Some gorgeous bathroom vanities are on the market today, and you’ve likely drooled over a few as you planned your renovations. However, your dream vanity mirror and your real-life bathroom might not be compatible with each other.
The good news is that you don’t have to settle for low-quality or less-than-stylish vanities, regardless of how roomy or compact your space is. The key is to learn how to choose your mirror based on the dimensions of the countertop.
Measuring Your Countertop
An important thing to recognize as you renovate is that the countertop is the bathroom’s centerpiece. If it’s too wide or narrow, the whole room looks off-kilter. When the countertop is too wide, you’ll always bump into it.
It doesn’t offer enough storage or support when it’s not wide enough. So, once you find the ideal-sized countertop, then you can begin to search for the vanity mirror.
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Measure the countertop’s width, then find a mirror with a slightly shorter width than that number. The general rule of thumb is to go one or two inches less than the width of the countertop. For instance, a 30-inch countertop would require a mirror that is about 28 or 29 inches wide.
However, it will not be a major problem if you want your mirror to be a little wider than the cabinet, as long as you are close to the same size. Keep the width of the mirror less than two inches longer than the cabinet, or the overall look won’t be cohesive.
Planning for the Mirror’s Height
Have you ever walked into a funhouse and come face-to-face with an extremely tall mirror? It’s awkward and unusual, and when your mirror in the bathroom is overly tall, the effect can be similar to this feeling.
The mirror should be tall enough that your head (or the head of the tallest person in the house) is visible. This doesn’t mean you have to buy an extra-high mirror. Instead, you can adjust the placement so that it sits a few inches above the vanity instead of flush with the top casing.
Don’t use a mirror that’s so tall that it takes over the room unless that’s the look you’re aiming to achieve. If you want your vanity to complement the rest of the bathroom seamlessly, get one that stops at least 3-4 inches below the ceiling.
Styling Double Mirrors
Rather than using one large mirror to fill the open space behind your vanity, you could opt for double mirrors. These are popular with double-sink vanities but are workable for single-sinks, too, if you arrange them strategically.
Again, the trick is to keep your vanity’s width in line with your mirror and make sure the height isn’t too tall.
On your search for a vanity, you’ll find plenty to mix and match and others that have mirrors that complement the countertop and cabinet. Don’t settle for one you’re not happy with. Keep shopping, and you might find the vanity of your dreams fits into the bathroom of your reality.
