Pros and Cons of Mirrors with Lighting

Learn about the benefits and drawbacks of illuminated mirrors, including how they operate, what their advantages and disadvantages are, and whether buying one is worthwhile.

Mirrors play a crucial role in our daily grooming routines, and when lighting features are added, they may make the process even more convenient and secure than it already is. 

Illuminated mirrors improve both practicality and aesthetics in a room. Because lit mirrors give a room an air of luxury and modernism, many homeowners choose to install them. 

Installing lit mirrors is ideal in bathrooms, walk-in closets, bedrooms, and other rooms that have vanity areas. 

Many residential foyers and entryways have backlit mirrors over table consoles, often complemented by energy-efficient LED light bulbs. These warm, inviting mirrors use less

electricity and create a pleasant ambiance for visitors. They also provide a convenient means of quickly assessing one's appearance before heading out.

Benefits of a Lighting Mirror

Provides Additional Lighting: Lighted mirrors, particularly those equipped with bright, energy-efficient light bulbs, provide additional lighting while completing a layered illumination for 

bathrooms with little or no windows.

Evenly Lights the Face: Whether doing makeup in the daytime or at night, lit mirrors offer even lighting, while natural lighting is still the ideal option. It can be easier to get rid of glare, 

blind spots, and shadows by using a lighted wall mirror instead of lamps and ceiling lights.

This avoids mistakes, shadows, and missed areas when applying makeup. Additionally, you have the choice to get a lit mirror intended just for using makeup application. Smart-controlled 

illuminated mirrors can be programmed to do particular tasks.

Select illuminated LED mirrors for general cosmetic applications that have a lighting range of 4800K–5000K, which is neither too warm nor too cold.

Less Time Spent on Grooming: Homeowners who have installed lit mirrors report spending 25% to 30% less time on grooming tasks, including applying makeup.

Establishes Ambience: A thoughtfully designed vanity lighting setup, perhaps with integrated smart LED mirrors, can help create the right atmosphere. Even spacing out the lightbulbs around 

the mirror might conjure a traditional look with a contemporary touch.

For example, Hollywood lighting mirrors surround the border of your mirror with equally spaced lightbulbs to give that old Hollywood glitz and theatrical feel. With its sleek modern design and 

useful features, the glitzy makeup mirror with lighting recalls a timeless aesthetic.

Energy-saving: Installing a dedicated lighting system for the bathroom mirror not only makes the vanity area more functional but also uses less electricity. This lessens the requirement to turn 

on every light to attain the ideal lighting temperature when doing particular tasks in front of the mirror. To further reduce your energy costs, look for LED lighting mirrors.

Prevents Accidents: A vanity mirror with integrated illumination and touch-activated controls makes it possible to apply cosmetics flawlessly and offers good lighting to avoid cuts when shaving, 

washing your hair, and performing other grooming tasks.

other Features: Illuminated mirrors can have other features like anti-fog technology, which stops the accumulation of condensation that generates fog on the mirror's surface, in addition to lighting.

The anti-fog device includes thermostat sensors and a heating element that gradually warms the mirror surface, preventing fog formation. Shatterproof surfaces, lighting memory, lighting presets, 

and even the capacity to imitate real-world lighting settings are all features of illuminated mirrored items.

Some devices include touch-activated LED mirrors or voice-activated LED mirrors that give steady illumination throughout the day or night. These lit mirrors can be adjusted using touch or voice 

commands, making them hands-free.

Saves Space: By combining the functionality of lighting fixtures and a mirror, clever LED mirrors free up space on the vanity countertop while also presenting a clean, modern look in the bathroom.

Featuring a wall-mounted, fog-free, and dimmable design, lit mirrors are an excellent choice for bathrooms with limited space and for those who live in temporary or portable housing.

Those with rented facilities, on the other hand, may be limited to portable solutions such as plug-in lighting mirrors rather than a hardwired power source, unless such a provision exists.

Disadvantages of Mirror Lighting

Additional Upfront Costs: While there is a wide price range for different types of lighted mirrors, quality-made built-in lighted mirrors with extra features, such as dimmable and bluetooth-enabled 

capabilities, can cost three times as much as standard lighting.

However, the energy, design flexibility, and time saved by lighting mirrors can more than cover the increased upfront expenditures.

Additional remodeling costs may be incurred for walls with tiling or other types of finishes, especially if there is a plan to reroute the electrical wiring, particularly for a hardwire power supply.

Because side lights such as wall sconces are frequent wall-mounted fixtures for bathrooms, most older homes have their circuit outlets from the ceiling or at the sides of a vanity area.

While mixing artificial lighting fixtures, architectural solutions can be developed to enhance natural lighting into a bathroom space while retaining privacy and the desired bathroom layout. 

This ensures that adequate lighting is maintained even in the case of a blackout.

What Is the Function of Lighted Mirrors?

A lit mirror is similar to a flat-screen TV in that LED lights are strategically positioned around the perimeter of the mirror. Lights will be fitted along the frame of front-lit LED mirrors. 

The light source then projects a light frame with a width of 1.2 to 1.5 inches and a half-inch offset from the mirror's edge. 

Backlit lighted mirrors use the same light source as frontlit lights mirrors but are mounted at the back to allow light to be deflected from the wall. The deflected and dimmable light can be 

further angled so that the edges of the mirror reflect the diffused light, improving the bathroom's overall appearance and design.

Typical Lighted Mirror Components:

Mirror Glass - Mirror glass is often constructed of tempered glass.

• Frame - The frame determines the height and overall appearance of your mirror and can be coordinated with the room's finishes and design.

• LED lights - CRI-rated bulbs with a CRI of 80 to 90 to provide a natural brightness level from several lamps.

• Wiring and electronics are concealed behind the mirror.

• Power Source

• Manual, Bluetooth, Touch, or Voice Activated On/Off Controls

• Dimming Controls - A dimmer toggle allows you to adjust the level of illumination.

• Optional anti-fog technology

• Casing and Backing - There are several mounting configurations and frame designs available.

• Other Features (built-in storage, magnification)

Lighted mirrors that use LED will have a main control unit at the back, with two wires that can either be hardwired or connected to a plug. In addition, hidden at the back part of the 

lighted mirrors are heating coils for lighted mirrors with anti-fog features. 

Most LED-powered mirrored lights will have a touchscreen feature that can easily adjust the light according to its intensity, temperature, or color. Typical lighted mirrors will come with 

hardware such as brackets and screws. 

• Typical Thickness of Lighted Mirror: 1 inch (2.54 cm) to 2 inches (5.08 cm)

Another version of the lighted mirror is the Hollywood vanity mirror, with bulbs equally distributed around the frame. The arrangement gives it an equal distribution of light and creates 

a glamorous aesthetic to a bathroom interior. Hollywood vanity mirrors offer the same smart features as lighted mirrors that use LED strips. Bulbs for the Hollywood vanity mirrors can 

also come with LED bulbs. 

Are Lighted Bathroom Mirrors Worth It?

Installing a lighted bathroom mirror is a worthy investment as it provides illumination to the daily task of grooming while improving a home’s decor aesthetic.

If you have the budget for a lighted mirror and are prepared for the additional electrical work, then lighted bathroom mirrors can be a valuable enhancement. Also, taking advantage of 

the customization features of a product, such as lighted bathroom mirrors, can improve your daily living and well-being.