How to Make Vanity Tables

Bedroom vanities are a small oasis in a hectic world, and a way to nurture your feminine soul. They can be practical too, providing a place to display your bottles of perfumes, photos, or small objets d'art.

A classic vanity consists of an oval mirror and an unimposing table. It has a center section that dips in slightly, allowing you to get a better look at yourself. Other designs have drawers for storing cosmetics, brushes, and lingerie.

You can make a vanity of your own from a plain wood table. It should be at least 2-feet deep and 3-feet wide. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Find a small wooden table about the height of a desk. Search garage sales, antique stores, flea markets and unpainted furniture stores. If you love shabby chic, look for a table with distressed-paint.

2

Stain or paint the table if you don't like the exisiting surface. Paint it in feminine shades, such as pale pink and butter yellow.

3

Consider adding decals in faded floral patterns, such as English Cabbage Rose. Nothing too bold, since a vanity should be a retreat from anything that's even remotely overwhelming.

Many vanities are perfectly elegant in dark cherry and mahogany wood stains, but the heaviness of the dark color is usually offset by Queen Anne curves and gentle arches created through the skill of a carpenter. The choice of color for your finish is yours, of course.

4

Decide if you want to add skirting. A vanity skirt is an excellent idea if you need extra storage.

Skirting in toile or floral print in a faded color would be perfect. To begin, measure the sides of the table, excluding the back, which will be against the wall. Also measure the distance between the top of the table and the floor.

If you want to gather the fabric, be sure to add a few extra inches to your measurements.

5

The skirting should be cut in half, and hems should be sewn on all four sides of each piece. If you prefer tape, it's fine because tape will prevent visible seamwork entirely.

6

Attach the skirting to the vanity table frame with upholstery tacks or use velcro strips. If you plan to gather the skirt, use tacks. Gathering will require you to measure out the distance between each tack ahead of time. To do this, subtract the width of the fabric from the actual length it must cover. Take that number and divide it by the number of spaces you've decided to have between tacks. The remainder is the amount of material you'll need between each tack.