How to Choose the Perfect Mirror for Your Bathroom

When building a new home or just remodeling a bathroom, you'll sooner or later have to make the choice of what kind of bathroom mirror you'll want to install. From modern age to antique, there are designs of mirrors too many to count that come in three types. Which type and design you choose could turn into an all day job.

The first type we'll discuss is the fixed mirror, better known as a medicine cabinet. Most everyone is familiar with this type as it's been around the longest. The mirror is attached by a hinge to a storage compartment that is recessed into the wall of the bathroom. In the past, most people would place their medications in the storage area, hence the name medicine cabinet. These were the most commonly installed in older homes and really offered no style of grace. Newer models, however, retain the storage area but the mirror and attaching hardware to the cabinet are being designed to accent a bathrooms decor more in their beauty. The storage area is also being crafted out of aluminum and plastic materials to make them lighter and easier to install.

The second type is a hanging mirror. Its name lives up to its design in that it is simply hung on the wall using different types of hangers. Most are just flat mirrors that are affixed to the wall with small plastic clips that hold it in place. If your planning the bathroom sink in the corner of the room, you could consider apexing the corner to three flat surfaces, mounting a flat mirror to each wall. This would give you a mirror to smile in and a mirror on each side to check your hair without turning your head. One thing to keep in mind when purchasing a flat mirror is to make sure it is designed for bathroom use. Moisture from condensation can damage metals that aren't meant to be used in the bathroom. Your building supply store can point you in the right direction towards mirrors that can stand up to the dampness of a bathroom.

The last type of mirror is whats called a moveable mirror. It can rotate one way or the other to a certain extent, angle upwards or downwards and some will even telescope outwards. This type of mirror was most widely seen in plush hotels but is now available for for home installation. These come in various designs with one bound to suit your needs in your building or remodeling.

One other thing to keep in mind when choosing a bathroom mirror is the option of the mirror being lighted. Available with both fluorescent and halogen bulbs, lighted mirrors give better viewing in the mirror as the light is reflecting off of your face into the mirror instead of an overhead light that reflects off of the mirror into your face.

Just as with any other decision you have to make about your home building or remodeling, the choices of bathroom mirrors seem endless. When making your choice, though, it might be easier to design your bathroom and choose a mirror to match the decor than to start with the mirror and try to build around it.

*Lighted Bathroom Mirrors, Nextag.com

*Bathroom Mirrors, CoolHousePlans.com