There is a wide selection available including wall mounted and free-standing mirrors.  Designs range from multi-faceted to ornately framed or cut into abstract shapes.  Mirrors are a vital way to compliment the existing lighting scheme in a house and can either maximise the effect of existing lighting appliances or, if used correctly, extend the reach of natural light further into your house.  

If choosing a mirror, an important decision will be whether you require a mirror with a contoured edge or with a straight edge.  Contoured mirrors may be more likely to fit with the existing curves of your home although many people also prefer a more traditional square or rectangular cut for mirrors.  The purpose of a mirror will often be the simple practical need to see how well you are dressed, but often mirrors can be used for decoration or to extend the light in a home.  There are many mirrors by designers such as Tonelli which are best suited for this and can include clever segmented designs.  More traditional pieces are available from designers such as Antonella Italia, pieces such as the Eliot Wall Mirror with a rectangular frame which are well suited for use as a practical hall mirror.

As with almost every other important feature, you should first look at the style, size and colour of the room.  Decide if the mirror should follow an existing look or style, in order to blend in with the rest of the fittings or whether the mirror should be used as an accent to create a new look.  Do not be afraid to experiment with styles that differ from what you already have.  Be bold and take some time to imagine how various models would fit into your bathroom, rather than buying the first one you see.

Size is another important factor that will determine what kind of mirror to buy.  The overall theme or the style of your bathroom accessories will help determine what size and shape would be the best fit.  As an example, buying a rectangular mirror in a room that features predominantly round shapes will not work well, so be sure to keep the overall look of the room in mind.

Colour is the final important element to consider.  Coloured mirrors can be an easy way to add life to an otherwise bland bathroom.  Matching and contrasting colours can have a very strong, but positive effect.

The décor of your bathroom may lend itself to an illuminated mirror, a semi-framed or a frameless mirror. The self-illuminating mirror is multi-functional. It offers a extra dimension to personal grooming, as it lights up the face and adds a soft ambient light for trekking to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Self-illuminating mirrors are not only a modern concept, but are also versatile in style, as they are in every conceivable design mode on the market.

Semi-framed mirrors can provide extra space, as they put a reflective façade on a storage or linen cabinet door. Usually framed in tile or wood, they come in a variety of styles to enhance your décor.

Frameless mirrors are created with a wavy or bevelled edge that pulls the eye towards the mirror and adds a delicate style, deepening the perception of space to a small room.

Bathroom mirrors can also be used in a tile format suitable for a shower suite, from floor-to-ceiling blocks that create a diffused reflection rather than a straight-on mirror image. It creates a wonderful space that is light, airy and seemingly endless. A mirror is a timeless, classy finish to any room, and bathrooms are no exception.

When choosing a bathroom mirror, pick one that will complement the décor and hardware – mixer taps, towel rails, and shower accessories – already in your bathroom. There are several designer options available, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find one that fits.

Backlit illuminated mirrors come with multiple squares of light edging the mirror or with a frame of light. These types of mirrors, which come in a variety of sizes, usually come with a pull cord and would work well in a bathroom with a simple, modern décor.

The vertical Lelia Demista illuminated mirror has a single halogen lamp and glass shade at the top of the mirror and is fitted with a Demista heating pad to keep its image clear. The Felix Demista illuminated mirror offers a landscape option, and it has two halogen lamps and glass shades up top. Both have a pull cord.

The Aztec illuminated mirror looks more like a flat-screen TV than your typical bathroom mirror. It sits on a shelf, landscape style, and has bevelled edges. It will stay steam-free, and its LED illumination – tiny lights on the left and right – has a life span of 50,000 hours.

An illuminated mirror serves as a focal point in your bathroom, so be sure to choose one that you won’t tire of looking at over time.

Lamps are actually situated behind the mirrors. On a standard mirror there is silvering behind the glass but this is sandblasted on an illuminated mirror which actually allows the light to shine through the frosted glass at the front.

You will also have a choice to make when selecting an illuminated mirror regarding whether your priority is the standard of the colour rendering provided by the actual mirror or the lamp life contained within the lights. You will also need to consider the size, shape and style of mirror which is best suited to your overall bathroom theme.

One option is to choose an illuminated bathroom mirror with halogen lamps which provides high colour rendering which will give a natural image similar to looking in the mirror in daylight. The halogen lamp life is approximately 2000 hours.

Another option is fluorescent lamps which can last for up to 10,000 hours. However, fluorescent light has, in the past, been considered rather unflattering to the complexion although advances have been made.

The choice you make will depend on your personal preference, budget and style but one thing is for sure – an illuminated mirror will finish off your bathroom to perfection.

To decide which illuminated mirror will work best in your bathroom, consider the shower accessories, towel rails and other hardware already present. Then, pick an illuminated mirror that will complement. There are several designer options from which to choose, including:

The Rachel Bathroom Illuminated Mirror – This landscape mirror has a halogen light and glass shade on each side. Its rounded corners and chrome pull cord complete the look.

The Odyssey Infinity Illuminated Mirror – This vertical mirror in a chrome frame creates a three-dimensional effect when lit. The warm glow it provides will cast a lovely light on anyone who looks in it.

The Infinity Horizontal Illuminated Mirror – Blue lights create the three-dimensional effect in this mirror, which is also available in a vertical version. Both have a centred pull cord.

The Inca LED Illuminated Mirror – This vertical mirror has LED – with a life span of 50,000 hours – set into the top and bottom for a stark, modern look. It has an on-off sensor switch and will remain clear when there is steam present.

It is important to choose an illuminated mirror carefully, as it is one of the fixtures in your home that you will be looking at every day.

An illuminated bathroom mirror will either have lights attached to the top, or have a cabinet that opens with another mirror on the inside, around which there will be lights. There are even some that are framed by LED lights and in the right bathroom supporting the right theme and style, they can look very attractive.

Another variation of bathroom mirrors is the bathroom mirror cabinet. These mirrors are a dual combination, consisting of a mirror and a medicine cabinet all built into one functional piece of bathroom furniture. These mirrors are very useful in bathrooms with little space and they not only provide a bathroom mirror, but also an alternative storage facility. The bathroom mirror cabinet proves to be very popular in one-bedroom room apartments or small houses with smaller family bathroom suites.  Bathroom mirrors that are flush to the wall, without a cabinet are also an option. If you are looking to purchase a bathroom mirror from this category then this is when the options open up.

There are many ideas to choose from including; wood framed mirrors, ceramic framed mirrors with complicated designs, stone framed mirrors, or square, oval or round mirrors. 

Yet whatever your taste or style, make sure you choose the bathroom mirror that is suited to the ambience of your bathroom. Usually the bathroom mirror can become the feature focal point of your bathroom so ensure that it is in keeping with your theme.

Depending on the overall design of your bathroom, the mirror can enhance and give your washing area a sense of light and space. However, choosing the correct type of bathroom mirror is not always easy. They vary greatly in price and you should be sure of your budget before buying one.

It is important, regardless of how much you are paying, to make sure that the mirror is thoroughly sealed to its casing. If this is not the case, damp resulting from steam condensation will insinuate itself and cause it to come loose from the fitting.

However, once you have decided on the style of mirror that is right for your bathroom, actually mounting it on the wall is not as easy as you might suppose.

If you intend to fix the bathroom mirror directly to the wall, be sure to buy suitable mastic. This will help prevent the mirror from becoming tarnished when the glue is laid on the wall.

Check that you have some sort of support along the bottom of the mirror. This makes it a good deal easier to frame. In fact, such is the importance of correctly setting your mirror flat on the wall; it could well prove beneficial to use a professional fitter. Remember, if you chip or crack the mirror, then you have essentially lost your money.

Finally, be careful of the size you select. Many a bathroom has been ruined by either too large or too small a mirror.

Framing your mirror can add style and imagination to your bathroom. It is of paramount importance that before buying your frame you should carefully consider exactly what you would like the room to express. Remember, how you choose to decorate will reflect your personality.

If you have decided on a traditional bathroom, the ideal frame for your mirror is likely to be an antique. These need not cost a fortune, just have a search around markets, house clearances, even car boot sales.

Do not be put off by first appearances; good quality frames can easily be stripped of flaking paint. In fact, you will often find the price considerably lower than you would pay for a freshly painted frame. Wood staining is an ideal way to restore the lustre of an old frame.

For a more contemporary look, metal frames offer numerous advantages. They are easy to clean, come in a wide variety of styles and can be painted in virtually any colour. They also offer clean lines, while being of any shape or size.

If your budget is restricted, try visiting an art and craft shop. Very often you can find very reasonably priced self-assembly frames.

If you are lucky enough to have plenty of natural light in your bathroom, it is recommended to get the mirror as close to the window as you can. It is a well known fact that fluorescent bulbs and other indoor lighting devices don’t give off the right strength of light and when you are applying make-up, or the mirror is being used for shaving, you will need a good light source.

Of course, the majority of bathroom mirrors will hang over the basin, but if you do find that there is not enough natural light in that area, it is worthwhile hanging a second mirror closer to the window. Also highly recommended for any small bathroom is to fit a second larger mirror, which will be a great way to give the perception of extra space.

Although hanging a bathroom mirror seems fairly straightforward, not doing it correctly can result in a small catastrophe. No matter what the size of your mirror it is always best to use strong wall plugs that will allow fixing screws to be fitted into the wall as securely as possible.

If you are faced with a larger mirror that you want to hang on a hollow stud-work wall, it will be necessary to use specially designed plugs that will open up on the inside of the wall to allow secure fixing.