Want to make your own DIY vanity mirror with lights? Building a vanity with a lighted mirror will give you a special place to get ready for the day and pamper yourself. The great news is that it’s easier than you think to assemble your own vanity with a lighted mirror.
Plan Your Design
The first step in your DIY adventure is to plan your design.
- What type of makeup station do you want? Do you want a big vanity with lots of drawers and storage space? Or would you prefer a simple desk and to store your makeup elsewhere?
- How much space do you have? Do you have room for an oversized vanity, or will you need to build something more compact?
- Do you have any furniture that you could repurpose for this project?
- What type of mirror style do you prefer?
- What is your budget?
If you’re looking for something modern and simple, you may prefer a setup like this:
Vanity mirror with lights and a desk that every woman should have
Or maybe you prefer something a little more traditional, like this vanity:
How to build a DIY makeup vanity with lights – desk with drawers
If you need more storage, a mirror and vanity design like this one may meet your needs:
Vanity mirror with desk & light
Once you have an idea of what you want, you can create a solid plan and start gathering your supplies. You can also find plans for a vanity mirror and desk that you like and follow the steps to complete the project.
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Gather Your Supplies and Start Building Your DIY Vanity Mirror with Lights
To build your DIY vanity mirror with lights, you’ll need just a few components:
- A mirror
- Lights
- A desk
- Tools for the job
If your plans include other custom features or components, then you’ll need to add these to your list as well.
Finding the Right Mirror
Finding the right vanity mirror can be tricky just because you have so many options. However, if you already have a mirror that you can repurpose for this project, you’re one step ahead.
If not, you’ll need to decide on what type of mirror you want (if you haven’t already) and where you want to buy it from.
Rectangular Mirror
Rectangular mirrors are the classic choice for makeup vanities. They sit nicely on top of desks and traditional vanities, and they’re typically the most affordable option.
Leaders in Makeup Storage
Some vanity mirrors have built-in frames.
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Other vanity mirrors have a frameless or borderless design.
The great news is that both styles work well as lighted mirrors.
Here are some mirrors that we love in this style:
Scalloped Mirror
Scalloped mirrors are an elegant option for vanities. These mirrors can also sit on top of a desk, but they tend to be more expensive than rectangular mirrors.
Some scalloped mirrors have ornate details that can transform the room.
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Others have a simpler design that can add a modern touch to your space.
We love these scalloped mirrors:
- 37” x 24” scallop arched mirror from Walmart
- 38” x 22” Amelia arch mirror from Wayfair
- 24” x 36” arched mirror from Walmart
- Tabitha arc mirror from Urban Outfitters
Round Mirror
Round mirrors look beautiful over a vanity, especially when they’re lighted. However, just keep in mind that you’ll need to hang this mirror above your makeup station.
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This round mirror sits just above the vanity, which also gives you more tabletop space.
Learn How to Turn a Desk into a Makeup Table with Light-Up Vanity Mirror
Here, part of the mirror hangs behind the vanity to give you a clear view.
Round mirrors come in all sizes, so they’re also a great option for smaller spaces.
Here are some of our favorite round mirrors:
- 30” x 30” minimalist round mirror from Walmart
- Valancia metal frame round mirror from Wayfair
- Gennessee round wall mirror from Wayfair
Once you’ve found a mirror you love, it’s time to start thinking about your lights.
Which Lights Should You Choose?
If you’re going the DIY route for your lighted mirror, you have two main options:
- LED strip lights
- Stick-on light bulbs
Both have advantages and drawbacks to consider.
Stick-on Light Bulbs
Stick-on bulbs are easy to install and will help you create that Hollywood makeup mirror that so many people love. You can grab a pack of 10 bulbs on Amazon for dirt cheap.
What’s great about these bulbs is that they’re easy to install and really affordable. Many of these lights also have a dimming feature, so you can adjust the brightness with the touch of a button.
The biggest issue with these bulbs is that the wires can be a pain to hide, and replacing a dead bulb may not be easy or even possible.
LED Strip Lights
LED strip lights are another way to light up your vanity mirror in a quick, DIY-friendly way. These light strips have adhesives on the back, so you can simply stick them onto the edges of your mirror.
LED strip lights are very affordable and last a long time. For example, you can grab a 13-foot string of lights with 240 LEDs for less than $20.
The biggest drawback with LED strip lights is that they may not be bright enough for your needs.
Another option is to make the entire mirror from scratch. Going this route will be much more complicated and time-consuming but if you have the space and skills, you can pull it off. This isn’t really a project for beginners, so keep this in mind.
Here’s a great tutorial on how to make your own vanity mirror step by step:
Makeup Vanity Mirror with Lights DIY Step by Step
Should You Buy a Lighted Mirror Instead?
If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point, you may be asking yourself whether you should just buy a lighted mirror?
If you have the budget, you can save yourself some time by purchasing a mirror with built-in lights.
Here are a few we love:
- LUXFURNI mirror with 18 LED bulbs from Amazon
- Mulan rectangle LED mirror from Wayfair
- BEAUTME mirror from Walmart
Your Vanity Desk – DIY, Thrift, Upcycle or Buy New?
Now that you have the supplies for your DIY vanity mirror with lights sorted out, it’s time to think about your desk or makeup station.
If you have one already, then you’re ready to start putting everything together. If not, then consider your options for sourcing your desk.
You can build your own from scratch and set your mirror on the desktop.
DIY Vanity Desk
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You can upcycle a desk or vanity that you find in a thrift shop or yard sale. Just sand and stain or paint your desk and place your lighted mirror on top.
How to Repurpose an old desk into a Makeup Table/Vanity Table
Desk into make up vanity
Or you can assemble your own desk. This is the option that many people go with because you can create a custom makeup station without having to build something from scratch.
Here’s an example of this:
Leaders in Makeup Storage
While this looks like a complicated setup, it’s something that just about anyone can put together without skill and without expensive tools.
Here’s what you would need to create something similar:
- 2 x 5-drawer organizers
- Desktop to sit on top of the organizers (you can use butcher block or repurpose an old tabletop)
- Contact paper for your desktop (if you want to make it match your organizer or just to dress it up)
Once you’ve assembled your two drawer organizers, all you have to do is set your desktop on top. Make sure there’s space for your chair between your organizers.
To complete your vanity, just add your lighted mirror and whatever other finishing touches you may want.
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3 Tips to Organize Your DIY Vanity Mirror with Lights
Now that your vanity and mirror are assembled, it’s time to get things organized. Here are some tips:
1. Store Like Items Together
One of the best ways to keep your vanity organized is to store like-items together. Whether you have a vanity with a ton of drawers or you’re using a desktop makeup organizer, keeping like-items together will make your life easier and help eliminate clutter from your vanity.
2. Eliminate Visual Clutter
If your vanity has drawers, take advantage of them. Store as many of your items away as you can to eliminate visual clutter.
If you have a big makeup collection, consider assembling your own vanity with drawer organizers to make sure you have enough space to keep everything out of sight.
3. Keep Your Most Used Items Within Reach
To help keep your vanity organized, try to store as many of your most-used items as possible within reach. This way, you’re not digging around in different drawers to find what you need.
Building your own vanity with a lighted mirror is a rewarding project and you’ll appreciate having a functional, comfortable place to get ready for the day.
