This mirror wall panels guide includes what they are, types of mirror panel designs, where to use them, benefits, and the installation process.
One beautiful and decorative element that you can add to your spaces at home are mirror home panels. They’re great because they can easily transform any space into something airier and brighter almost instantaneously.
Wall mirrors are glamorous and trendy and something that can really add value to the overall aesthetic of the space. These mirror wall panels can also come with a lot of variety. They come in a lot of different designs from modern-looking starbursts to fun-looking geometric patterns to metal flowers and so on.
There is bound to be a mirror wall panel for literally any type of budget and for any style or décor theme. If you want to make a considerable amount of visual impact with little cost and effort, then mirror wall panels are the way to go.
Quicklook: Different Mirror Wall Panel Types
• Multi Panel
• End-To-End
• Decorative
• Mosaic
• Beveled
• Smoked
• LED
• Custom
What Are Mirrored Panels for Walls?
Mirror wall panels are comprised of large pieces of high-end glass (or at least high quality). It’s a piece of architecture made out of glass that comes in endless dimensions and varieties in terms of color, size, shape, and even finishes.
They’re a great way for you to add a bold statement piece to your space without making things look and feel overwhelming. Mirror wall panels also don’t take up any amount of floor space as they’re tacked on to the walls so they won’t affect your floor layout at all.
Where To Use Mirror Panels
Mirror wall panels are used to reflect light, create an effect of having more light and space, and overall draw attention to them. Your mirror wall panels can easily be the focal point of any room if you want. Here are the different places and functions where your mirror wall panels can be of use to you:
Closet doors: If you want to open up the look and feel of enclosed closet doors, mirror wall panels can work well in doing this. There’s also the added benefit of having a functional reflective surface that you can use to check your reflection when you’re dressing up and getting ready.
Hallways: This can transform narrow hallway dimensions and make them look and feel so much wider. The space will feel like you have so much more area to move around in.
Entranceways: When mirror wall panels are installed along your entrance ways, they can create a vibe of intrigue and drama. At the same time, you will also be able to effectively reflect artificial or natural light, effectively opening up the space and making it look friendlier to the eyes.
The use of glass as mirror is well established in interior design and, conventionally, it is used to give an accurate reflection of the room that contains it. – Furniture for Interior Design, Drew Plunkett, Sam Booth
Alcove walls: Adding mirror wall panels can transform your alcove walls into statement pieces. This can turn them into an attractive architectural element that really adds a lot of value to the space that you’re redecorating.
Stairways: Stairways can at times look and feel cramped. This is something that you will be able to easily remedy by installing mirror wall panels to create the illusion of having more light and more surface area to the space. See more staircase wall decorating ideas here.
Indoor pools: Indoor pools provide naturally reflective surfaces because of the water. Adding in mirror wall panels could highlight this element even more.
Home athletic studios: Working out while being able to check your reflection is a great way to really make sure that you have your form and posture right.
More than that, even when dealing with a small amount of space as with most home gyms and yoga studios, you can actually even open the space up and make it look so much bigger and more spacious than it actually is.
Behind large furniture pieces: One downside to having large pieces of furniture in the home is that they can really close the space up, especially when they’re backed up against the wall.
Types of furniture can include things such as a big bed, an office desk, or even a fireplace. After all, room layouts are all about the element of illusion, and mirror wall panels are great at achieving that.
Literally anywhere: When you come to think of it, you can tack mirror wall panels onto literally anything and anywhere. If there’s any space or room in the home that you would like to upgrade with minimal effort, then mirror wall panels should be your first go-to approach in changing it up a bit.
Mirror Paneling Benefits
Timeless: Mirror wall panels are attractive and they can be quite timeless. Unlike other decorative materials, they don’t go out of vogue. Regardless of your design preferences and styles and no matter how the trends evolve, you can rest assured of the fact that your mirror wall panels will be able to keep up with it.
Has no issues with moisture: Unlike most types of drywall or timber or other materials that have issues with moisture, mirror wall panels have none. They don’t take on moisture which means that you won’t have to worry about mold growth over time. It won’t get damaged by it and you even get to enjoy the benefits of enjoying it for longer.
Easy to maintain: Wall mirror panels are made out of glass. Glass is a material that is pretty easy to clean. All it takes is nothing more than a simple or basic glass cleaner and you should be able to update your wall panels and make them look like they’re brand new.
High-quality glass in particular may lose its luster as the years go by but this doesn’t mean that you’ll end up spending a lot of money to maintain it.
Durable: Although glass might seem like a fairly delicate material, this isn’t exactly the case with architectural glass. This type of glass can turn out to be incredibly strong. It means that the material is bound to last. It will not scratch or break easily.
Wall mirror panels go through a lot of impact from daily wear and tear but you can rest assured of the fact that your panels could stand up to that.
Types of Mirror Wall Panels
Here we share the different types of mirrors used for wall panels
Multi Panel Wall Mirror
Multi-panel wall mirrors are comprised of multiple small panels that make up a whole unit. They can add a clean-looking focal point to the room that you’re decorating it with.
They look graphic and can really command attention. If you want something that really makes a statement, multi-panel wall mirrors are the way to go.
End-To-End Mirror Panels
These are panels with mirror sizes that span a wall from one end to the other, from floor to ceiling. This can make any small area stand out and appear so much more prominent than it will initially look if it isn’t installed with the wall panels.
If you’re dealing with a cramped bathroom space, end-to-end mirror wall panels can instantly increase the room’s appearance, adding space and depth to it.
Decorative Wall Mirror Panels
This can be perfect for your receiving areas such as your living room and your dining room. Decorative wall mirror panels can set the backdrop for something elegant and beautiful.
If you want to make a space look enticing while at the same time, provide an illusion of space, decorative wall mirror panels are for you.
They can be in every shape and design that you could possibly want. If you want to make it even more decorative, you have the option to pair it with fine light fixtures to really bring out its beauty and further provide illumination to the space that you’re redecorating in the home.
The options you have are limitless. With some thought put into it, you can definitely easily come up with something that will really elevate your space.
Mirror Mosaic Panels
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This is usually a marriage between mirror wall panels and decorative mosaic glass tiles. The results produced look antique and colorful, reminiscent to that of how stained glass windows in church cathedrals usually look like.
If you’re decorating an area in the home that doesn’t really get a lot of natural light all throughout the day, you might want to consider getting mirror mosaic wall panels.
You get additional illumination and the illusion of created space from the mirrors but on top of all that, you get the added benefits of the light bouncing off of the colored mosaic glass tiles.
It makes for a very impressive-looking added element in the room and can also easily be the main point of interest in the space that you’re redecorating.
Beveled Mirror Panels
Beveled mirrors have a slanted edge, which creates a framed look around the mirror. They add a touch of elegance to any space and can be used to create a focal point on a wall.
Beveled mirror wall panels kind of have a special place in the hearts of interior decorators everywhere. A beveled mirror panel will usually have its edges cut and polished. A specific size and angle are usually observed.
What this produces is a look that’s elegant and extremely polished since the mirror panels look like they have been individually framed. The bevels are acting as borders.
Bring them side by side and you really have a looker that will give you a good run for your money. They tend to cost more compared to flat mirror panels because you’re paying for extra processing and manufacturing.
The result can be quite astounding though and well worth the extra amount of money you’re paying for it. The middle part of the individual mirror panels is usually thicker as the edges kind of taper out so they also bring in the element of varied textures. This can be quite a treat if you want to introduce that to the space that you’re currently designing.
Smoked Panels
These are typical mirror wall panels with a bit of color added to it. Smoked mirror wall panels are at times nicknamed as grey mirrors as well. This is based on how the extra bit of color can make the mirror wall panels look like.
The colors can vary greatly from black to gray tints to dark bronzes. It all depends on what your preferences are. In order to get the smoky appearance created for the mirror wall panels, a mixture of metal oxides is usually poured onto the glass and added while still in their hot and molten state.
The effect is very elegant and sophisticated and if you’re going for something that looks minimalist and a bit somber, smoked mirror wall panels are definitely a great way to go.
LED Mirror
LED mirrors have built-in lights, creating a soft glow and making a space feel warm and inviting. They are often used in bathrooms and bedrooms and can be a great option for those who want a modern and functional mirror.
Some interesting features of LED mirror panels include built-in touch controls to change the brightness levels, magnifying mirror for bathroom grooming, defogging functionality and even bluetooth speakers.
Custom Mirror Panels
There are so many things you can do with your mirror wall panels. You can easily customize them based on your heart’s desires. You can frame them with moldings ranging from the cost-effective to the high-end ones, add in splashes of color before you get them installed, get stencils on them, cut them in different sizes, styles, and shapes, and so much more.
The only limit to all of this is really your imagination. If you can think it, you can do it. And if you can’t, you can rest easy with the fact that there are bounds to be a professional out there who can deliver exactly what you’re looking for at the end of the day.
The best way to get your mirror wall panels customized would be for you to go directly to the source. Have a detailed sit-down conversation with your local glass supplier and see if you can bump heads and create something that’s specifically made and designed for you and for the space that you’re adorning with mirror wall panels.
Just keep in mind that suggestions are great and all that but at the end of the day, it all depends on what you want and how far you would like to take the design element of it.
Other Mirror Panel Types
Acrylic Mirror. Made from reflective metalized PET or plexiglass, acrylic mirror panels are a type of mirror made from acrylic, a type of plastic material known for being lightweight, durable, and shatter-resistant. Acrylic mirror panels have a reflective surface that is similar to traditional glass mirrors, but they are much lighter and less prone to breakage.
Polystyrene Mirror. A poly mirror is made from polystyrene, which is a thermoplastic polymer. Polystyrene mirrors are lightweight, heat-resistant, shatter-resistant, and flexible. This style is frequently used in closets and bathrooms and come in different color options such as silver, gold, black and bronze.
3D Panel Mirror. The machine-made etched glass surface can create intricate designs. Patterned and custom 3d panels are popular in interior design and can make a room luxurious with a panel of these mirrors. They can also be equipped with LED lighting to create interesting accent pieces that look like art.
Tinted Mirror. A tinted mirror wall panel is a type of mirror that has been treated with a special film or coating to give it a colored appearance. Tinted mirrors come in a variety of colors, including bronze, gray, pink and blue.
The tinting process reduces the amount of light that passes through the mirror, resulting in a darker reflection. This can be helpful in reducing glare or creating a more intimate atmosphere in certain settings. The added color can be explored for a more sophisticated installation.
Panel Installation
Installing mirror wall panels is somewhat similar to getting wall tiles installed. The only difference is that you don’t have to go through the hassle of applying grout in between them because they have no need for any.
This means that it isn’t as time-consuming nor does it cost as much as tile installations do. But just like your wall tiles, your mirror wall panels can be installed in patterns, in a straight line, or in literally any design or way that you might have in mind.
Mirror wall panels are something that you can do yourself. You don’t always need to hire it out as a professional job. Here are the basic steps on how to get your mirror wall panels installed.
Clean the wall: You will only need some water and a mild soap solution. This will get rid of any dust, stains, or dirt particles on the wall. Any foreign particles may interfere with how the mirrors will properly adhere to the walls.
Make sure that it’s properly cleaned and wiped dry. Take some time with this and go about it slowly if you have to. This isn’t a process that you would want to rush.
Measure the wall area: Make sure that you take on both horizontal and vertical measurements.
Mark it out: Usually, the best way for you to mark your wall out would be with the use of chalk. Start your measurement from the top, with the use of a vertical line, and then start from side to side with a horizontal line.
Now you can start out by lining up your wall mirror panels: Start at the bottom edge of the wall working your way towards the center. Then work your way outwards towards the other side of the wall.
Shift the pieces around if you want to make sure that your mirror panels will fit from one end to the other. Now that you’ve had a tentative outline of what your arranged wall mirror panels will look like once installed, now it’s time for you to spread on some adhesive.
You are going to need some mirror mastic adhesive for this. Spread it over in 3 square foot areas. Take it one small area at a time. Rake over the applied adhesive with the use of a notched-edged trowel. This will give your adhesive area some traction and will ensure that your mirror panel pieces tack on quite nicely and snugly.
Now it’s time to set your mirror panels once by one, just the way that you’ve planned it out before the mastic adhesive was on. Make sure that you press the pieces on tightly and do it one by one until the adhesive sets gently.
Make sure that you don’t end up butting the mirror panels too tightly side by side: Make sure that they aren’t pressed together too hard or you might end up damaging your mirror panels. Keep this up until you’ve completed the first row of mirror panels.
Then proceed with the second row of panels and keep the vertical chalk line in mind to make sure that they are arranged uniformly.
Once you’re done arranging all of your mirror wall panels, follow through on the instructions of your mastic adhesives manufacturer for the curing process as well as for the timeline.
Take extra care in ensuring that the wall will not have any amount of interaction coming from you all throughout the time while you’re waiting for the mastic to cure.
Once fully cured, wipe the mirror panels down with a clean rag with some glass cleaner sprayed on it. This will remove any fingerprints as well as any residual dirt that might make your mirror panels appear dirty or blurry. Make sure that you don’t spray the glass cleaner directly on the surfaces of the mirror panels.
Installing Tips for Mirror Panels
1. Combine Mirror Wall Panels with Other Elements. Integrating different materials such as wood as frame or surround.
2. Create a Panel Template. Creating a panel template can help ensure that the panels are evenly spaced and aligned when working with multiple mirror panels. Create a template using cardboard or paper, which will serve as a guide when installing the panels.
3. Use Mirror Clips. Mirror clips can be a great way to secure larger mirror panels to the wall. These usually come in pairs where the two clips are assigned on top and the other pair to the bottom.
Attach the clips to the wall and slide the mirror panel into place. Be sure to use enough clips to support the weight of the mirror panel.
4. Use Proper Tools and Construction-grade Adhesives. Make sure to have the right tools and adhesives when installing the mirrored panels.
Depending on the size and weight of the mirror panels, a heavy-duty adhesive may be needed, such as construction adhesive or mirror mastic. Also, be sure to use a notched trowel to apply the adhesive, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
5. Safety is a Priority. When handling mirror panels, be sure to wear gloves and safety goggles to protect yourself from broken glass during an accident or when cutting the glass.
Also, make sure the panels are properly secured to the wall to prevent them from falling and causing injury. Use OSHA approved safety equipment and accessories such as an EN388/2003 gloves.
6. Take Expert Advice. If you need help with installing mirror wall panels or working with large or heavy panels, it may be best to seek professional advice. A professional installer can ensure that the panels are properly installed and secure to prevent accidents.
Removing Mirror Panels
You have two ways where you can go about with this. You can either take them down carefully and preserve the pieces as much as you can or you can go with the faster route which is to break them and get them removed more quickly. The older mirror panels are usually tacked on with high-bond adhesives while the newer ones are installed with adhesive pads or mastic.
However, they were installed, and you need to get them removed from the wall before you can do any amount of redecorating. There will be some instances wherein the wall might need some repairs.
Also, if the mirror panels are butted tightly together, there might be no other choice but for you to break them in order for you to effectively clear up the wall.
Place drop cloths all over the areas that are directly under where the mirror wall panels are. This is so that you can catch glass pieces that have gone astray and ensure safety at all times.
Get a second person to help you out with this: This isn’t something that you can do solo. A second set of hands is usually needed to gently push the mirror panel against the wall while you’re removing it, ensuring that it doesn’t fall directly on the floor and break up into pieces.
Put on your safety gear: You are going to need some gloves and goggles for this. Make sure that the person helping you out is doing the same thing.
Even if you’re cutting through the adhesive and not breaking the glass up, there’s still the danger of some glass pieces going astray. Make sure that you’re protected all throughout the time.
Slip a wire saw over the back edge of your individual wall mirror panels: Then try to work on separating your mirror panel from the wall. A wire saw is usually made up of a piece of abrasive wire that has two handles (end to end).
You can start from the top to the bottom of a panel piece or from the bottom to the top, whichever is more accessible for you. Make sure that you have a firm grasp of both handles for your wire saw. Pull it back and forth. Repeat it as you go piece by piece. Remove the mirror panels carefully as you go along.
Are Mirrors Still In Style?
We don’t think there will ever be a time wherein mirrors will not be in style. Mirrors have always been, still are, and always will turn out to be an interior design favorite. And this is for a pretty good reason.
They reflect light and add illumination to any space – which is always a good thing. Mirrors can expand any room in your home visually. And of course, they make for very stylish and decorative finishing accents.
They can come in expensive pieces or even in cheaper and more affordable ones. It all depends on what your budget is. You’re bound to find something out there that will really fit in well with your needs.
On the downside, these panels can be overwhelming to some, and not everyone loves them. If you are installing wall mirrors to sell a home, there may be some who find them to be an outdated style.
Alternatively, real estate has been more and more challenged when it comes to square footage. Having mirrors installed can make a big difference when it comes to the perceived size of a room.
If you’re dealing with a cramped space, you may want to consider leveraging the use of mirrors, as they can make the rooms in the home appear bigger with little to no effort at all.
See more related content in our article about how to cover a mirror wall on this page.