When you think about it, mirrors are very ingrained into our culture. Which child has not been thrilled by the menacing “mirror mirror on the wall” chant of the wicked Queen in Snow White? There is certainly something special about mirrors!
Interestingly, mirrors have been part of human culture for thousands of years. The very first mirrors – made of polished stone – date back to around 6000 BC in Turkey, and glass mirrors are believed to have been invented in Lebanon in the first century AD.
Since then, mirrors have been increasingly used both as practical household items and objects of decoration throughout the home. They reflect and radiate light, and can totally transform the appearance of a room.
This is particularly the case in the bathroom. The right mirror can make all the difference. And equally, the wrong mirror can really spoil the look of your bathroom.
So what should you be looking for in the perfect bathroom mirror? Let’s take a look at three key features:
Shape and size
Mirrors come in all shapes and sizes, so when choosing a bathroom mirror, think about what is going to work best in your room. It can be worth getting the largest mirror that will fit your space, because it can then be a centrepiece for your bathroom and will reflect the maximum amount of light around your bathroom. You can even get mirrors in bespoke shapes, such as the one pictured below.
If you are short of storage space, you may want to consider a mirrored storage cabinet, such as the two examples pictured below. This is a very stylish – yet practical – way to keep your bathroom beautifully decluttered.
Durability
You need to be very careful about the material your bathroom mirror is made from, because it needs to be very durable. This makes sense when you think about the variety of moisture in a bathroom: steam, splashes etc. You need a mirror that will be resilient to these conditions.
This means that it is advisable to avoid wood for a bathroom mirror. It may look wonderful, but runs the risk of moisture damage and could also gather bacteria. In general, a metal, moisture resistant mirror would be a better option.
Lighting
There are two aspects to this. The first is that any bathroom mirror will have an impact on the light in your room. Your mirror will reflect light around the room, particularly if it is positioned to pick up natural light from the room. So as well as your mirror having a practical use, it can also be instrumental in changing the appearance of your room.
But a popular feature of contemporary mirrors is that they can include additional illumination in the form of either LED lighting or backlighting. As well as looking lovely, and adding warmth and ambience to your bathroom, an illuminated mirror can overcome any natural darkness in your bathroom, and give it a completely different feel.
So if you are in the process of choosing a bathroom mirror, do bear the above factors in mind so that you get the best mirror for your bathroom. Find a mirror you love, and that works for your space, but will also be long lasting and worth the investment.
To see examples of different bathroom mirrors, why not pay us a visit? Stone and Chrome’s Camberley showroom features an array of different bathroom and wet room configurations which may help you to think through what you want for your own bathroom. So do get in touch and drop in to see us. We’d love to meet you and help you to make your bathroom work for you.