Choosing the right bathroom mirror

A bathroom mirror is a must, but what bathroom mirror do you choose? Following this guide will help you answer some questions about what mirror you would need and help you choose the correct bathroom mirror.

Which type of bathroom mirror do I need?

This is not a straight forward question to answer, and if you were to ask a designer, they would probably come back at you with even more questions, such as, who is going to use it? what are they going to use it for? when is it likely to be in use? how big and how well lit is the room it is going in? …. the list of questions goes on! The problem here is, they are all relevant questions and need answering if you are to get the perfect mirror for your new bathroom or ensuite. In order to take you through the process of selecting the best mirror for you, and without having to book in to speak with a designer, we have answered most of these questions here. The list is not exhaustive and there may be specifics to your room or how you plan on using it that are not discussed in detail here, but we have tried to cover most bases.

Who is going to use the bathroom mirror?

This is probably one of the first, if not the first question you should be asking yourself. Who is going to use the mirror will dictate many of the features you will need to focus on. Is it going in a family bathroom? If it is, getting the size and height from the floor right can be tricky, especially if there are both tall and shorter members in the house. Is it for a personal ensuite? If this is the case, how large is the room? How well lit is the room? An ensuite or bathroom with a small window will likely be quite dark even during the day, in which case an LED mirror or mirror cabinet may be the best option. Is it for guests in a cloakroom? If this is the case, the chances are the room will be small with little to no natural lighting. A plain mirror in this case would be the better and most cost effective option.

What is it going to be used for?

For example, is it going to be used to apply makeup, getting a shave, using tweezers or eyelash curlers? Is it for one last check of your outfit before you leave the house? In the first case you would likely need an LED mirror or better still a magnified LED mirror. In the second case, a full length plain mirror would be better suited to the task.

When and where is it likely to be in use?

If it is being used in a main bathroom or ensuite, especially after a shower or whilst the shower is in use, then an LED mirror or plain mirror with added demister will likely be the best option. In a downstairs cloak which has only a WC and basin or vanity unit, a plain mirror will always suffice as there will likely never be enough steam generated to fog up the mirror.

In a main bathroom, depending on the size of the room, there may well be more than one mirror. Having one above each basin is the usual option, however, for double basin units a long rectangular mirror is a popular choice.

What size bathroom mirror do you need?

Although there are many sizes of mirror available, which one you choose and where you install it can be dictated by where you plan to install it and who is going to use it. We would normally recommend a mirror be about 300mm above and below the eyeline of whoever the intended user is. This can tricky to gauge however, when it is used in a family bathroom. The height of the basin or vanity below it will also dictate the height to a certain extent, and the height that it is set at.

Do you what lights on you mirror?

Lights are handy on mirrors as they help with makeup application, lighting for shaving or just to add mood lighting to your bathroom. Bathroom mirrors with lights often will require a power supply to power the mirror, which will require the services of a qualified electrian to install. If you do not have the option to add a power supply, a battery powered illumination mirror might be an option.

Would you like added storage space?

If you would like added storage space, a bathroom cabinet would be a good choice as they give you added storage plus the funtion of a mirror. Mirror cabinets can also come fully loaded with all the features of a bathroom mirror including lighting and demister options.

Conclusion

In conclusion the choice of mirror is entirely up to you and your tastes and needs, but by answering the above questions we hope this will help you choose the style of mirror you need from plain non-illumination bathroom mirrors, LED Bathroom Mirror or a bathroom cabinet.