19 dressing room ideas for houses big or small
For those of us who live in small spaces, a dressing room might seem like an unattainable luxury–but we can always dream, right? A room devoted to clothes and toiletries, with plenty of space for both, is one of the first things we'd install if we had the space. The essentials for a dressing room are fairly straightforward: wardrobes and clothes storage of course, a dressing table and mirror, and somewhere comfortable to sit, such as an ottoman or daybed.
When it comes to storage, the more decorative the better. It's bound to be the main feature of the room, so choose a bold paint colour, a striking shape, or line your doors in a pretty patterned fabric. Built-in wardrobes are a popular choice to maximise space, but a beautiful antique wardrobe can really make a statement.
Since it's a small room, it's a good opportunity to be playful with the decoration; a patterned wallpaper or a bold colour on the walls can work well in a dressing room. If it adjoins a bedroom, you can run the same wallpaper through both rooms to help them feel unified. Gloss paint is another popular option for these rooms; mildly reflective, it lends a sense of glamour to the space.
Lighting should be soft and flattering, but not so gentle that you can't spot a mismatched sock. Wall lights are generally more forgiving than overhead, and lamps on a dressing table can allow for lower lighting in the evening. Choose a soft surface for the floor, as you'll probably be padding around barefoot; wall to wall carpet might have largely lost its appeal, but if you're going to do it anywhere, this might be the place.
Dressing room ideas from the House & Garden archive
Simon Upton1/19In Stephen Sills' New York apartment, the dressing room is a dramatic departure from the rest of the home’s restrained palette, enveloped in rich green satinwood panelling. This luxurious backdrop sets the stage for a Hellenistic sculpture displayed on a Danish modern secretaire desk, accompanied by a painting by Harold Stevenson. The carefully curated pieces stand out vividly against the deep green, embodying Sills' approach of treating his space like an artist’s studio—where every element contributes to a narrative of elegance and intentionality.
Michael Sinclair2/19The owners of this London house have called upon the expertise of Maddux Creative’s design duo not once, but twice – most recently to maximise space and light, and play up the distinctive period details. The owners have the entire second floor to themselves – the astoundingly large dressing room complete with and island and dedicated shoe cupboards puts the space to good use.
Paul Massey3/19The reading nook is one of the family's favourite spots in this modern London townhouse, breaking up a dressing room of wardrobes with some softness. The joinery is painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Inchyra’ and the inset wallpaper is Phillip Jeffries's ‘Cabana Weave’ in the ‘Dove Days’ colourway. The niche is upholstered by Textile Wall Co with Soane Britain's fabric ‘Scrolling Fern’.
Boz Gagovski4/19When fashion buyer Sasha Sarokin embarked on decorating her new house with the help of her friend Lucy Mayers, she leant into a passion for vintage and antique pieces that perfectly dovetailed with her latest sustainable fashion business. Her dressing room doors are made from birch plywood stained to a burr-like finish. The space is often on show as the doors tend to be left open, so making it as beautiful as possible was important.
Read McKendree | Styling by Alexandra Morris Flint5/19A wallpapered dressing room in this Kansas City Georgian-style house has smart built-in seating
Photos: Owen Gale, Styling: Rachel Moreve6/19What might have been a third bedroom was transformed into a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite in this West London Victorian terrace transformed by Polly Asham.
Astrid Templier7/19One-half of the couple of this Herne Hill house wakes up significantly earlier than the other, so having a separate dressing space allowed them to start their day without waking the other. From necessity grew inspiration: “The dressing room ended up being my favourite space in the house,” Pandora explains, adding that “the glossy green and perfect proportions make it a really pleasing area.
Paul Massey8/19In this walk-in wardrobe designed by Beata Heuman for a Sussex cottage, walls in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Stiffkey Blue’ pick up on the inky blue motif in Beata’s ‘Palm Drop’ linen mix fabric. Her ‘Dodo Egg’ pendant light adds a playful touch.
Simon Brown9/19Beata Heuman has brought her signature cocktail of ideas to this expansive London apartment, in which one of the bedrooms has been transformed into an enviable dressing room. The main bedroom has a jib door into the dressing room, which is disguised as a mirror with a yellow frame. The wardrobes are a striking design feature, with Svenskt Tenn fabric built into the panels.
Paul Massey10/19If clothes storage is going to be the centerpiece of a dressing room, it should be as stylish as possible. Annabel Bevan found an antique wardrobe at Lots Road and painted it to match the walls in her London house. A half-moon table is an elegant, space-saving option, with wall lights either side of the mirror to cast a soft glow.
Christopher Horwood11/19What was once a nine bedroom bedsit has been transformed by Natasha Howard, the designer behind Instagram's 'Philamena', into an elegant and inviting family home. The dressing room, which leads off from the bedroom, continues the blue and white theme, with fitted wardrobes making the most of the space.
Simon Upton12/19In this elegant newbuild, legendary interior designer David Mlinaric has created a three room suite that comprises the main bedroom, an adjoining dressing room and a bathroom. The dressing room and bedroom are papered in the same pattern, the ‘Patmos’ wallcovering in pompeii by Carolina Irving Textiles for Tissus d’Hélène. Here it is paired with complementary ‘Patmos Stripe’ linen on the Regency sleigh bed.
Simon Brown13/19At her Georgian house in Oxfordshire, Vanessa Macdonald has created a charming dressing table set-up in her main bedroom. A skirted table with a glass top is a traditional choice, topped with a trifold mirror from William Yeoward and antique candlestick lamps.
Simon Upton14/19The dream dressing room in an 18th-century country house renovated by Hugh Henry. Hugh introduced modern colours into the historic house, and painted the dressing room in three different shades of blue from Sanderson. The ottoman in the middle of the room is an essential for this kind of space - perfect for sitting on to put on shoes.
15/19Fashion stylist Louise Roe looked to British Standard for the dressing room in her Georgian farmhouse. The company designed and installed two units, painted a glossy mulberry colour.
Ngoc Minh Ngo16/19Sophie Asby has created a sophisticated dressing area in this newbuild flat in Chelsea with a long burr elm dressing table lining one wall. 'It drives me crazy that so often in newbuilds everything is built-in, so I wanted something free-standing and moveable,' explains Sophie. The result is a quirky combination of two circular mirrors, a smattering of brass wall lights and a pair of leather pouffes, which exudes a modernist glamour - part Bond girl boudoir, part Seventies ski chalet.
Paul Whitbread17/19This space in an Oxford house designed by Charlotte Boundy sits between the main bedroom and bathroom. The room is painted in a gentle shade, ‘Bath Stone’ by Little Green,e and features an Art Deco Dish light from Jamb.
Dean Hearne18/19This house in Putney was designed by Field Day Studio for a stylish young owner. The dressing room adjoins the bedroom; it has extensive cabinetry painted in a bespoke brown gloss, and a set of vintage shop drawers stands in the middle of the space.
Paul Massey19/19Interior designer Peter Mikic has used his trademark eclectic style to bring a vivid new energy to this traditional Victorian villa.The wardrobe fronts are a bespoke design by Peter Mikic Studios, featuring cracked lacquer in blue eggshell with brass accents. The blind is made from ‘Gru’ by Colony in the bronzo colourway.
