Why Consider an Illuminated Bathroom Mirror?
There isn’t a man or woman who has to get up and get ready for work every morning that doesn’t know the importance of a well illuminated bathroom mirror. Whether it is a man taking care of his morning shave, or a woman applying mascara, they need a well lit area to perform those tasks properly or he runs the risk of having leftover hair patches or she will have black smudge marks on her face. While every bathroom needs ample lighting at night, having a well lit bathroom mirror is particularly important if you have no natural light entering your bathroom during the day. There are generally two types of illuminated mirrors that you might be considering. The first is the type that we will discuss in this article which is known as the bathroom wall mirror. The second type of mirror is what I call a lighted vanity mirror. These are much smaller and usually are table mirrors that can be placed on a counter or shelf. These makeup mirrors also use magnification for really close up views of your skin and pores. If you are looking for this type of mirror, you can check this one out at Amazon.com. It seems to be highly rated and is very inexpensive.
How to Pick the Right Illuminated Bathroom Mirror
Now that we know we’ll be talking about the large wall mirror for bathrooms, lets find out more about them. A good first step is to determine which illuminated bathroom mirror is right for your bathroom. The first thing you need to decide is where the mirror is to be placed and how much room you have. Measuring the area prior is important because you do not want to purchase a mirror only to find out you misjudged the size and it does not fit. A handy trick I learned when I worked for a remodeling company is to measure the distance between two fixed objects where the mirror is going to be hung. These objects could be a wall, shower enclosure edge, toilet tank, or any other fixed spot. Take the measurement in inches and then divide it by 2. That will be your center mark that the hanging point of the mirror needs to be attached to. If the mirror is not pre drilled and you need to figure out the center point hanging location yourself then a little bit more math is involved. Measure the width of the mirror, (the distance between the outside edges of both sides) subtract it from the distance between the two fixed points that you measured before, and then divide that number by two. That will give you the amount of space that should be “open” outside of each of the mirror’s edges. That measurement will allow you to check your handy work at the end of the project, because each side between the edge of the mirror and the fixed point should be exactly the same distance.
When sizing the “right” mirror, you will also want to consider the overall size of the bathroom. If you are adding the mirror to a smaller bathroom, such as a guest bathroom, you will want to purchase a small to medium sized mirror with only a few lights. If you have the luxury of having a large bathroom, you will want a medium to large sized mirror with lots of light to cover the entire area. It is important to make sure you get a mirror that is proportionate to the size of the bathroom. This allows the room to appear larger than it really is thus adding more value in the eyes of a prospective home buyer.
Once you have determined the size, you are now going to want to consider the look and style of the mirror. Do you prefer a frameless wall mirror, a beveled wall mirror, an oval mirror or a round or rectangular mirror? Do you want a plain, no frills one, or something more like an antique mirror that has some personality and will match the current style of your bathroom? There is a wide variety of mirrors to choose from, such as elegant and dramatic, to simple and functional, that will serve whatever look you are going for.
Check Your Wiring First Before Installing Your Illuminated Bathroom Mirror
Before you install any mirror, you will want to check the current wiring in your bathroom, especially if you do not currently have an illuminated mirror in your bathroom already. Verify the voltage of the mirror that you are going to purchase and ensure that it will be compatible with your current bathroom wiring.
In conclusion, buying an illuminated bathroom mirror is a fantastic way of updating the look of any room but especially your bathroom… and will certainly add value should you ever decide to sell your home. Adding an illuminated mirror to any bathroom will not only update the look, but for smaller bathrooms it is a great way to add depth. You have a plethora of styles to choose from that vary from size, shape, lights and colors so you can easily find that perfect illuminated bathroom mirror to buy.