How to Build a Makeup Vanity

Building your makeup vanity stand can be basic and straightforward with the right guidelines. In general, some makeup vanity styles can be built in a DIY fashion by almost anyone. As long as you have the right tools and items, along with the correct list of steps to follow, you can build your makeup vanity with ease and add that bit of flair to your room you’ve been looking for.

What’s great about making your own vanity table and mirror is that you can customize the size and color to your preferences. It might be hard to know where to start when you want to put together your makeup vanity, but with the information below you can smoothly learn the steps. 

How to Build a Makeup Vanity: Surface & Drawers

The bottom part of a makeup vanity acts as the foundation for the entire makeup vanity. The bottom part includes the drawers and the surface top; together these determine the height, width, and overall size of the entire makeup vanity.

Materials List

Listed below are the main items you will need to complete this part of the how-to guide:

• Large rectangular shelf board (closet shelf or a desk surface top)
• Drawer Letterpress Cubes
• E6000 Craft Adhesive Glue (or any other strong wood glue)
• Screwdriver
• Paint (optional)
• Paintbrush or paint scroll brush (optional)
• Heavy items (e.g. kettlebells, big books, weighty blocks)

Now that you have everything you need, let’s get into building the makeup vanity.

Prepping to Build the Surface & Drawers 

Here is the step-by-step guideline for you to prepare for making the drawers and desk surface top for your makeup vanity:

1. Gather all the items: As listed above, gather the materials you need for the project and find a clean and spacious area to work in.
2. Decide what size you want your vanity: There will be two columns of the Drawer Letterpress Cubes. You can have as many cubes as you want per column depending on how much drawer space you need, and how high you want the vanity table to be.
3. If needed, assemble the drawers: If the Drawer Letterpress cubes need assembling, then assemble them according to the instructions given in the package.
4. Paint the drawers and shelf (optional): Paint each of the Drawer Letterpress Cubes and the shelf to your desired color, letting them dry fully.

Now that you have all of the prep work down, let’s move on to building this part of the makeup vanity.

Building the Makeup Vanity Surface & Drawers

Here is the step-by-step guideline for building the drawers and desk surface top for your makeup vanity:

1. Stack the Drawer Letterpress Cubes: Make two columns of drawers with the same height.
2. Position the two columns next to each other: Make sure there is enough space in the middle for the closet shelf or desk shelf to fit into.
3. Keep chair and leg space in mind: As you position the columns and closet shelf or desk top, keep in mind that there needs to be enough space between the two columns and under the shelf for your chair and leg space.
4. Apply the glue: Apply a generous amount of the E6000 glue on the top surface of each Drawer Letterpress Cube column. Make sure the corners and center of the top surfaces have enough glue.
5. Place the pieces together: Slowly and carefully place the shelf on top of the two Drawer Letterpress Cube columns. You must make sure it is even, flat, and properly aligned.
6. Press the shelf onto the drawer cubes: Place heavy items on either end of the shelf, right above the Drawer Letterpress Cube columns. Let the glue dry and strengthen with sufficient time.

Now you have built the desk surface and drawers for your makeup vanity. If you wish, you can stop here and use a tabletop makeup vanity mirror. If you would like to also build the vanity mirror and add a lights feature, keep reading for the step-by-step guide.

How to Build a Makeup Vanity: Mirror & Lights

The mirror of a makeup vanity is usually its most prominent feature. You can glam up any vanity mirrors with lights. Keep reading to learn how to add a mirror, and lights, to your DIY makeup vanity.

Materials List

Listed below are the main items you will need to complete this part of the how-to guide:

• Plywood (half an inch thick)
• Woodcutting saw
• Paintbrush or paint scroll
• Paint
• 6-Bulb Vanity Light Bars (three or four total)
• Corner braces 
• Nails
• Wire nails
• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Electric drill
• Bevelled Frameless Wall Mirror
• Light bulbs
• Extension cords
• Wire cutting scissors
• E6000 Craft Adhesive glue (or other strong wood glue)
• Heavy items (e.g. toolbox, big books, weighty blocks)

Now that you know what you need to start, let’s get into building this part of the makeup vanity.

Prepping to Build the Makeup Vanity Mirror & Lights

Here is the step-by-step guideline for you to prepare to build the mirror and lights for your vanity:

1. Gather all the items: As listed above, gather the materials you need for the project and find a clean and spacious area to work in.
2. Cut the plywood (or get it cut at the store): You will need it cut into five pieces. The rough measurements are one 44.5” x 30” piece (the base), two 44.5” x 4” pieces (the longer side pieces), and two 31” x 4” pieces (the shorter side pieces).
3. Paint the plywood pieces: Ideally, you want this to be the same color as your vanity drawers and vanity shelf, but you can use your preferred color. Let the paint fully dry.

Now that the prep work is done, let’s move on to the real work.

Building the Makeup Vanity Mirror & Lights

Here is the step-by-step guideline for you to build the mirror and lights for your makeup vanity:

1. Attach the base and side pieces: Use corner braces and screws, one on each end, to put together the longer side plywood pieces to the base plywood piece. You want the side pieces to be standing up on either side of the base when the base is laying flat.
2. Attach the remaining pieces: Wire nails, attach the shorter side pieces to the remaining ends of the base plywood. 
3. Assemble the vanity light bars: Unbox the vanity light bars, and follow the instructions given on the package so the lights are evenly spaced out and attached to their bars. Screw the vanity light plate bars on the sides of the plywood base.
4. Attach the vanity light bars to the base plywood: You can have three vanity light bars, for each side and the top. You want to attach the vanity light bars on the surface of the base plywood that is clear (NOT the side with the side plywood pieces attached).
5. Use your electric drill to create holes in the light bars: The light bars should have holes for you to drill through. Caution: Make sure nothing from the light bulb parts is plugged in or powered on during this step.

Now that we’re onto the makeup vanity lights, let’s explain how to wire them properly.

Wiring the Makeup Vanity Lights

Here is the step-by-step guideline for you to wire the lights for your makeup vanity:

1. Cut the electric socket off of your extension cord: You need the copper wires of the cut-up extension cord to be exposed.
2. Carefully cut and peel the rubber part of the cord into a “Y” shape: There should be two exposed copper wires on either end of the extension cord. Be careful not to cut the copper wires themselves.
3. Attach the extension cord pieces to the light bar: Each extension cord piece must be connected to each light bar. If your extension cord is not long enough, you might need multiple extension cords.
4. String the wires through the drilled holes: The cut-up cords can go through the built-in holes of the light bar.
5. Connect all the wires: Twisted together the multiple wires into one wire. Use a wire connector to feel a “click”, and then you will know it is connected.

Now that you’ve built everything and wired your mirror and lights, we can finish up the makeup vanity.

Finishing Up the Makeup Vanity Mirror & Lights

1. Test out each light bar: Place one light bulb on each light bar. If one light bulb turns on for a light bar, that means the entire light bar should work.
2. Glue on the mirror to the plywood surface: This ensures it is evenly framed by the light bars. Use heavy items to evenly weigh down the mirror so it sticks and dries well. Leave it overnight.
3. Attach all the light bulbs: Every light bar should be filled up.
4. Carefully place the mirror with lights on top of your vanity desk: The side plywood pieces should keep the mirror and lights upright. It is safe to have your vanity mirror with light against a wall.

Now you have your finished makeup vanity and can have an easier time getting ready for school, work, everyday life, and special events.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, the basic step-by-step guide to making your makeup vanity at home. Building a vanity can be time-consuming and somewhat frustrating, so be easy on yourself if you take on this challenge. 

Remember to be prepared with the necessary items and equipment, and have patience, and you can be successful in making your makeup vanity.