Written by Megan Vazana
Ever since I got into makeup I have been waiting for the opportunity to set up a proper vanity.
My storage situation throughout high school and college was constantly changing. I had some on my desk, in drawers, on counters, in makeup bags, but my collection never had a home. So when I moved into my first apartment I knew it was about time to build a Vanity, THE Vanity.
It can be hard to find enough room especially in a small apartment, but I am proud to say I finally found a solution!!
With an empty wall and a trip to IKEA, I was able to assemble the Vanity of my dreams and I’m going to show you how! If you’re low on space and don’t want to spend a small fortune, then take the afternoon off and build this!
Pinterest is a great place to start.
After you've established where you want to put your vanity, (all you need is an empty wall!) it's time to decide what you want it to look like. We've gathered some inspo for you on our Pinterest board.
I put my vanity in my second bedroom/office. I decided on a shelf which only comes out 11" inches, has drawers and set it at bar height. This way you can either sit or stand.
Order EKBY/ALEX Shelf with Drawers from IKEA
Price- $48.99
The lighting and mirror
Now that you have your table mounted to the wall its time to tackle the most important part of your vanity. Vanity mirrors can run you a few hundred dollars, but if you are crafty like me you can Do-It-Yourself for much less. This giant mirror from Ikea is a huge bang for your buck, and it has space behind the mirror to run a cord for the light!
Order GODMORGON Mirror from IKEA
Price- $34.99
Order LEDSJO LED Wall Lamp from IKEA
Price- $49.99
Now, this next part may seem intimidating but if I can do it then so can you. The vanity light is meant to be hardwired into the wall but I wanted to plug it in. This is actually a lot simpler than you’d think! All you need is a youtube tutorial on how to turn a hardwired light into a plug-in, the correct cord ($7 at Home Depot), and optional: a smart plug. I can actually walk anywhere in my apartment and say “Alexa, turn vanity on” and “pop!” the lights go on.
Order Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini from Amazon
Price- $24.99
Additional Storage
The hard part is over!! If you need additional storage for your makeup you can grab some drawers or the custom cabinet that I opted for! IKEA has great affordable options so I recommend finding a storage option that works best for your makeup collection!
Order ALEX Drawer Unit 9 Drawers from IKEA
Price- $159.00
Order BILLY Bookcase from IKEA
Price- $49.00
Order MORLIDEN Glassdoor from IKEA
Price- $35.00
Pull up a chair from Target, cover your vanity in makeup, and tell Alexa to “Turn on my Vanity”! I hope you have as much fun putting this together as I did and love your new dedicated makeup space. Here are some photos of my completed setup!
Don't have much space?
Now, if you are like me, circa last year, with no space to store your makeup, I have the solution for you! it's called the Subtl Beauty Stack.
It's a compact, customizable makeup stack that fits all your basic makeup essentials in the palm of your hand. Learn more about how the Subtl Beauty makeup stack works to see if this is a fit for you!