How to Make a Vanity
A vanity can be a beautiful addition to any girl or woman's bedroom. It can store makeup and hair-grooming supplies. It may also hold lingerie or other accessories. A vanity adds a touch of elegance and glamour to a bedroom. Vanities may be created in many styles, from shabby chic casual to high glamour modern. A vanity will give decades of pleasure and is always be a delightful gift for a girl or woman. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Plywood or MDF compressed wood
- Power saw
- Nail gun or hammer
- Nails
- Sandpaper
- Drawer brackets and screws to attach them to the vanity
- Paint
- Paint brush and paint tray
Instructions
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1
Look through decorating magazines to get an idea of what kind of vanity you want to build. You may also wish to visit furniture stores to look at the styles of vanities they sell. Measure the area where you wish to place the vanity. A standard size vanity has a top of about 50 inches length with a front-to-back width of 18 inches. The height of a vanity is typically about 31 inches. Decide upon the size of vanity you want and have space for. Draw a design of the vanity that includes the number of drawers (there are typically two or three drawers on each side of the vanity).
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2
Take the measurements to a building supply store, and purchase wood based on the measurements. Typical woods used to create a vanity are plywood or MDF compressed wood.
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3
Use a power saw to create a top to the vanity. Popular shapes include a kidney bean or rectangle. Then cut out wood pieces to create the drawers to the vanity. Saw all of the wood pieces needed before you start to construct the vanity. Then sand down any rough spots on the wood with sandpaper.
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Use a nail gun or hammer and nails to create drawers for the vanity. Use at least 3 nails on each side of the drawer. Then build the base to the vanity using the nail gun or a hammer. Secure the pieces together with nails used about every inch. Use screws to attach brackets to hold the drawers in the base. Check that the drawers slide easily on the metal brackets inside the vanity.
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Hammer the top of the vanity to the base with small nails. Place the drawers in the vanity to ensure that they slide smoothly. Next paint the vanity with two coats of paint. Let the first coat dry overnight before applying another coat of paint.
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Tips & Warnings
Talk to the future owner of the vanity to see which colors she would prefer you to paint it. Ask for suggestions about the shape of the vanity and other desired features. You may wish to order a mirror or glass panel to place over the top of the vanity. Another idea is to use a spring rod to hang a curtain in the opening of the vanity. You can also hang a mirror over the vanity. The easiest way to make a vanity is to find an old desk and paint it white to make it look more feminine. Then paint the drawers in a contrasting color such as pink or yellow.
Check the vanity carefully to ensure that nail tips are not poking through any area where they could cause injury.
