How to Hang a Bathroom Mirror: What Fixing Options Are Available?
How High Should a Bathroom Mirror Be Hung?
A bathroom mirror not only ensures that you can see yourself properly while getting ready, but also brings light and a sense of extra space into the bathroom. The choice of bathroom mirrors is enormous, and you can choose from many shapes and frame types. A mirrored cabinet is also an option.
But whichever mirror you choose, what matters is that it is positioned at the right height. Depending on whether you use the bathroom alone or share it with others, you also need to take them into account when hanging the mirror. Significant differences in height or physical limitations may make particularly large or tall mirrors necessary. Children, however, can also stand on a stool.
As a standard, a mirror is hung 120 to 200 cm above the floor. A useful guideline is that the centre of the mirror should be roughly at eye level – although this does not, of course, apply to full-length mirrors. In that case, the eyes should be positioned at around 3⁄4 of the mirror height. Using this rule of thumb, you can work out for yourself how high your mirror should ideally be hung.
How Large Should a Bathroom Mirror Be?
When it comes to the size of the bathroom mirror, you can use both the available space and other furnishings as a guide. If the mirror or mirrored cabinet is to hang above the washbasin, you should use the width of the washbasin as your guide. If you have a wide vanity unit, you can also make use of the full width of the wall.
As for the height, you should make sure that the mirror hangs at least 70–80 cm above the vanity unit so that you can see yourself properly. To make it easier to see small details, an additional magnifying mirror is useful. For a full-length mirror, a height of at least 160 cm is a good choice. After all, you usually stand some distance away from the mirror when looking into it – and the remaining centimetres are then still “captured”.
Fixing a Mirror: What Options Are Available?
You do not necessarily have to drill in order to hang a bathroom mirror. Wall plugs and screws may hold a heavy mirror most securely in place, but there are also other options that avoid drilling into grout lines or even the tiles themselves. Some mirrors are instead glued to wallpaper, while others are attached using hooks and cords.
Our tip: pay attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations when buying the mirror. You will usually find information on hanging it on their websites; in the shop, simply turn the mirror over and look at the back – instructions are often printed there.
In addition to the materials needed for fixing your new mirror in the bathroom, you should also have a spirit level at home so that it hangs straight. To position holes or hooks correctly, you should measure in advance and mark the points on the wall.
Below are a few fixing options that mostly avoid drilling into tiles or grout lines:
Hook or Nail & Cord
You drill a hole and attach a hook there, or you hammer a nail into the wall. Both are positioned above the intended top edge of the mirror – in many bathrooms, the tiled area does not extend all the way to the ceiling, so you can avoid drilling into tiles.
You can then attach the mirror there using a sturdy wire cable or a cord. This works much like hanging pictures in a gallery.
Adhesive
There are special mirror adhesives, as well as double-sided mounting tape, to avoid holes in the wall. The important thing is that the surface is able to support the weight of the mirror. Wallpaper might tear, and plaster is often unsuitable for sticking because of its surface texture. But on tiles or wood, this technique can work even for heavy mirrors.
Seek advice from a specialist retailer when choosing the right adhesive or silicone to avoid unsightly adhesive residue or a broken mirror.
Rails & Magnets
Mirrors can also be mounted securely on the wall using either magnets (ideally one for each corner of the mirror) or hanging rails (French cleats). In each case, brackets or rails are attached to the back of the mirror, and the counterpart is fixed to the bathroom wall. Some drilling may be required here.
Suction Cup
Smaller mirrors can also be attached with a suction cup that adheres to smooth tiles. Some mirrors, such as the small MÖVE MIRROR, are supplied directly with suction cups. This lets you know that this mounting method is particularly suitable in that case.
Here too, when deciding on the height, you should make sure that the centre of the mirror is roughly at eye level. Some mirrors can also be extended or adjusted, in which case you do not need to work to the exact centimetre.
Light & Space
Ideally, a bathroom mirror should be positioned so that you can look into it comfortably. However, you should make sure that enough light falls on it and that no strong shadows are created. Integrated lighting is always practical as well, though it should also be properly matched to the mirror.
In principle, a mirror – whether in the bathroom or elsewhere – always creates a greater sense of space. So, if you want to make a small room appear larger with the help of a mirror, you should position it on the longer wall, perhaps even opposite the door.
You can also add accents through the choice of further accessories and decorative items for your bathroom. A soap dish or toothbrush holder from the same collection or colour family creates visual harmony and contributes to a pleasant atmosphere in the bathroom. You can also support a cohesive look – especially important in small bathrooms – with colour-coordinated towels.