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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dressing table teen girls

54 replies

rennite · 22/04/2026 17:01

AIBU to think that not all well not even most teenage girls have a designated table for their beauty stuff? Dd's room is small and she has to make do with a tall Ikea malm chest of drawers to store her beauty products keep her mirror etc.
Dd14 is in a huge huff and says all her friends have dressing tables and it's an absolute embarrassment not have one and no, a drawer unit does not count apparently.

So do your teen girls have one? If not how do they possibly cope?

YABU - get the girl a dressing table and get rid of the drawers
YANBU - Malm drawers are ok for this

OP posts:
NotAnotherScarf · 22/04/2026 17:05

I'm a 57 year old man and I have a dressing table for my fragrances, watches, deodorant, nose hair clippers, clothes brushes, cufflinks etc...so yeah it's normal

Original poster
rennite · 22/04/2026 17:06

NotAnotherScarf · 22/04/2026 17:05

I'm a 57 year old man and I have a dressing table for my fragrances, watches, deodorant, nose hair clippers, clothes brushes, cufflinks etc...so yeah it's normal

Great first post!

OP posts:
golla346 · 22/04/2026 17:10

My 11 year old has one, her 24 year old sister or I do not have one. We are of the age of sitting on the floor in front of the mirror and doing our make up

Original poster
rennite · 22/04/2026 17:12

She has a desk that's 140cm so also plenty of space to store cosmetics stuff on one side (drawers on both sides of the table). It would be odd to add as second table and chair imo.

OP posts:
LittleGreenDragons · 22/04/2026 17:16

First DD sat on an exercise ball in front of a wardrobe mirror that had drawers on one side.
Second DD sits on floor in front of same wardrobe.

Not only did they not have a dressing table but one DD had the indignity and shame of not having a new wardrobe 😱

Original poster
rennite · 22/04/2026 17:17

LittleGreenDragons · 22/04/2026 17:16

First DD sat on an exercise ball in front of a wardrobe mirror that had drawers on one side.
Second DD sits on floor in front of same wardrobe.

Not only did they not have a dressing table but one DD had the indignity and shame of not having a new wardrobe 😱

I love the challenge of doing make up on an exercise ball.

Not only did they not have a dressing table but one DD had the indignity and shame of not having a new wardrobe 😱
😂

OP posts:
KiddyMcKiddly · 22/04/2026 17:55

My Dd has a dressing table but inadequate clothes storage. Sometimes I think a chest of drawers would have been a better buy than the dressing table, as her clothes are all crammed into her tiny wardrobe and she keeps half on the floor 🫣

Krevlornswath · 22/04/2026 18:28

I always had one as a teen but don't as an adult but it's not relevant really. In reality she's not upset that every teen on the planet has one, the issue is that she feels left out because her friends obviously do, coupled with the fact that's obviously something she'd really like to have. If it weren't there wouldn't be a fuss at all.

I'd probably just give in on this one, it could be facilitated pretty cheaply and be a nice bonding thing to set up.

RawBloomers · 22/04/2026 18:57

One of my kids did, but turned it into a desk and relegated all make up etc to a big drawer when she hit 15. The other wasn't interested when younger but at 16 took over the family bath with all her stuff.

I think it's fairly common for girls of that sort of age to have a dedicated space, but not necessarily a dressing table. I suspect if you actually went to every one of her friends bedrooms, a minority would actually have a dressing table solely dedicated to that task. "all my friends..." is the go to teen reasoning and rarely actually true.

Original poster
rennite · 22/04/2026 19:03

I think most of her friends do have them. I see your point @Krevlornswath, I'll wait a bit and see where we are at in the summer holidays, if she is still keen, we can consider it. I just think having your products and mirror high up like on a malm makes more sense.

OP posts:
Sittingonthefence83 · 22/04/2026 19:27

My teen has a small bookcase which has her makeup on the top shelf and she just stands in front of her wardrobe mirror to put it on.
she does has a desk though which never gets used because everything is done on iPad/laptop. I’m going to replace the desk with a dressing table eventually.

TheSillyBalonz · 22/04/2026 20:06

My 7 and 11 year old both have dressing tables. They love having them, its a full set up with mirror and lights and a nice chair. They arrange their hair and beauty stuff on it and I think it helps them when they are getting ready as stuff isn't all over the floor and they're not having to "make do".

QueenElle · 22/04/2026 20:12

2 nieces and a goddaughter all have one - 16, 17 and 18…. It was on the priority list when they had their bedrooms redecorated. I’m a family of boys but I have one too. I’ve taken over one of the spare bedrooms and decorated it girly, have my dressing table and full length mirror in there.

Themumsonthebus · 22/04/2026 20:16

DD just uses her desk as both dressing table and desk. And she has some extra shelves she puts her extra bits on to keep just enough desk clear to be able to work at it

Haribosweets · 22/04/2026 20:21

How times have changed! I never had a dressing table and didn't wear makeup at all although this was the 90s!
I still don't own one and sit in front of the mirror on the floor!
But if its peer pressure etc then you could get her an ottoman bed for clothes. And then dressing table she wants

ThatCatWitch · 22/04/2026 20:21

I got one when I was 11ish (40 now). It always made me feel glamorous and I enjoyed setting out all my bits and pieces. I learned how to do great makeup by practicing there, trying out new looks.

It is the greatest trend now for teen girls to have a beauty station, and kids are cruel when it comes to those who don't have the big, popular or stylish trend of the moment.

You can get them relatively cheaply now or even upcycle one from Marketplace, Vinted, etc.

MatronPomfrey · 22/04/2026 20:29

I’m 46 and only had one for a year, was in a flat I rented as a student. Always used the top of a chest of drawer. She can have one when she gets her own home if she wants. My DD(12) has a desk for school work, got it during lockdown. Maybe she’ll use it like a dressing table if she ever takes an interest.
We don’t have to give children everything they want.

Whatyoutalkingabouteh · 22/04/2026 20:31

My teen has a very small bedroom so we’ve now got a loft bed with a desk underneath which has a Hollywood style mirror and room for makeup/perfumes on the desk and the drawers. Also can do her homework there but its perfect for keeping everything off the floor or in random places/boxes!

Hatty65 · 22/04/2026 20:34

I've got a massive bedroom and I don't have a dressing table. I have the top of a chest of drawers like your DD.

I would roll my eyes at her and agree that 'it's tragic, darling. Sadly there's no space and I can't afford it. Feel free to save up your pocket money if you really, really want one though'.

Teenagers love something to huff about.

Laiste · 22/04/2026 20:52

My 12 year old has one. An IKEA desk with wide shallow drawer.

My 25 year old has a custom made one!

Me? I have a make up mirror on my tall chest of drawers, make up in the top drawer, and i just stand at it 🤪

Stompythedinosaur · 22/04/2026 21:33

My dds have a mirror with lights round that they can put on their desk if they want to, but generally lives on a shelf. And a plastic tub for their make up.

I'm not sure if people with dressing tables have much bigger rooms than we have, or whether they replace another piece of furniture?

I certainly wouldn't give up a desk for schoolwork to fit in a dressing table.

IsThistheMiddleofNowhere · 22/04/2026 23:05

I don't have a dressing table. Prefer to sit on sofa or at the dining table with a hand held mirror but my 18 year old has an ikea desk with a Hollywood style mirror on it. You can barely see the desktop though as its rammed with hair and beauty proucts. Likewise the drawer. My other daughter doesn't wear make up and just keeps her skincare and hair products in her bathroom

justasking111 · 22/04/2026 23:17

I've always had a dressing table from being a teen. But can't stand make up cluttering them up. Make up has always gone in a drawer with dividers and a make up kit box. I like jewellery box and a small tray for perfumes etc.

I'd buy her a make up kit box. I bet her friends haven't got one of those.

BlueJayRose · 22/04/2026 23:20

If there is a space in her room then yes.

Ponoka7 · 22/04/2026 23:23

My granddaughters got vanity tables when they were 8 & 10. It stopped them leaving lip gloss, perfume etc over the house.