Besides functional purposes, a good dressing table is an aesthetic addition to the bedroom. Going by the general trend for simplicity in interiors, dressing tables too have become more compact these days.

An elaborate table with intricate designs, a matching chair and a central mirror with side-view mirrors were part of any bedroom a few years ago. The table showcased vanity with an array of cosmetics, hair accessories, toiletries and perfumes and was further decorated by dolls, potpourris and vintage boxes. However, such a vanity is passé.

“A few years ago, a dressing table matching with the bed was an essential part of furniture décor. The dressing table mirror with a swivel stand was common. Side view mirrors on the table were common as well,” says Dimple Kohli, interior designer of Qboid Design House.

According to Pritam Chandok, marketing head of Fusion Access, now people want dressing tables to be at their minimal best. A bedroom can have a high, long and not so wide table with a single large mirror. The table would generally have three or four chests to accommodate all the cosmetics and other dressing accessories. These drawers could also be on the wall, under the mirror or on its sides. As bedrooms have become smaller, people prefer to do away with chairs.

“There are not many takers for antique items like Victorian dressing tables due to space constraints. Further, such pieces do not go along with the contemporary minimal style of the house,” adds Kohli.

The table-top is kept clean and decorative stuff or cosmetics items seen over the table is considered clumsy.

One can even do away with a dressing table in the bedroom, provided he/she has other facilities like a dressing room or bathroom with a large mirror, says Kohli.

According to designers, these days one largely prefers stain resistant wood for the table as wooden furniture is also portable during shifting. The furniture design also tends to more simplistic than elaborate. Though glass and marble look elegant, people are finding them fragile or heavy and expensive.

However, high-end customers with bigger bedrooms still want to experiment with dressing tables.

“Customers interested in experimenting usually belong to the high-end customer segment who believe in luxurious living. They like to use dressing tables for decorative purposes where the emphasis is more on stylised mirror frames and use of delicate paint finishes, rather than just practicality,” says Kohli.

A simple dressing table with a counter, a mirror and a laminated finish could cost around Rs 25,000. Intricate carvings on the table, stylised mirror or more number of drawers add to the cost.

sangeethag@mydigitalfc.com