Bathroom mirrors can now do so much more than just reflect. You’ve got illuminated and Bluetooth options, some have shaver sockets and a lot have a demisting function built in too.
But that doesn’t mean non-powered mirrors are boring. A simple mirror comes in a range of shapes, sizes and finishes that can complement any bathroom while providing that essential function to get you ready in the morning.
If your new mirror doesn’t need power, this is a job you can do yourself from start to finish. If it does, your part is picking the spot in your bathroom you’d like the mirror to be installed and your electrician will take it from there.
This guide explains all the steps you need from marking and drilling to fixing and mounting a bathroom mirror properly, and what to expect if yours needs to be wired into mains power.
Do you need an electrician for an illuminated or heated mirror?
In the UK, any electrical work carried out in bathrooms should be by a fully qualified electrician to ensure it is safe, checked and certified.
Mirrors that need power are wired into your bathroom’s electrics, usually the lighting circuit. Once you have decided where you would like your mirror installed, your electrician will take over and install both the electrics needed and the mirror on the wall for you.
In practice that often means your electrician running a cable from your existing lighting wiring through to the spot where they will be installing the mirror.
For stud walls, they will connect everything up safely tucked away inside the wall and ensure your mirror is installed securely. They will also test everything once the power’s back on. For brick or tiled walls, the process might be a little longer, but your electrician will be able to make sure the work is carried out properly.
Once everything is connected, touch sensor dimming or pairing a Bluetooth mirror with your phone should be easy to set up and use. The instructions that came with your mirror will tell you how to operate the different functions.
Harper LED Arch Mirrored Cabinet with Demister Pad, Shaver Socket & Colour Change Lights – 500 x 750mm
If your mirror doesn’t need mains power, the rest of this guide takes you through installing it yourself step-by-step.
Checking your wall and your mirror before you start
Before making any holes in the wall, it helps to know what type of wall you’re planning on mounting your new mirror on.
- Most of the time that’s painted plasterboard or brick, but if you’re installing the mirror onto tile, that changes how you drill.
- Most mirrors will come with their own wall fixing kit included, and they can often be hung either portrait or landscape depending on what suits your space.
- It's worth reading the instructions that came with your mirror before you start, as some have specific guidance for their fixings or mounting.
- A larger or illuminated mirror can be heavy, so have a look at what fixings are included in the box and whether your planned wall can support that weight.
What height should a bathroom mirror be hung at?
The trick with getting the height of a mirror right is finding a spot that works whether you’re the tallest one in the house or the shortest.
Aiming for the centre of the glass to be around 150 cm to 160 cm off the floor is a good starting point. That should put it roughly in line with eye level for most people.
Much higher than that, and someone in the house is looking at the bottom edge of the mirror rather than themselves in the morning.
Above the basin is the obvious spot for your new mirror if your layout allows it. But it’s not the only place it can go.
A mirror opposite a window can be great for pulling daylight into a small room. Hang it between a pair of wall lights and your face will get even light from both sides without those unflattering shadows.
If you’ve got a larger space to work with, or maybe a double vanity unit in place, something like our Harbour Vision LED Illuminated Round Bathroom Mirror is a full metre in diameter. That’s wide enough to sit above it without looking lost and reflect a large amount of light too.
What you’ll need
A handful of tools and fixings will cover almost every wall type.
- A multi-detector for cables, pipes and studs
- A drill with an optional hammer setting for masonry
- A spirit level, tape measure, pencil and masking tape
- Wall plugs, drill bits, cavity fixings suitable for your wall type
- A screwdriver
Quick Guide for different wall types:
|
Wall type |
What you’ll generally need |
|
Solid masonry brick wall |
Hammer drill, masonry bit matched to your wall plug, standard wall plugs |
|
Tiled wall (over masonry or plasterboard) |
A tile drill bit to get through the tile, then match the drill and fixings to whatever’s behind the tile |
|
Timber stud wall (a timber frame with plasterboard over it) |
A detector to find the stud, screws suitable for wood |
|
Hollow plasterboard, no stud behind |
Heavy duty cavity fixings such as toggle bolts, rated for the mirror’s weight |
What’s behind the wall where your mirror is going makes all the difference.
Solid masonry and timber give the screw something solid to bite into. Hollow plasterboard with no stud behind it doesn’t, so the fixing needs to grip the board itself and the board needs to be able to take that weight.
A toggle bolt for example, does this by going through the board and then opening out behind it, gripping the back as you tighten it.
💡 Top Tip
For some mirrors you’ll find a handy template in the box ready to use. If there isn't, cut out a paper template the same size as the mirror and tape it to the wall where you’re planning to hang it. You’ll soon see if it’s too close to a corner, a light fitting or the edge of the tiles, before there’s a single hole in the wall.
Step 1: Mark up and check what’s behind the wall
After moving the mirror around for days, you’ve settled on the spot where you want it to go. Now we need to look at the wall and the back of the mirror before getting the drill out.
If your mirror lets you choose, decide if you want to hang it portrait or landscape before you measure anything, since it changes the fixing points you’ll be working from.
- Turn the mirror over and check how it fixes to the wall. Some have a keyhole slot that hangs onto screws, others slot onto a hanging plate that’s screwed flush to the wall first.
- Measure the distance between the fixing points, plus how far they sit from the top or bottom edge of the glass. Make sure to rest your mirror on something soft. The glass can mark and scratch quite easily on anything sharp.
-
Now transfer those measurements onto the wall. Mark where the centre of the mirror will sit, then use the tape measure and spirit level to mark each fixing point so they line up with where your mirror needs them.
- Run the detector slowly across the wall around your marks. Cover a wider area than where you plan to drill. This is to make sure you pick up anything hidden behind that wall and you don’t end up drilling into anything you shouldn’t. Make any adjustments you need before starting to drill.
Organics Pebble LED Illuminated Mirror with Demister Pad & Colour Change Lights – 600 x 800mm
Step 2: Drilling and fixings for your wall type
How you drill depends on what type of wall you are drilling into.
Tile: Use a small piece of masking tape over your marked spots to stop the drill bit slipping when you start drilling. Select a tile-rated drill bit and turn off the hammer action on your drill so you don’t crack the glaze on the tile. Once you are through the tile, follow the steps below for whatever is behind it (masonry or plasterboard).
Solid Masonry: Switch on hammer action on your drill and use a masonry drill bit that matches the size of your wall plug so it holds securely. Clear the dust from the hole and push the plug in flush with the wall.
Timber Stud: Drill a small starter hole slightly narrower than the screw itself. This is so the thread of the screw has something to bite into without splitting the wood. No wall plug is needed here, as the screw goes straight into the timber.
Hollow Plasterboard: Leave the hammer action off and drill to the size shown on the packet for the cavity fixings you are using. Some are self-drilling, so you don’t need to drill first. You can screw the fixing straight into the board. Once the cavity fixing is in, it takes the place of a wall plug in the steps below.
Once all your wall fixings are ready, how you finish up depends on your mirror’s fixing type:
Keyhole Slot: Drive the screws in with your screwdriver, leaving a few millimeters of each screwhead showing. The exact gap can vary between mirrors, so check your mirror's instructions. The mirror will hang directly onto these screwheads in Step 3.
Hanging/Mounting Plate: Line up the plate and screw it in flat and flush to the wall. Your mirror will hang or clip directly onto the plate in Step 3.
Step 3: Mounting the mirror
Lift your mirror carefully and lower it onto the fixing you set up in Step 2. If it has a keyhole slot, lower it onto the screwheads until it drops in place. If it fixes onto a hanging or mounting plate, hang or clip onto the plate as the instructions for the mirror describe.
Whichever way your mirror fixes to the wall, make sure it's sitting securely and use your spirit level to check the mirror is level. It's also worth a final quick look at your mirror's instructions, just in case there's any other steps needed.
And that’s it! That mirror won’t be shuffling another inch to the left again. Now it’s fixed to the wall, ready for you to use and enjoy every day.
A bathroom mirror is an essential part of your bathroom and it can easily match the rest of your bathroom’s style. The frame you go for can echo something else already in the room. Maybe a brushed brass edge to match your taps, or a matt black frame that echoes the shower rail.
Reflection and light are a classic combination, and our mirror and lighting bundles give you combinations already chosen for how they complement each other to save you the decisions.
If our guide has given you some inspiration, take a look at our full range of bathroom mirrors, from simple frameless designs through to illuminated vanity mirrors, backlit and magnifying mirrors.
You can pick your favourite and now you know how to install it, the only thing left to decide is where it goes.
