Illuminated Mirrors Blog

How to incorporate industrial elements into your bathroom

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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

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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…

  1. 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?

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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.

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Ronja White Frame Slim Edge Mirror

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.

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Valkin Slim (frameless) Backlit Bathroom Mirror

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.

How to create a spa-like atmosphere in your home

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Amid the hustle and bustle of modern life, it is important that we all take the time to relax and unwind.

One of the best ways to do this is by visiting a spa. However, if you find making time for this challenging, there are ways to create a spa-like atmosphere in your own home without breaking the bank.

From spa pools to our own Hollywood mirrors here at Illuminated Mirrors, here are some of the ways you can recreate the spa experience in your own home.

Aura lighting system

Invest in scented candles and diffusers

The use of scented candles is an easy way to give your home a spa-like atmosphere. Even the smallest candle can help replicate much of the calming atmosphere found in spas. Furthermore, these candles can be easily bought both online and in stores in a variety of different relaxing scents.

Another option is a diffuser. This device diffuses essential oils and spreads their scent throughout the home. Essential oils have a range of health benefits, including helping to relieve stress and headaches. A high-quality diffuser can be a great way to bring the spa experience to your home every day.

Buy a spa pool

Spa pools come in many different shapes, sizes, and designs. Such a pool would offer an excellent way for you to experience the relaxation of a spa without having to leave the house.

Spa pools may once have been prohibitively expensive for many people, but nowadays, it is easier to find the perfect spa pool for one’s house at an affordable price. Whether you introduce an indoor or outdoor spa pool to your home, it will almost certainly help make you feel more relaxed on a day-to-day basis.

If you don’t wish to install a spa pool, you can still enjoy a relaxing bath by adding a few cups of Epsom salt.

Add some ambient colour with our Aura Spa Mode lighting

Lighting can play a big role in creating a relaxing atmosphere, as demonstrated by our own Aura Spa Mode Hollywood mirrors.

These mirrors offer a full spectrum of ambient colour backlighting, with no fewer than five settings that you can take advantage of, depending on your mood at the time. You might set your mirror to show one of 16 static colours, for example, or you could put it on the Fade setting, which gradually fades through each colour in the spectrum.

With the press of a button, you can create an instant spa-like atmosphere in your home.

Play spa-like music

One of the most immediately recognisable elements of a spa is the relaxing music playing in the background. Such zen music can help put your mind at ease and eliminate any unwanted noises during your experience.

You can easily recreate this at home by finding relaxing music or the white noise of nature on a music app and plugging it into a Bluetooth speaker. Indeed, you can specify an illuminated bathroom mirror from us that incorporates such Bluetooth capability.

Whether you’re relaxing in a spa pool or performing your own spa treatments, adding spa-like music is a simple touch that can significantly enhance the relaxing atmosphere.

Conclusion: a spa-like atmosphere in your home can be within reach!

Creating a spa-like feel in your home isn’t as difficult or as expensive a process as you might imagine it to be. Indeed, our own feature-packed illuminated mirrors can play their own role in making it a reality for you.

To find out more about our range of Hollywood mirrors and related products and features, please feel free to reach out to the Illuminated Mirrors team today.

How one of our illuminated mirrors could help your child to brush their teeth effectively.

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If you have only recently become a parent, you need to know how to look after your child’s teeth. It will be necessary to start regularly brushing them as soon as the first milk tooth breaks through, which tends to happen when your baby reaches about six months of age.

Make sure you brush at least twice daily — for roughly two minutes at a time — with fluoride toothpaste. You should be the one who does the brushing until the child is aged at least seven, by which point, the child ought to be able to take over.

However, as your child grows, you might want to think about replacing the bathroom mirror with one manufactured to a bespoke design of your choice. Here are some good reasons why…

The mirror can add to the bathroom’s lighting

Should a child who is ready to brush their own teeth do so in front of a mirror? Yes — as that way, they will be able to clearly see how they are positioning their toothbrush and performing the strokes. Consequently, it will be easier for your beloved to rectify any faults in their technique.

Obviously, though, the “clearly” part of the equation will depend on your beloved’s face, hand and brush in the mirror all remaining well-lit enough to be seen fully. Why settle for just overhead lighting in the bathroom when the mirror can produce some of its own illumination?

You can ask us to make you a bathroom mirror with lights arranged in dots or instead running along the mirror’s back or edge. In short, you can decide how the mirror will be illuminated.

Your child can more easily time their brushing

As acknowledged earlier in this article, it is recommended that each tooth brushing session for your child lasts about two minutes. So, when your child transitions to brushing their teeth, you might want to keep watch to make sure the two-minute rule continues to be observed.

Nonetheless, you could make things easier for your little one by setting them the goal of brushing for as long as their favourite two-minute song plays in the background. We can give you a bespoke mirror equipped with a Bluetooth speaker from which the music would play.  

In fact, beyond using it for timing the brushing, you can use your illuminated mirror’s audio Bluetooth capabilities to simply make the bedtime or morning routine more fun in general. So, you might use it to play an entire album or playlist of music, an audiobook, or a story.

Aura Spa Mode could further keep your kid engaged

Our colour-changing Aura Spa Mode mirrors incorporate RGB LED under-mirror lighting. This underlighting doesn’t merely serve as nice mood lighting when relaxing in the bath, as these colourful lights can also be a sweetener to keep your child engaged when brushing in front of the mirror (which, let’s face it, is no easy feat).

Indeed, the colour change mirrors in our range even give you the ability to choose from a number of colours. So, when it’s time for your child to brush their teeth, you could set your mirror lighting to whatever hue your child most likes while they’re getting ready for school or bedtime.

The mirror could even recharge an electric toothbrush

Are you considering introducing your child to an electric toothbrush? If so, the respected dental brand Oral-B advises that you resist doing so until your child is at least three years old. Only a manual toothbrush should be used on kids below that age.

Once your child has reached that age, though, an electric toothbrush can make the brushing process appreciably easier — and prove better at removing plaque.

If we put together a bespoke mirror for you, we can even include a 240-volt socket suitable for use in recharging an electric toothbrush as and when necessary.

You can trust us to make you a bathroom mirror with lights, a power socket, Bluetooth connectivity, and many more features besides. To learn more about what we can do to help enhance your child’s bathroom routine with the perfect illuminated mirror, please contact us.