How To Make A Makeup Vanity

My DIY makeup vanity is finally finished! And I'm excited to share the tutorial details on how to build this makeup vanity!

Originally, I wanted to do an X leg style vanity, but in one case I started building information technology, the building methods involved started to get a chip too complex and I like to keep things more simple.

So, I modified the plans to practise an X style back instead. I exercise even so love how it turned it out despite all the changes and challenges!

A little dorsum story, ever since I started wearing makeup dorsum in my teen years, I always had a makeup vanity. In fact, I kept the same i for at least 18 years… Here is a photo of it:

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Not the most stylish makeup vanity, but it was very functional! When we were getting fix to move back to Charleston earlier this twelvemonth I decided to sell it since I'd been wanting to build a makeup vanity that was more my style.

Cost of the DIY Makeup Vanity

My new DIY makeup vanity cost me merely about $lxx in building materials! I did splurge on some beautiful, brass drawer pulls which were totally worth information technology and really elevated the look of this makeup vanity! So, total price with building materials ($lxx), paint ($15), and drawer pulls ($24), came to $109 for me!

The final measurements of the DIY makeup vanity are xxx″ tall ten 36″ wide x 17.5″ deep.

How to Build a DIY Makeup Vanity:

*iii/four″ thick plywood may be used instead, simply the panels do have a nicer edge finish and the one linked above only needs one cut! Make sure to option a very straight panel board!

**To keep costs low, I used 2×2 furring strips for the base. Make sure to selection very straight boards and boards with minimum cracks. It makes a huge difference when trying to build and finish the makeup vanity.

ane. Make lumber cuts for the makeup vanity

Click here for the printable build plans of the cutting list and edifice steps!

Apply a miter saw and make the following cuts from the two×2s:

4 pieces @ 14 1/2″
four pieces @ 25″
2 pieces @ 33″

Brand the post-obit cuts from the 1x4s:

one piece @ 34 1/ii″
2 pieces @ 17 1/2″
1 slice @ 16 3/iv″

Utilize a circular saw or tabular array saw and cutting the 6ft panel board in half:

2 pieces @ 36″

*Annotation that the console board'southward actual width is 17.v″ wide, not 18″ wide (which is the nominal size). If using plywood, cut two boards to 17.5″ wide x 36″ long. ***Brand certain to measure your console board's actual width in case it is a slightly different measurement than 17.5″ wide. If that's the instance, suit your cuts for that actual measurement!

2. Build makeup vanity top

Add together 2 pocket holes along one side of each of the 1x4s @ 17 ½″, the 16 ¾″ board, and the 34 ½″ board. And then, add pocket holes on each cease of the 1×4 @ 34 ½″ and on one end of the 16 ¾″ board.

Attach the two 1x4s @ 17 one/2″ on top of one of the 17 1/two″ten 36″console boards along the sides using ane 1/four″ Kreg screws. Then, attach the 34 one/2″ 1×4 piece forth the backside and to the side boards with Kreg screws (as shown in below photo).

Next, add together the 16 3/four″ ane×four board in the middle of the console board using Kreg screws. Annotation, it helps to use a clamp to hold it in place while attaching.

3. Attach drawer slide hardware for DIY makeup vanity

Flip the makeup vanity summit over. It'south time to gather the drawers! This was really my 2d time making drawers. My first time was for my DIY office storage bookcase. Both times I've used these drawer slides which are easier to install compared to other drawer slides I've tried.

When I was get-go learning how to build drawers, I followed this drawer tutorial from Shanty 2 Chic. I used this method again for these drawers with a few modifications that I will share below. Definitely check out their tutorial so what I show below makes sense!

***Follow the drawer slide instructions included with your drawer slides for installation. Below are the steps I took to install my drawers. These steps may vary depending on the drawer slides used***

Showtime, employ a scrap piece of 1x wood that is flush with the outer border and depict a line where the inside edge hits the side wood piece. This line is where yous will line up the drawer slide to every bit shown in the below photo.

Clamp the first outer drawer slide in place on the left side. It helps to plough the vanity on its backside for this part. Then, drill iii pilot holes at the front, middle, and back.

Adhere drawer slides with a drill and the included screws.

Repeat on the other sides so you have all 4 drawer slide outer pieces attached to the makeup vanity. Brand sure the drawer slides are level when attaching!

At present attach the 2nd 17 1/2″ 10 36″ forest panel piece on top of the makeup vanity height to complete the makeup vanity top part. Attach with one 1/4″ wood screws along the sides and back edge. Make certain to drill pilot holes outset!

four. Build two drawer boxes and add drawer faces

Identify the inner drawer box slides on the attached outer box slides. Measure the exact distance between the drawer slide pairs every bit it may vary from my dimensions. Mine was simply about 16″ wide. Cut the 1/4″ thick plywood board to size for your drawer bottom. The depth should be 15 3/4″ deep. So, my last drawer box dimensions were xv three/4″ deep x 16″ wide and that's what I cut my plywood to.

Brand sure your plywood board fits in the drawer opening:

Echo this process for the other drawer opening as the dimensions may vary slightly.

Then, build the drawer box frames to the exact same size equally the plywood drawer bottoms using the 1x3s. Attach drawer box frames together with pocket holes and Kreg screws as shown in the below photograph:

After the drawer box frames are built, adhere the plywood drawer bottoms to them with 3/4″ wood screws (drill pilot holes first).

Finally, add together the drawer box slides to each side with the included screws. To make my drawer sit down properly in the vanity, I had to add a screw to the forepart and centre of the bottom side of the drawer then one to the back, side of the drawer box (shown in the 2nd photo below).

Insert the drawer boxes into the makeup vanity on the slides and ensure they fit properly.

Now it'south fourth dimension to stop off the drawers with the drawer faces. Use a table saw or circular saw and direct edge and trim one/4″ off forth the side of the remaining 1×four so it is iii 1/4″ wide.

And then, mensurate the exact opening of your drawer opening and subtract at least 1/8″. This is to determine the length of your drawer face cut. I don't like huge gaps on my drawer sides, and then I just took i/8″ off, merely you lot can practice up to 1/4″ if you lot want. Cutting drawer box faces to size with three 1/4″ wide wood using a miter saw.

To attach the drawer faces to the frame, I like to use a paint stir stick (or 1/8″ woods shim) to brand sure my gaps are fifty-fifty and the drawer face is where I want it.

So, attach with wood glue and ane i/4″ brad nails and brad nailer. I similar to practise just one nail in the front, then the other nails from the back.

5. Build the base of operations of the DIY makeup vanity

Add pocket holes to one side of the four 2×2 pieces @ 14 1/2″. Don't forget to adjust the depth settings on your Kreg Jig for the thicker wood!

Assemble the ii sides of your DIY makeup vanity with woods glue and 2 one/2″ Kreg screws as shown in the below photograph with two 25″ 2x2s every bit the sides and 2 14 i/2″ pieces as the pinnacle and lesser supports. Make sure to attach your bottom lath 6″ up from the bottom of the two 25″ boards (shown in the second photo below).

Repeat for the other side.

Adjacent, adhere the vanity base frame side to the bottom of the makeup vanity top using wood glue and ii″ wood screws. Make certain to drill pilot holes start. Repeat on the other side.

And then, add pocket holes to the sides of the two 33″ 2×2 pieces.

Add one 33″ board along the top back of the makeup vanity bottom with forest glue and 2″ screws. Then, add 2 ½″ Kreg screws to that same board to connect it to the side legs.

Attach the other 33″ lath with Kreg screws so it aligns with the bottom side boards that are 6″ up from the ground.

Yay! The structural part of the makeup vanity is now congenital. It'due south time to add together the Ten-style back! Make the following angled cuts from the remaining two×2 boards:

36″ from long bespeak to short indicate with 22.5 degree angles
xviii″ from long point to long point with one angle at 22.5 caste bending and the other angle at 45 degrees
18 1/2″ from long point to long point with 1 angle at 22.v degree angle and the other angle at 45 degrees

See the beneath photo showing how to assemble the Ten-fashion dorsum. Employ wood glue to attach everything together.

Secure the sides of the vanity to the X frame with 2″ brad nails from the sides. Allow glue to dry for 30 minutes.

Your makeup vanity build is complete! Yay!

5. Prep for finishing and paint or stain makeup vanity

If yous are painting your makeup vanity, become alee and fill whatever boom holes or gaps in with a lightweight spackle. If you are staining the vanity, you can use forest filler or leave as is for a more rustic look.

Then, sand the vanity where needed and wipe clean. And stop it off with paint or stain! If painting, make sure to prime the wood commencement.

I chose to paint my slice in Windstorm by HGTV home for Sherwin Williams. I LOVE the color, it's the perfect soft grayness color! I did a satin sheen so it will be more wipeable if makeup or lotion gets on the surface.

Finally, add your drawer pull hardware! I used these gorgeous brass drawer pulls. And so relish!

I hung my DIY circular woods mirror above the vanity and I love the combo of the two together! Also, I lined the drawers with this pretty drawer liner.

I'm so happy my DIY makeup vanity is finished! Now I don't have to sit on the floor and practice my hair and makeup anymore! Despite the challenges I faced during building, it was totally worth it!

What do you lot remember?! I promise this tutorial on how to build a makeup vanity has been helpful! I'd honey to meet your version, tag me on Instagram or ship me a photo if you build it!

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