Classy…
I love the look of fancy vanities and dressing tables, but truth be told I prefer to park my booty on the floor in my office upstairs (aka Tabs’ room). There’s a big mirror propped up against an old desk beside which I keep my brushes and the products I’m currently using.
Comfy…
Do you have a favorite place to do your makeup? Is it in the bathroom? Bedroom? Or on the train to work? 🙂
Here’s an idea for simple, affordable makeup storage perfectly suited for bedroom floors…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Are you gonna submit your Gwen Stafani look in the Gwen Stefani Makeup Challenge (deadline Mon., March 29)? The winner will go home with all 5 Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties fragrances (autographed by Gwen!). See here for the full details.
I still miss the bathroom at our former apartment. It was HUGE and the mirror was something awesome. It had those lights around it (which we have now too) … I think the plus was that the counter space was wide and could hold a lot of my … ehm … stuff! 😀
…now I do it in our middle bedroom (kinda like our book / crafts / sports / Nina’s clothes room. I appropriated a HUGE computer desk and have all my little cabinets/drawers with my make up on top.
Ive set up a lighted mirror and a desk lamp so that I have better lighting. I do my make up at 545 am during work days and its still dark out most of the time!!!
Aww, I love that your clothes have their own room. Do Linus and Anja hang out in there too?
Oh its not that I have tons of clothes … its just our house is an old house and the closets are TINY!!! Hubs got the closet in our room and I got the one in the middle room. The closet in the back room houses our cold weather stuff and other junk!
Anja loves my saucer chair thats in the middle room … Linus loves laying on jeans and sweatpants LOL!!!
I actually just bought a fancy vanity for my bedroom because I’m tired of sitting on my bedroom floor!
.-= Lizzie’s last blog post… CHUBSTAAA: @nhunhat Not much. But I DO expect a tad bit of perfection put into it 😛 =-.
I wear glasses so I don’t like doing my make up at vanity tables or bathroom counters because I have to lean in to have a good look at what I’m actually doing. I like mirrors flat against a surface with nothing in front, and that happens to be in my brother’s room 🙂
I have to stand in my bathroom to do my makeup, no sitting. It’s not ideal. There is no natural light in there (neither of our bathrooms has windows!?!?!), which isn’t great either.
I am submitting my Gwen look in the next couple days Karen I’m excited!
.-= Kelly’s last blog post… MAC Give Me Liberty Of London Blue India Nail Lacquer Swatches & Review =-.
My side of the bathroom. I have everything organized just soo. The lighting is perfect and I can get right up in the mirror. I even have a small iPod speaker so I can listen to music as I get ready :o) Perfection!
I love my vanity in my bedroom for daily use. But when I do my makeup away from home, I love sitting on the floor too. Totally comfy.
I also like to do may makeup in very low light, I look better that way!
.-= Stef’s last blog post… we heart Kevyn Aucoin lipstick =-.
I love your vanity too! So jealous.
I do mine in the gym’s locker room most days. There are some comfy little ottomans in front of a big mirror, with a little ledge to set all your stuff. It’s not glamorous, but the light is good.
Karen, I would love to see some shots of your entire makeup collection. Where the heck do you put all the products you receive? Do you ever use anything up? I actually have a MAC eyeshadow that must be 10+ years old. It’s from when they had screw-tops. I know you’re supposed to throw things away, but let’s be real…that stuff ain’t cheap. 😉
.-= Amber’s last blog post… Springing =-.
I remember the old screw top e/s containers! I’m pretty sure I’ve had my espresso in that container since it’s been my brow color for pretty much over 10 yrs!
I have a couple MAC screw tops, too — Brule and Print!
Okay, now I don’t feel so bad! Mine is Haux. It just sort of fell out of rotation. I’ve been trying to work it back in.
.-= Amber’s last blog post… Springing =-.
I do it in my itty bitty bathroom, I don’t even know how somebody managed to construct a bathroom as tiny as mine…but I ain’t complaining!
I would like,though, a fancy vanity, where I could stack my perfumes, and make up, and it would have a big lovely frame on the mirror…ah, dreams!
Don’t forget the awesome lighting. That’s key!
I want a nice vanity too! Right now I do my makeup in the bathroom. It has pretty good lighting, and 2 mirrors, one is good when i want to get really close and not lean all the way over the counter. Lol one is good for far-away, the other for close-ups 😛
One thing I really like about the bathroom is that I have easy access to water in case I need to clean up mistakes or my fingers!
I do it in my bathroom – it’s the first time I ever had a master bath so it’s like my own little room! I would love a vanity talbe – that’s my other dream. Then again I would love a Kimora Lee Simmons sized closet to have my vanity table inside.
i love to do it standing in my bedroom where i have a huge vintage mirror
i have great lighting in my bedroom so its really ideal
however on most days i have to make do with the train and its jerky movements and yucky lighting – it has however made me a pro at applying liquid liner in less than perfect conditions lol
Girl, you can do liquid liner on the TRAIN?
You are my hero!!
I “think” i would love a fancy vanity…the thought of it seems so girly! But I just do my makeup in the bathroom; has better lighting, since there’s like 6 light bulbs used! Right outside my bathroom are some built-in storage cabinets that we keep all of our “toiletry” items in…I have a drawer just for my makeup, so it makes reaching for my things pretty easy.
Oooh, gotta love good lighting. 🙂
I do it 😉 on the couch. Next to my big, big balcony window because of the daylight. I cannot do make-up in front of the mirror, I need a small handheld mirror.
These days I am moving and I have no idea where to put my stash – the new bath has daylight and some free space, but I guess I will do it the same: A big cupborad in the Living-room in front of the balcony windows. Our whole living room ist full with make-up and beauty stuff that I receive or I use… Not really nice.
.-= Andreea’s last blog post… L’ARTISAN PARFUMEUR Nuit de Tuberéuse =-.
Hi Andreea,
Where are you moving to?
Oh, I am moving just right over the street in a bigger apartment with my SO 😉 still stucked in Germany 🙂
.-= Andreea’s last blog post… Umzug und neue Redaktionsadresse =-.
I have to do mine in the bathroom since my boyfriend took over my desk in the main room of our apartment for his computers. He works as a web designer so his computers need more space than my makeup (or so he thinks). I loved it right there cause the window is in front of it so I would get natural light, which I can’t get where my makeup collection got banished to. I hate it, the light is wonky in there, and there isn’t enough space, especially when the cat sits on the counter cause she can’t be without me.
I must not forget my Gwen inspired look. Hopefully after my last exam today I can sit down and play around with stuff!
Yeah, don’t forget!! 🙂
Good luck on your last exam… reward yourself with a little trip to the mall, maybe!
I rewarded myself with a cupcake!
I have my IKEA-created vanity in my bedroom and I looooove it!
Idea WOOT! Remember the drawers I got a couple of weeks ago? I STILL haven’t put them together.
Karen! put that shit together! lol!
No kidding! There’s stuff piling up in epic proportions… one of these days you’ll see me on that show, “Hoarders.”
lol, I doubt it! that show makes we wanna get off the couch and clean my house!
oh, and you should try what I did for the Ikea drawers – bribe your hubby to put them together! cupcakes worked for me, lol 🙂
I have an old secretary/writing desk (the kind with the pull-down writing surface) that I’ve converted to a makeup desk! I love it! It has tons of drawers and sits right next to a window where I can get good light (when the weather is cooperating)!
I also saw a drool-worthy old vanity (front and side mirrors!) for sale at a “yard” sale in SF last weekend, but didn’t have the $750 or the car space to spare! 😛
Oooh that wounds really pretty! I like furniture with untold stories. 😀
i ususally do mine in my bathroom, or on the floor in front of my window with a propped up mirror. wherever it is, it’s always got to be in direct sunlight 🙂
It’s amazing how much lighting makes a difference, huh?
Hi Karen,
I do my make up in my bedroom, in front of the window with a mirror in my left hand. I’m nearsighted so I ha ve to put it veeeeery close of my eyes. An during doing my make up, I have to play ball with my dog, and try to avoid the cat from jumping into my make up stuff!
Hi Poupoune,
That sounds like a very complicated set up!
Sometimes my cat Tabs tries to get up in the mix… I use treats to bribe him away, ha ha!
I am also nearsighted and I need to hold the mirror right in front of my face. I see only eyes, or cheeks, or lips, so when I take the bigger mirror sometimes I recognize too late the colours are not perfectly working together *lol*
So I reduced my stash now to stuff that is mostly brown and fits altogether with the two NARS blushes I always use. Boring, boring, but S A F E.
.-= Andreea’s last blog post… Umzug und neue Redaktionsadresse =-.
I usually do my make up infront of my computer or on the floor. My bathroom has absolutely no space to hold ANY of my make up because all it is, is a sink & a toilet. My room is too small for a vanity too but I’d need a light up, magnified mirror to want one anyhow.
Hmm, come to think of it, I have put on makeup in front of the computer, too!
I can apply my makeup anywhere as long as I’m standing up. I don’t know why, but my makeup always comes out wonky if I’m sitting down. I usually prefer to put my makeup on in the bathroom because it has the best lighting 🙂
This is so funny… I think I’m the opposite. I used to apply makeup standing up, but I haven’t done it in over ten years. I might try just for fun!
Right now i do my makeup in our small shower room where my mum has set up all my makeup. That was so nice of her. However, we’re going to be switching rooms this year so then I get her larger room which has this vintage vanity and everything! It’s going to be awesome!!
.-= Karen B’s last blog post… Forever 21 Twist =-.
How sweet if your mum to do that! 🙂
I bet it’s going to be nice having a bigger room.
Too true. Especially because I’m often in my room playing piano, working for school, etc while both her and my brother spend most of their time in the living room.
That vanity is going to be sooooo sweet. I’ll have to take a picture of course when it’s finished 😉
.-= Karen B’s last blog post… Forever 21 Twist =-.
I used to do my makeup in front of a little coffee table (from ikea) where my mirror is hang on the wall. But since I moved, my table is not by the window anymore. Now I have to do it on my desk, which is annoying, because I store my makeup on that little coffee table. So I think I should invest in a lit mirror… that should allow me to do my makeup anywhere.
Although, when I move again, I’m probably gonna invest in a vanity… because I’ve always wanted one =D.
.-= Rica’s last blog post… Icy Look Book – page 1 =-.
I usually just do mine in my room – the lighting’s terrible, but it’s the same everywhere in the house at six in the morning: dark and artificial -_- If I’m doing something that really needs to be exact, like liquid eyeliner, I go in the bathroom where there’s more light.
That setup in the first picture doesn’t look bad – someday when I’m livin’ it up in a giant Victorian mansion, I’ll be doing my makeup there. It could happen. (Okay, probably not. But a girl can dream!)
.-= Rebecca’s last blog post… Almay Smart Shade Blush: review and swatches =-.
LOL, I wouldn’t mind a Victorian mansion. It would have to be one that’s we’ll insulated, though, with a kick-ass heating/cooling system.
I do it in our first floor bathroom, its the only room with good lighting…and Im guilty of sometimes doing it in my car on my way to work…but only at the red light! yikes!!
Oooh girl!! You know that’s a dangerous habit!
The only time I’ll apply makeup in the car is if someone else is driving… then again I should probably not do that. It’s a miracle I haven’t poked my eye out with a liner.
I stand and do it in my bedroom. Sitting is not something for me.
Years ago I used to do mine the same way. I should try it again just for fun…
Are ya done with your tests?
Yep, I did the last one yesterday. The only other test I have is at a neuroscience institute that starts at like, eight AM and goes on until 4. I am not going to be a happy camper that day.
I’ve done my make-up sitting in front of my computer, but I find it takes me two times as long as I’ll get distracted! I have a big mirror above my dresser and a little one that sits on my dresser (eyeliner needs a closer mirror). I have a really tall dresser so sitting, not an option. I just don’t suggest trying to do stretching exercises while standing and doing make-up. The make-up does not look good, believe me.
I have an old “secretary” desk that belonged to my Mom. It’s perfect b/c it has lots of drawers and compartments to organize. I keep it in a corner of my bedroom by a window for natural light–although it’s dark for two-thirds of the year when I get up. It’s a turquoise color and has been battered an bruised, is missing some paint so it’s truly “shabby chic”! I love it!
.-= Cindy (Prime Beauty)’s last blog post… New! Lancome Mix & Matte =-.
Before I had my children, I had set up a corner in my room. I set up a TV tray with a light mirror and I had all my make-up in a train case. It was buy the window in my bedroom so I could get natural light. However, it was so low, that when my children learned to walk (ages 3 & 5 now), they were always in it. Now, I have a homemade stand up vanity in a corner by my closet. It’s four storage boxes stacked up on top of each other, covered with a hot pink and orange sarong, and a green lace curtain hanging from the ceiling. It’s not bad but I wish there was some natural light.
.-= brooklynshoebabe’s last blog post… If you register your site for free at =-.
My favorite Place is most definitely my bathroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My dad just put in new lighting and my mirror in there is the best one in my house , so the lighting for applying makeup is absolutely perfect (O how i looove my bathroom) !!!!!!!!!!!!
I used to do it in the bathroom but the lightening wasn’t too good there so now I apply my makeup in my bedroom sitting at my desk. The lightening is much better there. 🙂
.-= gio’s last blog post… Sunday beauty reads, 21/03/10 =-.
I love my vanity. =)
I’m already freaking out because I don’t want to leave it behind when we move. ;_;
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… NOTD – Wasabi Green, Gold Bamboo + PANDA 😀 =-.
I do mine in the bathroom but I don’t love it in there. I have to sit on the counter. I wish I had a vanity!
I have a huge mirror mounted on my wall right now that I stand up to apply. I would absolutely adore a small table with a side lit vanity mirror and a chair!!! I have pretty major joint problems, so standing in front of the mirror for 45 min every morning kinda hurts 🙁 One day I’ll have a pretty make up set up – I have hope 😀
Standing up, facing a mirrored closet door (the sliding panel kind) in our guest room. The guest room is in the southeast corner of our house so it gets pretty good natural light except for during the dead of winter. I’ve got a standing 7 drawer unit plus an oversized cocktail table with drawer units in the same room. Works great, unless there’s company 😛
Being as fidgety as I am, I move back and forth between a full length mirror (for face and cheeks) and what has become the makeup desk in my room, with smaller, magnified mirrors for eyes and lips. And then back to the big one, to check if it’s even, and then back to fix it, and so on.
Yeah, I need to seriously get it into one place.
I do my makeup in the bathroom. I used to have floor length mirrors in my bedroom and I’d just sit in front of them and do it there. Does Tabs ever try to eat your brushes?
.-= Lindsay’s last blog post… FOTD: Not my dirty 30 =-.
I like to sit on the floor in front of a mirror with good lighting… but I switched rooms in our house and now I have no mirror in my room! So I do it in the bathroom… but it’s awkward ’cause the mirror is far from the edge of the counter, and there isn’t a lot of counter space. Looking forward to moving out and setting up my own special area 😉
I actually like to do it at my desk, where the light from my window shines directly to, lol. And also because I live in a dorm, so I’d rather not do makeup in the shared bathroom that we have. But at home, I like to prop a mirror on the window sill in my bathroom so I can do my makeup with natural light, and still have the sink handy so I can wash my hands before and after!
Karen, I think I might have that plastic box you store your makeup in! Did you get it at Target? Is it stackable, and did it came in three “layers”? I love mine!
I do mine in the bathroom, because with my crappy eyesight I need all the light I can get! Plus I tend to wash my hands a lot during my whole morning routine, so I like having the sink right there.
.-= Trude’s last blog post… So Excited =-.
Hi Karen, I was so surprised with this post, I never imagine you did your lovely makeup sitting on the floor… and the makeup in the floor, that wouldn’t work for me or my floor would be a mess of makeup! by the photo I see you have space to put up a little make-up corner, you could use the tiny desk, put a little bench to sit, hang the mirror above the desk and just add some lights around the mirror, and the makeup could be inside little drawers in the desk… what to you think?? Hope you like the tips!! I do my makeup standing up in the bathroom so all mess just wash way in the sink. Kisses
Bathroom. Having a sink handy is a must, because I’m constantly washing my hands! Lol
My bedroom because everything is there!
.-= amy’s last blog post… LOTD Fun Ways to Wear Medusa’s Makeup Mineral Eye Dusts as Lipstick/Lipgloss! Reds, Corals and Orange Edition =-.
I used to have to do it in front of the bathroom mirror, which kinda sucked cuz I had to lean over the counter and stand. So one day I just decided to clean off a desk in my bedroom and convert it to a vanity 🙂 I’m pretty proud of it lol I was so determinedhttp://makeupmorsels.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/dun-dun-dun-unveiling-my-stashs-new-home/
.-= Makeupmorsels’s last blog post… Does Nutritic Lips Match Up to Ceralip? =-.
I don’t have a favorite…but a vanity would be nice. In my dream house, I would have a separate room for dressing and doing my makeup. That would be utter bliss!
.-= K’s last blog post… A Good Snip =-.
The bathroom is the only place with a giant mirror and decent lighting. I also propped up a little mirror on the windowsill so I can take a peek at my face in natural lighting and make sure everything is well blended.
.-= Celine’s last blog post… maravi: I must be the only person in the world who didn’t notice that bride magazine had "SEX" in giant letters on the cover. =-.
Mine would be in the bedroom where I have a dresser with a HUGE mirror!
.-= Cas’s last blog post… These Ain’t Fat Jeans =-.
I have a 2 meter wide 1 meter deep make-up table with strong lighting and a mirror-wall, so that’s my fave place 🙂
I have those AWFUL mirrored closet doors, and the ONLY things they’re good for are doing my makeup and doing my hair… I especially like that I’m not in my bathroom, ’cause then I can watch TV as I’m getting ready lol!
.-= Tiera’s last blog post… March Madness! =-.
I have a old desk thats in my spare room. I sit at that and do my makeup. I want to get a taller mirror though. As i hate my small mirror. Im rubbish at doing eye liner im hoping a tall mirror will help lol.
I apply my make up while sitting on my bed. Both of my make up train cases and brushes are on the dresser and it’s the easiest place for me. I have a handheld mirror which I use to see what it is that I am doing. Don’t want to look like a clown yo!
.-= marisol’s last blog post… Liberty of London haul =-.
I’d love to have that wonderful furniture, but I don’t :)))
kiss
.-= diane’s last blog post… A new make up and the 40 beauty questions =-.