A Guide To Buying Mirrors

Mirrors are among the design elements that can make a huge difference…

However, when you are choosing the best mirror for a space there are some rules we prefer to adhere to.

The team at Mirrors Unlimited has been taught lots about selecting mirrors. Today, we’ll guide you through our method of selecting the best form, style and grade!

Here’s a few points to consider when picking the mirror we want to use:

No. 1 Size

There are some rules of thumbs we adhere to when selecting the dimensions of mirrors.

Over the furniture piece:

If we’re choosing an above-ground mirror to go over an item of furniture it is best in size to match the furniture below it in order to provide some breathing space.

If the mirror is large enough to cover the entire piece of furniture and takes over the entire impression of the style. But, if the mirror is just a few inches smaller than the furniture, it’s simpler to put a lamp or decoration over the piece to create an even scene.

The wall

Placing a mirror on the wall is an ideal option to make your home appear larger, however you shouldn’t allow your mirror to dominate the whole wall. If you’re hanging a wall mirror on a wall that is narrow we prefer leaving just a few millimetres to the outside of the mirror in order to create the illusion of balance.

Bathroom:

Selecting the ideal size mirror for the bathroom is about the things that surround it.

If you’re planning the building process from scratch and decide on your lighting, plumbing and electrical options, you’ll have the option of modifying the layout and choose to install two large mirrors or one smaller mirrors. If you’re renovating it is likely to deal with the current plumbing and electrical layout.

In general, if there are two sinks, we will install two mirrors, with two sconces to each side. We want mirrors that at least extend the width of the kitchen sink. So when sinks are located close to each other, sticking with a larger mirror is the safer option.

When building a new home it is our goal to mix different layouts of bathrooms in the home to create an individual look and feel. For instance, if we install two mirrors that have side sconces within the same bathroom, we may make a longer mirror and an overhead light in the second.

No. 2. Shape

When choosing the perfect mirror shape for the space, there are a few factors we would like to take into consideration.

Over an item of furniture:

We love to be creative by mirror shapes on furniture pieces and usually choose more unusual designs such as an arched mirror.

If we own a dresser with smooth, round edges, we are likely to make a contrast with a square mirror. However, if there is a piece that has sharper edges an arch or circular form can provide the ideal contrast.

The bathroom is:

In a bathroom, the very first aspect you need to think about is the lighting.

If the wiring in the remodel is wired to two side sconces, we’ll probably select a circular-shaped mirror instead of a square-shaped mirror. Likewise, if the remodel is wired to the overhead lighting, we’ll typically opt for a square-shaped mirror.

We’ve used circular mirrors and an overhead sconce when space had required it, however it is more difficult to determine the perfect balance to make it work effectively.

No. 3. Style

The style you choose for the mirror you choose has a lot in common with other elements surrounding it. And because we are drawn to styles that are transitional, we often choose to incorporate a mix of styles into every vignette. Here are some tips to consider:
Bathroom:

There’s a distinction between bathroom mirrors and those that are not (we’ll discuss that in the future,) but when it is about style, bathroom grade mirrors tend to be more sleek.

Sometimes, when you’ve got plumbing, lighting and all the other components that make up an bathroom, making the most intricate mirrors can cause a distraction to the eye. Because of these reasons, we prefer to make mirror designs simple in many of bathrooms.

However, we do continue to experiment with balance and style using mirrors to draw attention to or contrast the traditional and modern elements of the room.

Over a piece or piece of furniture or on a wall

Mixing up the styles with mirrors over pieces of furniture can be even more enjoyable and we are always looking to explore mixing modern and traditional styles.

For instance, if we have a traditional style of dresser, then we could opt for modern-looking mirrors, and the reverse is also true.

If you’re thinking of an image for your wall check out the space to try and find out what’s lacking. If you’ve got lots of round silhouettes in your space, you might need something more rectangular. If you’re surrounded by a large number of minimalist pieces, selecting pieces with greater detail could add more interest and depth.

No. 4 Graduation

Not the least last, picking the appropriate mirror will require you to know your needs. Although a mirror on an item of furniture or on a wall does not necessarily need to meet specific requirements for function however, a bathroom mirror is quite different!

Bathrooms are a source of some humidity Mirrors in your bathroom needs to adhere to certain guidelines to prevent the growth of mold and other harmful elements.

When you look at a mirror on the internet, you can tell whether it’s bathroom-grade or not. There are some things to be looking for:

No. 1: Mention of “Bath Rated”

No. 2. Shatterproof

No. 3. Plated but but not painted

No. 4: Easy hanging method

However, there are there are always exceptions to this principle. For powder bathrooms such as these we may opt for mirrors with more details which aren’t “Bath Rated,” since they do not need to contend with moisture in the same way that baths with full-length mirrors do.