Wanting to build a vanity

So I want to build a small vanity table to put in my bedroom at my apartment. Space is kinda limited, so I'm thinking a vanity table about 16 inches long and 24 inches wide would be the perfect size.
I'd love to be able to build something on my own out of some some kind of sustainable/eco-friendly material. I have found tutorials online that use plywood or MDF, but I don't have a large enough car to haul anything too big. I'm also pretty limited when it comes to the availability of powertools and saws.

I was thinking it might be neat to layer cardboard and bookboard because then it would be lightweight but still decently sturdy, but I'm not sure what kind of glue might be best for that.

I'd like to avoid spending a lot of money because I'm coming up on the end of a school semester so my budget is pretty tight. The thrift stores around here don't carry much more than dinner tables and big desks, so I am out of luck there.

So basically I am looking for any affordable or super creative way to build a vanity table. Oh, and any cool ideas on how to decorate a big mirror would be appreciated, too!

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8 replies since 2nd April 2013 • Last reply 2nd April 2013

Reply #1:

http://youtu.be/0yI_C2dvfdU

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Reply #2:

That is an awesome idea! The junk shops always have vintage suitcases like that.
There's an antique trunk at my fiance's mom's house so I might see if she'd let me clean it up and turn it into a vanity. It's already made of wood and metal so it would be pretty easy to put legs on.

Now I just need to clean up the old mirrors I found and see which one is in better shape.

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Reply #3:

Happy Glad to be of assistance!

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Reply #4:

You always are!
I forgot too that Vermillion has a thrift store, which I have never checked out yet. I'm thinking that if I can find a small table with nice legs and a suitcase or trunk, they're totally going to be mashed together.

Hopefully I can find a way to turn a wall-hanging mirror into a stand-up mirror.
I think I might try to find some mirror pieces to fit in some of the cooler photo frames I have. I think that would make for a neat mirror installation.

Ideas! They feel good! Happy

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Reply #5:

Well, Joe's mom has given me an antique footlocker to use as the body of my vanity table! I just need to find legs now. Sadly it's locked so the inside is inaccessible, but I might see if Joe wants to get a lockpicking set to help me open it.

I'm trying to think of how the inside could be used if we can break the lock open, but I feel like it would be too much hassle to have to move everything off just to get something out.

Hm...

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Reply #6:

well, maybe you could keep all your stuff inside, and find a way to mount the mirror on the inside of the lid?

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Reply #7:

Oh and if it's deep enough you could make a tray for it like this-

Medium 251 antique trunk open
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Reply #8:

That might not be a bad idea if I can get it open. I am going to check out the footlocker I saw in the machine shed because it was already open.
I also think I found some spray paint that I can use on glass to make it more mirror-like. It's designed to look like mercury glass when you use water as a resist, but it looks almost perfectly mirror-like when you use it plain. Krylon Looking Glass is what it's called. I can get cheap glass at the dollar store so I could make a small 3 way mirror from scratch.

I am really excited now, lol.

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