Dressing table is
It's hard to imagine an apartment that doesn't have a large mirror. And if it is also complemented by a spacious bedside table with convenient drawers in which you can store useful little things.
The content of the article
What is a dressing table?
Based on the history of this invention, a dressing table is a piece of furniture that can be described as a dressing table with a large mirror. If it is three-part, with movable side flaps, then we are talking about a trellis; you can see this in the photo.
About 100 years ago, these types of furniture had a clear division according to purpose.
- The single-mirror version was a table for washing. The ladies' hygienic arsenal was supposed to be stored in his closets.
- Three movable mirrors are an ideal assistant when creating complex hairstyles, as they allow you to see yourself from all sides. And his place was allocated in the bedroom, from which a true lady always came out fully armed. Such furniture has less junk, but it is much more spacious, because the arsenal of decorations was also supposed to be stored in a trellis.
Now the boundaries have been erased. Both Varieties of dressing tables fit perfectly into the bedroom, the living room, and even the hallway. The latter option has even become preferable to others, especially in cramped city apartments.
Main features of furniture
The French name of the English invention translates as “high mirror”. The minimum that can be seen in it is your waist-high reflection.Thanks to this, you can not only apply makeup, but also appreciate the harmony of its combination with your outfit and jewelry.
Previously, the dressing table was supposed to be placed closer to the natural source of light - the window. Now you can forget about this rule, since good furniture is equipped with lighting.
A beautiful cosmetic table complements the bedroom, decorates it, and gives the interior a touch of completeness. But above all, it is designed to make self-care easier.
They say about this:
- a spacious tabletop on which you can lay out everything you need;
- a large mirror, the angle of which can often be adjusted;
- scams in which a woman hides her arsenal from prying eyes.
For additional convenience, free space is always left in front of the mirror under the tabletop. Well, shouldn't the lady sit sideways? It wouldn’t be very convenient to look at your display like that.
Varieties
The combination of a mirror with a small table is an old solution, and therefore so variable. What is meant is not diversity, but rather a variety of shapes and sizes, but rather functional features:
- The medium-sized mirror itself can be attached to the stand with hinges, which allows you to change its angle.
- On the side shelves it is convenient to store frequently used or simply dear little things. If we are talking about a trellis, it is sometimes supplemented with niches behind the side doors - practical and aesthetically pleasing, because the contents of the shelves are hidden from prying eyes.
- Lamps around the perimeter of the mirror make applying makeup more convenient and eliminate the need to place furniture near the window.
The classic bedside table is also not the only option:
- Massive models are equipped with two rows of drawers, occasionally supplemented by a drawer in the center of the tabletop.
- Compact options - one.
- Corner models come to the rescue if there is very little usable space in the room. Despite their apparent compactness, they are roomy and comfortable.
If a young beauty is growing up in the house, then a miniature children's dressing table will fit perfectly into her room.
Material of manufacture
Wood is typical for classic furniture. Solid wood products are distinguished by their prices, confirming that luxury cannot be cheap. But legends can be made about the durability of such a table - it is the wooden dressing table that receives restoration in order to later complement the sophistication of the classical style.
REFERENCE. Dark chestnut, walnut and oak look solid, but require space because they visually make the room smaller, even despite the opposite properties of the mirror. For small rooms, linden, hornbeam and other types of light wood are better suited.
Laminated chipboards (LDSP) are an inexpensive material and therefore the most widespread. The coating can imitate wood or plastic, which makes laminated chipboard suitable for making dressing tables of various styles. But there is little chance of inheriting furniture. Plastic is most often used in the manufacture of children's options. This is a fragile material, unable to withstand heavy loads. A lightweight table is unable to hold a large mirror, but it is easy to care for. The cost of such a dressing table is equal to its durability. Metal is an original and reliable solution. There are only two disadvantages: weight and rapid oxidation under the influence of moisture.And if you don’t need to focus on the first, the second serves as an additional reason to carefully close all jars of cosmetics. The cost of a metal dressing table is close to that of wooden options.
Glass conquers the hearts of beauties with its visual weightlessness. It is fragile and easily dirty, but for a small bedroom you can’t think of a better dressing table.
Dimensions
The most convenient are considered to be large dressing tables with a mirror, the area of which is larger than the tabletop. It visually increases the space, but for small rooms it is better to choose other models.
There are transformable dressing tables with a mirror built into the hinged lid - despite their compactness, they also combine the functions of a dressing table and a desk. There are options of different sizes with an independent mirror that can be hung on the wall.
Modern solutions
The classic dressing table says with all its appearance - “for women.” This is emphasized by the pretentiousness, smooth curves, carved legs and elegance of the fittings. Its functionality is further confirmation of this. The only things that can be added to the classics are lighting and side shelves.
REFERENCE. A dressing table can fit into the interior only if it matches it.
Antique or semi-antique furniture is appropriate if classics predominate in the room. Or eclecticism and kitsch - trends that combine the incongruous.
Strict forms, the absence of unnecessary details and smooth curves are characteristic of constructivism and minimalism. A characteristic feature is the use of plastic, glass and metal. The combination of these materials is also typical for high-tech and futurism. In the first case, the severity of the lines is maintained, while in the second, the contours of the dressing table can be of the most incredible shapes.
How to choose furniture
Fitting a dressing table harmoniously into the space is not as easy a task as it seems at first glance. If you have to choose from many options, then you need to take into account such subtleties as:
- dimensions;
- style;
- materials;
- functionality.
With the first point, it would seem that everything is simple: the reference point to free space will not let you down. But if a dressing table is a key element in the design of a small bedroom, then it can be large. On the contrary, oversized furniture is not entirely appropriate in a large bedroom that plays with minimalism.
REFERENCE. The size of the dressing table is inextricably linked with style. And he, in turn, comes with materials.
Wood is appropriate always and everywhere. The appearance of the dressing table depends entirely on the method of processing the solid wood, so naturalness is not alien to both classics and futurism. It is acceptable to complement it with metal and glass, but no plastic, which adds a touch of cheapness to exquisite forms.
Plastic dressing tables are good in a child's bedroom - bright and unusual, they attract attention and teach the young beauty to take care of herself and maintain order. Special strength and durability are not required from such furniture, but it will be difficult to stain it with children's cosmetics.
NOTE. As for functionality, for the most part this requirement applies to the mirror. If there are no large mirrors in the house that allow you to look around at full height, the issue can be solved with the help of a dressing table. The same applies to furniture that is planned to be placed in the hallway. After all, before leaving the apartment, you should make sure that everything is in order with your outfit, and doing this with the help of a small mirror will be difficult.
There is no universal advice regarding the number of drawers and additional shelves, because each lady has an individual approach to personal care.My only wish is that there should be just enough dryer so that you don’t have to clutter up the countertop with cosmetics, thereby reducing the viewing angle.