One mirror or two? How to get a double vanity right

The mirror is often the last thing chosen for a bathroom, by which point the lights are wired, the tiles are finished and someone has already fallen for a frame that will not fit. Above a double vanity, it deserves an earlier place in the conversation. Two mirrors can make separate places to get ready; one broad mirror can bring a crowded wall together. Neither arrangement will be much use if you cannot see yourself comfortably.

Begin with the people who use the basins and the wall available above them. Then look at the light, the storage and the reflection. The most attractive choice is usually the one that makes these ordinary things feel effortless.

A pair of framed mirrors can make a bathroom feel furnished. Each basin gets a clear centre, while the strip of wall between the frames gives paint, tile or wallpaper somewhere to be enjoyed. It is a particularly pleasing approach when you want colour to remain part of the room.

In our brick-red bathroom, black frames repeat the dark vanity beneath them, with warm wall colour visible on either side. The glass-and-metal lights add another decorative layer. Because the frames and fittings already have presence, the surrounding tile can remain simple.

The basin positions matter more than an abstract idea of symmetry. If they sit close together, two generous frames may feel squeezed; if they are far apart, small mirrors may leave each person with an ungenerous view. Before buying, stand at each basin and mark the area of wall you actually use. A round or arched frame softens the arrangement, but its useful reflecting area changes as the shape narrows.

In a shared bathroom, think about what happens when both basins are in use. One person may want to open a mirrored cabinet while the other is brushing their teeth. Someone may need to bring a chair close to the counter. The arrangement should accommodate those habits without asking either person to stand somewhere awkward. A pair can make two comfortable places, but dividing the wall evenly on paper is only the beginning. Check where each person can actually stand or sit.

A wide mirror gives the eye a longer, quieter line. It can be useful when the vanity fronts, tiles or neighbouring cupboards already provide plenty of detail. A narrow bathroom may also benefit from the broader view, provided the mirror reflects something you want to see more of.

There is more freedom to move sideways without leaving your reflection. That may suit people sharing the counter, although it does not remove the need to check the mirror at their different heights. Look at the whole shape above the vanity: an unusually tall frame can dominate a low room just as readily as an oversized width.

A single sheet of glass and a wide mirrored cabinet are different choices. The cabinet adds storage, depth and door seams. Keep those lines in mind when comparing product photographs; a cabinet will not give the same uninterrupted reflection as a plain mirror.

The view opposite the basin deserves attention before the frame does. A mirror may catch a window and a glimpse of leaves, or repeat a towel rail, an open door and the things waiting to be put away. More reflected area is only an advantage when you like what it reveals.

Stand in the proposed position and look towards the opposite wall. Consider privacy if a window or doorway will appear in the glass. Check the view from the entrance too, where a reflection can change the first impression of the whole bathroom.

You need not make every reflected surface immaculate. Giving spare bottles closed storage and moving an overfilled hook can make a worthwhile difference. In our smaller bathroom, a tall cupboard takes the bulky things, allowing the basin and mirror to remain comparatively clear.

It is easy to choose a lovely mirror and discover that the only place left for a light is too high or too cramped. Decide on the pair together. Include the full fitting, shade and any projection from the wall, rather than marking only the point where the wire emerges.

For grooming, think about light reaching the face. Strong light from directly above can create shadows; fittings beside the mirror can help, where the wall and installation allow. Compare the arrangement at a normal standing or seated position, not only from the bathroom door. House & Garden's bathroom lighting examples show how fittings can contribute to the decoration as well as the practical scheme.

An illuminated mirror offers another possibility. Ask the supplier what its light is intended to do: a glow behind the glass may be mainly decorative. Consider glare, controls and the light reaching the user. A bright product photograph cannot establish those things.

The room also needs to work after dark, with softer light for an evening bath and sufficient light for grooming and cleaning. Have a qualified installer confirm the fittings, wiring and suitability for their bathroom locations before work begins.

If the counter is permanently occupied by toothbrushes, skincare and shaving equipment, mirrored storage may be more useful than another decorative frame. Think about what you want beside the basin: bottles that must stand upright, a brush, daily essentials and things that could live elsewhere.

The Rim illuminated mirrored cabinet is a wide option with an LED border. The linked version has no clock or temperature display. Its separate doors remain visible, so the effect is more structured than one sheet of glass.

A surface-mounted cabinet projects into the room. Check that its doors can open past taps and lights, and that the depth feels comfortable when you lean towards the basin. Recessing it requires a suitable wall; discuss that before tiling. Compare the usable shelves with the things you intend to put inside, rather than assuming every cabinet will take a tall bottle.

A wide frame can also bring a gentler finish to a hard-surfaced room. The Nolhurst mirror has a pale wood-grain aluminium frame; it is not solid timber. For a rounded shape with storage behind it, the Hola mirrored cabinet offers a different approach. Its open retailer photograph makes the storage visible, but check the mounting and door clearance against your own bathroom.

Paper templates are useful because they bring the choice into the bathroom you have. Mark the outside shape of the mirror or mirrors, then add the complete outline of each light. Include the depth and opening movement of a proposed cabinet.

Stand at each basin and check the reflecting area at the eye heights of the people using it, including a seated user where relevant. Next, step back to the entrance. Does the arrangement sit comfortably with the vanity and any neighbouring window or cupboard? Can you clean the fittings without reaching into an awkward gap?

Keep the shapes up overnight. What felt balanced in daylight may seem crowded with the lights on. Once you like the arrangement, take the measurements that belong to your bathroom and compare them with current product drawings. A universal percentage of vanity width cannot account for every basin, ceiling and person.

A bathroom can carry some of the pleasure of the rest of the house. A timber frame might relate to the bedroom furniture; a black frame can sit happily above brass taps. Put finish samples together, particularly when different manufacturers use the same colour name. Their versions of gold or brass may be quite different.

For a restrained pair, the Noir black-framed mirror lets paint or tile supply more of the decoration. It is the reference in our brick-red room. The three-light Exbrite fitting adds glass and warmer metal above it. Compare both outlines on the wall before choosing either.

These are illustrated concepts and US product references from All Sum Home, whose stated delivery area is the contiguous 48 states. Check current specifications, availability and delivery to your address. Shop links may earn us a commission.