Simple Pleasures: The Morning Primp

The tone of your morning, from the moment you roll out of bed to the last second spent scrambling for keys and phone on the way out the door, can set the mood for your entire day. Why not make sure it’s a good one? Here are nine ideas for setting up a space in your home dedicated to getting ready in the morning — so you can leave feeling serene and centered, not frazzled.

Have a classic dressing table your way. Think all dressing tables are fussy and outdated? Not by a long shot. A sleek countertop or petite desk in the bedroom makes a civilized spot to sit at while getting ready in the morning, and can be customized to suit your style. Here a simple wall-mounted surface is paired with a sleek Panton chair and an ornate mirror for a fresh, eclectic look.


Make a bathroom primping station. A lemon-yellow stool and a vase of flowers may be all you need to transform your bath into a cheery spot for getting ready. If you always end up hovering over the sink while getting ready in the morning, don’t fight it — just make it more beautiful.


Give yourself flowers. Do you ever buy flowers just for you? Not to fill a space on the dining table or spruce up the living room when company is coming, but to place in your bedroom where you can see them first thing in the morning? If you haven’t been doing this, I encourage you to try it. Even a small posy pulled from a larger bouquet in another room will do the trick — having fresh flowers of any sort on your dressing table will make you feel like a movie star.


Add art and inspiration. The space where you get dressed, fix your hair and perhaps put on makeup is likely one of your first stops in the morning. Why not fill it with inspiring objects and artwork to start your day off on a high note? Try adding a small bust or sculpture, framed art propped up or hung on the wall, beautiful decorative objects and meaningful keepsakes.


Organize your prettiest supplies. Everything looks better on a tray. Instead of letting your bottles and jars spread over the entire surface of your dressing table or sink top, corral your favorite items that you use daily on a neat tray. Hide less-attractive items in lidded jars and baskets, so you can access them easily yet maintain a serene look.


Get dressed in style. We’re not all blessed with giant walk-in closets, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most of the space available to us. Make a point of neatening up your closet and dressing area each evening before bed, and hang your outfit for the next day on a pretty hook on your closet door. Isn’t it so much lovelier to wake to a clear and clean space, with the hard work of outfit selection already done?

While you’re at it, it wouldn’t hurt to make sure there is something soft underfoot, a small perch for trying on shoes and good lighting.


Make your outfit check a flattering one. Speaking of lighting, have you noticed how the best clothing shops have soft, glowing lighting in the dressing rooms?

They are also likely to have large, flattering mirrors, beautiful music on in the background and perhaps even an encouraging message written on the mirror. Why not repeat that experience for yourself at home? Wall sconces, a table lamp, twinkle lights draped over a floor-length mirror — add any or all of these to make your dressing area a friendly, flattering place for getting ready to face the day.

A small stereo or an iPod dock would make a nice addition to this space as well.


Don’t forget the jewels. Keep your favorites out on display — lay out earrings on a tray, pile bracelets and rings in pretty bowls and drape necklaces over a bust or the corner of your mirror, or hang them from pins on a linen-covered board.

Seeing all of your favorite pieces at once will help you remember what you have, and jewelry is decorative by nature, so it looks great on display.


Get set for a relaxing evening. If you can, pick up and put away as you go — you’ll thank yourself later. Coming home to a nicely made bed and a neat dressing area is a joy. Clear away your morning coffee cups, lay out your favorite pajamas and straighten the stack of magazines by your bed. Leaving for your day knowing things are in order at home will set you off on the right foot.

Tell us: What makes your morning getting-ready routine run more smoothly?

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