Mirror Buying Guide
Mirror, mirror on the wall. Or is it the floor? Or the counter? Mirrors are extremely useful as tools and decorative accessories. Beyond providing a reflection for personal grooming, mirrors can add light to a room or make it seem bigger. The versatility of the mirror makes it a favorite tool of interior designers. Framed or unframed, mirrors can enhance any décor, bringing style and shimmering grace.
The five
What are the five key points I need to look at?
I was framed!
Mirrors are available in framed and unframed models. Unframed mirrors tend to give a room a contemporary look, while framed mirrors can complement just about any style you can imagine.
Mirror hardware
Wall mirrors can be very heavy objects. Be sure any mirror you're considering comes with mounting hardware rated to safely hold it up. Hangers affixed to wall studs offer the most secure perch for your mirror.
Your mirror's role
There are different types of mirrors for different tasks. Wall mirrors help a room appear larger. Floor mirrors are perfect for entries and halls. Make-up mirrors provide light and magnification that bathroom mirrors lack.
Mounted, but how?
In the bedroom and bath, mirrors are wall or furniture mounted. Wall mounted mirrors are safer, but furniture mounted mirrors offer more flexibility—especially in the bedroom.
The shape of mirrors to come
Mirrors come in all sorts of shapes. Square or rectangular mirrors can give the illusion of a window or doorway. Round and oval mirrors can add an organic feel to a room.
Shop talk
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
Type
There are several types of mirrors available for the home. Wall and floor mirrors are used to decorate and accessorize. Fixture mounted and make-up mirrors are functional mirrors placed in baths and bedrooms.
Mounting
Mirrors may be wall mounted, free standing or mounted to fixtures or furniture. Make sure mounted mirrors come with the appropriate hardware.
Frame Material
The frame of a mirror can be made of any decorative material. Matching a room's décor should be an easy matter. When in doubt, a simple wooden frame in a complementary color will fit in any room.
Shape
Although square and rectangular mirrors are common, many other shapes are available as well. For a unique look, find a mirror with a shape that matches a detail repeated in the room's furniture.
Lighted
Lighted mirrors are perfect for make-up and personal grooming. The more lights a mirror has, the fewer distracting shadows you'll have to deal with.
Review the Looking Glass: A Guide To Buying Mirrors
Since the 17th century construction of the “Hall of Mirrors” in the Palace of Versailles, mirrors have been used as decorative and functional home accessories. Mirrors are an excellent way to bring light and space to a room. A wide variety of decorative frames make it easy to fit a mirror into any room's décor.
The Versatile Mirror
Mirrors can serve many functions in the home. Here are several ways you can use mirrors:
Utility. The most common use for mirrors in the home is personal grooming. Mirrors in the bedroom and bathroom typically fill this role, but mirrors placed in closets and near entries can provide extra opportunities to make sure you look good.
Reflected light. Mirrors are perfect for bringing light to areas where a light fixture might not fit. Bouncing light into a hallway or a shaded corner can brighten your home and increase the efficiency of existing lighting.
Adding space. The reflection of a mirror is perfect for making a room seem bigger. Placing a mirror on the wall opposite a door or window gives the illusion of having two wall openings for the price of one!
Decoration Decoratively framed mirrors come in so many different styles that it's almost impossible not to find one to complement your room. If you're still stumped, however, an unframed mirror is a universal decorating accessory.
Mirror Types
Mirrors for home use are available in several different types:
Wall. Perfect for decorating or increasing the apparent size of a room, wall mirrors come in many shapes and sizes. Use care in mounting larger mirrors, as they can be quite heavy.
Floor. Tall, narrow floor mirrors are well suited to hallways and empty corners. Floor mirrors are mounted on wood or metal stands that give you the perfect opportunity to make a fashion statement.
Mounted. Mounted mirrors are fixed to a vanity or dresser. In the bedroom, a furniture-mounted mirror can be moved around, providing more flexibility than a wall-mounted mirror.
Make-up. Typically freestanding mirrors that sit on a counter or vanity, make-up mirrors allow for close-up inspection of personal grooming. If you're in the market for a magnifying mirror, look for one with at least 7x magnification. For lighted mirrors, multiple light sources around the edge of the mirror will eliminate shadows.
Need to know more?
- Mirrors
http://www.prontohome.com/mirrors - How To Install Mirror Mounting Hardware
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-install-mirror-mounting-hardware - Choosing the Right Mirror For Your Home
http://ezinearticles.com/?Choosing-the-Right-Mirror-For-Your-Home&id=2488631 - Learn How To Solve Problems With a Feng Shui Mirror
http://fengshui.about.com/od/fengshuicures/p/fengshuimirrors.htm
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