Dressing room ideas: how to create your dream dressing room on any budget

Here at YourHomeStyle, we think there’s something really exciting about decorating a dressing room. A low traffic space that’s unlikely to be seen by guests, a dressing room provides you with the perfect place to experiment with the colours, prints and textures that you might not be bold enough to display throughout the rest of the house, so it’s an ideal opportunity to get creative.

The good news? Although the mention of a dressing room might conjure up images of rows and rows of designer accessories, the reality is that you don’t actually need to have an entire spare room to create your very own stylish dressing area. Whether your style is glamorous, vintage or anything in between, we’ve got tips that can help you transform a tired corner or bland room into an impressive vanity space… Keep reading to discover our pick of the best dressing room ideas!

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Dressing room ideas - get inspired!

Dressing room colour ideas

The colour palette you choose for your dressing room will largely depend on the size and shape of the space you’re working with. There are, however, a few ways to decide which tones would best suit your space, based on which vibe you want to create.

If you want your space to have a zen, sanctuary-like feel, for example, surrounding yourself with colours and textures that echo those found in the natural world will help to make your space feel snug and relaxing. Light earth tones, such as Farrow and Ball’s Skimming Stone will make your space feel cosy whilst keeping it light and airy, while shades from the darker side of the spectrum, such as Dulux’s Brave Ground, will have a warming, cocooning effect.

• Farrow & Ball alternatives: colour dupes from Dulux, Crown and Homebase

If you’re working with a small space, bright white walls will help to maximise the feeling of space and light, but this isn’t your only option. Dark décor – think jewel tones or deep berry hues – will make a small space feel luxurious and sophisticated.

Dressing room chair

When choosing your dressing room chair comfort is key, but this doesn't mean you need to compromise on style!

Velvet cocktail chairs are perfect for adding a vintage touch to a dressing room, while traditional swivel chairs are stylish yet practical.

For a more laid-back look, opt for a simple Scandi-style woven chair or a stool.

Dressing room mirrors

When it comes to the mirrors you choose for your dressing room, it's important that you think about the purpose of the mirror. Is it purely decorative? Does it need to be full length so you can see your outfit? Do you fancy built-in lighting for makeup application? When you've thought through these factors, you can then start thinking about what style of mirror would best suit your space.

Traditional, Hollywood-style mirrors with integrated lighting are great for giving your space a glamorous feel, while simple round or wavy mirrors are ideal if you want your dressing room to have a more modern, sleek feel.

• How to make a sunburst mirror

It's always worth having a full length mirror somewhere in your dressing room, even if it's attached to the back of a door. If you can't hang mirrors up, why not opt for a large leaning one? Urban Outfitters and Etsy sell some great quirky options.

Dressing room feature wall

One of the best things about decorating a dressing room is the fact that you really can go as bold as you want. Unlike other areas in your home, it’s unlikely to be a high traffic area and it won’t be somewhere that you sleep, so you really can take it as an opportunity to express your personal style and make brave choices when it comes to colour, pattern and accessories.

• How to make a macramé wall hanging

If you do want to dip your toe into maximalist decor without the commitment of a full room makeover, however, a feature wall is a great way to go.

Use wallpaper, wall décor or interesting wall hangings to transform a bland wall into something inspiring, or even paint motifs – wall arches are timeless – onto the wall to give your space some wow factor. Alternatively, panelling is great for giving a dressing room a sense of period character – you can panel half of the wall or the whole thing before adding a splash of colour!

• How to wallpaper like an expert
• Where should you put your feature wall?
• How to wallpaper a feature wall

Decorative hooks

Although decorative hooks are small and inexpensive, they can make a huge difference to a dressing room scheme.

Not only do they serve a practical purpose and provide you with somewhere to hang clothes, hats and jewellery, but they’re also ideal for adding a bit of interest to a lacklustre wall or bland corner.

Dressing room accessories

Any room will benefit from a touch of texture, but this is especially true when it comes to a dressing room. Where you can, try adding soft furnishings like to make the space feel as luxurious as possible, even if you’ve gone with a minimalist scheme. Think cushions, throw blankets and rugs underfoot.

Elsewhere, seagrass storage baskets are great for adding a boho vibe while providing somewhere to keep clutter at bay.

Glass or clear plastic storage trays are great for storing makeup, sunglasses and jewellery, but also make a great feature on top of a vanity unit. Add plenty of houseplants to finish the look!

Small dressing room ideas

Short on space? Don’t fret! Much like when you’re building a cloffice or a boot room, you don’t actually need to have an entire spare room to create your very own dressing room. You can easily turn unused corner of your bedroom into a sleek vanity area by installing some floating shelves and a wall mounted drawer unit.

If you're in rented accommodation or unable to install wall mounted furniture, keep an eye out for space-saving dressing room tables that fit snugly against a wall or inside a cupboard. Try adding a stylish room divider for extra privacy, or use a rug to clearly distinguish your dressing room zone from the rest of your space.

• Seven tips for decorating with rugs

Dressing mirrors, modular wardrobe units and corner dressing tables with built in storage (pictured below) also make a great addition to small-space dressing rooms.

If you're on a budget, you can always create a bespoke, floating dressing table by cutting some MDF board to size and attaching it to the wall with brackets.

Dressing room storage ideas

Although dressing rooms should always have an element of wow factor, the key to any walk-in wardrobe space is practicality. Ideally, you should have a separate storage solution for each category of item that you’ll be storing – shoes, clothes, accessories and makeup – to keep your dressing room looking tidy at all times.

Storage benches and ottomans make a great addition to a dressing room area because they’re multifunctional, providing you with somewhere to sit as well as somewhere to keep clutter at bay. We also love styling storage trunks in a dressing room because they provide you with somewhere to keep out of season clothes, shoes and accessories, double up as handy side tables, and add a splash of colour or pattern to your space.

Ladder shelves are equally great in a dressing room because they're so versatile. Thanks to their leaning design you can move them around the room as you wish, swapping out the accessories that you display each season to keep your space looking fresh.

Hidden mirror storage also works especially well in a compact or awkwardly-shaped dressing room - it'll save on space and keep your dressing room looking organised at all times!

• Five of the best wavy mirrors

In need of some more style inspiration? Check out our pink bedroom ideas, our grey living room guide, or take a look at these amazing real reader homes.