Asked on May 14, 2015

How can I raise the height of this vanity?

Christine Anne
by Christine Anne
I bought this lovely antique piece, but it's too short for an average adult. Can I safely add castors to the bottom of the feet or might they split? Any other ideas to raise the height and still have it attractive to look at? Thanks!
  25 answers
  • Mary Chaisson Mary Chaisson on May 14, 2015
    Put it on castors? It looks like it had them to begin with.
  • Tammie Housley Tammie Housley on May 14, 2015
    Have you thought about removing the current legs and replacing them with taller ones?
  • Sooz Sooz on May 14, 2015
    Sorry,I'll restart. I would add the decorative turned wood finials you find at Lowes or Home depot. They can be screwed right into the bottoms of the existing legs. They can be anywhere from 4-10 inches high
  • Danielle Danielle on May 15, 2015
    I think Sooz hit the nail on the head with the turned finials idea. It will raise the height and look authentic to the piece.
  • Adrianne C Adrianne C on May 15, 2015
    Just remember to predrill the holes. It also looks like the top part may be lifted uo as well.
  • Susan Bradbury Susan Bradbury on May 15, 2015
    The simple thing to do is add some rolling wheels- it will add about 2 inches. I bought white ones for mine and painted my vanity white and added black embellishments- it turned out great!
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  • Vicki Vicki on May 15, 2015
    There are bathroom vanities that "float" a glass top over the wooden top, usually sitting on 4 chrome supports at about an 1"-2" high. You could do something similiar and the supports could be made from any number of items - old wooden spools?? - whatever appeals to you. It's a different approach to elevating.
  • Janal Janal on May 15, 2015
    To piggy back... after extending the legs, which is what I would do as well, make sure they are strong and sturdy enough to support the weight and function for this piece, then add wooden casters as per the original design :)
  • Bluemyrtle45 Bluemyrtle45 on May 15, 2015
    Looks like they have been cut. Here is an ad with something almost the same. Try and copy this as close as possible to create the original look. Your local wood shop should offer the right assistance. http://www.kijiji.ca/v-bed-mattress/city-of-toronto/antique-bedroom-set/1043044819?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
  • Tonia Tonia on May 15, 2015
    I don't believe that it has been cut. I have a similar vanity mine has the original seat that came with the bedroom set. These were short on purpose. Women sat and did their hair and make up. You may find holes in the bottom where the original wooden casters were inserted. If there aren't any just pre drill holes and add casters. I would try and find some second hand wooden casters so it still looks authentic.
  • Barbara Barbara on May 15, 2015
    I agree with Tonia. Adding vintage casters would be maintaining the integrity of the piece and still give the added height needed. It's so lovely!
  • Dee Dee on May 15, 2015
    My first impulse was to place the vanity on 'glass' balls. Do you remember those hard plexi 'clacker' balls? One on each end of a string? If you could get something like that in a deep color to match your decor they could be threaded into the bottom of the legs (using the holes in the bottom) and have a protective pad on the bottom. They would definitely be strong enough and you might even find some with flecks of color to add to the 'old' look. I wish I could explain this better!! I can see the vision, but can anyone else?
  • Grammie Grammie on May 15, 2015
    Bun Feet would look nice
  • Sharron Abrams Sharron Abrams on May 15, 2015
    Some antiques have nice vintage rollers - that would add a great statement to your piece
  • Elizabeth Elizabeth on May 15, 2015
    I can't tell how much taller you want it to be... a few inches? a foot or more? Here's a thought... place a bracket or two on the back and hang it, you will then have a floating vanity
  • Bev Deardurff Bev Deardurff on May 15, 2015
    I've watch the Antiques Roadshow Many times they mention that a peice of furniture' was stored in a damp place and the bottom's of the legs were ruined, so the feet were cut off making it short/low. Your vanity could have had claw feet. Is there a tag somewhere telling who was the maker? Or Google it, maybe you can find an example of a vanity similar to your''s. Compare and if anything is missing at the end of the legs of your vanity you can restore it to it's proper form.I hope this helps you out.
  • Jaxon Jaxon on May 15, 2015
    You could just make a small platform to elevate it. We did that in a bathroom we remodeled and really ended up loving it. It was hardly even noticeable. Good luck!
  • Cynthia Cynthia on May 15, 2015
    I would add a "shelf" ( with routed edges to match your top) beneath each set of existing legs, then a new set of legs beneath those- storage and added height!!
  • Ilona Elliott Ilona Elliott on May 16, 2015
    What Cynthia said.
  • Sandra wilson Sandra wilson on May 31, 2015
    Decorative Spindle...most are about 4feet long. cut in half screw to leg by drill both and a 2 ended screw( my bed is four post and it has them.)
  • Mcgypsy9 Mcgypsy9 on Sep 23, 2015
    My first question is: Have you done anything with it yet? If not...I would make or buy 2 boxes that are open on one side. Add one to each side and add baskets or a smaller drawer type box with a nice handle to match the vanity. This is an awesome piece!
  • Patty Winchell- Yettaw Patty Winchell- Yettaw on Oct 22, 2017

    So I’m kind of curious what you ended up doing with your vanity. I have a beautiful on I just redid and am wanting to sell. These types of vanit are called a dressing vanity. They are about 3-4” shorter than a makeup vanity. Personally I love it the way it is but so far every buyer that has come to look at it says the same thing “ Is this a child’s vanity?” And decide it is to short to sit at and they don’t want it. With antiques like this I hate to permanently alter it because you are destroying its value. These dressing vanities are hard to come by and can be worth some money. But since everyone wants them higher they are actually hard to sell. So I’m trying to find a way to add height without ruining the original legs.

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    • Kim Kim on Jul 18, 2021

      Hi, how did this turn out. I just got a vanity almost exactly like the original poster. It is very low to the ground and was looking to extend the leg.

  • Dee Dee on Apr 06, 2024

    You can put the vanity on wheels, buy high bun feet or take off the current legs and replace with longer legs. All can be purchased at Lowes or Home Depot.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Apr 07, 2024

    Out it on a platform if you can't get the right size/type casters.