fun reading and we hope that you now have a thorough idea of the table that you want to buy.