One of my favourite pieces of furniture is my “beauty trolley” from Cox & Cox. I love the industrial style and general aesthetic, not to mention the fact it’s very easy to locate any one of my 158 nude-y pink lipsticks and all my make-up looks pretty. It probably won’t surprise many of you to know that as well as being my favourite it is also the least practical when it comes to Madame Mabel. She likes to try and haul herself up on it despite my best efforts of prevention, every morning my cosmetics collection takes some kind of nose dive onto the floor and as well as the state of the carpet, I am also concerned about the safety aspect. A one year old doesn’t understand the sharp edges that are associated with metal, or that not everything is designed as a small person climbing frame.
I have no choice but to move my beloved beauty trolley into the loft until Mabel is old enough for it not to be a potential hazard. The makes me very sad indeed. And I could do with some suggestions on what I could purchase to put in its place.
Ideally I want a mini dressing table, I’m open to suggestions in terms of style and also perhaps putting various bits and bobs together to “create” a kind of dressing table-esque something or other. Ikea do a shelf with draws – I’m thinking perhaps I could use something like this, perhaps with additional floating shelving above?
The only actual *small* dressing table I’ve discovered is this oak veneer number from Made.com I quite like the design, I’m just not a fan of the veneer. Does anyone know if you can paint veneer?! It would look much better in grey……
I’m looking for something 80cm in length and no more than 40cm in depth to fit comfortably in the space available, I’ve spied lots of lovely pieces on Pinterest only to be disappointed that they are a) not available anymore b) are not available in the UK
Perhaps I need to think completely outside of the box and um…..make something? (Ahem. Says the least crafty/DIY inclined person ever.)
Do you have a teeny dressing table or small space solution? Any ideas or products you could recommend?
I bet it is gutting to have to pack your trolley away. Have you looked at west elm for a dressing table? They have this mini mid century desk that comes in white which is very nice and is in the sale http://www.westelm.co.uk/mid-century-mini-desk-white-h832
HI Stacey! This is lovely but too much depth unfortunately (anymore than 40cm and it’ll look odd coming too much “into” the room) such a pain! but thanks for looking x
If you’d rather not send it packing to the loft, I could, ahem, look after it for you for a while?! x
Why am I not at all surprised by this offer?
🙂 x
This is lovely but quite expensive http://www.sweetpeaandwillow.com/designer-furniture/eichholtz-furniture/eichholtz-furniture/eichholtz-equinox-desk-and-stool
You would be able to paint it with chalk based paint like Annie Sloan as that paints everything! If you don’t need to actually sit at it how about a nice ladder shelf http://www.marksandspencer.com/step-ladder-shelving-unit/p/p22317825 plus M&S often do 20% off over bank holidays. You could make your own quite easily (she says!!). Ikea sell loads of different legs in the office section and then just get one of their tops or make your own from painted wood. Or get some more of the boxes like you use for your makeup and screw two together lengthways to create legs and then add a top and a few nice shelves above xx
I do like a ladder shelf! Ideally I would like to sit at it – I’ve seen the legs from IKEA etc and all the hacks/ideas, I could spend ages on pinterest! x
I am looking for something similar myself so eager to see comments!
How about the Marleybone writing desk in Pewter from Swoon editions?
http://www.swooneditions.com/tables/desks/marylebone-grey-modern-country-desk
Hi Josie! Ooh not head of this website before, looks like a lovely desk x
If you’re looking for something inexpensive to fill this time until you can bring the trolley back down how about the IKEA rast chest of drawers at £20?
There are loads of amazing IKEA hacks available online and on Pinterest making it really easy to personalise to your style, some new hardware and paint and you’re set.
http://m.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/art/75305709/
It’s slightly smaller than your space but the drawers should make it Mabel proof!
Melody Maison do some lovely dressing tables! This one is grey and there is a sale at the moment.. http://www.melodymaison.co.uk/grey-dressing-table-mirror-stool.html
I’ve not heard of this store either Charlotte, thanks for the recommendation. This is a perfect depth – so many dressing tables seem to be that bit too big x
Oh no! Can’t you put a guard round it like you do with fires…?! Ha, sorry not helpful… but sad it has to move. I bought a really cheap yucky white melamine dressing table with a mirror from The Range and painted it with Autentico chalk paint – it is amazing what a difference a lick of paint does & makes you feel virtuous by saving lots of pennies!
Oh I do like that Made dressing table. I ended up having one made for me when i had a small space to fit one into.
If you really like the Made one, I can recommend painting it with Annie Sloan chalk paints. Its seriously easy, no prepping of surfaces and you can thicken up the paint by leaving it out in the air or thin it down with water. They do a lovely grey called French Linen.
I am not in the slightest bit ‘crafty’ I try but I’m not very good but Annie Sloan is fool proof and dries really quick. You can wax it or leave it ‘chalky’.
I’m afraid to say it but my now 5 year old lives at my dressing table! Somewhere between the age of 1 and 2 I did have to teach her that she doesn’t go in the drawers where the makeup is stored and thankfully she has been very good about it over the years. She and I share one drawer with her hair brush and hair things in so she knows she can go in there, and leave my drawers alone. My son however, nearly 3, was found the other day behind said dressing table smearing expensive facecream all over the back of it! It seems it is not just daughters and dressing tables that are an issue!! You might find that if you give her a little safe box of her own with pretty little girl bracelets or hair clips etc in that lives on your dressing table, she might leave your lipsticks alone.
Hmm I think you’ve convinced me I need a dressing table too!
What about this one http://m.maisonsdumonde.com/UK/en/produits/fiche/dressing-table-josphine-110213.htm (I’m currently quite addicted to buying everything from Maison Du Monde!)
Laura I am obsessed with that store too! Yet to order anything (worried I’ll just buy everything….) x
good timing!! Since doing out our spare room in Nov I have been searching for the perfect “thing” to put my make up/hair bits on! They are currently nicely organised on the floor!! Upsets my OCD no end regardless of how neat they are packed into the ikea drawer organisers! I have toyed with the shelf idea but not practical as drilling into walls that are rented is a gamble, I don’t have room for a proper big table as such, and I adore the trolley you have got but it doesn’t work at all with the decor! When we move it is on my wish list though for forever house! I saw a nice rustic looking console type thing but nothing seems quite right! Far too fussy! I’ll keep searching I guess, lots of wood shops are on my list as I do like a nice bit of wood lol! Good luck!! X
Oh no disaster that is a lovely make up trolley. These little ones and their climbing. Sofia has started climbing out ladder shelves, luckily they are now screwed to the wall but still no climbing frame! I would suggest looking at console tables, much thinner than a dressing table. Good luck with the hunt. X
I’m in love with Loaf at the mo. Something like this might work with some shelves above…
http://loaf.com/products/exhibition-console-table
Or this…
http://loaf.com/products/hector-console-table
I’m lusting after this at the moment… It’ll be too big for your room though…
http://loaf.com/products/thelma-dressing-table
Good luck with the search!
LOVE that Hector table Jane!!! It’s a bit too wide though 🙁
Maybe it could go in another room?! x