Buying guide for best door mirrors
With only one chance to make a first impression, looking your best is a top priority. Before you step out the door to your next big meeting, event, or date, take a look in the mirror — and make sure it’s a quality door mirror.
Door mirrors are popular for their convenient mounting on virtually any door. Styles with over-the-door hooks take less than a minute to install, and they’re just as easy to move from one door to another, too. If you prefer something more secure, you can take advantage of special mounting kits that display your mirror with a seamless, hardware-free look. More often than not, door mirrors come with all the pieces for both options, so you won’t be hard-pressed to buy extra parts. Finding the right mirror for you depends on your budget, needs, and space.
Wondering which size your door mirror should be or what other features to compare? Continue reading our comprehensive buying guide to help you choose a selfie-ready door mirror.
Types of door mirrors
Simple
Simple door mirrors are low priced and come with hooks and hardware. They may have basic plastic frames or feature more ornate styles comparable to those used to frame paintings or pictures. These door mirrors are more popular than other styles, especially because they have a broad range of affordable designs.
Expandable
Expandable door mirrors are ideal if you’d like multiple perspectives to check out your look. For the most part, their construction consists of a single, central mirror with two other mirrors that hinge open to provide a three-way view. There are also some styles that have as many as four mirrors. Expandable door mirrors are convenient and provide the department-store dressing room experience, but they come with a much higher price tag than other models.
Multipurpose
If you’re interested in exploring storage or lighting features in a door mirror, take a look at multipurpose styles. Some of these mirrors double as jewelry or toiletry cabinets and may even come with their own keys and locks. Other styles are equipped with LED lighting around the edges to provide adequate illumination to apply makeup or style hair. Both of these types of multipurpose door mirrors are at the top of the price range. If you’d like a door mirror with both lighting and storage, expect to pay even more
Shapes and sizes
Door mirrors are usually rectangular. However, there are select styles that are oval. In terms of sizing, full-length door mirrors are most common. For the most part, they measure around 14 x 48 inches, though there are slight variations between manufacturers. There are also mid-length mirrors, though these are much less popular. They usually display only the upper part of your body and are typically 14 x 24 inches in size.
Hanging vs. mounted installation
Hanging
Pros: Hanging door mirrors have simple installation, which entails hanging its hooks over the door. They’re easy to move if you’d like to change their location. Since there’s no drilling or mounting required, they typically won’t cause any damage to doors.
Cons: If you don’t secure the bottom or sides, the door mirror will keep slamming against the door. There are mixed feelings on the solutions, which sometimes involve resorting to brackets or applying adhesive strips directly to the door.
Mounted
Pros: Door mirrors that are mounted stay put and have a professional, polished look since they usually forgo the hanging pieces. Mounted styles are far more secure and will stay put for years if properly installed. They also give you the option for wall mounting, if you’re so inclined.
Cons: Installation takes a bit longer with mounted styles since you’ll need to do some planning and measuring. It also requires drilling hardware into your door, which means you’ll be left with unsightly holes when you remove the door mirror.
Frames
Frame styles
- Simple frames: Simple frames are usually made of thin, lightweight plastic. Frames come in a variety of colors, and are most popular in black, white, or brown. Given their simple construction and inexpensive material, these frames keep the price of a door mirror low.
- Decorative frames: Decorative frames are styled like ornate picture or painting frames. They come in a wide variety of finishes and colors and often come embossed or engraved — especially wood styles. There are also some door mirrors that feature handcrafted frames, and as you can imagine, they’re usually at the top of the price range.
- Frameless: Frameless door mirrors are growing in popularity and work well for achieving a minimalist, modern look. These styles are also ideal if matching the frame to the rest of the room decor is a challenge. While these door mirrors can be harder to find, they’re usually well-built and modestly priced.
Frame materials
Door mirror frames are usually made from plastic, metal, wood, or wood composite. Plastic and metal frames tend to be the least expensive, whereas real wood frames drive up the price considerably. Wood composite falls somewhere in the middle of these styles. If well-made and detailed, they can cost almost as much as natural wood styles. If they’re poorly made, expect them to be on par with plastic frames, both in terms of price and quality.
Door mirror prices
Door mirrors typically cost between $20 and $150. Price depends on the quality and whether the mirror has special features.
For less than $40, you’ll find simple door mirrors. These are usually made with plastic frames and have mediocre hardware, not to mention mirrors that may be somewhat warped.
Quality mirrors can be found between $50 and $75, as they have better mirrors and come with high-quality frames. Their mounting components are also superior.
If you’d like a multipurpose door mirror, expect to spend between $80 and $150. These mirrors often feature lighting or jewelry storage and tend to have sleeker profiles.
Tips
- Hang a door mirror in a classroom. Teachers of young children can incorporate mirrors in a variety of lessons and can use it as a tool to promote positive body image.
- Give one as a housewarming gift. If you’re looking for a unique housewarming present, give a high-quality door mirror that matches bedroom decor.
- Check for assembly pieces. While most door mirrors come with all the necessary pieces, make sure they’re all present before beginning installation.
- Purchase a matching pair. If your bedroom has two closets, purchase a matching pair of door mirrors to maintain a balanced look.
FAQ
Q. What can I do to prevent the mirror from slamming against the door every time I close it?
A. You can affix brackets along the bottom edges and sides of the mirror to limit its movement. If you still notice it’s rattling inside the brackets, you can affix thin foam strips behind the mirror for a tighter fit against the brackets. No matter what, it’s a good idea to secure your door mirror as much as possible to avoid damage or shattering, which is always a risk when it’s attached to a door.
Q. I’m not a fan of the frame of my door mirror. What can I do?
A. Depending on the material, you could paint or refinish the frame. Wood and wood composite frames are the easiest to makeover, though plastic ones can be a bit trickier. For these, you might need to get creative and find a thick paint or opt to bedazzle it instead. If you just can’t get into having a frame at all, it’s worth considering a frameless door mirror.
Q. Besides a bedroom or bathroom, what are other places to hang door mirrors?
A. Many people have door mirrors on coat closets near the front door, which lets you check your look before you leave. Another place to hang a door mirror is in a guest room. When you have several people staying in your home, it can be hard for everyone to get ample bathroom time. With a door mirror in the guest room, guests don’t need to wait to apply makeup or style hair in the bathroom mirror.
