Mirrored shelves: an essential attribute of the bathroom

A bathroom mirror is an invariable attribute of a hygienic room. It is required to confirm the end result of shaving, brushing teeth, or removing makeup. It turns out that the mirror is a kind of controller. But what it will be depends on the owner. Many do not change the mirror for years, it fades and grows cloudy. Someone needs a large mirror, and someone gets by with a small square. But there is no doubt that the mirror is one of the main elements of the bathroom.

In order to save space, the mirror is usually installed above the sink. You can use a wall cabinet, on the door of which the product is fixed, or a shelf with a mirror, or an option when it is mounted on a special rack directly to the wall and turns in the desired direction. This condition is especially appreciated by girls when they need to apply makeup.

Manufacturers are currently producing a variety of mirrors. They can be framed or simply with finished edges, they can have several shelves, or they can be supplemented with an additional magnifying mirror. The shapes of the mirrors are very diverse. Classic square, round, rectangular, rhombuses.

There is another use for a mirror. This option is often used by designers. If the bathroom has a small area, then a mirror is installed on the entire wall. It visually enlarges the room. Mirrors with shelves have practical applications. They can accommodate cosmetics, toothpaste, shaving foam and other personal care items. You can leave watches and other small items on the shelves while showering.

As for the shelves, they can also be of different shapes: rounded, rectangular, and so on. It may be one shelf, but several shelves are still more practical. They can have low sides for convenience, so that small things cannot fall to the floor. In stores, you can find a wide variety of mirrors with shelves, but the choice is already a matter of taste for the buyer.

As with any interior item, mirrors with a shelf can have positive and negative properties.

Consider the pros of using this piece of furniture for the bathroom.

• In size, the shelves of the mirrors are compact. Arranged in multiple rows, they easily replace gel and shampoo cabinets. But this option is more suitable for small families. For large families, it is still recommended to purchase a hanging cabinet with mirrors on the doors. He can go in a duet with a mirror with shelves. For a large family, this piece of furniture will become another additional place for placing useful little things.

• It is convenient to place numerous hygiene items on the shelves, which manufacturers offer more and more every year. Gels, shampoos, shaving products, deodorants, scrubs, toothbrushes, toothpastes - all this will be stored in one place.
• Shelf mirror manufacturers scrutinize consumer tastes. Every year something new appears. The sides of the shelves are decorated with patterns and flowers. You can find shelves in a wide variety of shapes and colors.The mirror and shelves can be equipped with lighting, and this gives the bathroom interior a special style.

The disadvantages include several points.

• When buying, users do not attach importance to the need to take measurements of the room and plan the size of the mirror. This is a common mistake that makes a mirror completely unsuitable for a bathroom.
• The quality of the material from which the shelves are made is not evaluated. Plastic shelves cannot hold large amounts of cosmetics. Poor attachment to the mirror may cause it to fall off along with the shelves.
• Shelves are often sold without backlighting. Interior design experts recommend purchasing a backlit product for dark rooms, they look beautiful and practical. The acquisition question only seems simple, but in fact, every nuance must be taken into account.

The materials for making mirror shelves can be very different.

• From glass - fits perfectly into any interior. Its main advantage is that it is not afraid of moisture. It is easy to clean and looks light. It can be completely transparent, matte, mirrored, with or without drawings. The glass shelf is attached to special elements, mainly made of plastic or metal. It is well suited for small spaces. When choosing a glass shelf, you need to be sure of its quality, because thin or overheated glass can burst.

• Made of plastic - This is the most inexpensive option for the price, which resists moisture well. Manufacturers offer a huge selection of plastic shelves, but they quickly lose their appearance.
• Made of stainless steel. These options are expensive, but they are durable options and meet the requirements of modern design.
• Made of wood. Such a wall shelf requires preliminary processing from the action of moisture, then it will hang in the bathroom for a long time without losing its appearance.

• From ceramics. This option is considered a non-standard solution. It absolutely calmly tolerates the effects of moisture and always fits into the interior of any bathtub.
• Made of stone. This variety belongs to the elite version. Natural marble is one of the more expensive options. Artificial stone weighs less and is much cheaper at a price.

There are also combined options for a hinged shelf. For example, plastic and glass.

The structure is classified according to the following criteria:

• what type of fasteners will be required: wall or floor;
• the size;
• framing;
• the presence of backlight.

The most popular design is built-in mirrors., which are attached to the fixing hinges or you can go another way - "put" on the glue to the wall. There are designs from several shelves. They can be arranged in any order: in the form of steps, horizontally, vertically. Corner shelves are considered the most practical. Hinged shelves are mounted on the wall, telescopic shelves - on the ceiling. These two types of corner shelves do not take up much space, unlike the floor ones. The area of ​​the bath does not always allow the use of such designs.

The most typical option for most users is a mirror with a shelf. It can be of any shape, but the shelves are traditionally located under it or on the side. A wardrobe with a door and a mirror is one of the practical options. It does not take up much space and is characterized by its spaciousness. Another option for a mirror design is a complete set with illumination in the form of an LED strip or mini-sconce. Due to this, the room becomes lighter and it visually becomes larger.

Installation methods vary.

• One of the most commonly used is wall-mounted. The structure is attached to the wall with screws or special glue, sometimes double-sided tape, is used.
• Corner mounting method is similar to the previous one. The only difference is in the place of installation. It is produced in the corner.
• At the heart of the ceiling mount is a telescopic bar. A mirror and shelves are attached to it.
• Floor mounting is not often used as units with mirrors and shelves take up a lot of space.

Before you go to the store for a mirror, you need to decide on its size. First of all, you need to build on the area of ​​the bathroom. It happens that an incorrectly selected size visually reduces an already small room. It is recommended to choose a mirror with reinforced amalgam as it resists moisture well. It is necessary to pay attention to the fastening. It must be able to withstand the mirror and shelves. The fastening of the shelves to the structure is quite important.

Manufacturers offer a huge selection of shelf placement variations. They can be located under the lower edge of the mirror, on the sides on both sides, around the entire perimeter, on the bottom or on one side. It is already a matter of taste for each user, but one must not forget about the structural features of the bathroom.

Earlier it was said that a mirror with shelves, as a rule, is placed above the washbasin. And if it is not there, then you need to place it next to the bathroom, so that it is convenient to reach out and take something. It is undesirable to hang the structure in the splash area.

It is not necessary to go to the store behind the shelves, because the structure can be made by hand. The most affordable material is wood, chipboard, fiberboard, MDF and others.

The following tools should be prepared:

• level and tape measure;
• screws;
• hammer;
• saw;
• fasteners;
• holders to the wall;

This is not a complete list of tools, it is likely that in the course of work, the need for additional tools may arise.

The work is carried out according to the following action plan:

• selection of suitable material;
• drawing up a work plan and a sketch of future shelves;
• creation of fasteners;
• product installation;
• strength check and installation in place.

The quality of materials should only be of the highest grade. The structure consists of strips that will be connected by square blocks. It is necessary to make blanks taking into account the fact that the wider the structure will be, the more rails are needed. Marks should be made on each of them, on which blocks of the same size "sit" with the help of glue. Marks should be placed in the center of the side, which then need to be drilled along with the slats with a drill.

The assembly of the structure is carried out using long screws. They must be screwed in with a screwdriver. Before hanging on the wall, the tree can be treated with varnish or paint. Holes should be made in the wall and dowels should be inserted. Everything, the finished shelf can be hung with fasteners.

Mirror shelves can be made of glass. It should not be thinner than 5 mm. Glasses can be different: transparent, frosted, colored and others. It is necessary to cut the glass to the desired size and process the edges. Choose the necessary accessories - brackets. Their appearance depends on the type of attachment. The shelf holder must be attached to the wall with a drill. Fix the glass in it using rubber gaskets. This will help to hold it firmly. Along the edges of the shelf, you can install a side to limit the falling of objects.

For information on how to install a mirror with shelves, see the next video.