If your current vanity setup consists of makeup perched on your bathroom sink, hair dryer cables trailing across your room or squinting in poor light, it's time for an upgrade.
Having a dedicated space for getting ready isn't just about storage, it's about feeling calm and in control of your routine and you don't need to spend a fortune to achieve it.
Under $200: the smart starter
If you're working with a tight budget or only have limited space, the GRÅFJÄLLET dressing table is the best dedicated vanity worth buying.
For $129.99 / £69 it's basic but effective. At 16.5in / 42cm deep it tucks into corners without taking up a lot of space. It comes in an anthracite color that makes it look more premium than it is, and should complement (even if it doesn't exactly match) most modern rooms. The mirror is built into the frame but you can tilt it to the best angle for you and soft dampeners on the back stop the mirror from making marks on the wall.
The downside of its simplicity is that it only has one, relatively shallow drawer but it's enough to store a full makeup routine's worth of products. If you want to elevate things a little, you can also adapt the drawer with inserts, add the KOMPLEMENT drawer mat ($15 / £5) to give it a softer, more premium feel or use smart boxes on the top of the table. My favourites include the $19.99 / £10 RISATORP basket and divider, and the $4.99 / £4 TJABBIG basket.
You'll then need a chair or stool to sit under the table. IKEA's selection of black or even dark-colored chairs are limited but the height-adjustable RUDSTORP stool fits perfectly, looks the part and is only $44.99 / £30.
For lighting, the $16.99 / £10 TÅGARP combines a floor uplighter and reading lamp to give you extra illumination or opt for the $22.99 / £15 SKURUP Clamp spotlight. It clips to the edge of the table and you can angle it to suit your needs.
And finally, if the single drawer doesn't offer enough storage, a RÅSKOG rolling trolley (which is technically for a kitchen) is worth adding as an extra unit. You can divide the three tiers by category – face, hair, nails and so on – and park it beside the desk when you need it.
$200-$400: the considered setup
The viral vanity setup that's dominated TikTok and Pinterest for years is built from two ALEX drawer units placed 100cm apart, bridged by a KOMPLEMENT pull-out tray and KOMPLEMENT glass shelf across the top.
The result looks like a custom-built setup and costs a fraction of what a bespoke dressing table would, while the ALEX drawers themselves give you far more divided storage than most dedicated vanity tables offer.
Start with the two ALEX units (£70 / $95) placed around 100cm apart. These give the makeshift vanity table its support but also storage.
Next, add a KOMPLEMENT pull-out tray. This tray was technically designed for the inside of a PAX wardrobe but you can screw its brackets directly onto the top of both ALEX units so it bridges the gap between them.
The tray also comes in a range of sizes to fit your space and prices start at $20 / £17.
Finally, lay a KOMPLEMENT glass shelf —again, technically a PAX component — flat across the top of both ALEX units to form your tabletop. Sizes vary and prices start at $30 / £12.
If all of this feels a little overwhelming, IKEA knows how popular this setup is so also offers an online design tool to help you configure these units exactly how you want them.
For hair tool storage, or if you want to save tabletop space, you can mount various products, hair dryers and more on a SKÅDIS pegboard ($19.99 / £15), mounted to the wall above the setup. Alternatively, the large SKÅDIS combination containers ($39.99 / £31) can be used for hair dryers, stylers or other tools. In fact, the entire pegboard wall storage series is huge and highly reconfigurable with various hooks, containers, pots and more so you'll definitely be able to find a layout or combo that suits your setup.
Finish with the HÅRSLINGA floor lamp ($29 / £17). It's narrow enough, with a small enough base, to tuck alongside the table. Even in tight spaces. You can then adjust the height as well as the angle of the bulb on the stand to suit your needs.
$400+: The investment setup
For a serious collection or a fully dedicated beauty space, the PAX and KOMPLEMENT system is the place to start.
PAX is the name of the wardrobe and cabinet frames, all of which can then be configured with components from the KOMPLEMENT range. The setup here is almost endlessly customizable so the vanity world is your oyster.
To give you some inspiration I've listed three potential setups below or you can use IKEA's PAX planner to map out your perfect vanity setup.
All of these can be finished off with a table mirror, like the KARMSUND ($29.99 / £12) surrounded by wall-mounted, dimmable vanity lights like the KABOMBA range ($99 / £65), or the larger MUSIK strip lights ($39.99 / £15).
The Minimalist
- 1 PAX frame
- 2 KOMPLEMENT pull-out shelves (one as the tabletop and one as makeup tray)
- A row of KOMPLEMENT drawers for skincare
- A KOMPLEMENT shelf for perfume bottles and tools
The Collector
- 2 / 3 PAX frames side by side with a mix of KOMPLEMENT drawers (for makeup and skincare sorted by category)
- KOMPLEMENT pull-out trays with felt inserts for jewellery and brushes
- Open shelving for display of perfume bottles, candles etc. The middle section works as the pull-out desktop
The Beauty Room
- PAX frames without doors, set up like an open walk-in-style station with KOMPLEMENT pull-out trays at desktop height
- KOMPLEMENT glass shelves above for display
- KOMPLEMENT drawers below or with end units
The key component in any PAX-based vanity setup is the KOMPLEMENT pull-out shelf fitted inside. It slides out to become a full tabletop when you're getting ready, then disappears flush with the cabinet face when you're done.
The rest of the PAX interior handles everything else: drawers for makeup and skincare, shelves for bigger items with either doors on the outside, or not.
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