When you're working with a small bathroom, every design choice matters. One surprisingly powerful tool in your decorating toolkit is the mirror. The right mirror doesn’t just help you get ready; it can completely change how your bathroom feels by opening up the space, adding depth, and bouncing light around the room. In this article, we’ll walk you through key factors that can help you choose a mirror that makes your bathroom look and feel noticeably bigger.

 

 

Choosing the Right Mirror Shape

Different mirror shapes can shift how we perceive space, often in subtle but surprisingly effective ways. The right shape can also guide the eye, change the room’s visual balance, and make even the smallest bathroom feel more open and inviting.

Square Mirrors

Square mirrors bring a clean, balanced feel to the bathroom, with their equal proportions and sharp, structured edges. They work especially well in layouts that already feel symmetrical, helping to highlight that order without overwhelming the space. In smaller bathrooms, a square mirror can make the area feel more grounded and cohesive. By clearly framing the reflection, it draws attention to the center of the room and reduces visual clutter, both of which can also help the space feel more open and organized.

Round Mirrors

Round mirrors instantly bring a softer, more relaxed feel to the bathroom. With no sharp corners to interrupt your line of sight, your gaze moves more freely across the space. This gentle flow makes the room feel less confined and more open. In small bathrooms, that fluid movement can go a long way, especially when paired with soft lighting or curved fixtures that echo the mirror’s shape and enhance the sense of spaciousness.

That effect is beautifully captured by the Fitz Mirror in Antique Brass from Edward Martin, shown in the photo above. Its slender, rounded frame adds just the right touch of warmth and elegance, while the clean shape helps maintain a sense of openness. Positioned between vertical sconces and across from a window, the Fitz mirror enhances light distribution and draws the eye naturally through the room, demonstrating how the right mirror shape can make a compact layout feel effortlessly spacious.

Arched Mirrors

Arched mirrors bring a graceful sense of height to a bathroom, combining structure with a soft, upward curve. The rounded top naturally guides your eye toward the ceiling, which can make the room feel taller than it is. Unlike harsh vertical lines, the arch adds elevation without rigidity, creating an illusion of vertical space while maintaining a relaxed, open atmosphere. If you're looking to add subtle architectural charm without overwhelming the room, an arched mirror is also a smart way to introduce shape, movement, and a touch of elegance that helps the entire space feel more expansive.

Organic-Shaped Mirrors

Organic-shaped mirrors, with their freeform and asymmetrical designs, introduce a sense of movement that instantly livens up a bathroom. By stepping away from traditional geometric outlines, they break up the straight lines and sharp corners that can make a small space feel overly rigid. In addition, this softness adds a playful, artistic element that draws attention away from tight dimensions. In compact bathrooms, an organic mirror becomes a visual focal point, pulling the eye around the room and creating a more fluid, open feeling. It’s also a great way to make the space feel thoughtfully designed and less confined, all while adding a layer of personal style.

 

 

 

Size Matters More Than You Think

The dimensions of your mirror can amplify or compress a room’s sense of space. Choosing the right size doesn’t just affect how much you see; it also influences how large, open, and connected the entire bathroom feels.

Wall-to-Wall Mirrors

Stepping into a bathroom with a wall-to-wall mirror creates an instant sense of openness. Rather than just reflecting your image, this type of mirror captures the entire room, effectively doubling what you see. It extends sightlines, amplifies light, and makes the space feel significantly larger. This approach also works well in bathrooms that feel enclosed or lack natural light, providing the illusion of depth and airiness, without the need for any structural changes.

Oversized Vanity Mirrors

If your mirror is only as wide as your sink, you’re likely missing out on both style and function. A vanity mirror that stretches beyond the edges of the sink, particularly in double vanity setups, adds generous visual width and improves lighting coverage across the entire counter area. This wider reflection opens up the sink zone, making it feel more integrated with the rest of the room while minimizing shadowy pockets on either side.

A great example of this concept is the Tristan Round Mirror in Polished Brass by Edward Martin, featured in the photo above. Its bold size spans the width of the double vanity, visually unifying both sinks while reflecting natural and artificial light with ease. The polished brass frame adds just enough contrast to highlight the mirror without weighing down the space. Combined with the vertical sconces and soft tile backdrop, it creates a warm, expansive effect, proving how an oversized mirror can transform functionality into an elegant focal point while making the bathroom feel much larger.

Full-Length Mirrors

When you're aiming to stretch the room visually, whether by height or depth, a full-length mirror can make a noticeable difference. Installed vertically, it provides full-body reflection while naturally guiding the eye upward, which helps low ceilings appear taller and the space feel more open. Additionally, placing a full-length mirror near the doorway or opposite the vanity can introduce reflected movement and color into the room, subtly energizing the space and enhancing the overall sense of openness.

 

 

Mirror Placement That Maximizes Space

Just like size and shape, where you place a mirror also plays a key role in how it transforms the feel of your bathroom. It’s not only about practicality; it’s about what the mirror reflects and how that reflection can shift the room’s atmosphere, adding depth, light, and a greater sense of openness.

Across from a Window

Placing a mirror directly across from a window is one of the simplest and most effective ways to open up a bathroom. This setup boosts natural light and brings a bit of the outdoors inside. Reflections of sky, greenery, or even nearby architecture can also add a sense of depth and movement that artificial lighting just can’t replicate. The result is a brighter, more vibrant space that feels instantly more expansive.

Facing Decorative Elements

If your bathroom features a standout detail, like a patterned wall, a pendant light, or a shelf with greenery, why not make it do double the work? Placing a mirror to reflect those elements instantly adds depth and visual interest, turning everyday design features into eye-catching focal points. It’s a simple way to make the room feel more layered and thoughtfully styled, all without adding extra objects or taking up additional space.

In the picture above, the space features Edward Martin’s Esmeralda Small Mirror in Polished Brass, which enhances the effect beautifully. Its softly arched shape echoes the curved architecture of the alcove, while its clean lines allow the bold tile pattern to take center stage. Together, the mirror and the wall work in harmony to elevate the room’s design, using reflection to add depth, texture, and a tailored, expansive feel.

Angled in Corners

Angling a mirror in the corner is one of those clever, often overlooked tricks that can change the feel of a bathroom. By mounting a mirror slightly off-center or into a corner, you can soften the room’s rigid lines and introduce a more relaxed, natural flow. This approach also reflects areas that usually go unnoticed, bringing life to underused corners and making the entire space feel more open and dynamic.

 

 

Framing Choices and Edge Design

The way a mirror is framed can either disrupt the flow of your bathroom or enhance it. A well-chosen frame shouldn’t dominate the space, it should blend in effortlessly or subtly outline the mirror to add definition without distraction. Thoughtful edge design also plays a key role in how open and cohesive the room feels.

Frameless Mirrors

If you're aiming for a bathroom that feels modern, clean, and as open as possible, frameless mirrors are one of the smart choices. Since there’s no visible border, the mirror blends directly into the wall, creating the illusion of continuous space. As a result, the reflection feels limitless, which also helps the room appear larger and more seamless.

Thin Metallic Frames

Some bathrooms benefit from a little definition. In that case, opting for a frame, especially one that's slim and understated, can subtly ground the mirror without making it feel bulky. A brushed metal frame in soft gold or matte black adds just enough structure to outline the mirror while keeping the overall look light and cohesive. It brings visual clarity without interrupting the sense of openness.

A great example of this is the Esmeralda Small Mirror in Iron Matte Black by Edward Martin, featured in the photo above. Its gently arched shape is enhanced by a sleek, dark frame that ties in effortlessly with the sconces and surrounding finishes. The thin black outline offers contrast against the soft-toned wall, creating depth without weighing down the space. It’s a refined detail that quietly elevates the room’s design while maintaining that airy, uncluttered feel.

Backlit or Floating Mirrors

Backlit mirrors can bring a subtle touch of magic to the room, both in function and atmosphere. The soft glow around the edges creates a halo effect, making the mirror appear to float slightly off the wall. Additionally, this gentle lighting helps dissolve harsh lines, softens the overall look, and gives the space a lighter, more relaxed feel. It’s also a simple yet effective way to introduce depth and dimension while keeping the overall look clean and effortless.

 

 

Lighting That Complements the Mirror

Light and mirror work best when they’re intentionally paired. With lighting placed thoughtfully, a mirror does more than reflect; it also enhances brightness, adds depth, and elevates the overall atmosphere of the room.

Wall Sconces

Lighting placed on either side of your mirror gives a balanced glow that reduces harsh shadows on your face. It also spreads light laterally across the wall, which can visually stretch the room’s width. This side-to-side illumination helps eliminate flat, dim zones that often make a space feel smaller.

In the photo above, the look is elevated with Edward Martin’s Leilani Wall Sconce in Patina Brass, flanking the Clancy Small Mirror in Antique Brass. The pairing adds symmetry and warmth, while the sconces cast soft, even lighting across the mirror’s surface and the surrounding wall. Together, they create a more inviting reflection and a wider, more expansive feel, perfect for small bathrooms that benefit from every bit of glow and dimension.

Pendant Lights

When a mirror reflects ceiling fixtures like hanging pendants, it naturally amplifies their glow, creating the impression of twice the light. Instead of depending on just one source, the reflection introduces a second point of illumination, which also helps soften shadows and brighten darker corners. It’s an easy, effective way to elevate your bathroom’s lighting without the need for additional installations.

Choosing A Mirror That Makes Your Bathroom Look Bigger

The right mirror does more than reflect your image, it also reshapes how your entire bathroom feels. By thoughtfully considering its shape, size, placement, framing, and lighting, you can turn a simple mirror into a powerful design element. When chosen well, it also brings in light, opens up the room, and makes even the smallest space feel fresh, spacious, and well-balanced.

If you're not sure where to start or want help selecting the perfect mirror for your space, we’re here for you. Feel free to contact us to schedule a personalized design consultation—we’d love to help you create a bathroom that looks and feels beautifully expansive!