Mirrors

Restroom Mirrors: What You Need to Know

People use restrooms for more than just eliminating waste and cleaning up after – we check our hair, makeup, and clothing, ensuring we're presentable and don't have anything stuck in our teeth. For these purposes, every bathroom has a mirror, and if yours doesn't have a workable one, your guests and workers will notice.

There are three primary decisions you'll make when choosing a commercial restroom mirror:

• Size
• Frame
• Positioning

Some of our commercial mirrors also have shelves at the bottom to give users a place to rest small items while washing hands or performing other tasks. Others have a tilted frame for easier access if the mirror must be placed high off the ground. Different frame materials have alternative benefits and drawbacks. We'll discuss these features below to help you find the optimal piece for your restroom.

Common Questions About Mirrors

How high should I mount my commercial mirror?

If your establishment is going to be ADA compliant, you should pay careful attention to the height at which you mount your mirror. The ADA-compliant height changes depending on whether you mount it over a sink. If your mirror will be mounted over a sink, it must be no more than 40 inches from the floor. If it'll be mounted on a wall not above a sink, it must be no more than 35 inches from the floor. Keep in mind: this measurement starts at the beginning of the reflective surface, not the frame. Adding a commercial restroom mirror of sufficient height ensures everyone can use it.

Tilted mirrors can be a great help for anyone in a wheelchair as well, as the reflective surface provides a proper angle even for someone who has to look up at the mirror.

Should I get one with a medicine cabinet?

Medicine cabinet additions can be great in small business scenarios, where you may want to store some first-aid supplies in a private, employee-only restroom, but if you're putting your new piece in a commercial restroom, you won't want to add a medicine cabinet. Only get a medicine cabinet if you're confident the supplies inside will not be tampered with. Medicine cabinet units are very popular for residential use, as they add storage in a small footprint.

Can I get theft-resistant options?

If your restrooms are open to the public, and especially if they're accessible overnight, you may want to invest in theft-resistant mirrors. These have special mounting for difficult removal, discouraging potential thieves from walking away with them. The theft-resistant mounting doesn't prevent vandalism or protect the pieces from breaking – it only makes the mirror harder to remove from the wall.

If you get theft-resistant units, you'll need to keep up with the special hardware that comes with them to be able to remove them later for cleaning or repositioning the mirrors.