A cloakroom is one of the most challenging rooms to fit well. The space is small, the wall area is limited, and you still need the room to feel considered rather than crammed. Getting the mirror right is one of the most effective ways to make a cloakroom feel much better than its dimensions suggest.
Size: smaller than you think, but not too small
In a cloakroom, the instinct is often to go for the smallest mirror available. In practice, a mirror that's too small looks timid and doesn't do much for the room. A mirror that fills more of the wall above the basin, while leaving some breathing room on each side, tends to look far more confident and makes the space feel larger by reflecting more light and wall.
A width of 400mm to 600mm works well for most cloakroom basins. If the basin is narrow, match the mirror width closely. If there's more wall space available, you can go wider without it feeling out of place.
Lighting: do more with less
In a cloakroom, the mirror's lighting often does the heavy lifting for the whole room. There's usually limited space for ceiling downlights and no room for a separate light fixture above the mirror.
An illuminated mirror with a bright, clean light output does two things at once: it gives you good task lighting for checking your appearance and it makes the room feel lighter and more spacious. Backlit mirrors cast a softer ambient glow, while edge-lit models give a sharper, more directional light. Both work in cloakrooms depending on the overall look you want to create.
If you tend to use the cloakroom in the evening or with minimal natural light, look for a model with dimmable lighting so you can adjust the brightness to suit the moment.
A demister is worth it in a cloakroom
Cloakrooms are often poorly ventilated. There's usually no window, extraction can be minimal, and if a guest uses the hand basin immediately after someone else, the mirror can steam up quickly.
A demister pad keeps the mirror clear regardless of what's happening in the room. In a space where guests are using the bathroom and you can't control the ventilation, it's a practical addition that avoids an embarrassing fogged-up mirror.
You can find demister options across the illuminated mirror range at Light Mirrors.
Shape: a chance to be a little bolder
A cloakroom is a good place to try a shape you might not choose for a main bathroom. Because the room is used briefly and by guests, a more distinctive shape, something rounded, oval, or with a less conventional profile, can add character without feeling overwhelming.
That said, if the cloakroom has very limited wall space or a specific style you're working to, a simple rectangle that sits cleanly above the basin is never the wrong choice.
Installation and wiring
Even in a small cloakroom, an illuminated mirror needs to be wired into the bathroom circuit by a qualified electrician. This is usually straightforward, particularly if you're replacing an existing mirror that was already lit. It's worth confirming the wiring position before choosing your mirror, as some models have the cable entry at a specific point that may or may not align with your existing setup.
Browse the full mirror range to find a size and style that works for your cloakroom, or contact the Light Mirrors team for advice on which options suit smaller spaces best. If you need a specific size, the bespoke service can make a mirror to your exact dimensions.
