Mirrors

Buyers’ Guide to Bathroom Mirrors

How to Choose a Bathroom Mirror

If you need to save space, consider a mirror which doubles up as storage and look at a mirrored bathroom cabinet. However if your storage needs are already well catered for and there isn’t capacity for a cabinet which extends out from the wall perhaps a simple flat wall mirror is preferable. Most bathrooms benefit from extra light, so an illuminated mirror with built in LEDs is a great way to add this. They are generally low profile and will require fitting by a qualified electrician to an electricity supply. At Premium Plumbing we also stock fantastic products which combine all three uses: illuminated mirrored bathroom cabinets.

Types of Bathroom Mirrors

Mirrored Bathroom Cabinets

A mirrored bathroom cabinet is a multi-function item, offering storage space, a mirror and often also lighting. This is something you’ll be looking closely at each day and it pays to choose the right one, not only in terms of your storage needs but also to sync with the overall style of your room. Bayswater, Roper Rhodes and Imperial make traditionally style mirrored bathroom cabinets, or for clean understated modernism look at Crosswater, Geberit, Keuco, Vitra and Schneider. 

See our mirrored bathroom cabinets  page for a full range of product options.

Illuminated Bathroom Mirrors

Focusing light where it’s most needed, an illuminated mirror has become a popular addition to modern bathrooms. Many also have a heating function which demists the surface after the shower or bath has been in use. There are some striking contemporary designs by Vitra, Geberit, Roper Rhodes and Schneider. Tavistock and Burlington offer period style illuminated mirrors, or look at Crosswater for an illuminated mirror with an integral Bluetooth speaker. 

See our illuminated bathroom mirrors page for a full range of product options.

Standard Wall Mounted Bathroom Mirrors

A simple wall mounted mirror will reflect light and make a bathroom look spacious and bright, so it can be a good idea to go for the largest one you have wall space for. Choose a shape to match your theme; for an ultramodern minimalist type look at Crosswater and Vitra. Burlington, Bayswater and Imperial have some vintage designs.     

See our wall mounted bathroom mirrors page for a full range of product options.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are LED bathroom mirrors any good?

A little more expensive than other types of lighting, LEDs offer several advantages. The light they emit is white, bright and clear which is ideal for bathroom use, for putting on makeup and shaving. They use considerably less energy and will last for longer than other types of bulbs. One other point is that they won’t attract insects - which can be a nuisance in summer - as they don’t give off UV light. 

Do LED bathroom mirrors need a power supply?

Some can run from batteries and some need to be wired to an electricity supply; as a general rule the larger wall mirrors will require a wired power supply. Each mirror comes with full instructions and it is advisable to consult an experienced electrician to ensure that the additional safety considerations for bathroom power supplies are adhered to. 

What size should a bathroom mirror be?

This mainly depends on the size of your bathroom and your own personal taste. It is sometimes advised not to mount too large a mirror for a small bathroom in case it dwarfs the rest of the room. This can certainly be true if the mirror has a large, chunky or colourful frame but a plain unadorned frameless mirror does not present this problem and may look absolutely fine in a small room. 

Can you put any mirror in a bathroom?

If the mirror does not require a power supply and is simply an ordinary wall mirror, then it can be hung in any bathroom but do bear in mind that it should ideally be moisture resistant. A mirror that requires power, such as an illuminated or heated mirror, will need to be installed by a qualified electrician in accordance with the regulations for electricity in bathrooms.