Category: Mirrors

There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to clean the bathroom mirror only to make a worse mess than the one you started with. From toothpaste speckles to water residue, bathroom mirrors take quite a splattering.

Unfortunately, like any glass product, bathroom mirrors are prone to streaking and smudging easily. It takes a keen cleaner to get a streak-free shine on the first time, or does it?

Glass Showers and more deal with a lot of glass products. We mean a lot! So, we have some insight into what it takes to keep these items clean. We know how dirty bathroom mirrors get, even when we’re not touching them.

That’s why we’ve developed this list of mirror cleaning and maintenance tips to help you get that squeaky clean feel on the first wipe. Here’s what you need to know.

Mirror Cleaning and Maintenance Tools

Every homeowner has a supply of mismatched cleaning items ranging from feather dusters to wash rags. While some jobs go just fine sharing tools, others require their own set of cleaning instruments.

For mirrors, start with a soft microfiber cloth. Look for one with a flat weave; this helps reduce the exchange of lint or debris as you wipe. Other items to invest in include:

1. Chemical-free glass cleaner

   You can make your own glass cleaner with one-part white vinegar and one-part water. Mix in a spray bottle and shake well before use. Spray the mirror lightly, as too much will cause runs and streaks.

2. Standard glass cleaner

   Any name brand or unbranded glass cleaner will work. Just be sure the bottle specifies glass, as multi-surface cleaners won’t leave the same shine.

3. Rubbing alcohol

   The amazing thing about rubbing alcohol is its ability to evaporate after use completely. This removes bacteria and dirt without leaving soap residue on the glass.

4. Cotton pads

   This is the most compatible tool for rubbing alcohol. The cotton pad absorbs enough alcohol that it doesn’t evaporate before you have an opportunity to use it, but it won’t drip all over the mirror as you go.

These are a few of the top tools professional cleaning services and glass companies recommend for mirrors. Remember, to get the clearest reflection possible; you want to use the least amount of product.

Commence the Pre-Clean

If you begin with glass cleaner as your first step, you’ll simply wind up rubbing around dust, toothpaste and other bits of splatter on your mirror.

Before polishing, you should clean fingerprints, smudges, makeup residue, and other debris from the mirror with rubbing alcohol and a cotton pad. Moving top to bottom left to right, and getting into the corners of the frame, will produce the best results.

You may need to perform this task twice, depending on how stuck on and stubborn the smudges and stuck-on particles are to remove. Once the mirror looks as though it’s clear of mess, wipe it with your microfiber cloth just to ensure everything is dry and clean.

Give it the Old Razzle-Dazzle

With the smears and splatters gone and your mirror looking a bit cleaner, it’s time to polish. Shining up a mirror is a simple combination of applying the thinnest spritz of cleaning solution possible and wiping in a way that doesn’t streak.

Whether you use vinegar and water, or a branded glass cleaner, spray the mirror lightly so that you can see a misting of product, but it isn’t dripping down the glass.

Now, fold your microfiber cloth in half once, and again. This provides four even layers to use throughout your cleaning practice. Working from the top left corner of the mirror, swipe your cloth over to the right top corner.

Next, wipe down into the bottom left corner and over to the right bottom corner. Continue the “z” motion as you clean until the liquid is gone, and the mirror is shining.

If you notice smudges or areas are looking like they could use an extra wipe with the cloth, choose a clean, dry side of the microfibre cloth and wipe again. If a follow-up inspection shows a hint of any extra toothpaste or gunk, you’ve missed in the process, spray a small spritz of cleaner on the corner of your cloth to wipe it away. Give the area a polish with the dry side of the cloth.

Preventative Cleaning

When it comes to mirror cleaning and maintenance tips, it’s not just the “dos” you should consider, but also the “don’ts”. Not all cleaners and tools are equal. Here are a few things to avoid while washing your mirror.

Avoid Wiping a Steamy Mirror

It’s an instinct to wipe the mirror when you step out of the shower. For one thing, it’s completely fogged up and difficult to see your reflection. Wiping the hot steam around is certain to cause smears and smudges on the glass as soon as it dries.

Don’t Use Paper Towels

The most common tool we hear about our clients using to clean glass and mirrors is a paper towel. A paper towel seems like a great glass polishing tool as it’s soft, light, and disposable.

Unfortunately, the way paper towel is made, it transfers tiny particles of paper onto the surfaces it cleans. For a mirror, which shows every imperfection ten-fold, it’s crucial to avoid leaving behind residual bits of paper.

Nix the Non-Glass Cleaners

Counter cleaners work great on counters and oven cleaner works well in the oven, but none of these cleaners will keep your mirror clean. Glass cleaner is the best cleaning solution to use on a mirror because it’s designed to leave a streak-free shine. Some other cleaners leave a residue behind, which is visible when the mirror dries.

For more tips on cleaning and maintaining the glass and mirrors in your home, call Glass Showers & More at 1-416-800-1156 or contact us here.

Have you ever been in a bathroom and looked up from the sink, only to find a blank wall? There’s something about mirrors that just tie rooms together. Mirrors are a crucial part of our everyday routines before we step foot out the door, but what about the mirrors we choose for decorative purposes?

Finding the right kind to suit your personal or business needs can be a real challenge if you don’t know your options or what to look out for. Read further for design-inspiring ideas to help you choose the best decorative mirrors.

1. Reflect your style

If you want more than just a standard vanity mirror, consider playing around with designs that add a unique style.

2. Segmented antique mirrors

Segmented antique mirrors, for instance, can boost the aesthetic appeal of a room with their abstract design. These are made up of various small segments arranged in a wide array of designs to create a single, large mirror. Going with an aged bronze, gold, or silver frame, you can add rustic charm to spaces in need of some welcoming character. An extra bonus is the great talking point these decorative mirrors can be among guests or clients.

3. Tinted mirrors

Like some segmented styles, tinted mirrors function primarily as a stylistic piece more so than for practical purposes. If you have other mirror surfaces to consult before you run out the door in the morning, consider the modern, sleek look achieved by tinted bronze or grey mirrors.

Bronze tones, especially when situated in main entrances or living rooms next to sunlit windows, will bathe rooms in instant warmth with reflected copper colours.

You can also channel the opposite end of the colour spectrum with the cool appeal of a gray shade. Finding this unique tint can be difficult at times, but the subtle, smokey colours achieved by grey tints are worth seeking a glass and mirror company that offers this option.

4. Acid etched mirrors

These are another step in the direction of using mirrors for sheer aesthetics. These matte alternatives are more subtle in their reflective qualities, but they will still look vibrant in the light. With a satiny finish, acid etched mirrors retain some reflection to keep a shiny, clean appearance. They’re perfect as wall coverings and often work well in bathrooms and kitchens. You’ve probably seen plenty of this mirror style in commercial spaces as well, such as on elevator exteriors and in modern office foyers.

A great thing about acid-etched mirrors is that you have an abundance of options when it comes to tints. Choose anything from neutral tones to bright hues; you can even go on-trend and opt for rose gold.

5. Shape up to suit the space

Depending on the space you want to decorate, you may find that certain shapes clash or complement with architectural or stylistic characteristics already present. Consider the following effects certain shapes tend to have on the human eye and think of which could be best used to your advantage:

• Wide, horizontal mirrors draw the eye along long lines and accentuate wall length
• Tall, vertical mirrors will draw the eye up and accentuate wall height
• Curved or rounded mirrors can serve to lend a softer, romantic look to a space, especially when paired with a whimsical or light-coloured frame
• Sharp-angled mirrors, such as those in a rectangle or square shape, can lend an orderly appearance and tends to work well in most spaces

In some cases, you may also want to consider the pros and cons of having your mirrors mounted or framed with high, downward sloping edges. Prominent framing or mounting will also make your mirrors pop with a three-dimensional look. These can be a functional choice if you anticipate the mirror will be a permanent or semi-permanent fixture.

6. Use sizing strategically

Of course, nothing cramps your style so much as the feeling of being stuck in a tiny space. The size you choose for your mirror will have a direct impact on the effectiveness of your plan for the room, no matter the style you choose. Although a tinted mirror may be striking, for instance, its appeal is easily dwarfed if it is small and placed in a massive room.

To make a mirror a key focal point, consider a size that is well-proportioned to where you plan to put it. In some cases, you can balance out that ‘lost’ look of a smaller mirror by adding a bold or large accenting frame.

Alternately, you can tone down the overpowering qualities of a larger mirror by going frameless. This strategy works especially well in the case of mirror walls. Proving that less is more, a mirror wall’s sheer size works to your advantage, as it blends in with the background.

The best part about using oversized mirrors is that they can work to make the most of extremely limited square footage. Reflections across large dimensions will create the illusion of a bigger space by visually ‘deepening’ the room. You have probably even seen some small businesses successfully use mirror walls to match the open-concept feel of larger competitor venues.

Perhaps investing in a single large mirror doesn’t meet your stylistic needs. You can also use multiple small mirrors — ideally in the same shape — and group them with equal room between each. Arranging small mirrors in this way can help to fill up some white spaces without actually filling, creating an eclectic, abstract appearance.

For example, a series of simple, small square mirrors arranged either horizontally or vertically work cohesively to create a larger, rectangular shape. Arrangements like this can make otherwise plain mirrors a focal art piece, intriguingly catching fragments of reflections.

Getting Started

If you’re interested in making the most of your space with mirrors, get started today with a trusted glass and mirror company that specializes in customizing designs for clients.

For more information on decorative mirrors, call Glass Showers and More at 416-491-8815 or contact us here.

While most homeowners believe that mirrors can only serve a purpose when used effectively in the bathroom space, mirrors are now actually being used throughout the home. They add a distinct appeal to home spaces in which there are fewer design elements and so it’s important to carefully consider the value that mirrors can bring to your home environment. In this post, we’ll explain a few of the many design benefits to using mirrors throughout your home.

Enhance the space in any room

Designers have known for many years the value that a mirror can bring to a home. For example, mirrors can be used to deflect attention from a specific area of the property that perhaps you don’t want to show off. You can also use a mirror to add depth to a space that’s otherwise “too small” for a piece of furniture. Mirrors can also be used to enhance a room during an event in the home. For example, some homeowners use mirrors to make it appear as if they are more people in the room without the challenge of squeezing more guests into a tight space.

Use a mirror to dictate the center of the room

In rooms that don’t have a fireplace or a natural focal point, you can use the mirror to centre the space and bring order the design elements within the room. Even in rooms with a fireplace, you can place the mirror above to improve the impact that both elements have within the space and to capture the attention of your guests. For example, some homeowners are now using mirrors with a decorative frame instead of a framed picture to bring order to otherwise formless rooms.

An option for windowless rooms

Windowless rooms can often appear dark and uninviting, and so many homeowners are now using mirrors as a way to brighten up space. You can use mirrors throughout the space to shine across the room and bring more attention to aesthetic elements. Ensure the mirror is situated close to your light source to capitalize on this effect fully.

Work with mirrors of a unique shape

Uniquely shaped mirrors can add distinct value to your home decor. For example, you can use a mirror with a distinct shape to match it with modern-looking furniture. The process helps to achieve the right aesthetic blend within your home and to bring otherwise disjointed elements together. When choosing your mirror shape and style, ensure you take into consideration the angles within the room and the role that light might play in making the room appeal. Look for ways to bring light to darkened corners, and to focus the attention both on the mirror and on the decor as a cohesive element.

Use a small mirror to give the appearance of more room in hallways

Running small mirrors at the side of a narrow hallway area can make the area seem wider and longer. Many homeowners are now using mirrors in this way to mitigate the impact that smaller spaces have within the home. For example, you might use a slim pier mirror to stretch across a wall within the home to give the appearance of space without the need to extend walls or other structural elements.

Add multiple mirrors to a wall as decoration

Mirrors are sometimes used in large numbers to create a distinct pattern on a wall space. This is the perfect choice within home designs where there is a large amount of space to work with and the home has few paintings, wall clocks or other interior design elements. When adding multiple mirrors to the home wall, you can either use mirrors that are the same style and shape for a more balanced approach. Or you can use different styles of mirror for a more eclectic, modern aesthetic. Mirrors give you a great many options when designing the space, and can help make the area uniquely yours.

Double Mirrors Up to Create Symmetry

One area that many are now capitalizing on through the use of mirrors is working with mirrors to create symmetry. Symmetry is often key to the best home designs, and you can hang two mirrors either side of a doorway, for example, to create that engaging appeal within the home. You might also use a mirror on opposite sides of a room to create the required design balance that will appeal to your home guests.

Use Mirrors Outdoors in Patio Spaces

Mirrors aren’t just a great addition to the inside of your home. Many property owners are now taking the time to install outdoor mirrors on their patios and decks. The mirror can be used to create the illusion of more greenery with the installation of the mirror close to the garden. The mirror can also be added to fencing for a unique design addition that brings together a landscape design project.

Work with Glass Showers & More to Add Mirrors to Your Home

Our experienced team at Glass Showers and More is committed to providing a lasting return on investment in mirrors for your home. We’re the trusted experts for quality glass and mirror products across the region. We can offer you the following:

Custom Mirror Walls for the Home

Our custom mirror walls are designed to enhance any home and will help you to bring together your interior design. You can speak to our team directly to learn more about the value of our mirror walls!

A background in the mirror industry

Our background is in creating quality mirrors for use in the modern home, so we can ensure your mirror is designed to the highest standards and for achieving optimal durability for the years ahead.

Fast and efficient delivery

We can create custom mirrors for your home in a consolidated timeframe, helping you save time and money while upgrading your property.

To discover more about our company and the complete range of mirror products we offer, please contact our team today!

Decorative mirrors are now being used in homes throughout the region to add a distinct style to various rooms. Decorative mirrors are most often used within the bathroom, where they can be used to blend other design elements such as tiling and faucets and create a unified appeal that enhances the value of both the room and the property overall.

By learning more about decorative mirrors, it’s critical that you work with a company that offers the highest quality mirror products for use in your home. We’re the leaders in this area and in this new post, we’ll delve into the value of adding decorative mirrors to the home.

Make a Bold Design Statement

When you use decorative mirrors within your home, you’re making a bold design statement. You’re showing that you hold the value of the aesthetics within your home highly and that you have a clear understanding of design work.

Capture Attention

Our eyes are automatically drawn to mirrors. When you visit a home, it’s one of the first design elements that you’ll notice when you enter. And so it’s important that you take the time to review the value that a decorative mirror can bring to your home. Many are now taking the time to add decorative mirrors as a showpiece within their home, to immediately show guests that they value the aesthetics of the space.

Incorporate a Design Theme

Another great benefit of decorative mirrors if they can be integrated with your overall design theme. When you’re looking for a way to add simple elegance to the property to align with your classical design, you can add decorative mirrors. Because of the broad range of styles to choose from, you can find the right product for your home with precision.

Provide a Focal Point in Small Rooms

Whether used in the bathroom or the living room, a decorative mirror can provide a focal point that brings the entire room’s design together. This is ideal for those smaller rooms such as you might find in a condo or apartment, in which the lack of space can be highlighted by a busy design scheme. Using a decorative mirror is often the best way of bringing the design together to focus on the aesthetics rather than the limited space in the area.

Capitalize on Lighting

When you have a limited amount of light in the home, you can work with decorative mirrors to ensure the light that is available fills an entire room. You can hang decorative mirrors below lamps to ensure the light bounces off and across the area. And you can work with multiple decorative mirrors in larger rooms to focus the light in key areas. This commitment to functionality in design can help ensure that you achieve full value for your investment in decorative mirrors.

What to Consider When Buying Decorative Mirrors

Now that you have a little bit more information about the value that decorative mirrors can bring to your home, it’s important to focus on the process of buying decorative mirrors. Make sure you consider the following:

1. Your space

How much space is available in your home and can you easily fit a decorative mirror within the space? When used effectively, decorative mirrors can help open up a room and bring together your interior design, but if the mirror is too large for your space then it can make an already cramped area feel even smaller. Make sure you measure the room and mirror carefully to ensure the right match for your property.

2. Consider blending colours

Does the colour of the mirror framing blend with the colours currently in the room? The colour palette should be carefully considered before making any new additions to the area. But this is especially true of decorative products whose primary function is to add design appeal to the home. The tones of the mirror frame and the current tones in the room don’t necessarily have to match completely, but you should consider how well the colours go together. For example, if you’re looking for a modern aesthetic approach, you might consider blending brighter blues and reds, while a classical approach might involve silver, white, and black-toned frames.

3. Reflected light

How is the reflected light from the mirror going to impact the space? Will it help to open up the space or will the light simply go into the eyes of the person sitting on a nearby couch? You should consider how the lighting will change within the room as a result of adding the decorative mirror, and whether you can change the effect based on mirror placement. Oftentimes, finding the right placement for the mirror is as difficult as finding a quality decorative mirror.

4. The manufacturer

Who is manufacturing your decorative mirror? How much experience does the company have in working with glass products? You don’t want to go through the process of finding a mirror and choosing the ideal place for it in your home only for the glass to degrade over a few months.

Make sure you take the time to review the company’s credentials and consider how they go about creating your mirror for you. Get all the details in writing before buying your product, and ensure you ask about maintenance instructions so you can keep your new mirror in optimal condition.

To learn more about choosing a decorative mirror for your home, call Glass Showers and More at 416-800-1156 or contact us here.

Most people use mirrors to help them get ready in the morning, but they’re much more than that. Here are ten mirror decoration ideas and designs for 2020 that will change the way you see mirrors:

1. The ever-expanding home

Mirrors make small spaces look bigger. For example, hang a large mirror on the opposite side of the room to the entrance door. Presto, now it looks like you have double the space!

2. Match the mirror to the room

If you change the room design, change the mirror design to suit. It could be the colour pattern or the whole theme of the room. A modern, square mirror design would not match a rustic look in the room.

3. Fill a space

Mirrors can fill a space on the wall better than many alternatives. If you have an obvious gap on a wall, find a mirror to hang there.

4. Round mirrors for focus

Most mirrors tend to be square or rectangular, but round mirrors can provide a focus for the room.

5. Old-world charm

Choose a period looking mirror to give your living space, bedroom or bathroom some old-world charm.

6. Shaped mirrors

They may cost a little more, but you don’t have to have a bland mirror. How about a wave-shaped mirror or one shaped like a house or a cloud?

7. Curved mirrors for kids

Convex or concave mirror designs can make shapes bulge and contract so your kids can make funny faces!

8. Not just one

Most people tend to hang a mirror all by itself. But mirrors can be grouped to create a more interesting effect. A group of small mirrors all hung together.

9. Edge design counts

It’s not just the size and shape of the mirror that matters, but the frame it’s in that counts just as much. A lovely, sparkling mirror can be ruined by a boring, tasteless frame. If you can’t think how to improve the frame, maybe you can remove it altogether!

We have mirrors for every room! Call Glass Showers and More today at 416-491-8815 or contact us here.