The Elegance of Bedroom Vanities

When you think of a bedroom vanity set, it might conjure images of Marie Antoinette in her sitting room, putting on makeup before a royal ball. Or perhaps the thought of owning a bedroom vanity will simply make you immensely jealous of those who don't get ready each morning in front of a foggy bathroom mirror or a car's rear view mirror.

Vanities in your Bedroom Design
Bedroom design is tricky. You don't want to clutter the room, but you do want to make it as comfortable and livable as possible. You want to be able to wake up in the morning, or come home at night, and not feel as though there is nowhere in your bedroom to do anything but sleep. Your interior design should be fashioned to make your bedroom an oasis among the trappings of typical home life. A bedroom vanity is a great way to help you achieve this.

Bedroom Vanity Styles
There are many options for a bedroom vanity, ranging from a small piece that fits in the corner to the centerpiece for the room to hybrid furniture pieces that combine the functions of a dresser with a vanity. The traditional vanity set is a small table with a mirror attached, and a small stool or bench that fits nicely below the vanity table. They tend to come in matching sets, but you can also buy individual pieces.

Vanities come in a wide variety of styles to fit your interior design needs. The materials range from wooden and hand-painted to wrought iron and brass, and everything between. Vanity styles can range from Ms. Antoinette's extravagant 18th Century look to something very simple, practical, and subdued.

Consider Your Options
A bedroom vanity can provide a refined elegance and vintage flare. It offers both practicality and grace—the two things you should look to receive in any furniture purchase. When buying a vanity set, sit in the various stools, see that the table height fits your needs, consider fabrics, and make sure the cushion is comfortable enough. If shopping online, make proper measurements of height (comparing stool to table and comparing set size to the wall). Similarly, make sure the mirror is large enough and that there are enough drawers to fit everything you need so that the tabletop does not become a clutter. These are all important considerations, as a piece like this will get a lot of use. You might as well consider all options so that those small inconveniences (the main drawer is too shallow, perhaps) are avoided.

Dressing it Up
Finally, think about how you want to decorate this piece of furniture. Fresh cut flowers are always a nice touch—and they'll make you feel like a movie star—but they require frequent replenishment, while a plant will not only provide oxygen, but will warm the entire room. Another option is to surround yourself with family by placing picture frames on the vanity table. However you dress your bedroom vanity up, it should feel like its own little home within a home. Once it has been set up in your bedroom, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.