It is possible to spend hours on dressing room ideas, like what could be nicer than rows of perfectly lined shoes, clothes hung in color order, zero clutter, zero mess?
It’s downright dreamy, right? Indeed, while built-in dressing rooms were once reserved for crib-style homes, they are quickly becoming mandatory for recent homeowners.
They offer superior luxury, and these spaces make the most of every available space and can be designed to fit any room size.
Because they can be bespoke, you can fully customize them to complement the way you dress. For example, if you have lots of long dresses, the rails will be an integral part, while if you like shoes, slide-out or pigeon-hole storage can help you easily navigate and access your favorite pieces.
If you think dressing up isn’t just a daily need but a ritual, chances are you’re always looking for the best dressing room ideas. They’re probably just as important to you as the next Macy’s sale or the Met Gala red carpet.
Creating a separate dressing room is smart and doesn’t always require as much space as you think. Your dressing spaces and walk-in closet can start small, or other clever ideas for cabinetry, whether commissioned or bought, will maximize storage space for a sleek, streamlined look.
Another reason you would love various dressing room ideas is that since the space is usually quite hidden, you can enjoy decorating and experimenting with colors, patterns, and ideas that you wouldn’t dare to use in the most visited rooms of your home.
From backgrounds to color combinations, there’s plenty to inspire you here. Of course, there are some practical dressing room organizing ideas, too.
Assess Your Dressing Room Storage Needs
Before we discuss many beautiful dressing room ideas related to color schemes and stylish wallpaper, let’s first consider the practicality of a built-in closet design.
If you’re starting entirely from scratch, you must assess how you want to store your clothes and what schedule will work best for you.
Proper dressing room organization will create a functional, built-in closet that fits your lifestyle. Ask yourself if you like to fold or hang your clothes.
Do you want everything in view and easily accessible or hidden behind a door? How much rail space will you need versus the number of drawers?
Also, consider shoe and bag storage and space for off-season clothing such as bulky sweaters, coats, and jackets.
Create Your Catwalk
The long, narrow rooms are perfect as a dressing room idea for getting dressed because they create an ideal walkway layout.
Place a mirror on the end wall, but don’t forget to add it to the side so you can see the clothes on yourself from all angles.
A narrow room can feel cramped, so it is good to use furniture and walls of the same color for a more spacious look. Customization will help you make the most of every ounce of storage space.
Go Bespoke for a Perfect Dressing Room
To maximize your space, consider choosing bespoke storage designed for your specific space as another dressing room idea.
You can then have a say on the appearance of your cabinets from the outside and the interior configuration to decide which design will best suit your needs.
Abundant storage space can be built with custom details, including open shelving—classic bag or shoe storage.
Opting for floor-to-ceiling cabinets with a built-in solid wood ladder and rail allows easy access to everything and adds interesting dimensions to the space.
Think about the room’s layout outside the box when creating space for a wardrobe.
Style Your Shelf
Open shelves and cabinetry without doors are a great option if you’re worried about wall cabinets.
This is particularly useful in tighter spaces as it will help make the room feel lighter and airier.
Lining open cabinets keeps things interesting. To add interest and softness to many cabinets, you can opt for a simple stripe or simple fabric with a small pattern in complementary tones to the rest of the room design.
Include Seats in the Dressing Room
If you have enough space in your dressing room, adding an ottoman, window seat, or bench provides a useful seating area to put on your shoes or look at your clothes while deciding what to wear. It can also serve as storage.
The ottoman is perfect for storing bulkier seasonal clothing that you want to access easily, such as jackets and sweaters. It also makes excellent storage for bags and shoes.
Take It to the Top
The biggest concern when setting up a dressing room is, without a doubt, sufficient storage space.
Whatever your space, careful planning can help you make the most of what you have to make the most of every square inch.
To add extra shelving, look to areas that are otherwise overlooked, like the space above the door frame. For dressing room ideas, be realistic about the size you need.
Aim for a place where you can comfortably reach hangers and keep your longest pieces from dragging on the floor. Then, create extra cabinets above for seasonal items or other pieces you don’t need to access regularly.
Adding a Library Ladder
Library Ladder is an amazing idea to add to a vintage pantry or home office, so why not take this as a dressing room idea to move them to your dressing room?
Having stairs within easy reach adds a stylish focal point to the space and maximizes storage potential, as everything will be easily accessible.
For hardwood and carpeted spaces, choose a sturdy hook option over traditional rolling library ladders — they provide maximum stability than the latter, and the rollers struggle to work on wool with a thick pile.
Consider matching stair hardware with other brass elements in the room for a coordinated finish.
Plan How to Light Your Dressing Room
Lighting may not be as exciting as choosing a color palette or selecting the perfect hardware, but it’s essential to designing a functional closet.
Dressing rooms are generally darker and often windowless, so ensuring they are well-lit is crucial.
Strong ceiling lighting is necessary, but you can reduce the harshness by installing spotlights or LED strips inside the cabinet. This allows you to immediately see what’s inside and also adds a glamorous and luxurious feel to the dressing room.
Give a Chic Statement
Giving a built-in dressing room/closet a prominent feature can have a wonderful dramatic effect. A smoky gray scheme adds a sophisticated touch to a wardrobe.
Plus, with all that joinery involved, it’s nice to have a smooth, subtle pattern to break up the storage walls.
A built-in dressing room is a perfect place to experiment, so be as bold as you want; you could also try blue wallcovering in shades of blue with a subtle metallic sheen. It adds texture to a monochromatic space and reflects more light.
Keeping Things Calm
Another dressing room idea includes creating a stylish and relaxing space, which is often a priority when designing a built-in dressing room/closet, and never more so than when the built-in closet is open to the bedroom.
If your space has no door, ensure it is a cozy retreat or feminine softness. Details like well-designed window decoration, vases with fresh flowers, and comfy chairs can make all the difference in making it a calm and beautiful room rather than a purely functional space.
Having something soft under your feet is also essential, so continue with the rug in the bedroom or choose a thick pile rug to complement the space.
Include a Compact Vanity Table
A dressing table, whether compact or large, can be a fantastic addition to a dressing room. It creates the perfect storage space for small accessories, makeup, and jewelry.
Additionally, introducing a vanity area in the dressing room can free up space in the bedroom. Just ensure the space is well-lit and hang a large mirror above it to make a practical and beautiful prep space.
Choose Bazan Wood for Elegant Cabinets
Another dressing room idea for an expansion is to choose darker shades for a narrow footprint area. Lining it with Bazan wood cupboards not only creates a sophisticated and masculine vibe but also makes the room feel more open, as you cannot easily mark out the edges of the room.
Keep in mind that there would be no hardware, either, so nothing would protrude into the space and add unnecessary visual clutter.
Paint the Ceiling for a Pop of Color
Painted ceilings, much more elegant and trendy than wall units, unexpectedly add a touch of color to the room. Try a deep color like a dark orange ceiling as a dressing room idea.
Pair it with dark cabinets to lift the space without disturbing the mood. Stylish retro furniture also blends perfectly with the contemporary color scheme.
Get Creative With Wallpaper
Built-in wardrobes don’t have to be boring or conventional. The dressing room is the perfect place to experiment with style. A smart way to soften the walls of wardrobe doors in the dressing room is to cover them with nice wallpaper.
Have fun designing your dressing room with ideas. Instead of wallpapering the walls and painting the ceiling, you can also put wallpaper on the ceiling.
It is a great little closet, especially if you go for a hectic pattern or dark color, as it can blur the room’s boundaries and hint at a larger space. Choose a cabinet color that blends well with the walls to expand the space.
Keeping It Simple With a Calm Color Palette
The elegant bank of built-in cabinetry maximizes the feeling of space by keeping everything in place and hidden away.
Use the same neutral color shade on furniture and walls with a velvety matte finish to create a light-reflecting envelope effect without acting harshly. Then, add hidden hinges, sleek hardware, a minimalist pendant, and comfortable seating to complete the look.
Choose Glass Front Cabinetry
Floor-to-ceiling units make the most of the space but can make the room quite boxy, so opt for a glass front door to make the space feel more open and airy.
It’s also a practical decision, as you can clearly see what’s in each closet. This will (hopefully) encourage you to keep the space organized, as everything will be visible.
Use Crittall Doors to Divide a Dressing Room
Take inspiration from the design of your favorite boutique hotel and create a central focal point, like a beautifully dressed island or an eye-catching chandelier.
Luxurious materials help enhance glamour: imagine multi-layered lacquers, copper, brass, engineered stone, and pieces of stuff with an iridescent sheen.
The Crittall-style partition keeps an elegant dressing room in view of the bedroom, creating a seamless feel between the two spaces and the added benefit of increased natural light when dressing.
Use Mirrors to Create an Illusion of Space
In the rules of Design 101, use mirrors to make small spaces look bigger. So, take inspiration from these dressing room ideas and replace solid cabinetry with mirrored sliding doors. Notice how the space will seem twice as big.
And for any open storage, add a mirror to the back of the shelving. This will display your collections and help make the room feel larger.
Bring in Vintage Pieces for Personal Touch
Use contemporary fabrics and wallpapers with classic prints, traditional patterned rugs, and classic upholstery for customization that feels like it took years. Mixing old and new elements will help make the space feel less artificial.
Dressing Room Ideas for Designing a Sleek Dressing Room
- Start by reviewing everything you own (clothes, shoes, and accessories) and determining your needed storage space. Designer Nathalie de Leval says, “Thinking about how you store clothes, whether you want to hang them or fold them, helps define what you need.”
- Evaluate what you use the most. “What items do you search for each day?” Having them close at hand will make your mornings more convenient,” Louise Bradley, an interior designer, recommends.
- Avoid repetitions. Deborah Bass, a creative director of Base Interior, advises against wearing too many uniforms. “Also have stand-alone items — like an antique chest — to avoid looking like a show home,” she says.
- Get the proper lighting. This is the key to dressing up and making up. Recessed lights can be harsh, so consider incorporating LED strips into your joinery, says Sally Storey, a creative director at John Cullen Lighting. “They are easy to install behind floor supports above doors, in wardrobes, or under eaves. Soften with dimmers so you don’t see the LED dots.
- With vanities, make sure your face is evenly lit. “This can be achieved by putting lights in the front or back of mirrors or by placing wall sconces on either side,” says Sally.
- Don’t forget to touch and sound. “Choose your handles carefully and ensure the drawers slide well,” explains Nathalie de Leval. Drawers with Velvet or wool to protect accessories, muffle noise, and an extra tactile element are also needed. Cedar shelves protect against moths and have a delicious aroma.
- Consider the impact of cabinet doors. Imagine them as part of a room design. “Paper-lined fabric is a great way to add texture or use a Thibaut grasscloth,” says Lucy Barlow, Creative Director of Barlow & Barlow.
- Choose your materials carefully. Deborah Bass recommends Gravitating to natural materials like timber, rattan, and linen in bedrooms and dressing rooms. You can also use mirrored panels inside or outside the door and a standing mirror to move around.
What Should Be in a Dressing Room?
A built-in dressing room primarily provides storage space for clothes, shoes, and accessories, so make sure you have enough for your collection.
For dressing room ideas, consider how you want to store your clothes, whether you want ample storage space for longer clothes, shelves for your ever-growing shoe collection, or spacious drawers for bulky sweaters.
Do you want to include storage space? Do you want to add a chest of drawers and makeup storage? Consider adding freestanding pieces like ottomans, benches, or storage chests.
Ideally, an island is also recommended, as it’s a handy feature to use before getting dressed. It’s practical and maximizes storage space, giving you more drawers in the center for makeup, jewelry, and clothes.
How Much Space Do You Need for a Dressing Room?
Few of us have a perfect set-up. If you can, put your wardrobes between the bedroom and the bathroom so you can get dressed after your shower. You wouldn’t want to be running around in your towel.
Dressing room ideas can work in a minimal space range, but we recommend no less than 2m x 2m. You do not have to walk with fitted cupboards; opt for a span along just one wall without a door or a sliding door. You will save space and have as little dressing room as possible.
In narrower spaces, such as hallways or eaves, build them to fit as much as possible—shallow niches are ideal for shoe racks. Pocket doors are suitable for awkward spaces because they won’t affect the space on each side and can provide more space.
