Cosmetics Store Furniture List: Every Display Cabinet and Fixture You’ll Need
You need a complete list of furniture for a cosmetics store, clearly outlining display cabinets, shelves, cash registers and makeup testing equipment all at once. Don’t piece them together from dozens of suppliers. The following table is our “standard configuration” over the past 3 years of working with store owners in North America, Australia and the Middle East. It directly tells you what to buy, what size to order, and which items are most likely to be missed. The entire content focuses on the B2B perspective – if you are planning to purchase entire cabinets from Chinese factories or want to use one list to compare prices with multiple suppliers, this is just the right thing for you.
What furniture and equipment should I buy when opening a cosmetics store?
Many people start by looking at the decoration renderings. But when the goods arrive, they find that there are missing items such as the makeup testing stools or that the size of the sample trays doesn’t match. The fastest way to complete the delivery is to first unpack the hardware furniture by region and then match the quantities.
Core List Summary Table:
| Area | Furniture / Equipment | Recommended Size (W×D×H cm) | Common Materials | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance / Window Display | Promotional Island Display Cabinet | 120×60×90 | Metal frame + tempered glass | Equipped with universal wheels for easy repositioning |
| Wall Cabinet Area | Back Wall Cabinet / Tall Cabinet | Custom width on site, depth 30–35, height 220–240 | Wood veneer over MDF, or painted MDF | Adjustable shelves are mandatory; reserve slots for LED light strips |
| Wall Cabinet Area | Low Wall Cabinet | Custom width, depth 35–40, height 90 | Veneered MDF + stainless steel toe kick | For testers or trays; pay attention to load capacity |
| Island Area | Island Display Counter (with glass cover) | 100×80×140 | Metal base cabinet + tempered glass cover + lock | For premium serums and gift sets; lock is essential |
| Lipstick / Small Items Area | Lipstick Tower / Rotating Display Rack | Ø40 × H150 | Acrylic + metal base | 360° rotatable version available; shelf spacing ≥ 8cm |
| Checkout Area | Cashier Counter | 150×60×105 | Painted MDF + artificial stone countertop | Pre-reserve power sockets and cash drawer inside |
| Makeup Testing Area | Makeup Station / Bar Counter | 120×50×75 | HPL countertop or quartz stone | Comes with 2 bar stools; rounded front edge required |
| Makeup Testing Area | Lighted Vanity Mirror | Diameter 70–90 | Stainless steel frame + LED strip | Single-sided or double-sided; color temperature 4000K |
| Accessories | Acrylic Storage Tray | 30×20×3 | Clear acrylic | At least 20 pieces; separate compartments for lipsticks and foundations |
| Accessories | Makeup Testing Stool | Seat height 65–75 | Metal legs + PU cushion | Height-adjustable version available; non-slip pads at base |
Why is this table worth referring to?
Most store opening guides only give you a few terms without specifying the dimensions. When you order the cabinets, if you are off by 5cm, it might block the fire escape route. The dimensions in the table are the universal standards verified through actual installations in multiple stores in Melbourne, Dubai, and London. Using these directly can reduce rework.
30cm vs 40cm: What’s the Right Depth for Wall Display Cabinets?
This data directly determines how wide the aisles in the store will be. The standard depth for a back cabinet is recommended to be 30-35 cm, which is just enough to accommodate foundation liquids and cosmetic bottle jars without blocking the customer flow. If you want to display gift boxes, sets, or need to embed light boxes, then consider increasing the depth to 38-40 cm.
One more point that is often overlooked – the layer board adjustment holes. Do not choose the fixed layer board. The factory usually defaults to a 5cm spacing grid. You should request on the confirmation form to have a system with a 3cm spacing. This way, when you add new SKUs in the future, adjusting the height won’t be difficult. We have encountered cases where the spacing of the entire batch of back cabinet layer boards was insufficient to accommodate tall bottle essences. In the end, we could only place them at an angle, which greatly affected the display image.
Island Display Counters: Built-In Lighting or No Lighting?
Data shows: The island cabinets with lights have an average increase in product visibility of over 40%. However, not every island cabinet needs a light. A combination strategy of “60% with lights + 40% without lights” can be used to control the budget.
- Counter with LED hard light strips: Placed at the entrance and main passageway, used for promoting the main products with high unit prices or exclusive agent brands.
- Base island without lights: The area against the wall or secondary circulation path. Ceiling spotlights will suffice.
From the perspective of B2B procurement, it is more cost-effective to purchase the light strips and the cabinets separately. Let the furniture factory only produce the cabinet bodies, and purchase the lamps separately from the light source factories in Zhongshan and Jiangmen. For the same parameter light strips, the factory’s quotation is usually 30% – 50% higher than the original source. You just spend an extra time on assembly and connection.
What Do Most Stores Overlook in Makeup Testing Zones?
The makeup counter and the mirror are things everyone remembers, but what gets overlooked is the stability of the makeup counter and the convenience of cleaning the countertop. It is recommended to abandon the plastic stools with a fast-fashion style and use a medium-high stool with metal legs and a PU seat cushion. Guests won’t feel uncomfortable after sitting for half an hour. The countertop should be directly made of anti-fingerprint and fire-resistant boards or quartz stone. When foundation liquid is smeared on it, it can be wiped off easily. Never use rough solid wood, as it will bleed colors.
In addition, beside the makeup try-on station, there must be a small display side cabinet. A size of 60×40×90 will be sufficient. It can be used to store makeup cloths, cotton swabs, makeup remover liquid and sample products. The store staff won’t have to go to the warehouse to restock. Many novice business owners skip this item directly in their initial list and only add it when they open the store. This leads to a significant delay in the process.
What Details Are Critical for B2B Bulk Furniture Sourcing?
If you place an order for 5 sets, 10 sets or even the entire range of furniture from the chain brand, simply enlarging the size won’t do. The following 4 points can be directly included in the contract attachment between you and the factory.
- Packaging method: High-density foam + corner protection + external wooden frame for fumigation. Glass covers and mirrors must be shipped in separate wooden boxes. When shipping by sea using general cargo containerization, the packaging damage rate can be as much as 20% lower.
- Minimum order quantity and delivery time: For laminated display cabinets made of medium-density fiberboard, the regular MOQ is 5-10 sets in combination. The delivery time is 25-35 days. Acrylic products are faster, with a delivery time of 7-15 days. A buffer of 35 days must be reserved before the peak season.
- Voltage and plugs: For cabinets with built-in light strips, it is necessary to state in advance the voltage (110V/220V) and plug standards applicable to the region. The standards vary in Europe, the United States, and Australia. Don’t wait until the goods arrive at the port to find that all the lights don’t work.
- Disassembly or Assembly: If the cabinet exceeds 2 meters in height, it is recommended to pack it in a K/D (disassembly and assembly) box and have the wooden workers assemble it on-site. While assembly is more convenient, the shipping cost for large cabinets in assembly form will be much higher, and it is prone to being knocked around during transportation.
How to Choose Cabinet Materials That Won’t Peel in 6 Months?
The habit of asking about prices right from the start needs to be changed. There have been too many issues with the materials. Last year, a client from London purchased twenty sets of cheap white lacquered island cabinets. Within three months, the paint began to turn yellow. Eventually, they had to cover the entire thing with wood veneer for refurbishment, spending even more money.
- Medium-density fiberboard painting: Make sure to confirm whether the surface is coated with PU paint or UV paint. PU paint has a good feel and high hardness, making it suitable for high-end stores; UV paint is cheaper but has a high risk of yellowing. The specification sheet clearly states “PU matte paint, yellowing resistance test not less than 500 hours”.
- Applying solid wood veneer: Select natural wood veneer with a thickness of 0.5mm or more. This will make the back cabinet look more upscale. Also, pay attention to the density of the core medium-density fiberboard, which should exceed 700kg/m³. Otherwise, the nail retention will be poor and the door hinges will loosen within one year.
- Acrylic: For the column and tray, use cast acrylic as much as possible. Avoid using extruded sheets. Transparency is a completely different matter. Extruded sheets will develop fine cracks over time and look very cheap when illuminated.
- Metal frame: Powder coating is preferred. The salt spray test has passed for 48 hours. This feature should be particularly emphasized in stores located in coastal cities and island countries.
Beyond the Fixture List: Don’t Ignore Store Electrical Setup
The furniture itself is not electrified, but many display cabinets require lighting and sockets. Before placing the order, draw a furniture positioning map and mark the power supply points required for each wall cabinet, island counter, and central island. A ground socket should be reserved under the island counter; otherwise, tangled wires will be both unattractive and unsafe. This task is extremely simple, but during each store opening training session, at least half of the store owners only add it at the mid-stage of construction. The cost of cutting holes and wiring doubles.
The Most Common Furniture Bundle for Full-Store Bulk Orders
Based on the actual orders from multiple customers, for a cosmetics store of about 40 square meters, a typical batch order would be:
- 3 sets of standard wall-mounted cabinets (with LED strip lights)
- Two display cabinets with glass covers on the island counter
- One cash register counter
- 1 makeup station + 2 stools + double-sided illuminated mirror
- Ten acrylic lipstick towers/trays
- One promotional entrance cabinet
If shipping the entire cabinet, a 20GP container is sufficient to accommodate 8-10 sets of such store fixtures. The cost of purchasing the furniture for each store can be reduced by 35% – 50% compared to local customization. When we provide the DDP quotation, we will include the fumigation of wooden crates and port handling fees directly. The customer will receive a one-stop door-to-door price and there is no need for subsequent additional charges.
If the floor plan of your store has been prepared, simply mark the functional areas and check the quantities against the list provided. Within 3 hours, you will have a precise purchase list ready. First, confirm the wall depth, light strips, and voltage. Then sign the production order and the delivery date will be fixed. The rest is just waiting for unpacking and layout. Please feel free to contact us for design drawings, quotations, and shipping services.