In our last two installments of our mirror series, we talked about installing clipped mirrors and frameless mirrors. Today, we want to cover framed mirrors. While many elements are the same between these different mirror types and their installations, there’s enough difference to each that we feel we should pay them due attention. Let’s check out how you can add a customized frame to a frameless mirror.

Acquire Your Mirror

The first thing you need to do is get yourself a frameless mirror. We need a blank canvas for our new, customized frame to, well, frame! Keystone Home Products has mirrors of all sizes available in Toronto. Let us know you’re in the market, and we’ll let you know how we can help.

Ready Your Frame

When you have your frameless mirror handy, it’s time to begin framing it. There are many ways to acquire a frame for your mirror.

1. Make One From Scratch
   If you’re a woodworker and want the most personalized frame available, you’ll certainly want to try your hand at making one. This is a simple project. After getting your mirror dimensions, all that’s left is using a router bit to shape the edges of a long strip of wood, then cutting and connecting them into a frame.
2. Buy One
   There are lots of frames available from hardware stores, crafting stores, and more. Buying them ready-made is great for anyone who wants to customize their frame from a blank.
3. Recycle One
   If you want a frame that’s already made, painted, and ready to go, recycling one from a large picture frame is a great idea. Simply go to your local thrift store and find a large piece of art in a frame. These are very easy to find and are usually only a few dollars.

Attaching Your Mirror

There are two ways to add a customized frame to your mirror, depending on your preference.

Metal Clips

The first method involves using metal clips. These can look similarly to the clips used to fasten frameless mirrors to the wall, but are smaller and flatter. You can also use the kind of clips used to fasten the back on a picture frame. Just ensure you have enough clips to hold the mirror in – you don’t want it falling out.

Adhesive

If you’re more in the mood for a quick project and you aren’t committed to using the frame somewhere else later, adhesive works well. Buy a tube of adhesive, like the kind available from Liquid Nails, and apply it along the inside of the frame where the mirror will rest. Note that you should not apply this too liberally. Any excess adhesive will squeeze out from behind the frame and end up visible along the front edges of your mirror.

Hanging Your Framed Mirror

Finally, you can hang up your mirror. With your mirror sitting in a frame, hanging it is much easier. You can screw a toothed hanger on the back, like you find on some picture frames. Two are recommended for larger mirrors. 

Or, you can put some screws into opposite sides of the back of the frame and string a wire between them. This will allow the framed mirror to hang from a nail or screw in your wall. Though, keep in mind that this method may have your mirror tilted slightly forward from the wall. This can vary based on where you screw into the frame and how long your wire is.

Don’t Miss Part 1

Applying Adhesive

The next step to install a clipless, frameless mirror requires some thoughtfulness. Adhesive is not easy to clean up once it’s been applied – especially not the kind strong enough to hold up a mirror. So, read the following carefully before you start.

Mark Your Intervals

To apply the adhesive, you’re going to create vertical lines of it. To ensure the weight of the mirror is evenly distributed, you’ll want to make those about the same distance apart. For a large mirror that’s more than about 3 feet wide, you’ll want your lines to be close to 4 inches apart. Smaller mirrors will get enough support from lines 5 or 6 inches apart. 

You can make these exact by measuring the width of your mirror and doing some math, but exactness isn’t entirely necessary here. However, what is necessary is marking your intervals. Even if you’re only eyeing the adhesive intervals, having a guide for when you’re actually applying the hard-to-undo adhesive, is a great idea.

You can mark your intervals by marking a Point A and Point B at the top and bottom of the mirror zone, by making a few dashes, or by marking a solid line with a straight edge. They each work for differing levels of steady-handedness, so use what works best for you.

Important Note: Take into account, before making your marks, that you should leave a buffer. Make sure the marks on either side of your mirror zone are at least a couple inches from the edge. Otherwise, you may be able to see the adhesive when you’re done. The top and bottom are less likely to show. However, starting and ending your line an inch from the top and bottom of the mirror zone is smart, as it leaves room for spreading.

Apply Your Adhesive

When you’re done marking your intervals, it’s time to apply the adhesive. This part is straightforward. Make a solid, continuous, vertical line along each interval marking. If it doesn’t look super pretty, that’s fine. It’s all going to be hidden behind the mirror anyway.

Important Note: Something you absolutely need to know when applying your adhesive is that it’s vertical for a reason. Creating vertical lines that are left disconnected from each other allows air flow behind. Therefore, moisture will be unable to get behind it and create mold. For that reason, do not seal the edges with adhesive, connect the vertical lines, or create any horizontal lines.

Installing Your Mirror

Finally, we’ve reached the last step. This one is straightforward, but a tiny slipup could make a huge mess. Therefore, this step is the most simple in its explanation, and the most scary in its execution.

Have your friend pick up that Keystone mirror again and hold it up in front of the mirror zone markers. Get it pretty close – about 1-2 inches away. While your friend is holding the mirror up, take a moment to check if it’s lined up. Then, have them press the mirror to the adhesive. The adhesive is still malleable, if not sticky. Therefore, if it’s not perfectly lined up, you will have a few seconds to gently adjust it. Just be careful not to overcorrect in your haste, or it could make an adhesive mess.

Once the mirror is in place, put gentle pressure across all areas of the surface, securing it more effectively. Don’t aim to get it perfectly flush with the wall, as we do want there to be some airflow behind it. That was the last step to install a clipless, frameless mirror! Now, you wait. Give it 48 hours before doing more work around it, like installing lighting or erasing marking lines.

Installing a mirror can be a fun DIY project. It’s just slightly challenging, but easy enough that most could do it. That is, supposing they’re not accident prone. If you’re looking to install a clipless, frameless mirror in your bathroom, we’ve got the guide you need. Frameless, clipless mirrors have a fantastic, sleek appearance. They work really well with contemporary interiors, which are very common in bathrooms in recent times.

If you’re here to learn about bathroom mirror installation, but need help with a different type, we’ve got you covered. Check out our guides on framed mirror installation and bathroom mirror replacement, which covers using clips. Please note that our guide on bathroom mirror replacement has a lot of great tips for mirror installation in general. Therefore, it may be referenced throughout this guide. We recommend reading part 1 of that guide if you plan on replacing, rather than installing on a new wall.

Buying What You Need

The first thing you need when you want to install a clipless, frameless bathroom mirror is to buy everything you need. There are 5 things you’ll need for this:

1. A Mirror
   Keystone Home Products has a wide selection of frameless mirrors available to buy in Toronto. These mirrors are great for bathroom vanities, bedrooms, and more.
2. A Level
   If you’ve got a bubble level lying around, it will be really useful in ensuring your mirror isn’t tilted weirdly. If you don’t have a level, you can probably do without. If you don’t have a keen eye, try using math and a straight edge to make a pencil line above your vanity.
3. A Pencil
   You’ll need a pencil for marking your wall. If you have dark paint, you can also substitute with chalk. You probably have one of these lying around at home.
4. Adhesive
   This adhesive is incredibly important, as it’s going to be what holds your mirror up. Do some research to find one you like, or use Liquid Nails, which is well known and easy to recommend. Don’t choose an off-brand if you haven’t used it before and are sure it works well. A weak adhesive can create quite a mess for you later.
5. A Friend
   While we don’t recommend that you buy a friend, we do think texting one to ask for help is a good idea. 

Picking a Spot

This first part is incredibly easy if you have the recommended level, pencil, and friend. You can use a ruler to do this by yourself, which we outlined in detail in our bathroom mirror replacement guide. However, if you have someone who can put pressure on your mirror, holding it in place on the wall, there’s an easier method.

First, take note of how wide your mirror is compared to your vanity. Most people will want their mirror perfectly centered over the sink. Therefore, if it’s wider, you need to know how much wider, and if it’s narrower, how much narrower. Once you know the difference in width, divide that length in half and make a wall mark that distance from the edge of the vanity. This is where the sides of your mirror should sit.

Next up is the part where we take some shortcuts from one-person replacement steps. Because you have a friend who can hold your mirror up, you have the free hands needed to just trace it. Center your mirror over the sink and then use the level to ensure it’s not tilted. Next, use your pencil to draw an L shape around each corner, or trace the mirror entirely. It’s entirely up to you. However, before you rule out tracing the entire mirror, just make sure you’ve read the next section. The full trace may come in handy.

Important Note: Make sure, when tracing, to tilt your pencil so that the marking is as close as possible to the actual edge. The 1/8 inch difference that the wood of the pencil can make is massive, by construction standards.

When you’ve finished marking where the mirror will go, your friend can give their arms a break. Set the mirror back where you had it sitting.

Continue Reading in Part 2

Looking for a guide on how to replace a bathroom mirror? You’ve come to the right place. Check out How to Replace a Bathroom Mirror: Part 1 to get the very first steps, Then, continue reading here to finish installation!

Getting the Width

Next up, it’s time to mark where the clips go along the length of the mirror bottom. This is largely up to personal preference.

To start, get out a measuring tape. Or, if you were using a measuring stick previously, you can use that too. Measure the width and height of your new mirror, if you don’t already have the dimensions. While you’ve got your measuring tape lined up along the width of the mirror, the first thing you’ll want to do is get the center point. So, if your mirror is 18 inches wide, 9 inches is your center point. 

Next, estimate about where you want the clips and check where that falls on the measuring tape. We’ll be measuring from the middle to make these markings on the wall. So, if you want your clips 2 inches from the edge of the same, 18-inch, example mirror, your clips will be 7 inches from the center. We’ll call that your clip distance.

The next step is measuring the width of your vanity. If your vanity is up against a wall, be sure to measure all the way from the wall, including any countertop trim in your measurement. Find the center point of the vanity. For a 36-inch vanity, that will be 18 inches. If you’re working with a double vanity, you can do this step with just the bowl of the sink. Line up your straight-edge, vertically, with the halfway mark on your vanity and make a vertical line up the wall, intersecting your horizontal mark.

Clip Markings

This part is fairly simple. Now that you’ve got the center point for your vanity, indicating also where the center point for your mirror will be, it’s time to mark where the clips will go. Simply use your measuring tape to measure your clip distance from the center line, making a mark of that distance along the line indicating where the mirror bottom goes. The intersection of that marking and the mirror line is where your bottom clips will go. 

To give yourself markings for the top clips, simply line up your straight-edge, vertically, with the new clip marking. Ensure your straight edge is perfectly vertical with your level. Then, make a vertical marking along the straight-edge that will poke out from under the top of the mirror when it’s in place.

Install Your Mirror

Now that all of your markings to replace a bathroom mirror have been completed, it’s time for the installation. The first step of installation is installing the bottom clips. Simply place the end of the clip screw against your bottom clip marking and use a drill to secure it to the wall. Ensure the clip part is facing upward before the screw presses it so firmly against the wall that it can’t be adjusted.

When your bottom clips are in place, pick up your mirror and, very gently, press it flush against the wall, above the clips, and slide it downward into their grasp. With a small mirror, these two clips may hold it in place adequately to let go. For a larger mirror, it’s best to have a helper hold it in place while installing the top clips.

For the top clips, simply line them up with the exposed pencil markings above the mirror – you know, the vertical lines you made from the bottom clip markings. Ensure the edge of the clip that will be flush with the wall does not overlap with the mirror when lining up the screw. Ensure the clip side is facing downward and screw it into place.

The only thing left to do is erase away pencil markings or wipe off chalk markings and wipe down your new mirror. It looks great!

People use bathroom mirrors a lot more than they realize. You may not need your bathroom mirror to do your makeup in the morning or to shave, but you surely see yourself in it frequently. Seeing ourselves provides an extra level of orientation. It’s only when your mirror breaks or cracks that you realize how much you miss that sense of grounding each time you walk into the bathroom. Well, if your bathroom mirror is cracked or broken, it’s time to replace it. How do you replace a bathroom mirror? Let’s take a look at the steps!

Decide How to Hang It

The first step when you want to replace a bathroom mirror is deciding how you want it to be hung. There are many ways to hang a mirror and many mirror styles to choose from. Here are the most popular ones:

• Clipped Mirrors
  These mirrors are frameless. You’ll see, usually, 4 clips holding it to the wall. These clips are usually pretty small and made of metal or clear plastic. Typically, they hold the mirror in place with 2 on top and 2 on bottom.
• Framed Mirrors
  Framed mirrors are more like pictures in the way they’re hung. The pane of mirror is held in a frame like the glass in a picture frame. There is usually a wire or some sawtooth hangers that will grip the heads of nails or screws.
• Frameless and Clipless Mirrors
  These mirrors are frameless, just like those using clips. However, they use no clips to hold them up, having a sleek, frameless appearance when installed.

When you’ve decided which style you like best, it’s time to buy the appropriate mirror. Today we’ll be discussing how to install a clipped mirror. Otherwise, check out our guide on clipless mirror installation, or check back next month for a guide on framed mirrors.

Buy a New Mirror

When you know what kind of mirror you’re looking for, it’s time to buy one! Luckily, for those living in or around Toronto, Keystone Home Products offers quality mirrors for vanities and other locations. Our mirrors are frameless, though they can have a frame added to them very easily. We also offer mirrors of many different sizes, so give us a call if you’d like to order one or check our size limitations.

Prepare the Wall

The first step to hanging a clipped mirror is preparing the wall. If there are old mirror clips that won’t fit the size of the new mirror, remove them with a screwdriver. You’ll also want to fill in any holes in the wall before installing the new mirror. That way, you don’t have to work around the new setup to fill them later. 

If you’re planning on painting your bathroom walls, now is also a great time to get that out of the way. If you weren’t planning to, maybe reconsider. A fresh coat of paint in an accent color can make the vanity wall a great focus wall. 

Picking a Spot

Now that you have your frameless mirror and your wall is prepared, the first step is checking where you want to place the mirror. For mirrors that are larger than 2 feet in either direction, it’s recommended that you get some help. Hold the mirror up to the wall. Move it gently up or down the wall until it’s about where you want it. Then, use a pencil (or chalk, for dark walls) to create a line on the wall where the top and bottom of the mirror are. It’s okay if they’re not exact, as long as you know where the edges were. To replace a bathroom mirror in a way that looks nice, you have a lot of measuring and marking to do, so buckle up!

Height Markings

Next, you’ll want to use a level alongside a ruler, yardstick, or meter stick, depending on what you have and how big the mirror is. Another straight edge will also work. It just needs to be perfectly straight. This will be used to get a more accurate line for where the bottom of the mirror will be.

When you’ve got your straight-edge, hold it up to the wall horizontally. Line up the upper edge with where you marked the bottom of the mirror’s desired location. Place or hold the level on top of the straight edge and adjust it until it’s level. Then, create a line with your pencil along the straight edge, either all the way across or, to minimize later erasing, in lines a few inches long about where the clips will be going.

How to Replace a Bathroom Mirror: Part 2

Many people haven’t considered the possible uses of mirror walls in their homes. The truth is, they have a lot of uses and benefits, both visual and practical. Keystone Home Products wants to inform our readers of the ways they might benefit from these fun interior additions. Primarily, they’re incredibly useful if you want to make your bedroom feel bigger! Let’s see how.

Improving Lighting

In bedrooms with bad lighting, things can get somewhat depressing. However, lamp light and its dull, yellow color doesn’t help much. Wouldn’t it be an improvement if you could get more of that crisp, cool daylight throughout the room? What if we told you you could?

Because mirrors reflect light, having a wall of mirrors can improve the lighting in a room exponentially. You’ll have no more need for dull lamplight with the help of a mirror wall. The light will be reflected around the entire room, giving you better illumination, even if your window or windows are small.

Feeling Cramped

Lighting isn’t the only struggle one can have at home. Bedrooms can also feel cramped and small. This may be because the size of the room is generally inadequate or because the room is just packed with furniture and belongings. Either way, you can make your bedroom feel bigger with a mirror wall.

There are two main ways a mirror wall can improve the perceived size of a room.

• The improved lighting from the mirror’s reflection will illuminate more of the existing space, making dark spots feel bigger. Dark areas tend to make a room look smaller. That’s because our brain’s inability to see into the darkness makes it register as the edge of the space we’re in.
• Another way you make your bedroom feel bigger with a mirror wall is that it reflects existing space. By seeing the size of your room doubled, your brain is tricked into thinking the space is bigger than it is.
  This works especially well in rooms that are kept tidy because the size of the floor space is what’s important to see expanded. If you leave an opening that leads up to the mirror wall, it will look as though the floor continues past the wall. While you may know, logically, that there’s no more room past the mirror, your brain will be appeased by the illusion of it.

Get a Mirror Wall from Keystone

If you want to make your bedroom feel bigger with a mirror wall, Keystone Home Products has your back. Drop by our store today to check out our selection of mirror walls, mirror closet doors, and more. If you have any questions about mirror walls or any of our other products, give us a call. We’re more than happy to help. Or, if you’d rather talk to someone in person, visit us at our Toronto store and ask an employee for help. In-person assistance can be even more effective when we’re able to show you the product you’re inquiring about.