Arched Mirrors

An arched mirror is a rectangle with the top corners taken off, and that small change does a lot of work — it draws the eye upward and makes a standard 2.4m ceiling feel taller than it is. It has become the most-asked-for mirror shape in new bathrooms, and it suits older homes with existing arch detailing just as well.

The range covers 40cm through to 100cm wide for wall-mounted pieces, and 150cm to 200cm tall for the full-length arches. Finishes are gold, black and frameless, and several of the wall-mounted sizes are backlit with a frosted band.

Where an arched mirror works

Above a vanity is the obvious spot, and the proportion to aim for is a mirror around two-thirds to three-quarters of the cabinet width. Because the arch adds visual height, you can usually go a size smaller than you would with a rectangle and still have it hold the wall.

The other place these earn their keep is a narrow hallway or an entry. An arch on a narrow wall reads as a doorway or a window, which opens up a space that has none. The 200cm full-length versions do the same job in a bedroom.

One practical note: the curve means the fixing points are not where you would expect on a rectangle, so check the mounting arrangement against your wall before you drill, particularly if you are fixing into tile.

The lit versions are in LED Mirrors, framed pieces for outside the bathroom are in Decorative Mirrors, and everything else is in Bathroom Mirrors. Ordered through Builders Warehouse Online and delivered Australia-wide.