Bathroom Mirror Specification Process — Step-by-Step Worksheet
Bathroom Mirror Specification Process — Step-by-Step Worksheet
Specifying a bathroom mirror for a residential or commercial project involves more decisions than most trades expect. Getting those decisions locked in early — before cabinetry is ordered or tiling begins — prevents costly substitutions on site. This worksheet walks through the seven decisions that define a complete mirror specification, explains what to consider at each step, identifies the relevant VUELUXE product answer, and provides a spec schedule entry format you can copy directly into a project document.
For the broader specification process and documentation requirements, refer to the specification hub. For general guides and planning resources, return to the guides index.
Decision 1 — Location and Electrical Zone
Before any other decision is made, confirm the mirror’s installation zone under AS/NZS 3000. Australian wiring rules divide bathrooms into zones based on proximity to water sources. Zone 1 covers the area directly above a bath or shower tray to a height of 2.25 metres. Zone 2 extends 600mm horizontally beyond zone 1 boundaries. Most vanity mirrors fall into zone 2 or the general bathroom area outside both zones, but the classification affects which electrical fittings are permissible and what IP rating the mirror must carry.
A mirror positioned directly above a freestanding bath without an enclosure may fall inside zone 1 and require IP44 or higher protection. The same mirror installed above a standard wall-mounted vanity in a separate wet and dry zone typically qualifies as zone 2 or outside zones entirely. Confirm the zone with the project electrician before specifying.
VUELUXE Product Answer
All VUELUXE LED mirrors are rated IP44 as standard. This rating meets zone 2 requirements across AS/NZS 3000 and exceeds most residential vanity installation requirements. For IP rating definitions and zone diagrams, refer to the IP rating explained guide.
Spec Schedule Entry Format
INSTALLATION ZONE: Zone 2 / Outside Zones
IP RATING REQUIRED: IP44 minimum
ELECTRICIAN CLASSIFICATION: Licensed electrician required for hardwire connectionDecision 2 — Vanity Width and Mirror Sizing
Mirror width is determined by vanity width, not wall width. The standard Australian practice is to specify a mirror that is 50–100mm narrower than the vanity cabinet on each side, so the mirror sits visually within the vanity footprint. A 1200mm wide vanity typically takes a 900mm or 1000mm mirror. A 750mm vanity typically takes a 600mm or 700mm mirror.
Height selection is governed by the mirror’s functional purpose. A mirror used primarily for face grooming should have its reflective centre at approximately standing eye height — typically 1600–1650mm from finished floor level for an average adult. This means the bottom edge of a 900mm tall mirror should sit at approximately 1150–1200mm FFL. For dual-height households, dropping the bottom edge to 1050mm FFL creates better coverage without significantly compromising upper-face reflection for taller users.
Where two mirrors are specified for a double vanity, confirm whether a single wide mirror or two individual mirrors better suits the cabinetry configuration. Two individual mirrors allow independent electrical connections and are easier to handle on site.
VUELUXE Product Answer
VUELUXE supplies mirrors in standard width increments from 450mm through to 1500mm. Custom sizing is available for trade accounts on orders above minimum quantities. Confirm the required size at the time of inquiry and allow for standard lead times. Width and height are both specifiable independently for rectangular formats.
Spec Schedule Entry Format
VANITY WIDTH: [mm]
MIRROR WIDTH: [mm]
MIRROR HEIGHT: [mm]
BOTTOM EDGE HEIGHT: [mm] AFF (above finished floor)
CONFIGURATION: Single / TwinDecision 3 — Shape
Shape selection is an architectural decision as much as a product decision. Rectangular mirrors suit vanities with hard horizontal and vertical lines — wall-hung cabinets, concrete benchtops, linear tapware. Round and oval mirrors introduce curve geometry that softens bathrooms with softer material palettes or where the designer seeks contrast against otherwise rectilinear joinery.
From a specification standpoint, shape also affects fixing requirements. Round mirrors with a single central mounting point or D-ring fixing have different structural requirements to large rectangular mirrors with four-point bracket systems. Confirm the fixing method before writing the spec so the structural substrate can be specified correctly by the builder.
Arch-top mirrors — rectangular with a semi-circular upper edge — are increasingly common in contemporary residential projects and suit high-ceiling ensuites where vertical wall space is available above the vanity.
VUELUXE Product Answer
VUELUXE produces rectangular, square, round, oval, and arch-top formats. All shapes are available with the full LED backlight, CCT selection, and demister options. Shape does not affect the electrical specification or IP rating.
Spec Schedule Entry Format
SHAPE: Rectangular / Square / Round / Oval / Arch-top
FIXING METHOD: Four-point bracket / D-ring / French cleat
SUBSTRATE REQUIRED: Timber stud / Solid backing / Hollow wall anchor rated to [kg]Decision 4 — Framed vs Frameless
Frameless mirrors expose the edge of the glass and rely on the glass quality and edge polish for their finish. They read as lighter and more minimal on the wall. The absence of a frame means the LED strip — whether edge-lit or backlit — is the primary visible feature when the light is active.
Framed mirrors have an aluminium perimeter profile that contains the LED strip and creates a defined border around the mirror glass. The frame also provides structural rigidity for large formats and is easier to clean around because the gap between frame and wall is sealed. From a trade perspective, framed mirrors are more forgiving on rough wall edges because the frame profile overlaps the mounting area.
Frame finish choice is covered in Decision 7 below.
VUELUXE Product Answer
Both frameless and framed options are available across all sizes and shapes. The framed range uses powder-coated or brushed aluminium profiles. The frameless range uses a full-perimeter LED backlight system with polished edge glass.
Spec Schedule Entry Format
FRAME TYPE: Framed / Frameless
FRAME PROFILE: [width in mm if framed]
EDGE FINISH: Polished / Satin [if frameless]Decision 5 — CCT Preference
Colour correlated temperature (CCT) determines the perceived warmth or coolness of the light emitted by the LED strip. It is measured in Kelvin. Lower values — 2700K to 3000K — produce warm white light that reads as soft and incandescent-adjacent. Higher values — 5000K to 6500K — produce cool white or daylight-spectrum light that is more clinical and task-oriented.
For bathroom vanity applications, the relevant question is whether the space is used primarily for grooming tasks — makeup, shaving — where accurate skin tone rendering matters, or whether it functions as a general ambient bathroom with less task-specific lighting demands. Grooming mirrors benefit from CCT in the 4000K–4500K range, which balances warmth and colour accuracy without the green or yellow cast of extreme warm or cool options.
Where multiple mirrors are specified across a project — such as ensuite, main bathroom, and powder room — CCT consistency across all three avoids a mismatched visual experience. For a detailed breakdown of CCT values and their effects, refer to the CCT explained guide.
Some VUELUXE models include a tri-CCT switch or touch control, allowing the end user to select between warm, neutral, and cool modes. This is useful for client-facing projects where homeowner preference is unknown at time of spec.
VUELUXE Product Answer
Available in single CCT (3000K warm, 4000K neutral, 6000K cool) and tri-CCT (switchable between 3000K / 4000K / 6000K). CCT is specified at time of order for single-CCT models.
Spec Schedule Entry Format
CCT: 3000K / 4000K / 6000K / Tri-CCT switchable
CRI: [specify 80+ or 90+ if known]
CONTROL TYPE: Touch sensor / Wall switch / Tri-CCT rockerDecision 6 — Demister: Yes or No
A demister pad is a low-wattage heating element bonded to the rear face of the mirror glass. When activated — typically via a wall switch or the mirror’s touch control — it warms the glass surface to just above ambient humidity level, preventing condensation from forming. The result is a fog-free mirror immediately after a shower without needing to wipe the glass.
Demister specification is driven by bathroom exhaust efficiency and project tier. Bathrooms with poor natural ventilation or enclosed shower recesses benefit most from demisters. High-end residential and commercial hospitality projects routinely specify demisters across all vanity mirrors as a quality-of-life feature regardless of exhaust quality.
From a trades perspective, a demister does not change the mirror’s electrical connection requirements — it draws from the same circuit — but does increase the total draw of the fitting slightly. Confirm with the project electrician that the circuit load allowance accounts for the demister wattage.
VUELUXE Product Answer
Demister pads are available as a factory-fitted option across all framed and frameless models. They are not field-retrofittable. Specify demister at order stage. Activation is via the integrated touch sensor or separately switchable depending on the model.
Spec Schedule Entry Format
DEMISTER: Yes / No
DEMISTER WATTAGE: [W] (confirm with supplier)
DEMISTER ACTIVATION: Integrated touch / Separate wall switchDecision 7 — Frame Finish
For framed mirror models, the aluminium frame finish is the final specification decision and the one most visible in the finished space. Frame finish should coordinate with tapware, drawer pulls, and cabinetry hardware as part of the broader material palette.
The most common finishes in current Australian residential projects are brushed gold, matte black, brushed nickel, and satin chrome. Brushed gold suits warm-toned bathrooms with timber vanities and stone benchtops. Matte black suits high-contrast bathrooms with dark tile or dark joinery. Brushed nickel and satin chrome suit cooler-toned, more minimal palettes where the mirror should recede rather than feature.
For projects with multiple mirrors — en-suites, common areas, hospitality rooms — confirm that all mirrors are from the same production batch. Minor batch-to-batch variation in powder coat application can create visible inconsistency if mirrors are photographed together or viewed side-by-side.
VUELUXE Product Answer
Available frame finishes: brushed gold, matte black, brushed nickel, satin chrome, gunmetal, and champagne. All finishes are powder-coated aluminium. Finish availability by model — confirm at time of inquiry. For multi-unit projects, VUELUXE recommends single-batch orders to ensure finish consistency.
Spec Schedule Entry Format
FRAME FINISH: Brushed Gold / Matte Black / Brushed Nickel / Satin Chrome / Gunmetal / Champagne
TAPWARE COORDINATION: [tapware brand and finish reference]
BATCH ORDER: Yes — single batch required for [quantity] unitsFilled Sample Spec Entry
Below is a complete filled spec schedule entry for a typical high-end ensuite mirror specification. Use this as a template for copying into a project specification document or schedule of finishes.
ITEM: Vanity Mirror — Ensuite 1
SUPPLIER: VUELUXE
MODEL: [confirm model reference at inquiry]
SIZE: 1200mm W x 900mm H
SHAPE: Rectangular
FRAME TYPE: Framed
FRAME FINISH: Brushed Gold
CCT: Tri-CCT switchable (3000K / 4000K / 6000K)
CRI: 90+
DEMISTER: Yes — integrated touch activation
IP RATING: IP44
ELECTRICAL CONNECTION: Hardwire (pigtail) — licensed electrician required
INSTALLATION ZONE: Zone 2
BOTTOM EDGE HEIGHT: 1150mm AFF
FIXING METHOD: Four-point bracket — timber stud or 12mm ply backing required
TAPWARE COORDINATION: [brand] — Brushed Gold
BATCH NOTE: Single batch order — 3 units (Ensuite 1, Ensuite 2, Master Ensuite)
DELIVERY: [project address] — Attn: Site SupervisorUsing This Worksheet on Live Projects
Work through all seven decisions in sequence before placing an inquiry. Decisions 1 through 3 are site-determined and should be resolved at design development stage. Decisions 4 through 7 can be finalised at tender or shortly after design sign-off.
For multi-bathroom projects, complete one row per mirror location in a schedule of finishes table, using the spec format fields above as column headers. This format allows the project manager, builder, and supplier to work from the same reference document without misinterpretation.
When submitting an inquiry to VUELUXE, include the completed spec schedule. This allows accurate product confirmation, stock checking, and pricing without requiring back-and-forth on size and finish options. For installation requirements that follow from the specification, refer to the LED bathroom mirror installation guide.
For questions about IP rating classifications and zone requirements under AS/NZS 3000, refer to the IP rating explained guide. For CCT selection guidance including CRI considerations for task lighting, refer to the CCT explained guide.
Trade account holders can request product confirmation and pricing by submitting the completed worksheet via the inquiry form on the specification hub.