Illuminated Mirrors Blog

Which is best for a bathroom mirror – a landscape or portrait orientation?

Illuminated Mirrors - July 23, 2024

If you have been giving serious thought lately to having a new large bathroom mirror installed in your home – whether or not it is also illuminated – you will probably already appreciate how big a visual difference the shape, size, and orientation of a mirror can make.

Choosing between landscape and portrait orientation for your large bathroom mirror might initially seem like a question of how you can make the most of your available wall space, and nothing more than that.

However, as we will explore further in this article, there will be a number of other aspects to consider when making your choice.

What do we mean by ‘landscape’ and ‘portrait’ orientation?

You might be more accustomed to hearing the terms “portrait” and “landscape” in your local art gallery than when you are comparing your options for a large bathroom mirror. So, before we go further, let’s be clear about the respective definitions:

Landscape orientation, also often referred to as “horizontal” orientation, entails the mirror or image being wider than it is tall. As the name implies, in the world of art and photography, this orientation is associated with landscape images, panoramic views, and other horizontal subjects.

Portrait orientation is also known as “vertical” orientation, whereby the mirror or image is positioned in such a way that the height exceeds the width. Most of us associate this orientation with – of course – portraits of human beings. Unsurprisingly, then, this is a common orientation for home mirrors.

Why might you favour a landscape bathroom mirror?

One relatively obvious reason to invest in a landscape mirror for your bathroom is the expansive view such a mirror can provide – not only of you, but also of your bathroom.

Unsurprisingly, then, when it comes to bathroom mirrors, landscape orientation is strongly associated with a sense of opulence. If you’re especially proud of your bathroom’s design and fittings, a large bathroom mirror in landscape orientation can be great for showing it all off – literally “reflecting” the impressive interior scheme back at you.

A landscape mirror can be an excellent choice for making the space in which it is hung feel wider, or for complementing a bathroom that is already wide.

Alternatively, a portrait mirror may seem a better choice for your bathroom

As you might imagine, a portrait or vertical mirror can be effective at making a room feel longer or taller. And, of course, it can work well in a tall room because of how it makes the most of the space available.

A large bathroom mirror in portrait orientation can also make sense due to the “portrait” that it captures of the viewer, encompassing their face and upper body. So, if you expect to spend a lot of time in front of your bathroom mirror perfecting your beauty routine or examining your physique, you may be especially drawn to the idea of a portrait mirror.

Naturally, there is much more than the orientation of your bathroom mirror that you will need to think about if you are seeking to choose the perfect one for your space. This is why we place such a strong emphasis on the bespoke nature of our service here at Illuminated Mirrors – because we really do recognise that no given set of needs is the same as the next.

Enquire to our team today to discover more about our made-to-order service, which can ensure you benefit from your dream illuminated bathroom mirror.

Why would you choose an asymmetrical mirror for your bathroom?

Illuminated Mirrors - July 8, 2024

There is inevitably a broad range of practical, functional, and aesthetic factors that are likely to guide your decision-making if you are on the lookout for a lighted bathroom mirror.

However, you might not have given much thought to the shape of your next bathroom mirror, even if this oversight was simply due to a belief that “all mirrors are rectangular”.

So, what are some of the reasons why you might be drawn towards the notion of an asymmetrical mirror for this crucial part of your home?

An asymmetrical mirror could help you feel closer to nature

The fact that asymmetrical mirrors are also sometimes referred to as “organic” mirrors should give you a clue of this aspect of their appeal.

Slim Bathroom Pebble Mirrors — https://www.illuminated-mirrors.uk.com/bathroom-mirrors/shaped-mirrors/organic.html

As we are all aware, the natural world is full of irregular and sometimes unpredictable shapes, encompassing often wavy and sweeping lines. And of course, our own pebble mirrors resemble exactly that – a pebble, of the kind you might find down on the beach.

In recent years, there has been much discussion about many architects’ and interior designers’ ever-greater embrace of biophilic design (this term referring to design that brings elements of the natural world into buildings).

Bearing this trend in mind, you might consider an asymmetrical bathroom mirror as a subtle way to make you and other members of your household feel that little bit more embedded in nature.

It can be a statement piece, offsetting the rectangular parts of your bathroom design

We’re going to be bold here, and presume that you probably don’t have a pebble-shaped bathroom! So, an asymmetrical mirror in your bathroom could provide a point of head-turning interest for anyone and everyone who sees it.

After all, a lighted bathroom mirror does typically serve as a focal point of this space (both aesthetically and in terms of how it is used on a day-to-day basis for such tasks as toothbrushing and shaving). So, you can probably see how an asymmetrical mirror could offset those straight, rectangular lines of your bathroom in interesting ways.

Having said all this, not all elements of contrast that might be introduced into an interior space will necessarily be pleasing to the eye. It is still important to consider whether your own bathroom would be suited to an asymmetrical mirror, or whether the interests of visual harmony would be best served by an alternative shape, such as an oval, arched, or rectangular mirror.

It can come equipped with all manner of convenience-boosting features

If you have paid little attention to the idea of purchasing an asymmetrical lighted bathroom mirror due to a perception that it couldn’t possibly incorporate all the features you would wish it to have, it might be time to think again!

Fabulous Frames — Create a unique feature in your bathroom or en-suite

As our own range of organic-shaped mirrors at Illuminated Mirrors demonstrates, an asymmetrical mirror in your property could incorporate the likes of RGB colour-change mood lighting, a shaver socket, and/or a heated demister pad to prevent the mirror from fogging up.

If you are unsure whether an asymmetrical design could be the right choice for your lighted bathroom mirror, or if you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Illuminated Mirrors’ experts today. We take pride in our highly bespoke service, which can help ensure the final mirror that we provide to you satisfies your very highest expectations.

How to incorporate industrial elements into your bathroom

Illuminated Mirrors - July 8, 2024

Many people have embraced “industrial chic” in their homes in recent years, and you might feel drawn towards the same style. You wouldn’t necessarily have to look far for inspiration, after all.

Many homes (and even offices) have been fashioned from what used to be industrial units. Meanwhile, if you have recently converted your loft, you may have reacted with delight at seeing the exposed wooden panels and beams and taking in how good they look.

What you may not have realised, though, is how easily you can incorporate the same kind of style into your bathroom — if you know exactly how to go about it. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the ways in which you might achieve this.

Take the ‘less is more’ approach

Historically, industrial spaces have been designed more for practicality than for aesthetics. This is why many of them come with exposed brick walls; furthermore, there is often little attempt made to conceal plumbing fixtures such as pipes and valves.

So, you might look to strip out superfluous elements from your own bathroom, or at least aim for a relatively simple and sparse aesthetic with the fixtures and fittings that you do invest in.

You might consider this black bathroom mirror, for instance, which is super-slim at 20mm deep and framed with aluminium just 8.5mm thick. Don’t forget, too, that here at Illuminated Mirrors, we can create bespoke designs in accordance with your own preferences and requirements.

Reuse, reuse, reuse!

The prospect of adding industrial fittings to a bathroom often particularly strongly appeals to eco-conscious homeowners, as they may relish the opportunity to repurpose existing pieces that could have otherwise ended up in landfill.

Do you, for example, have a few woven baskets going spare around the house? If so, why not put them on display in your bathroom, filling them with such supplies as soap bars and shampoo bottles?

You could even go as far as attaching some salvaged signs to your bathroom walls. Other decorative items, though, might be best exhibited on shelves.

Open sesame — or rather, open shelving

You will likely wish people who enter your bathroom to be able to quickly and easily see any artwork pieces, potted plants, and beautiful ceramics you put there.

It stands to reason, then, that it may be best to strategically place these items on “open” shelves, instead of shelves tucked away inside cabinets that are likely to be closed a lot of the time.

Besides, open shelves can also be used for storing practical pieces that you might wish to keep within easy reach, such as toothbrushes.

Mix it up with metals

Why settle for just one type of metal in your bathroom — especially since doing so could leave this space of the home looking a little too “perfect” and uniform?

Integrating a range of seemingly random metals into your bathroom décor could render it discernibly “makeshift”-looking, and therefore faithful to an industrial ethos (although of course, you will still want to promote a certain degree of aesthetic harmony, too).

Imagine, for example, pairing brass taps and wrought iron rails with the black bathroom mirror we mentioned earlier (which, remember, comes with an aluminium frame). This, of course, could be just one of a multitude of interesting possibilities for your bathroom design scheme.

To enquire to the Illuminated Mirrors team about this product and our bespoke service, please reach out to us via email or Live Chat.

5 benefits of adding a full-length mirror to your bathroom

Illuminated Mirrors - June 11, 2024

prod — *Full Length mirrors available for every room in the house*

You might have long thought that a full-length mirror should be reserved strictly for your bedroom or living room. However, erecting this kind of mirror in your bathroom, of all places, can bring surprising benefits — including…

A less ‘cramped’ feeling in the room

Your bathroom may be on the small side if you live alone or have simply had to settle for a relatively compact home due to budgetary restrictions.

The good news is that a large mirror placed in this room will reflect many parts of it, making it seem bigger than it actually is.

2. Better use of light

We have mentioned a full-length mirror’s ability to reflect many things at once — and those things include light. What light, exactly? Of course, you can see this as a reference to your bathroom’s overhead lighting, as well as sunlight streaming in through the window.

Keep in mind, though, that we offer full-length mirrors incorporating their own electric lights. So, adding such a mirror with light to your bathroom can make it feel even more spacious.

3. Added visual interest

The aesthetic appeal of your full-length mirror doesn’t just have to be down to the mirror’s intrinsic design, such as whether or not it comes with a frame. You can arrange for our team here at Illuminated Mirrors to provide you with a full-length mirror with dimmable and remote controlled RGB backlighting built in.

It will ultimately be up to you exactly what colours and patterns the lights show — especially as you can choose from presets and programs to create the look that you seek.

4. A complete, at-a-glance view of your body

You might get dressed in your bathroom if you live with other people. Having a full-length mirror nearby when you are slipping into your attire can enable you to quickly see how it looks on you.

The bathroom might also be the place where you keep the scales, since you can more accurately tell your body’s weight if you step on the scales with your clothes off.

Just before or after you weigh yourself, you would be able to see your figure in a full-length mirror. How is your physique? Are those gym sessions paying off? These are questions you can expect to answer more easily when a full-length mirror is there to help you out.

5. Crisp, clear music for you to enjoy in the morning

Yes, surprised though you might be to read this, a full-length mirror can even play music. The bespoke add-ons that we offer for full-length mirrors include our X-Audio feature, where you can wirelessly connect a smartphone or tablet to your mirror via Bluetooth.

Then, you can have high-fidelity music play from inducer speakers integrated with the mirror. Imagine how relaxing it would be to listen to this music as you soak or get dressed in the bathroom!

On your request, we can install a full-length mirror with light in your bathroom. To ask us any questions about our supply-and-installation services, please email [email protected] today.

Is the framed or frameless look better for an illuminated bathroom mirror?

Illuminated Mirrors - June 11, 2024

An illuminated mirror can help give your bathroom a distinctive aesthetic and atmosphere. Whether you’re trying to give your bathroom a relaxing spa-like feel or looking to create a smart, clean style, illuminated mirrors can add considerable character to your bathroom.

With Illuminated Mirrors, we can create bespoke, made-to-measure mirrors, turning your dream mirror into a reality.

When you’re designing your perfect illuminated mirror, you have the option of either a framed or frameless look. Both these options offer many possible benefits, so choosing the best option will largely come down to your personal preference.

To help you decide, here are a few of the benefits you can enjoy with both framed and frameless illuminated bathroom mirrors.

The benefits of framed illuminated mirrors

One of the main benefits of a framed illuminated mirror is the many decoration possibilities it provides.

Mirror frames can be made from a variety of materials, each offering a distinct visual style. This enables you to choose the best option for the kind of look and atmosphere you’re attempting to create.

Another advantage of framed mirrors is the protection they can offer. A robust frame can help make the edges and corners of mirrors less prone to breakage.

With a frame, the edges of a mirror may also be less susceptible to moisture. The presence of a frame on a mirror, then, could help prevent oxidation or de-silvering, which typically starts from a mirror’s edge and spreads slowly.

The benefits of frameless illuminated mirrors

While framed mirrors might offer more opportunities for decoration, they can also take up a lot of space. A large, framed mirror may therefore be difficult to fit into a relatively small bathroom.

A frameless mirror, on the other hand, is often a good option for those who are on the lookout for a stylish mirror that won’t take up too much space.

Frameless mirrors are often more lightweight than their framed counterparts. Furthermore, without a frame, they can be easier to install and clean. While frames can often accumulate dust, frameless mirrors don’t typically need to be cleaned so frequently.

Another benefit of a frameless mirror is that it may be able to show off more of your bathroom than a framed mirror. A frameless mirror shows off more reflective space, making it a perfect option if you have a small bathroom that you want to make look bigger.

Finally, with fewer components, a frameless mirror can be the better option for those who are looking for a relatively minimalistic design.

Conclusion: your ideal framed or frameless mirror could soon be a reality

Overall, there are many benefits that can make both framed and frameless illuminated mirrors an attractive option for any bathroom. Ultimately, you will need to determine what your own priorities are when it comes to made-to-measure mirrors, and what implications this might have for whether you choose a framed or frameless mirror.

Framed mirrors come in a variety of materials, which should make it easy to find one that suits the visual style of your bathroom. These mirrors can also be more robust, with the frame protecting the mirror from potential breakage.

Frameless mirrors, on the other hand, can be an excellent option for smaller bathrooms and those who prefer more of a sleek, minimalist aesthetic.

Whether you favour the framed or frameless look in a mirror, Illuminated Mirrors offers bespoke, made-to-measure mirrors, so you can be confident of finding the perfect mirror for your bathroom.

To learn more about our process and expertise in relation to made-to-measure mirrors, please contact us.