All advice / Design and finishes
Why the mirror matters more than you think
The mirror is the most-used surface in the bathroom. You face it every morning and every evening. It sets the tone of the room and, in a small space, affects how large the room feels. A well-chosen mirror can make a bathroom look bigger, brighter and more finished.
In a renovation, the mirror choice should be made during the design phase, not at the end. An LED mirror or a medicine cabinet needs electrical wiring behind the wall, which has to be in place before tiling starts.
Framed mirrors
A framed mirror has a visible border — timber, metal or composite — that adds a decorative edge. Timber frames suit traditional and coastal styles. Black metal frames suit modern, industrial and minimalist bathrooms.
Framed mirrors are the easiest to install because they hang on the wall like a picture. No electrical work is needed unless you add separate wall sconces on either side.
Frameless mirrors
A frameless mirror is a sheet of glass with polished edges, mounted flush to the wall. It looks clean and modern and blends with any tile and colour scheme. Frameless mirrors are the default in most contemporary Sydney bathroom renovations.
They can be cut to any shape — round, arch, pill, rectangle — and are usually glued to the wall with mirror adhesive and supported by concealed clips. Our vanity guide covers how mirror width relates to vanity width.
LED backlit mirrors
An LED backlit mirror has a strip of LED lights behind the glass, casting a glow around the edges. It provides even, shadow-free light for grooming and adds a feature to the room, especially at night.
LED mirrors need a power connection behind the wall. This means the electrician must run a cable to the mirror position during the rough-in, before the wall is lined and tiled. This is why the mirror choice should happen during the design phase, not after tiling.
Most modern LED mirrors include touch controls for brightness and colour temperature — warm white for atmosphere, cool white for grooming. Some include a de-mister pad that keeps the glass clear after a shower.
Medicine cabinets and shaving cabinets
A mirrored medicine cabinet combines a mirror with concealed storage. The cabinet recesses into the wall — similar to a niche — and the mirror is the door.
Recessed cabinets need wall depth. In a timber-framed wall, they fit between studs (typically 70 to 90 millimetres deep). On a masonry wall, a surface-mounted cabinet sits proud of the wall and adds visual depth.
A recessed cabinet with LED lighting and a power outlet inside covers mirror, light and storage in one element. It must be planned during the design phase because the wall stud framing must accommodate the opening.
Sizing your mirror
A general rule: the mirror should be the same width as the vanity or slightly narrower. A mirror wider than the vanity looks oversized. A mirror much narrower looks undersized.
For a single vanity (typically 600 to 900 millimetres wide), a mirror of 500 to 800 millimetres wide works. For a double vanity (1,200 to 1,500 millimetres), one wide mirror or two individual mirrors above each basin.
Height depends on the ceiling and the users. The bottom of the mirror should be roughly 1,200 millimetres from the floor. The top should be as close to the ceiling as the proportions allow. Taller mirrors reflect more light and make the room feel higher.
How ETR handles mirror selection
The mirror type and size are confirmed during the design phase, alongside the vanity and the lighting layout. If an LED mirror or recessed cabinet is chosen, the electrician runs the wiring during the rough-in.
Our lighting guide covers how mirror lighting works with the rest of the room's lighting plan. A free on-site measure anywhere in Sydney is the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an electrician for an LED mirror?
Yes. An LED mirror must be connected to the electrical circuit by a licensed electrician. The wiring should be installed during the rough-in phase, before the walls are tiled. Plug-in LED mirrors exist but the cable is visible, which looks less finished.
What shape mirror is best for a small bathroom?
A round or arch mirror softens the room and works well above a single vanity. A tall rectangular mirror makes the ceiling feel higher. In a small bathroom, a larger mirror makes the room feel more spacious — do not scale the mirror down just because the room is small.
How do anti-fog mirrors work?
An anti-fog mirror has a heated pad behind the glass — called a de-mister — that warms the surface enough to prevent condensation forming after a hot shower. It runs on the same electrical connection as the LED lighting. Some models activate automatically when the light is turned on.
Should the mirror match the vanity width exactly?
Not exactly, but close. The mirror should be the same width as the vanity or slightly narrower. A mirror wider than the vanity looks unbalanced. A mirror 50 to 100 millimetres narrower than the vanity on each side looks intentional.
Can I use a mirror to make a small bathroom feel bigger?
Yes. A large mirror above the vanity reflects light and the opposite wall, creating a sense of depth. Placing the mirror across from a window or the shower screen maximises the reflected light. Frameless edges help the mirror blend into the wall.