How to Choose a Bathroom Mirror That’s Best for Your Bathroom
Mirrors can be placed in various places throughout the home for practical purposes and to give the illusion of more space. But one of the most important places for good mirror selection and placement is the bathroom. This is where members of your household and guests will likely comb their hair, brush their teeth, and take care of other hygiene needs on a daily basis.
This article will describe the various types of bathroom mirrors, standard mirror sizes, and how to choose a bathroom mirror that works well in your space. We’ll also address how to hang a mirror safely in the bathroom and the recommended bathroom mirror height.
Types of Bathroom Mirrors
Bathroom mirrors can be framed or unframed to add a little color or take a minimalist design approach. Some bathroom mirrors have built-in lighting, which is great if your bathroom doesn’t have a window to let natural light inside. Some mirrors are displayed on the front of a medicine cabinet, while others have a small shelf built into the bottom to display decorations or store toiletries. In addition to wall-hung mirrors, some people also have vanity mirrors that have a magnifying side, which can be helpful for putting in contacts or applying makeup. Specialty mirrors can also tilt or extend out from the wall for better views.
At Central Plumbing Specialties, our New York showrooms have hundreds of bathroom mirrors to choose from in a range of styles, colors, and brands. Popular brands that our customers love include American Standard, Blu Bathworks, Brizo, Ginger, and Watermark. We carry a bathroom mirrors to suit every budget, and you can browse them at the showroom nearest you.
Standard Mirror Sizes
The size of your bathroom and your sink space will dictate the best mirror size for your bathroom. Take a measurement of your vanity and the wall where you want your mirror to hang. As a general rule, the mirror should be a few inches narrower than your vanity, including the sink, counter, and storage. Standard mirror sizes are 24 inches by 20 inches and 36 inches by 30 inches, for example. Other popular mirror sizes we carry measure 27 1/2" wide x 27 1/2" high x 1 1/2" deep and 55" wide x 27 1/2" high x 1 1/2" deep.
Ideal Bathroom Mirror Height
The standard bathroom mirror height that interiors decorators recommend is between 38 and 42 inches from the floor. This is the measurement of the bottom of the mirror to the floor. You may want to center the mirror with the bathroom wall for overall continuity of the room. It also helps to place the mirror so that the center of it is at eye level. If you are installing a mirror in a bathroom used by several family members of varying heights, use the average height as a mirror-hanging guideline.
How to Hang a Heavy Mirror Safely
Another question that many people have is how to hang a heavy mirror without calling professional help. You first want to make sure that your wall can accommodate the heavy mirror with your desired placement. If you are putting a new frame on an old mirror, make sure that you adhere to the hardware weight limits. Then use a stud finder or reinforce a new frame with angel brackets for added security. It always helps to have a second pair of hands to help hold the mirror up and mark the desired hanging spot with a pencil before installing mounting hooks or nails. D-rings, wire, and a drill are also handy to have around the house for heavy mirror hanging projects.