Nothing beats leaving the house without a last-minute fumble — no lost earrings, no missing lipstick, no tangled necklaces.
If that sounds like a dream, you’re in the right place. Organising your dressing table isn’t about spending hours cleaning — it’s about setting it up once, with smart systems that actually work.
Here’s how to organise your dressing table in 4 simple steps — and turn it into a stylish, stress-free zone you’ll love every day.
Simple Steps For Organised Dressing Table With Storage
1. Review Your Vanity Layout – Map Out Your Storage Before You Start
Before you touch anything on your vanity dressing table, know what you are working with. Why? Simply to streamline your beauty corner from the start.
Take note of what storage options the makeup table has to get started. Start by answering the following questions:
- How many drawers does your vanity table with storage have?
- Are there any hidden compartments?
- Does it feature open or closed shelves?
- How large is the tabletop?
This preparatory step helps you understand and later optimise both function and style from the start.
In this stage, your understanding of your table's layout will allow you to optimise both function and style. This quick check helps give you the clarity needed to create a well-organised and clutter-free space tailored to your exact needs.
Step 2: Sort Through Your Beauty Products and Clean Your Vanity
You can't organise around chaos. Start by emptying everything — every drawer, box, and corner of your vanity dressing table.
Sort your items into three piles:
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Dailies: Essentials you use every day.
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Occasionals: Items you use less frequently but still want to keep.
- I Do Not Use Them: Broken, expired, or forgotten items.
Now that everything is laid out, take this opportunity to:
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Wipe down all surfaces — use wood polish for wooden tables and glass cleaner for mirrored tops.
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Vacuum drawers if necessary to remove any dust or debris.
- Add a drawer freshener or a small scented sachet to keep things smelling fresh.
After wiping down the surface, lay down linen to make everything feel more polished before you even put anything back. This step also protects your dressing table drawers from any accidental slip and makes upkeep easier. An effortless step to keep your makeup station looking pristine.
This marks the cleaning phase — time to remove anything you don’t use daily. Empty everything, assess what stays, and streamline your setup, leaving your dressing table organised and your daily essentials easy to access.
Step 3: Clear The Clutter From Vanity Desk By Recycling, Binning, Or Donating
This is where a little tough love is needed. You will be cutting down on your beauty products by going after the “I do not use them” pile.
You can make a better choice by asking these three questions:
- Have I used this in the last 6 months?
- Is this product expired or expiring soon?
- Do I already own something better?
If the answer to any of these is yes, then you can confidently let go of your cosmetics.
Can’t toss that barely-used lipstick? Donate it and other makeup products at a nearby DropPoint or Hygiene Bank locations.
Credit for Donation Image: Hygiene Bank
Helpful tip: Be honest with yourself to get your dressing table storage in order. If you don’t love it, use it, or need it — let it go.
In the clearing phase, you cut out expired, broken, or unused products — keeping only what you genuinely use. It’s a key step to make your vanity lighter, neater, and easier to maintain.
Step 4: Create Functional, Stylish, & Organised Dressing Table
This is the final step and where most people go wrong. They organise for Pinterest, not for real life. But your vanity desk needs to work for you every single day, not just look good once.
Daily-use items (like moisturiser, mascara, and deodorant) should live within easy reach — think top drawers or open shelves.
Occasional-use items (like glitter eyeshadow, spare brushes, and seasonal lipsticks) can be tucked away in hidden compartments or deeper drawers.
Next, group like with like to make finding things effortless:
- Skincare with skincare
- Makeup with makeup
- Jewellery with jewellery
- Hair accessories with hair accessories.
Use trays, dividers, and organisers inside your vanity dressing table drawers and on your tabletop. It will help you to keep small items together. And your space will stay looking polished without much effort.
Use two separate jewellery storage places, one for your regular wear, and other for your valuable jewellery. Store valuables in a velvet box or a pouch and out of sight. If needed, store them in hidden storage compartments.
Layout 1: Organise Dressing Table With Functional Zones
Ease your morning ritual with a vanity blueprint—each cosmetic in its ideal location, with a clear explanation for every storage decision.
Layout 2: Tidy Your Vanity Table With Product Zones
We’ve mapped out the ultimate makeup station—read on to see where to stow each product and the thoughtful logic that keeps your routine flowing.
Quick note on perfumes: Sunlight can break down the ingredients and weaken the scent. Best to keep your perfumes in a drawer or hidden compartment, away from direct light.
What If Your Dressing Table Storage Is Limited?
If your vanity desk with a mirror doesn't offer hidden storage, consider upgrading in the future. Tables with drawers or shelves underneath make it far easier to keep things out of sight compared to floating tables with only a surface. You can look for the following two types of hidden storage in vanity tables.
Don’t want to buy a new vanity table? No problem.
Use a three-shelf trolley or a clear storage box to organise your essentials. Go minimal. Only keep what you truly need. Stick to product zones to keep your vanity organised. Use Layout 2 as your cheat sheet.
Place daily skincare and perfumes on the tabletop. Put face makeup on the top shelf. Lip, eye, and brow products go in the middle. Tools and hair extensions? Bottom shelf — it holds weight better and keeps things stable.
Pro tip: Build in a habit. Every few weeks, do a quick tidy-up to clear out anything creeping back onto the surface. It’ll keep your mornings easy, your dressing table elegant, and your space clutter-free without the drama.
What Is The Best Way To Style Your Dressing Table Top?
Now for the best bit — adding a little everyday beauty.
When it comes to the question of how to style your dressing table, think of it like setting a scene. It needs to be elegant, uncluttered, and effortlessly functional.
Here are a few ideas that work beautifully:
- A velvet jewellery stand to keep your necklaces and rings organised and knot-free.
- A porcelain bowl for everyday essentials like hair ties or earrings, which is stylish and practical.
- A clear acrylic organiser for your daily makeup — so you can glance without hunting through piles.
- A small photo frame or a vase of fresh flowers to add a personal touch.
- A vintage trinket box can hold small jewelry, hairpins, or other tiny treasures.
When it comes to styling your imagination is the only limit — this is your personal space, so make it feel uniquely yours.
Maintenance Tip: After your nightly skincare routine, wipe down the tabletop and place everything back in its designated spot. This small habit helps you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your mornings.
A Dressing Table For Less Stress & More Style
A properly organised vanity desk with a mirror doesn’t just look good — it changes the start of your day.
No more scrabbling for that missing mascara. No more tangled necklaces. Just a smooth, easy start — every morning.
And once you’ve got the right vanity desk (with the storage you need), keeping it tidy feels effortless. The next step is to make your dressing table with storage shine for everyone.
Want a stylish, clutter-free dressing area?
Browse our latest Dressing Table Collection, designed with smart storage and elegant looks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to organise a small dressing table in a bedroom?
Keep only the essentials on the tabletop. Use an organiser for makeup, skincare, daily jewellery, and, if you like, a photo frame or a lamp (if one isn’t built in). Everything else should have a designated space in drawers, shelves, or hidden compartments.
Use clear acrylic trays, porcelain bowls, or velvet jewellery stands to keep items tidy and off the main surface. Brushes can go into a brush holder on an open shelf. If you don't have open shelving, place them in an accessible drawer or neatly on the tabletop. Store expensive jewellery safely in velvet boxes or pouches.
What are the best makeup storage ideas for dressing tables without drawers?
If your vanity has no drawers, opt for tiered organisers, acrylic boxes, or a small shelf unit beside or above the table. Magnetic organisers or wall-mounted baskets can also help keep brushes, palettes, and bottles tidy and accessible.
How can I protect my dressing table surfaces?
Line drawers and shelves with protective liners or buy drawer organiser trays to guard against spills. For the tabletop, use a fabric liner or protective mat — both are easy to clean in case of accidents.
Scented liners are a nice touch to keep your dressing table smelling fresh and inviting. DO not go for trays that extend outwards as they can topple off if accidentally hit.
What’s the best way to store jewellery on a dressing table?
Use a velvet jewellery stand for necklaces and small bowls for earrings and rings. Store precious pieces in velvet boxes or pouches. Remember to clean your jewellery regularly to keep it looking its best.
How do I maintain a tidy dressing table?
Clean and declutter monthly. Store long-term or occasional items out of sight and wipe surfaces down regularly to keep everything neat and polished.
How can I make my dressing table look stylish but functional?
Use practical organisers for makeup and jewellery, and add decorative touches like a small vase or a photo frame.
Showcase a few skincare essentials on open shelves to add personality, and place a stylish lamp on the tabletop for a sophisticated finish. Keep the surface uncluttered to maintain a smart look.
Can I organise my make up dressing table without buying new furniture?
Absolutely. Use drawer dividers, organiser boxes, and acrylic trays to maximise the space you already have.
Should I organise my vanity dressing table by type or frequency of use?
Prioritise frequency of use. Keep daily essentials, like moisturiser, in top drawers or on open shelves, and store occasional items — like glitter eyeshadows — in lower drawers or hidden storage spaces.
What's the best way to organise jewellery on a vanity table?
Use tiered jewellery stands for everyday items and velvet-lined boxes for valuable pieces. Keep earrings and rings in porcelain bowls or dividers to prevent tangling or loss. Store infrequent or sentimental pieces in boxes and in a safe place.
How to arrange dressing table items by frequency of use?
Place daily essentials (like foundation, moisturiser, and lip balm) on the tabletop or in the top drawer. Occasional-use items go in lower drawers or labelled containers. Store backup products and rarely-used items as well as tools out of sight in a box or hidden drawer.