Bathrooms are one of the most practical and busiest rooms in the house, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look great. We understand how difficult this can be, especially since there’s only a handful of items of furniture that you can put in a bathroom without it looking small and cluttered. But there is one thing that can make a noticeable difference in a bathroom, even if the rest of the room is a little neglected…and that's a mirror.
Despite it being as practical as the bathroom itself, a mirror can transform a space, not only by making it brighter but by making a statement too. There are so many different types of mirrors available to choose from, but picking the right one is really important. Wooden framed mirrors are often a popular choice due to their low price, but wood can warp and discolour quickly in damp conditions. So rather than making a quick purchase, take a look at our guide and shop around to find the mirror suited to you…
Form
A mirror can come in many different shapes and sizes and the most suitable for your bathroom will depend on its shape and size too. If you’re lucky enough to have the wall space, a large hung mirror will make a huge difference to the room. You may also prefer a mirrored cabinet to provide essential storage space as well. It is important, however, to remember that a cabinet won’t sit flush to a wall, so the placement of the cabinet must be considered before you make a purchase. The most popular choice, we find, are the slimline mirrors. These have the ability to look sleek and stylish whilst taking up very minimal space on the wall.
Function
You may not think of a mirror as the height of technology, but they have come a long way in the last few years! Rather than opting for a standard mirror, there are a number of useful functions that can enable you to make the most of your bathroom experience in the most convenient ways possible...
• Lighting
Many mirrors now come with built-in lighting, including battery or mains powered. These can be as simple as a backlit mirror or as modern as an LED colour changing mirror. It’s important to consider the power source before buying an LED mirror, as there are pros and cons to each.
• Demisters
One inconvenience in the bathroom is that once you have left the shower or bath, you will find that your mirror has completely steamed up and you are unable to see your reflection through it. Which is why many mirrors now have a demister pad, which is activated by a small switch and will safely heat up to clear your mirror in seconds. • Magnification – Magnifying mirrors are great for applying make-up, brushing your teeth, shaving and any other grooming tasks that require absolute precision. Freestanding vanity mirrors usually have a standard side and a magnifying side, but more and more full-size mirrors are devoting a small area to magnification.
• Shaving Points
Always a useful bathroom addition but often only found in hotels, many mains powered mirrors now have one or two built-in shaver sockets, allowing you to charge your electric shaver or electric toothbrush whilst keeping them next to your mirror.
• Bluetooth Audio
Listen to your own music in the bathroom with the help of a Bluetooth audio mirror or cabinet. This innovative technology allows you to wirelessly connect your devices safely and securely to your bathroom mirror, allowing you to thoroughly enjoy your bathroom experience.
• Infrared Sensors
Rather than having to dry your hands and then switch on the lights on your mirror, or have to touch the buttons on the mirror constantly, you can now simply wave your hand along the motion sensor and the lights will turn on and off, effortlessly.
Practicalities
Moving on from the features, one of the most important aspects of a mirror is the size of it, so you should make sure you know exactly how much wall space you have for your mirror and factor in things such as doors, windows and any required storage space that's needed. It’s also worth noting that mains powered LED Mirrors aren’t suitable to be placed in certain areas of a bathroom, as they can only withstand a certain level of water, so be sure to read any instructions that and extra information you may need to be aware of when browsing for mirrors.
Make sure you're familiar with the wall that the mirror will be hung on, a heavy mirror will be unsafe on a weak or unsupported wall, or you may even find that it simply won’t go up. Similarly, it’s really important to make sure the mirror is fitted properly, not only does a broken mirror bring seven years of bad luck, but it’s also very dangerous. After purchasing a mirror for your bathroom, we would recommend hiring a professional electrician or fitter to install the mirror for you, this way you can be sure that the mirror will be hung and connected up safely and properly.
