DIY Apartment Decorating: How to Build Your Own Vanity Table

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DIY Apartment Decorating: How to Build Your Own Vanity Table

Staff Writer · Jul 27, 2010

A vanity table is a great place for a woman to unwind and take time to herself while making herself beautiful. Unfortunately, vanity tables are often expensive and difficult to find. Building your own vanity table will permit you to make one of the perfect size and color that will best fit your needs.

Measure the Space

Measure the area, including the width, height and depth, of the space in which you intend to put your vanity table. If you want to be able to tuck your legs under the table you should also measure for height. To do so, sit comfortably in a chair and measure the distance to the floor, adding several inches, but no more than five, for room to maneuver your legs.

Scour Your Home

Check your house to see if there is a piece of furniture changeable into a vanity table. With a few modifications, an old dresser or small table could serve the purpose. Painting and attaching a skirt can turn this piece of furniture into a vanity table. First, paint the table a color that you like. To make a skirt, purchase a matching piece of fabric and hem both ends. If you are able to sew, gathering the top of the fabric into pleats will add a creative and soft touch. Affix the skirt to the table The next step is to attach or hang a mirror over the surface. If a mirror has a flat base such as a frame, attaching it to the table can be done using wood glue or drilling holes and using screws to adjoin the two pieces.

Build Your Perfect Table

If you do not have a piece of furniture you can change into a vanity table, you can easily build your own using a few pieces of wood. To build your own table, you will need posts of equal length for the legs and wood for the surface and sides of the table. Ask the specialists at a home decorating store for advice on the best type of wood to purchase and for help cutting the wood to your measurements.

To construct the table, insert screws through the inside of the table posts to one of the shorter sides using a drill. Repeat this for the other side so that you have a table leg attached to a longer and shorter (i.e. length and width) length of wood. Then, attach another leg, then another side until the base is complete. Stand the base upright and check that it is not wobbly. Next, you must attach the surface to the base. To do so, drill screws from the surface into the base. Although this will create visible holes, you can cover these using grommets, paint over them or top with a piece of glass. Another option is to use wood glue to create the table, but this will not be as stable. With the table built, sand the pieces to remove any snags or threat of splinters.

When building the table, remember that it needs to be stable and smooth. Adding drawers to your table is another way to make it uniquely yours, but requires much more constructive skill. It may be best to purchase a freestanding drawer unit and place it underneath the table for storage.

As it is essentially a small table and a mirror, building your own vanity table is not a difficult task. Doing so, however, requires planning. Do not be afraid to ask the experts for recommendations on tools. Most of all, as it will be frequently used, make the table your own!

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