After copious research–considering the overall aesthetic, durability, and functionality–of makeup vanities, our editorial team found that the West Elm Mid-Century Vanity Desk Set is the best on the market. The modern design is sleek and sophisticated, never feeling fussy or throwing off the balance of your space. Not to mention the expert craftsmanship used to create this piece means it will last for years to come. Our editors love the large mirror, which sits at the perfect height for universal appeal. There is also ample storage with five drawers, all of which have different depths to store a wide range of products. Of course, the durable and sustainably-sourced wood means this vanity will last for years and years to come. Price at time of publish: $1,198 Price at time of publish: $232 Price at time of publish: $364 Price at time of publish: $534 Price at time of publish: $399 Price at time of publish: $314 Price at time of publish: $400 Price at time of publish: $600 Price at time of publish: $210 Price at time of publish: $270 Price at time of publish: $120 Price at time of publish: $1,179 Price at time of publish: $1,369
Pricepoint
We asked Rice if she thinks expensive means better when making a vanity purchase, and she was adamant when she said that this concept is the opposite of true. “If you purchase a new vanity for under $100, we can’t guarantee that it won’t fall apart in your next move. However, you can always find quality, long-lasting vanities that won’t break the bank with a little digging,” she said. The best course of action is to determine your starting budget and go to home furnishing stores you resonate with in terms of aesthetics. These stores include trend-forward brands like West Elm or CB2, along with antique shops and Facebook Marketplace.
Dimensions
The dimensions of your vanity are not one-size-fits-all. You’ll have to account for the size of the space you live in and plan to set up your new cosmetic station. If you live in a small New York City apartment, a model like the Pottery Barn Get Ready Beauty Station is more optimal than the LitFad Luxurious Vanity Dressing Table. It’s all about working with the square footing of your home to determine how large or small your vanity should be.
Materials
Most vanities on the market are made from wood. While the material leans toward several design aesthetics, there are a few downsides. The most notable is that different species and finishes might stain if a product spills. Rice advises that when shopping for a vanity, you ensure that the materials used are finished in a way that makes them less porous. There are other options on the market, too, like mirror, stone, or glass. These, however, are easy to break and might show dirt much more quickly. No matter what material your vanity is constructed from, try to maintain it with a good clean every few weeks.
Durability
Durability is a concept that plays off of your vanity’s construction, particularly the materials used to create it. More hearty and stable materials like wood are less fragile or likely to break when compared to something like glass. That being said, most options on the market will utilize several different materials and include design reinforcements to make sure the overall construction is up to standards. A perfect example is the Povision Modern Makeup Vanity Set, which uses materials like stone, wood, and metal to make this vanity withstand wear and tear.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Samantha Parsons has been a freelance writer for The Spruce since 2021, with additional bylines in publications like Real Simple, The/Thirty, and The Quality Edit. She is constantly speaking with experts, like Carlie Rice from Havenly, and testing dozens of products each month to make sure she recommends the best on the market. For this article, she spent hours researching the top picks on the market to ensure the above selections were of high quality and design. When she isn’t writing, Samantha works for a skincare brand and stays up-to-date on the latest news and releases across industries.
