Living in a London flatshare often means working with a smaller bedroom, where every bit of space matters. After years of it, I’ve found that having a small, dedicated place to get ready can make a noticeable difference.
I used to have a huge makeup bag that I kept on my desk, which often led to stressful mornings spent rummaging around trying to find an eye pencil. Now, I’ve organised my make up and other products so they’re easy to grab which makes getting ready much more efficient.
It doesn’t need to be a full vanity or anything overly styled. Even a simple setup makes your routine feel a bit more put-together and intentional, rather than something you’re doing wherever there’s space.
Here are a few ways I’ve set up a small, functional space in my bedroom for my beauty routine.
Keeping it simple
In a smaller room, I’ve found it’s best to keep things quite minimal.
I tend to stick to the same products, rather than having everything out at once. It keeps the space feeling calmer and makes getting ready in the morning much quicker.
It’s also much easier to tidy, which makes a difference when your bedroom is doing multiple jobs.
A small, dedicated area
My setup is quite simple – just a mirror, a small surface and a few everyday products.
Having everything in one place makes it feel more like a routine rather than something scattered around the room. It also means I’m not constantly moving things back and forth, which can quickly become time-consuming and make the space feel cluttered.
In smaller rooms, it also helps to think about how you use the space. Something like a wardrobe with mirrored doors can be useful as it saves having a separate mirror, or you can add a simple stick-on mirror if needed.
It means you don’t necessarily need space for a full vanity, and can keep your products stored on a shelf or in drawers instead.
Storage that works (and looks nice)
One of the most useful things I’ve added is a set of clear, acrylic stackable drawers from Muji.
They’re simple, but they work really well in a smaller space. Because they’re clear, you can easily see what you have and grab products quickly in the morning without having to dig through anything.
They’re also stackable, which means you can expand your setup over time if you buy new products, rather than having to completely reorganise everything.
It keeps everything contained, but still easy to access, which makes the whole setup feel more functional without looking cluttered.
Lighting
Lighting makes a big difference here as well.
If possible, try to position your mirror near natural light, but softer lighting in the room also helps. Overhead lighting can feel quite harsh, so having a lamp nearby makes the whole space feel a bit calmer and easier to use.
It’s one of those small changes that makes getting ready feel a bit more relaxed. I also find it much easier to do makeup in natural light compared to overhead lighting.
Making it feel part of the room
I’ve found it helps if the space doesn’t feel too separate from the rest of the room.
Keeping the colours and textures quite consistent – for example with bedding, storage or other small details – makes everything feel more cohesive. It stops the setup from looking like something that’s been added in as an afterthought.
The acrylic drawers from Muji I mentioned earlier are quite neutral and understated, and go with a lot of different decor styles I think.
Final thoughts
A getting-ready space doesn’t need to be complicated or take up much room.
For me, it’s just about having a small area that feels easy to use and fits naturally into the space. It makes everyday routines feel a bit more organised and a bit more enjoyable, without needing to change the room completely.
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