14 Creative DIY Ways To Repurpose An Old Vanity Around The House

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Vanity tables, also known as dressing tables, come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from ultra modern glass to solid wood constructions that have seen decades of use. Many sport beautiful detailing, like inlays, turned legs, and curved lines that make them some of the most beautiful finds for your home. But even if you don't need a dressing table, there are many alternative uses for these gorgeous pieces in other parts of the home, from housing your coffee set up to serving as a pretty potting bench.

Vanity and dressing tables can be found in many secondhand venues in a range of prices. Even newer versions sold through IKEA and big box retailers are often available in thrift stores and via outlets like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist as a budget-friendlier option. While true vintage pieces in good condition sold at flea markets and antique vendors are more expensive, you can often find vanities that need some repair or refinishing for significantly less. This makes them ideal as upcycling projects, allowing them to take on entirely new roles.

Turn a vintage vanity into a set of nightstands by cutting the piece in half and discarding the middle portion and mirror. This popular hack creates slender nightstands that are perfect for small spaces with lots of storage available in the vanity's original drawers and cubbies. Since you will be disassembling them, you may have to paint them or completely refinish the wood in their new incarnation. Add caster wheels for easy movement.

Many vintage vanities are slender and will sit against the wall rather compactly. This makes them great console tables, either tucked behind a sofa or in a tight space like a hallway or entryway (You may need to remove the mirror and any rear panels). The drawers provide storage for things like keys, leashes, grocery bags, and other items you want to grab as you head out the door. 

Vanities can double as work surfaces, making great alternative desks for small home offices and tighter spaces. The gentle curves and ample storage inside can be great for your workspace, giving all the charm of an antique desk without the bulkiness and crowding. You can remove the mirror or leave it in place. Or cover it in cork sheeting to make an attached memo board above the desk. 

Turn you old vanity into a potting bench for your outdoor space or garage. With lots of drawers and room underneath, many vanities offer a lot of storage for tools and other gardening supplies. Unlike many potting benches, you can conveniently sit while you work instead of standing. Paint the vanity for a cute cottage style look and seal it with a waterproof acrylic coat to prevent damage. 

Place a metal vanity in your garden for a whimsical and unique tableau. Allow plants to wrap tendrils as they grow, using the vanity as a trellis. You can also set potted plants on top of the main surface. If the piece has drawers, plant some greenery and flowers inside them, leaving them open to the sun. Though you can spray it with an anti-rust sealant like Rust-Oleum matte clear enamel, letting it age and blend into the landscape can also become part of the vanity's charm.

Old bathroom vanities can also be repurposed for kitchen storage. They make excellent styled up at-home coffee bars, with plenty of room for storing supplies inside. Set one up with your favorite coffeemaker or machine, a collection of mugs, canisters, and accessories. Preparing coffee here will free up other counter space, ideal in a kitchen with limited surfaces. It could even free up space on an existing kitchen island, one of Joanna Gaines' sleek solutions for tight kitchens.

Reposition a vanity as a pretty sewing table in your craft room with lots of space underneath for storing fabric and supplies. Since vanities, unlike some surfaces, are designed to be sat at for long periods of time, the height of most vanity tops are perfect for long hours stitching away. The open area underneath also makes it easy to access the pedal. 

One of the best ways to turn a plain vanity into a distinctive work of art for any room is by painting it. The many surfaces, curves, and compartments allow you to get creative with acrylic paints, turning a damaged or tired vanity into a brilliant, one-of-a-kind find. You can even paint over the mirror, using it as a canvas. 

Vanities and dressing tables make perfectly stylish home bars for indoor or outdoor spaces. Many have compartments inside the top that can be used to hold bottles, glassware, and other drink mixing supplies. Vintage wood vanities with lots of levels and compartments are excellent for creating a distinctive indoor bar while a more basic design, like above, could be sealed and protected to serve as a stylish outdoor bar on a patio for entertaining. 

Many vanities can be easily outfitted with a bowl sink on top and pipes underneath, meaning you can create a custom vintage vanity sink perfect for smaller bathrooms. In most cases you can still make use of the drawers that run along either side for makeup, hair tools, and other bathroom essentials. Make sure to fully water seal the wood top or add a slab of granite or marble for the countertop. 

Turn your vanity table into a plant stand. You can even add a grow light on top, which will reflect in the mirror and give the plants lots of what they need. Many vintage vanities have multiple levels, which can look gorgeous overflowing with different varieties of plants and cuttings. Drape vines and climbing plants over the mirror for a stylish biophilic look. 

Vanities and dressing tables can be the perfect spot to set up an altar or meditation space with personal objects, candles, crystals, statues, incense, and other things for daily practice. The shelves and drawers below are perfect for storing other important objects like prayer books, mementos, or photographs of loved ones. This is an excellent way to upcycle a vanity with a lower tier or inset portion in the middle or on the front that allows kneeling or sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of it. 

Vanity tables can be repurposed as a fun art table in your home studio. Corner vanities are especially great for maximizing limited space, allowing you to set up a mini art station in a bedroom or living room with plenty of room for your legs underneath. Shallow drawers can also be the perfect spot to stow brushes, pens, and paints, while any shelving could house sketch pads, books, or small canvases. 

Vanities and dressing tables can serve as an excellent alternative to conventional buffets or sideboards in your dining room, which can often be too large and bulky for many spaces. A large mirror on top can also help make the room feel larger and more light filled. While the vanity will not accommodate large dishes or trays like a traditional buffet, the smaller drawers are still useful for storing flatware, candle sticks, and table linens.