Bathroom Mirrors
Choosing the Right Components for Your Bathroom
Whether you’re building a new bath or remodeling an old one, choosing your bathroom mirrors carefully can make the difference between class and crass. Mirrors are ideal for opening up a small room, and mirror styles like beveling, antiqued frames, or tiles can create the perfect bathroom ambiance. Enhancing bathrooms with perfect mirrors can be the least expensive and most effective part of your home improvement plan.
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The first step to take before creating any bathroom ambiance with mirrors is to consider what effect you want and how much space you have to work with. For example, large, beveled, frameless mirrors can make the tiniest bathroom appear spacious, while portrait-sized mirrors with ornate gilt frames create a classic look when mounted over a pedestal sink. Other things to consider include the following:
- Will your mirror be mounted in a place where tile must be removed or added? This could be due to a different-size mirror replacing the old one, or changes to the room structure of your original bathroom. If you must invest in renting tools/equipment to make tile or physical changes outside of the mirror addition, your expenses could grow beyond your original estimates.
- Do you have any pest control issues? If you must tear out a portion of your bathroom walls in order to eliminate pests, these sections of wall in your bathroom are ideal locations to cover later with a mirror or mirrors for a cheap, fast remodel.
- Will your bathroom mirror be visible outside the bathroom? While you may be working toward a modern look in your bathroom, having the mirror visible from your country-style living room could create a jarring effect. When styles in different rooms will not blend, take pains to place your mirror where it will not reflect or be seen from the non-blending room.
- How will your light fixtures affect your mirror? You don’t want too much light to create a glaring effect from your mirror, yet a well-placed mirror can also brighten your bathroom, especially if you have recessed or track lighting.
- Finally, if you have multiple mirrors in mind, will they reflect one another? This is a matter not just of style but of functionality; carefully-placed multiple mirrors can be a wonderful tool for hurried mornings, or they can just get in the way. If you use multiple mirrors, experiment with their placement before investing in the final mounting.
