What is a vanity mirror?
It is a wall mirror chosen for what sits underneath it. The defining constraint is not the mirror itself but the vanity: the mirror has to be narrower than the unit, centred on it rather than on the wall, and hung at a height that suits someone standing at it. That set of constraints is why the size question dominates everything else.
What size mirror for your vanity?
Between two thirds and three quarters of the vanity width is the working rule, and it holds at every size. A 30 inch vanity takes a 20 to 22 inch mirror. A 36 inch vanity takes 24 to 27. A 48 inch vanity takes 32 to 36. A 60 inch vanity takes 40 to 45, or two smaller mirrors instead of one. The mirrors here run 24 to 35 inches wide, which covers vanities from about 32 to 48 inches.
Should it ever be wider than the vanity?
No. A mirror wider than the unit below reads as a mistake rather than a choice, and it looks worse the closer you stand. If the wall is wide and empty either side, the fix is sconces or artwork flanking the mirror, not a bigger mirror. Keep the glass inside the footprint of the vanity every time.
How high above the vanity?
Leave 4 to 8 inches between the vanity top and the bottom of the frame, and centre the glass at roughly 57 to 60 inches from the floor. Too high and you are looking at your chin; too low and the frame collides with taps or a lamp. If two people of very different heights share it, favour the taller one and let the shorter step back.
Two mirrors or one?
On a double vanity of 60 inches or more, two mirrors usually beat one. Each person gets a mirror centred on their own sink rather than sharing a wide one that is centred on neither, and the pair breaks up what is otherwise a very long horizontal run. Size each to the sink beneath rather than to the whole unit.
Lighting matters more than the mirror
Light from the sides rather than overhead. A single downlight above a mirror casts shadows into the eye sockets and under the chin, which is the worst possible light for anything done at a vanity. Sconces at either side at roughly eye level throw light onto the face instead of down it. If only overhead light is possible, keep it diffuse.
What is in this collection?
Mostly round mirrors, 24 to 35 inches wide and 28 to 37 inches tall, in metal and wood-framed builds with natural and oak finishes. Frame material varies by piece and is stated on each listing. These hang on the wall rather than standing on the vanity surface.
Specifications
- Use
- Hangs above a vanity or dressing table
- Width inches
- 24 to 35
- Height inches
- 28 to 37
- Fits vanity widths
- About 32 to 48 inches
- Sizing rule
- Two thirds to three quarters of the vanity width
- Mounting height
- 4 to 8 inches above the vanity top
- Shapes
- Round
- Frame materials
- Metal, Wood, Composite
- Construction
- Frame material varies by model and is stated on each product page
- Free shipping
- Free
- Delivery window
- 5 to 7 days
Good to know