When moving into a new apartment or remodeling your place, you must pay great attention to interior decor. Every little detail counts.
One mistake and all your work at setting up may go down the drain. Due to the need to get every styling detail right, you’ll ponder on the appropriate bathroom decor.
Thus, you’ll wonder if any mirror works for the bathroom. If you want to find out, keep reading.
A bathroom mirror is different from a regular vanity mirror. Regular mirrors can’t withstand the moisture and humidity of the bathroom environment. Therefore, some building codes recommend tempered/ laminated glass and moisture-resistant mirrors for bathrooms.
What Type of Mirror is Best for Bathrooms?
When decorating your bathroom, for aesthetics and functionality, choose a frameless beveled mirror with tempered or laminated glass.
The reason is that mirrors with a wooden or metal frame can not withstand the high moisture content present in a bathroom. Though they may hold up for some time, their backing will break in no time.
You can opt for any shape, be it rectangular or oval. So for durability, you should opt for a frameless mirror. A mirror with thinner bevel edges will do.
Building codes are about safety and convenience, so they promote using tempered/ laminated glass mirrors in bathrooms.
Also, for safety reasons, you should have a tempered or laminated glass mirror. You’re probably wondering how this contributes to safety; let’s see.
Mir mirrors are glass products, so you can’t sideline the possibility of breakage.
Tempered glass breaks into shards while laminated glass breaks into sheets. Unlike regular mirrors, which break into big, sharp pieces, safety mirrors do not.
A mirror in your room could be just for aesthetic purposes, but a mirror in the bathroom is also highly functional. Many consider bathroom mirrors to be the most important in the entire house.
A bathroom mirror is an integral part of your daily routine. From the moment you awaken and step into the bathroom, you use it to brush, look at your body while you shower, fix your hair and dress up.
The same happens when you get home after a long day; you undress and freshen up in front of your bathroom mirror.
You should employ utmost care and stick to the right bathroom mirror material. If you don’t, you’ll risk your bathroom mirror splintering. Such a situation also puts you in danger and exposure to injuries.
Can I Put Decorative Mirrors in my Bathroom?
Functionality and safety are important when selecting a mirror for your bathroom. However, so is aesthetic.
But, this doesn’t mean you should concentrate more on beauty; safety should be your number one priority.
Decorative mirrors are sleek and do more than just help you check and fix your look. They make your bathroom pop with style and glamour.
They can also increase the flow of light and create an illusion of more space in your bathroom.
There are so many thrilling mirror decoration ideas and tips. If your bathroom doesn’t receive enough sunlight, position your mirror at the point where sunlight reaches the most.
It will reflect the natural light to all corners of your bathroom and keep it glowing whenever the sun is out.
You could get a bigger mirror and mount it on an open wall to create the illusion of a more spacious bathroom.
This trick works all the time. Remember that your decorative mirror should blend into the overall aesthetic of your bathroom for a uniform look.
If you’re still uncertain about whether or not to use a decorative mirror in your bathroom, then see the table below.
A list of the pros and cons of using decorative mirrors in bathrooms should help you reach a concrete decision.
| Pros of Decorative Bathroom Mirrors | Cons of Decorative Bathroom Mirrors |
|---|---|
| Decorative mirrors are artistic and promote style | Decorative mirrors do not always support functionality when used in bathrooms. |
| Decorative mirrors can help theme up your bathroom.They can compromise electric lighting fixtures. | |
| They eliminate plainness and add an architectural design to your bathroom’s appearance. | Since they are mostly big and have odd shapes, they can take up storage space. |
| The right decorative mirror helps your bathroom imprint a lasting impression on people’s minds. | It requires brain work to get the perfect decorative style that fits your bathroom. |
If appearance is a big deal to you, you should install a decorative mirror in your bathroom. But, be sure it is a tempered or laminated glass product.
It would be best to keep it frameless unless you have a moisture-resistant frame material or are willing to change it regularly.
With the right mirror material and boundless creative ideas up your sleeves, you could have a decorative mirror we’ll set in your bathroom.
With this, you’ll feel good every time you step into your bathroom, and your face will light up with smiles.
How Can You Waterproof a Mirror?
Waterproofing your bathroom mirror follows the same steps as weatherproofing. Weatherproofing protects your mirror from the elements of nature of which water is a part.
So to waterproof your mirror, you technically need to weatherproof it. Waterproofing your mirror is a great way to prevent moisture retention and rust.
So, if you want your mirror to sit longer on your bathroom wall and tell you you’re the fairest in the land, you should waterproof it. However, you’ll need a sealer, wide-edged brush, and gloves.
Below are instructions for waterproofing your mirror. Note that it’s best to do this before hanging up your mirror.
- Get your dry clear mirror edge spray sealer and take your mirror out.
- Lay the mirror on a comfortable surface like a blanket, and wear your gloves.
- Hold the sealer 12 inches away from the mirror and spray. Use the wide brush to spread the sealer over the mirror’s edges smoothly.
- Leave the mirror to dry for a few hours, dip a soft towel in a glass cleaner or alcohol and clean off any excess sealant.
There you have it, a successfully waterproofed mirror ready to be set in your bathroom.
What is the Difference Between a Bathroom Mirror and a Regular Mirror?
A bathroom mirror is quite different from a regular mirror. While regular mirrors are standard glass products, bathroom mirrors are tempered or laminated.
The difference between both mirrors lies in strength and durability. Regular mirrors are fragile and can shatter easily.
Due to the speed with which manufacturers make regular mirrors, they lack certain properties and cannot withstand conditions like fog and temperature changes.
On the other hand, tempered/ safety glass manufacturing is more efficient, resulting in a glass with quadruple strength.
In manufacturing, tempered glass cools slowly while standard glass cools speedily.
The time tempered glass takes to build helps it accrue strength and toughness, making it safer to use. The toughness of tempered glass is such that it doesn’t allow reshaping.
Though it may shatter, it won’t break apart clumsily but will disintegrate into little round shards that are quite harmless compared to mirror pieces.
Laminated glass is also referred to as double-glazed glass. Its manufacturing process involves joining two sheets of glass together, creating a pocket of air in the middle.
Though the use is rare, it’s sometimes applicable in bathrooms. Standard glass is for regular mirrors, while tempered glass is best for bathroom mirrors.
Tempered glass is stronger, more durable, and more expensive than regular glass.
Do Bathroom Mirrors Rust?
When you place a mirror in your bathroom, there is a tendency for it to rust over time, more so if it isn’t moisture resistant.
Since the bathroom always has a wet, damp, or moist environment, this moisture can gather around the edges of your mirror, thereby causing rust.
Eventually, it will penetrate between the silver and backing. When this happens, the mirror’s lining will begin to tarnish, and you can notice dark spots.
Also, the silver nitrate around your mirror easily cleans off and corrodes if your mirror has a frame.
This appearance can be pretty disturbing since your mirror should be a clean reflective surface. Thus, rust mars your bathroom mirror and dims the glow of your bathroom.
You can take certain measures to prevent or avoid bathroom mirror rust. Some of these are:
- Choose a frameless mirror when buying.
- It’s always best to stick to a mirror glass with moisture resistance.
- When buying your bathroom mirror, ensure it’s cooler-free.
- If you’re a technology lover, you should try LED mirrors as they have demisters and defoggers.
- Don’t compromise, but the best quality mirror for your bathroom.
- Use the mirror cautiously so the chrome doesn’t scratch and give way for moisture to penetrate.
- Avoid using cleaning products that contain ammonia as they could de-silver your mirror.
- Practice proper maintenance. You can clean your bathroom mirror with vinegar and then wipe it dry with a fresh towel.
Though bathroom mirror rust may seem inevitable, with caution and proper care, you can prevent it from happening.
Do Bathroom Mirrors Need to be Tempered?
According to federal safety laws, bathroom mirrors should be tempered glass. Just like your glass shower door, your bathroom mirror must be tempered.
This law is important because tempered glass is moisture resistant and can thus offer a form of safety against uncanny accidents resulting from foggy mirrors.
Also, in the event of shattering, tempered glass leaves pieces of considerably smooth shards, which provide a degree of safety.
For household safety, a tempered bathroom mirror is a right choice. It’s strong and can withstand changes in temperature and humidity.
Conclusion
Temporary glass is the best mirror for your bathroom since it’s stronger and safer. However, though tempered glass is durable, it can still rust, requiring certain preventive measures.
So, you should prioritize safety and functionality over design when selecting a mirror for your bathroom.
