Vanity Table Guide A to Z

A vanity table is a versatile piece of furniture that consists of a base, drawers and table legs. This shapely piece of furniture goes by many names, such as a makeup desk, dressing table, makeup table and beauty station. With so many styles, shapes, sizes and finishes, OC Furniture has created this vanity table guide to answer the most frequently asked questions and common terminology used.

Styles:

Vanity tables are available in traditional, modern, contemporary and transitional.

Traditional features wood carving details, curved lines and warm to dark shades.
Contemporary vanities feature clean lines, odd shapes and tapered legs.
Modern consists of a clean design with clean straight lines and bold colors.

Shapes:

A vanity is available in three distinct shapes:

Four-legged vanity table. Provides support for a base and 1 to 5 drawers.
Two-legged support base and is further stabilized with a stack of drawers.
Large vanities feature two stacks of drawers as support, connected by one or two shelves.

Colors:

Makeup tables are available in a range of finishes, such as white, black, walnut, oak, cherry, red, green and gray.

Traditional vanities are typically available in darker finishes, such as cherry, oak and walnut.
Transitionally styled makeup desks are popular in a variety finishes, including white, black, cherry, red, gray, red and green.
Modern dressing tables come in bold finishes like white, black and cappuccino.

Vanity Mirrors:

Vanity mirrors are available in four popular shapes which are rectangular, oval, tri-fold and wall-mounted.

Rectangular mirrors are attached to the table top and swivel.
Oval-shaped mirrors are attached to the surface top and are able to swivel.
Tri-fold mirrors are three elongated mirrors that are next to each other and are attached with hinges to enable a variety of angled positions.
Wall-mounted mirrors are placed above the vanity on the wall and can be further enhanced with lighting and other decorative accents.

Sizes:

Vanities come in a multitude of sizes that range from 30” to 52” wide and are commonly 30” in height.

Frequently Used Vanity Table Terminology:

Tapered Legs:

The base of the legs are thin and gradually become wider, creating a bold look.

Queen Anne Legs:

Characterized by cabriole legs which are shaped, curved legs.

Pedestal Base:

One cabinet featuring 1-stack of drawers.

Double Pedestal Base:

Two cabinets that support a table top feature 2-stacks of drawers.

Types of Wood

Solid wood are exposed pieces of furniture that consist of either a plank of wood or single board which is glued together to create a strong bond.
Engineered wood is manufactured by binding wood strands and fibers with adhesives to form composite material.
Plywood is another type of engineered wood that is commonly 3 to 5 thin slices of wood glued together to form a strong bond.
Veneer wood is made from solid wood that has been precisely split into thin layers. The layers of wood are bonded together to create a flat surface. Veneers are resistant to moisture, warping, splitting and fading.

Benches or Stools:

Benches range from 15” to 17” in height. They can have a solid seat or padded seat top and is supported by either four legs or two pedestals.
Stools are between 15” to 17” high. A stool is usually round or square and comes cushioned and upholstered in a fabric or microfiber. Typically supported by four lets or a single pedestal base.

Requires Assembly:

All the vanities that are sold on OC Furniture are disassembled and required some assembly.
Most vanities require the four legs to be attached to the base of the vanity. The mirror is also easily attached to the table top.
Benches require the legs to be attached.
Hardware is provided with each vanity for proper tightening and sturdiness.