If you’ve ever wanted to hang a large mirror without a frame, I can help. Here’s a tutorial on how to install a frameless mirror to any wall, and securely at that.
Fun fact: This mirror was f-r-e-e, pulled from the garbage and impressively large at 68″x20″. It would have made for a great full-length mirror in my bedroom, but I really saw it bringing light and utility to our updated bathroom, and light and utility, it has. The bathroom is now bright, and the mirror reflects the entire length of the room making it feel remarkably large. Spacial-enlarging tricks FTW.
Frameless mirror installed over my bathroom sink.
My old mirror? It was small in comparison, just something I picked up at a yard sale not long after I bought my house. It was originally a cabinet door of some sort, but it had a pretty floral frame. I painted it white and made it work. This simple upgrade was, at the time, much larger than the medicine cabinet mirror that was installed over the sink.
Plan the placement
A DIY mirror install does require a bit of planning and know-how but anyone should be able to tackle it themselves. Unless, of course, the mirror is too heavy, large, or fragile to lift alone. If you suspect so, recruit a friend to help. I started planning my new mirror placement on the same day that I installed the vanity, and taped out where I wanted the mirror to fit on the wall using a tape measure and painter’s tape.
I left the tape there for several days. There’s only one thing worse than a too-small mirror–no mirror–but it was important to me to try and visualize the placement and make sure it was right. What I realized during this time is that I actually did want to make the mirror shorter in length. I took it to a glass cutting shop to have 1-foot cut off the end so the final mirror measures 56″ x 20″. If you know how to cut glass you could certainly cut the mirror the DIY way, but this was very thick glass, and I wasn’t willing to try it myself.
Purchase mirror clips
To install the mirror, I bought a set of metal mirror clips.
I favored the metal style more than the plastic clip variety because they rest flush with the mirror. They are so slim, in fact, that you could even add a frame atop the clips if you wanted.
Find the studs or measure for anchors
Using a stud finder, I marked each stud along the wall and learned that I would be able to install my clips directly into studs. It’s important to make sure your clips align evenly along the mirror and it’s possible that the stud placement would leave the mirror looking off-center.
If your studs do fall in a position where you do not want to place the clips, use strong toggle bolts to attach the clips to the wall. Toggle anchors are my ultimate go-to.
Install the bottom clips
I started by installing the lower two clips first, measuring directly up from the already-level vanity. The mirror sits solidly in the cradle of the clip. The bottom clips hold the entire weight of the mirror.
Install the upper clips
The upper brackets keep the mirror pulled upright against the wall. The design of the clip allows for a little sliding along the screw, and this wiggle room is essential. It allows you to raise the clip up when you lean the mirror in place. Once the mirror is upright and against the wall, slide the clip down and it’ll wrap around the top edge of the mirror.
The clips are strong and totally eliminate the need for extra wall adhesives or mastics. Without adhesive, it is much easier to remove or replace the mirror in the future if necessary.
With the mirror in place, the room is suddenly functional again as a place to put on makeup and brush my hair. While 20″ might not seem like a big enough mirror, you’d be surprised just how much head and torso you can see without a problem.
We’re loving the space and how much reflective light the mirror adds.
To read more stories about this renovation:
Day 3: Building custom shower shelves, moisture barriers, and cement board
Day 4: Replacing the shower valve and finishing the cement board
Days 5, 6, 7, 8: A 4-day tiling marathon
3 Comments
absolutely LOVE the results Em! You’ve totally rocked this bathroom (and your kitchen)! :)
Thanks Ashley!
Last week my wife said she liked a mirror hanging in the empty space in the living room, she said the mirror she likes is frameless and I’ve been looking for ways to hang it on the wall. The first way, which seems easy, is to use a frameless mirror hanger. Method 2. Use mirror putty. And the last way to do this is by using masking tape.