How to Choose a Dressing Table: UK Size, LED Mirror & Power Guide

For most UK bedrooms, the right dressing table is about 80 to 140cm wide, 40cm deep and 72 to 80cm high, with a mirror, good lighting and, increasingly, built-in power. Before you buy, check three things: the wall space (about 160cm of height for table plus mirror), the floor space (roughly 90cm clear in front, so you can sit and still walk past) and the light. Most of our best-selling tables now have LED mirrors, and many have plug sockets and USB ports built in. This guide covers sizes, space, lighting and power, then shows four popular tables from the dressing tables range.

In this article

• How big should a dressing table be?
• How much floor and wall space do I need?
• What mirror and lighting should it have?
• Which features are customers choosing?
• Do I need a stool, and how high should it be?
• Can a dressing table double as a desk?
• Which dressing table should I buy?
• FAQ

How big should a dressing table be?

Dressing tables fall into three rough bands. These are typical ranges across UK retailers, so treat them as a guide rather than a rule.

• Height: most tabletops sit at about 72 to 80cm, close to a standard desk. With a mirror attached, the whole piece usually stands 125 to 145cm tall.

How much floor and wall space do I need?

Measure the space with your bed made up and the wardrobe doors open, not the empty room. Our bed size and room fit guide shows how much floor a bed takes up. Then use these rules of thumb (they are practical guides, not regulations):

• Floor: allow about 90cm of clear floor in front of the table. That covers a pulled-out stool plus room to edge past. 80cm is a tight minimum. With a 40cm deep table, you need about 130cm from the wall.
• Wall: a 75cm table plus an 80cm mirror needs about 160cm of free wall height. Check for radiators, windowsills, sloping ceilings and light switches.
• Wall fixing: tall tables with mirrors can be top-heavy, so use the anti-tip kit where one is supplied. Ireland's consumer regulator also recommends securing furniture to the wall with safety straps or L-brackets.

What mirror and lighting should a dressing table have?

The mirror matters more than the table. Seated, you should see your head and shoulders, and a mirror about two-thirds the width of the table looks balanced. A tri-fold mirror helps with side angles.

Lighting is where many tables fall short. If you do your makeup in the bathroom because the light is better, choose a table with lighting built in. If you can, face a window too, because daylight is hard to beat.

Which features are customers choosing?

LED mirrors dominate our dressing table sales. Looking at the last 12 months of orders at Opal Retail, most of our best sellers share the same short list of features:

• LED mirror with three colour temperatures. You can check your makeup in cool daylight-style light, then in warm evening light, and dim it to suit the room. This is the feature most buyers want.
• Hollywood-style bulbs. Bulbs around the mirror are designed to spread light evenly around your face, and it is a popular style.
• Built-in plug sockets and USB ports. Our sellers with power typically offer two plug sockets plus USB ports. Some are listed for powering a hairdryer or straighteners, so you can avoid a trailing extension lead and charge your phone too.
• Lots of drawers. Many have five or more drawers, which keep brushes, tools and skincare off the tabletop. Some add a jewellery organiser or a detachable 10x magnifying mirror.

The trade-off is size. These tables are 80 to 137cm wide, so measure first. Also check the rating marked on the power strip, or in the instruction manual, before you plug in high-wattage tools, and check the cable is long enough to reach your wall socket.

Do I need a stool, and how high should it be?

Yes, and check whether one is included. A dressing table set with a stool saves you sourcing one, but the four tables below are sold without a seat, so budget for it.

• It should tuck away. A stool that slides fully under the table does not eat into your floor space.
• Check the height. Sit with your feet flat and your knees clear of the drawer. A stool that is too tall will not fit underneath. As a reference, the stool in our set is 42.5cm high.
• Think about comfort. If you sit for a while, a padded seat is kinder than bare wood.

Can a dressing table double as a desk?

Yes, if it has a flip-top mirror that closes flat, or if you add a freestanding mirror when you want it. Check the closed height of the model you choose. For a full-time home workspace, our home office desk size guide will help you choose something bigger. Compact and flip-up models are in the full range.

Which dressing table should I buy?

Here are four popular tables that are in stock now, including three of our best sellers, chosen to cover different budgets and room sizes. Prices and stock change, so check the product page for today's figures.

Best budget pick

White Dressing Table with Mirror and Drawers

A simple 80cm white table with a large mirror, two drawers and a raised platform for perfumes. No lights or sockets, but a very good price.

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LED mirror and charging

White Dressing Table with LED Mirror, 5 Drawers and Charging Station

A compact 80cm table with a dimmable LED mirror, two plug sockets, USB-A and USB-C. A good fit if you want lights and power without a big footprint.

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Touch LED and magnifier

White Dressing Table with LED Mirror, 9 Drawers and Built-In Power Sockets

Touch-control LED mirror, a detachable 10x magnifying mirror, nine drawers, a jewellery organiser, two plug sockets and two USB ports.

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Hollywood style

Dressing Table with Hollywood LED Mirror, 10 Drawers, Plug Sockets and USB

A wide 137cm table with Hollywood-style LED bulbs, ten drawers, five shelves, two plug sockets, USB-A and USB-C.

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Not sure which to pick? Use this as a quick guide:

• Tight budget: the white table with mirror and drawers.
• Lights and charging in a small footprint: the 5-drawer LED table.
• Touch-control mirror and magnifier: the 9-drawer table.
• The Hollywood look: the 137cm, 10-drawer table.

Pair your dressing table with the rest of the room: our chest of drawers size guide helps you plan the other storage in the bedroom.

Frequently asked questions

Is a dressing table with built-in sockets worth it?

If you dry or style your hair at the table, yes. You avoid trailing leads and can charge your phone nearby. Check the rating marked on the power strip, or in the manual, before plugging in high-wattage tools.

What is a Hollywood-style dressing table?

It has a mirror framed by bulbs, like a theatre dressing room. The bulbs are designed to give even light around your face, and many have adjustable colour temperature and brightness.

Can I use a desk as a dressing table?

Yes. Add a mirror, either wall-mounted or freestanding, and make sure the light is good. A flip-top dressing table does both jobs in one piece, but you will need to clear it if you want a clean work surface.

How do I fit a dressing table in a small bedroom?

Choose a table of about 80cm, use the wall beside the window, tuck a slim stool fully underneath, and consider a flip-top design that doubles as a desk.