You probably won’t find a single house that doesn’t have a mirror. Everyone needs it, because we need to know what we look like. But in addition to its direct function, reflection, it can become a very stylish decorative element. There are many mirrors of different shapes, sizes and with original frames. What is also very important is that mirror surfaces are simply necessary in cramped rooms - thanks to the reflection of light, the space visually appears wider.
But glass must be handled very carefully. Something as simple as installing glass has many nuances, which will be discussed in this article.
How to hang a mirror on concrete
Concrete walls, as well as brick, are found in most homes. You will probably have to mount the mirror on just such a surface, so get a hammer drill - you won’t be able to do without it. Special drills are also needed to make holes in concrete. If you plan to glue a mirror, the concrete wall needs to be primed before doing so.
Work technology
A mirror is glued to a concrete wall like this:
- Turn the mirror back.
- Glue pieces of thick double-sided tape onto it.
- Remove the protective shell/film from it.
- Apply adhesive to the back side along the contour. It is advisable to do this in small pyramids.
- Next, the glue is applied to the surface in equal stripes - 15-20 cm.
- After the adhesive has already been applied, the mirror is pressed tightly against the wall.
- It is advisable to support the canvas with something from below, since the glue will set firmly only after 30-40 minutes. Double-sided tape performs the same function. Until the glue hardens, there is no need to tear off the tape; it will maintain a stable position of the canvas.
If the mirror is small, then only the contours are processed with a “liquid nail”. Some craftsmen advise using special holders for a while until the sealant hardens.
How to attach a mirror to drywall
Drywall is a fragile material, so traditional methods of installing mirrors will not work in this case. Buy special fastening systems - they make the fastening stronger and will not damage the wall. Pay attention to the weight of the product - it should not exceed 20 kg, otherwise the material simply will not withstand the load.
1 square meter of mirror exerts a load on the wall in the range of 5-15 kg. Measure the area of the canvas and calculate whether it is suitable for your wall. Secondly, the mirror needs to be hung at a height convenient for all family members. To do this, choose it according to the following formula: the upper edge should be 5 cm higher than the height of the tallest person, and the lower edge should be lowered 3 cm from the chin of the shortest person.
Spectacular examples in the interior
The design should be selected to suit a specific interior style. At the same time, the accessory can be luxurious, which is appropriate for the Baroque style, as well as laconic, which is characteristic of the minimalism trend.
If your home has a narrow or long entrance area, you can make one wall mirrored as decoration. This will visually increase the space.
Art Nouveau and avant-garde styles welcome extraordinary solutions. It is worth decorating the space of the rooms with models of unusual mirrors.
A cabinet with a framed mirror can be purchased as an alternative to a regular wall mirror.
Which mirror mounting method should you choose?
The set of tools depends on the chosen mounting method. It is better to glue or hang mirrors on a plasterboard wall using special fittings. Fastening this piece of furniture to concrete is much more difficult, but also more reliable. If you want the mirror to look minimalist, use hidden fasteners. Another advantage is that you don’t have to use nails, which means the wall won’t get damaged. The mirror can be removed and rehanged at any time.
Options for mounting mirrors on bathroom walls
There is high humidity in the bathroom and there is always a lot of fumes. Therefore, the mirror product must be securely attached to the wall. How then to glue a bathroom mirror to the wall? For this you can use:
- Adhesive sealant;
- Either metal through and conventional fastenings;
- Hidden plates are also used in bathrooms;
- Butterfly dowels.
It is worth remembering that if there are tiles in the bathroom, the fasteners should not be located on it, but in the seams. If the cladding is made of plastic panels, the mirror is glued. But its weight should not be very large.
The mirror product must be securely attached to the wall.
Through-hole mounting for mirrors
As the name implies, the fastenings here pass through the mirror. For this purpose, four holes are provided in it at the production stage. You just have to install dowels in them and fix the mirror on the wall. If there were no holes when purchasing, you can ask the store to drill them.
Typically, dowels consist of:
- sleeves. it is placed in the wall and firmly fixed in it;
- screw;
- pressure pads that ensure installation safety; they are placed between the canvas and the surface on which it is attached;
- decorative plugs.
When attaching dowels to tiles, wood paneling or PVC panels, it is worth remembering that you need to go deeper into the base of the surface. This requires special long dowels. Another option is to remove the covering from the wall and mount the mirror on a bare surface. There are special fittings for fragile materials like drywall or chipboard. Such dowels are called “butterfly”, Driva dowel.
You can make holes in the product for through fastening yourself. To do this, you need a diamond drill designed for working with glass and a low-speed drill. Place the mirror on a stable, comfortable surface, degrease the drilling areas and mark them with a marker. When drilling, the mirror will heat up, which may cause it to crack. To avoid this, set the speed to 300-1000 rpm and place cold plasticine or other similar material around the markings. It will cool the drilling site and prevent damage to the glass.
Recommendations for placement
When choosing a method for attaching a mirror, based on the wall material and its reliability, do not forget about the place in which this mirror will look most advantageous. It's no secret that sometimes it is not possible to place the mirror canvas where you want.
The reason may be the design features of the room, lack of footage.
In small apartments, each piece of furniture has its own place, which limits the space for the mirror itself. To simplify the task, you can pay attention to some nuances:
In a small darkened room, it is worth placing a mirror opposite the window opening to give more light to the room. A mirror on the entire bedroom wall will double the size of a small room.
- You should not hang a glass product in the kitchen near the stove: high temperature and fumes will provoke frequent maintenance and will affect the appearance of the mirror.
- Before hanging the canvas panel in the bathroom, cover its ends and back with a special sealant.
- Cover the mirror in the children's room with a special film that will prevent the product from flying apart if it breaks.
- Place stylized lighting fixtures on the wall near the mirror in the hallway; this will visually expand the walls in the room and give a stunning effect of diffused light.
- You should not hang decorative elements of this type at an angle to a vertical surface, so as not to distort the reflection.
- To properly fix the mirror in the hallway, choose a place where you can look into it at full height and keep in mind that this distance should be at least 1-1.5 m from you.
- The canvas, which has a height of 0.6 m, guarantees a waist-high view, a product from 1.2 m provides a full view of the entire figure. The choice of mounting height for a mirror in the hall will depend on its height and width. The bottom of the mirror for a full-length view should be placed no higher than 0.5 m above the floor level.
- For high-quality gluing of a mirror, the wall must be level. The thin product will adapt to the shape of an uneven wall, since the glass can take the shape of the base. To stick the product correctly and avoid such a nuisance, you need to choose thick glass or level the wall.
Non-through mirror fastening
This method requires the correct choice of fastening. Its size depends on the size and weight of the mirror: the larger these indicators, the correspondingly larger the mount. The lower mounts bear more load, so they must be able to withstand it. Consider this point when choosing fasteners.
There are two options for installing fasteners. In the first case, the elements are located at the bottom of the mirror in each corner at a distance of 3 cm from the edges, as well as on the sides. The second method is to install fittings at the top and bottom. The location of the lower fasteners is strictly determined by the markings, and the side elements are installed in such a way that the web easily passes through the grooves. This distance depends on the type of fasteners used. Make sure that if you move to one side, the mirror will not fall.
If you want to be sure that the mirror is securely fastened, you can additionally glue it to a plywood sheet. But this method will increase its thickness - pay attention to this when installing. You can purchase protective corner stickers for mirrors. They do not allow it to move freely, and at the same time make the appearance of the canvas more beautiful and neat.
Framed mirrors are hung in the same way as paintings. As a rule, they are sold with ready-made hinges, so the only thing required to install them is hooks with dowels on the wall. In addition to them, suspension loops or plates are used.
If the mirror is heavy, it can be hung by the top edge on special slats. When fastened, they form a “lock” that securely holds the frame. One part of the rail is installed on the surface of the wall, and the second - on the back side of the frame.
Cut the board you need
When choosing a board from which to cut a tenon, consider the size and location of the mirror. Very heavy mirrors may require 2 cm thick boards. However, most mirrors can be secured using 1.5 cm thick boards. The board should be wide enough to accommodate several rows of screws.
For my mirror, I chose a board 15 cm wide. To cut it, you need to set the blade at an angle of 45 degrees, position the fence so as to cut out the center and saw the board. Use a table saw to cut pieces to the width of the mirror.
French tenons can be made by cutting the board at a 45-degree angle with a circular saw, but this method is much more complicated. The table saw makes extremely precise cuts to ensure a straight and stable installation. If you're using a circular saw, clamp a straight edge along the length of the board to create a fence that will help ensure precision and safety when cutting.
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Screeds with platform
It is a dowel with a thread and a platform (square or rectangular) to which a tie is attached. These fasteners (KSP) are convenient for quick installation. Made from non-flammable plastic.
KSP - screed with mounting platform for dowels
Initially, a dowel is installed, onto which the platform with the screed is screwed. After this, the wires are attached. Installation is suitable for wooden, brick and concrete walls and ceilings. With the help of such platforms you can attach several cables at once.
Dowel clamp
Used for quick fastening of one cable. The clamp is very easy to install. Using a hammer drill (if the wall is concrete), a hole of the required length and diameter is drilled. After this, the clamp is carefully opened, the cable is placed in it and the sharp end is inserted into the hole. The clamp will not fall out of it thanks to the double-sided notches on its sides.
The shape of the clamp must match the cross-sectional shape of the cable. Basically it is either round or rectangular. These installation elements are low cost and reliable in installation.
Product Features
A hallway without a mirror looks empty and boring. Even the most stylish interior will leave an impression of incompleteness if this item is missing. When looking in a beautiful mirror before going out, only the most positive thoughts arise that remain with a person for a long time. In addition to the emotional component, this item can adjust the geometry of the hallway or change the accents in the color design. It also has a number of additional functions:
- covers mechanical defects on the decorative coating of walls, if any;
- visually increases the area of the room;
- helps to shade or complement the overall design solution;
- in combination with a baguette it gives the hallway solidity, and in combination with an LED strip it becomes another source of light.
A wide range of models and a variety of design options make it possible to choose a product, focusing on individual needs and interior features.
Beautiful ideas
An interesting hallway, where the entrance area is separated by a high cabinet, and on the other side there is a place to relax and put yourself in order. The full-length model was placed on the front of the closet, and the makeup product was equipped with lighting and hung on the wall.
A mirror can be used in any interior; its size, shape, location, as well as the style of the frame are important.
Some interiors successfully combine a mirror that reflects full-length and waist-length. A large product can be hung on the front of the door, and a compact product can be hung on the side wall. The glare of light from the lighting creates interesting special effects and makes the hallway brighter.
A mirror can become one of the accents of space design
A large mirror located on the side of the door helps you evaluate your appearance before going outside. The massive frame echoes the texture and color of the floors and doors, together creating a cohesive composition.
In a gilded frame it will decorate any interior in a classic style. It can be hung above a table or chest of drawers where the necessary accessories will be stored. A free side wall is suitable for this composition.
Built-in wardrobe with gilding and floral patterns fits perfectly into a luxurious Baroque interior
If possible, place it on the same wall as the door. You can only see your reflection when leaving the house.
Combining it with a wardrobe saves space and helps organize your wardrobe storage space. A cabinet with a mirrored front is often placed sideways to the door.
Designer hallway in a classic style
Despite education, superstitions, one way or another, become a cause of doubt for almost all people. We hear them since childhood, constantly linking our troubles with signs. Therefore, before hanging a mirror opposite the door, listen to your feelings. If in doubt, it is better to choose one of the alternative options.
