Organizing a Vanity for Small Spaces

This post is brought to you by Pottery Barn Dorm and Her Campus Media.

It finally happened! We moved in to our new apartment last weekend! I’ve had an itch to move for about a year now. I’m finishing up my last semester in school this fall, and wanted to have a fresh start some place new and really make it a home, as opposed to a thrown-together college pad.

I lived in the dorms during my freshman year of college. It was a great experience that I encourage everyone to try at least once, but after a year, I was ready for a more reserved living space. I moved to an off-campus apartment (hardly off campus… literally across the street from it!) and had been there since Sophomore year. A lot of people from my school commute, since it tends to be cheaper to live off campus than on. Plus, you get a little extra leeway in terms of furniture and decorating since you have more room to play.

It should be obvious that when I move into a new space, my beauty station is a priority. Even though we have more space, my vanity and desk area still have to fit in the living room since it’s only a one bedroom. That means I have to be crafty in terms of maximizing the space without sacrificing my style. Luckily, I’ve had experience in this area with both the dorms and my first apartment.

Tips on Organizing a Vanity for Small Spaces:

1. Choose a Simple Desk

Although it might be tempting to choose a large desk with a lot of built in storage, these can be hard to place– and can becoming overpowering– in small rooms. If you have the option, pick out a small, simple desk that you’ll be able to customize with tabletop accessories and storage to fit your needs.

2. Use the Wall

Because my vanity doubles as my desk, surface space is precious. Mounting things like cubbies, mirrors, and shelves to the wall can help declutter the area. If you’re afraid of nailing things into the wall, use strong command strips– they’re a renter’s best friend in decorating!

3. Roll In the Carts

I don’t know what I’d do without rolling carts. They’re an easy way to store makeup, beauty tools, or even office supplies when storage is limited. The wheels make them easy to move around your home if you need to change up your space, or move to another room to accommodate a roommate. Short sizes are great to roll right under your desk.

4. Compartmentalize

While lining up all your lipsticks and nail polishes in rows may look pretty, it can get cluttered quickly. Use trays, dishes, and organizers to store your beauty products so that they have a designated place to stay neat, but are never far from reach. Choose decorative storage that expresses your style, so that they also work as decoration!

5. Do Double Duty with Office Supplies

A lot of office supplies/accessories can double up to provide homes for your beauty products. A pen cup can be transformed into a brush holder, and a magazine rack can hold your favorite eyeshadow palettes. Just get a little creative and you’ll find a place for everything using things you may already have!

6. Lighted Mirror

Lastly, just a general vanity must-have in my opinion, is a lighted mirror. Whether you can’t turn on the light because your roommate is still sleeping, or you just need extra brightness when applying your makeup in the morning, lighted mirrors will illuminate your face so that you can see exactly what you’re doing. Choose one with LED lights, which look closest to natural light so that you know how your makeup will look once you step outside.

Like most college girls, I often look to Pottery Barn for decorating and storage inspiration. They’ve got so many cute home essentials to choose from, and it’s easy to put together a whole room from their collections. Besides vanity organization and decor, they have a lot of great picks for the rest of your space too– like colorful, printed bedding and pillows to closet storage. Check out more inspiration from their blog, The Stylehouse.