15 Ways to Set Up Your Vanity Area, Straight From the Experts

Makeup Storage & Set Up Tips from Makeup Artist and Bloggers

(Redfin asked me to be a part of this article, so I am sharing it with you too! Check out tip #6 from yours truly.)

For those who love to get glammed up, having a vanity area in your home is essential to
achieving the perfect look. However, between makeup items, skincare, and other beauty
essentials, it might be hard to keep everything organized. 
That’s why we reached out to makeup experts from  Chicago, IL  to  Tampa, FL , and had them
share their best tips on setting and maintaining an organized vanity space. Read on to see their
recommendations on everything from storage to paint color.

1. Think darker paint colors

I would recommend against going with white colors for your vanity area – all that fallout from
your eyeshadow or fingerprints from foundation gets everywhere and is a hassle to keep clean. I
would opt for so black or even a light grey for your area. –  LHN Beauty

2. Try a natural light source for your vanity area

Eliminate shadows and achieve a more flawless makeup application by choosing a light source
that shines toward you from a horizontal direction, at eye-level height. This could be a window
that lets in natural light, a vanity mirror with built-in lighting, a tabletop mirrored light, or an
adjustable-height light on a stand.  Milian Bonillo Beauty

3. Avoid amber-colored lights

4. Purchase a makeup light

The Makeup Light can be attached to a mirror that you would apply your products to. It provides
the perfect white light so you see what you are doing, along with seeing the true colors of your
makeup. – Nikolina Gubernat,  Moya Makeup

Without a doubt, the most important part of a makeup setup is the lighting. Not only is it
impossible to do pretty makeup without being able to see, but you also want balanced lighting
that mimics daylight so you can accurately see how the color looks on your face. As a pro, I use
The Makeup Light which is not only balanced for daylight and gives clean flat even light, but it
has a variety of mounting options so I can use it in a variety of locations. – Tania D. Russell,
Owner and Lead Artist,  Makeuptogo.com

5. Or try 500k dimmable LED

When organizing a vanity area, lighting is everything. If your space doesn’t allow for sufficient
natural light, consider incorporating a professional lighting panel such as a daylight-balanced
5000K dimmable LED, used by pro artists that can be mounted to any mirror. Whatever you do,
don’t skimp on good lighting, because no matter how great your space may be, if you can’t see
what you’re doing, it pretty much defeats your purpose. –  Yosemite Makeup  

6. Try Clear Containers

Make sure you use clear containers and drawers to keep your makeup easily visible and
organized – especially items you use every single day. The easier something is to reach, use,
and replace, the more likely you are to stay organized. I love putting my mascaras, eyeliners, lip
liners, and glosses in standing clear cups while my eyeshadow palettes and blush go in clear
drawers. –  Your Beauty Ball

7. Install shelving on both sides of your vanity area

I love a makeup vanity area that looks good, but is also functional. So to get the most out of
your vanity area, consider going vertical by installing open shelves on either side of your mirror
for items you want to access quickly. –  Cumber’s Corner

8. Organize your shelves by creating sections

Whether you’re organizing your makeup in a drawer, shelf, or another storage unit, I
recommend creating sections for each product type. For example, you can stack your
eyeshadow palettes in one section and face powders in another. –  Makeup by Lark

9. Use Different Types of Jars

Separate your brushes and allow them a clean area all to themselves. You can use mason jars,
reuse beautiful candle jars, or put them in clear boxes you can purchase at stores like Marshalls
or The Container Store. Have one section for clean brushes and one section for dirty brushes.
Wash your brushes once a week like you would your laundry. You’ll notice your brushes work so
much better, and your skin is less irritated. –  Carla Pressley

10. Built-in drawers are the way to go

11. Keep your vanity away from the bathroom

Don’t have your vanity area in your bathroom. While many people think of their bathroom as the
ideal place to do their makeup, the humidity and moisture of a bathroom can cause damage to
your brushes and products. Instead, set up your vanity area in your bedroom. –  Tida Svy,
Makeup by Tida

12. Dedicate drawers to different beauty products

Keep a drawer separate for your makeup brushes and tools to keep dust and debris off of them.
Have enough space to lay the clean and dirty ones out so you can see and access them
easier—I love impressions vanity for this because they have a glass top that you can see all of
them clearly. –  Cassandra Mcclure

13. Label your cabinets

The Container Store is the best for finding all sizes of makeup and skincare organizers. I store
my most used products in the back of my cabinets and label them, so it is easy to find what I
need.  –  Danica Severance

14. Use a letter sorter

You can use a letter sorter to house your makeup pallets. It’s a great space saver and provides
easier access. I prefer the acrylic ones over the porcelain. –  Cheeks Makeup Artistry

15. Try acrylic containers

I organize all my makeup with clear acrylic containers. That way everything is easy to see and
clean. The clear acrylic gives a modern touch to everyday makeup storage. –  Tampa Makeup
Artist

Originally published on redfin.com

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