In this article, we will discuss why mirrors are beveled. There are different kinds of mirrors available on the market, and each of them is created for different purposes. Among the most in-demand mirror is the beveled ones. A beveled mirror improves the look of the room, adding elegance and a polished look to your decorations. You can have the option of a framed and unframed beveled mirror.
Why are mirrors beveled? Beveling mirrors create an elegant and sophisticated look that enhances the overall appearance of the mirror. Mirrors that are beveled have their edges cut at certain angles to give off an elegant frame look. The edge of the mirrors provides an embellished and subtle look that also highlights the frame. Moreover, the beveled edges also give off a frame-like illusion, so the mirror looks lighter without a heavy frame weighing it down. Beveled mirrors work well in various spaces and rooms. They are usually used as centerpieces or focal points of a room.
What are beveled mirrors? Is there a difference between flat and beveled mirrors? What are the advantages of using beveled mirrors? These are some of the things that we will discuss in this article. If you want to know more about this type of mirror, you can check out the rest of this article for more tips and information.
What are Beveled Mirrors?
Beveled mirrors are mirrors that have undergone the process of cutting the edges to a specific size and angle to create a framed look. Through the process, the glass becomes thinner around the edges of the mirror, while the large middle portion remains thicker. Beveled mirrors are available in various sizes and shapes. They are decorative items that reflect the light and the image of whatever lies across from it.
How are Beveled Mirrors Made?
With a glass-beveling machine, the edges of the mirrors are ground and polished to give them a slant. The slant usually measures between 0.6 cm to 254 cm thick. The actual dimensions of the slant are determined by the design of the mirror and the technicians who work on beveling the glass.
Where to Use Beveled Mirrors?
Beveled mirrors can be used in many rooms, including the bathroom, entryways, dining room, and over a fireplace. They can be used as a centerpiece or a focal point to any room. Beveled mirrors provide a sophisticated and elegant look that can enhance the ambiance of your home. You can use framed or unframed beveled mirrors.
Many Rooms
Beveled mirrors customized can provide a touch of elegance in your dining room, living room, or over the fireplace. Regardless they have frames or not; they can easily blend with the décor and theme of the room in which they are displayed without overpowering it. Beveling is usually applied to mirrors that serve as a focal point in a room.
Entryway
Beveled mirrors do not need an extra frame. The beveled edges provide the mirror with a frame-like look without weighing it down with a metal or wood frame. This creates a stunning mirror that can easily blend with any décor that you have in your room.
Bathroom
You can also use beveled mirrors in bathrooms. Beveling an ordinary mirror can turn it into a stunning centerpiece. Moreover, it can add a classy feel to your once bland bathroom ambiance.
What are the Advantages of Beveled Mirrors?
Beveled mirrors are usually used to provide an artistic effect into a room without changing the mirror’s basic properties. They are aesthetically superior and safer than un-beveled mirrors because they do not have sharp edges. Below are some of the advantages that you can get from beveled mirrors.
Safe
Mirrors with beveled-edge are safer because the polishing and grinding of the edges get rid of smaller imperfections formed when the glass was cut. The process involved when creating the slant polishes the sharp edges and corners.
Valuable
Beveled mirrors are more valuable as compared to the usual mirrors with a straight edge. The antique ones have their edges hand-cut with pumice. You can use it as an investment or as heirlooms.
Aesthetically Pleasing
The slant of the beveled mirrors catches and refracts light, which acts like a prism and causes a rainbow effect. It adds an aesthetically pleasing look into your room, especially when placed in an area where it catches the light.
Framed or Unframed
Beveled mirrors sometimes do not have to be framed anymore because of their slanted-edge appearance. It looks gorgeous as it is. However, you can still have the choice to purchase a framed beveled mirror. You can also check out this article that discusses if you can frame a beveled mirror. We have shared information on how you can upgrade the look of your beveled mirror by framing it.
Improves the Room
Beveled mirrors can be used in a room with less light because they can make the room look reflective and bright rather than gloomy. Moreover, they make the room look spacious and bigger.
What is the Difference between a Flat Mirror and a Beveled Mirror?
The main difference between a flat mirror and a beveled mirror is that the flat mirror has a plane reflecting surface that reflects light. They do not have any special effects and are often framed. On the other hand, a beveled mirror has cut edges and is designed to a certain angle and size to produce a framed look. The slant edges of the beveled mirror are approximately one inch wide and act as a prism that refracts the light, which splits it into the colors of a rainbow. Find out more about the two mirrors below.
Flat Mirror
Also referred to as a plane mirror, this mirror has a smooth surface. They reflect images in normal proportions, which are reversed from left to right. Flat mirrors are the most common type of mirrors usually displayed in bathrooms and bedrooms. They are often framed and can virtually accommodate and virtual form.
Beveled Mirrors
These mirrors have their edges cut and polished to a certain size and angle to produce an elegant and framed look. The process leaves the glass thinner around the edges of the mirror. They are usually made by creating an angled surface cut around the whole periphery. The bevel can be up to two inches wide and can create a light-diffracting edge that provides elegance to both unframed and framed mirrors.
Framed Vs. Frameless Beveled Mirror
Both framed and unframed beveled mirrors look elegant. The frame protects the edge of the mirror against damage and provides a stylistic transition between the mirror and the wall. This allows the mirror to blend with the interior design of the room. On the other hand, frameless beveled mirrors are ideal for a minimalist look as the beveled edges already serve as a frame.
On the other hand, framed mirrors provide more design options because you can easily choose a frame that coordinates with the mirror and the interior décor. Some frames have Baroque, antique, and Victorian designs that add style to the beveled edges.
✅ Video – How to Install a Beveled Mirror
Dullesglassandmirror shared the video below on how to install beveled mirrors. You can use a mirror clip for a fast and easy installation. It is more stable as compared to using nails. Check out the video below for more tips and information.
Related Questions
How Much does a Beveled Mirror Cost?
Beveled mirrors are more expensive as compared to flat mirrors. However, modern production methods have made them more affordable. A custom-made beveled mirror is more expensive depending on the specifications you want the mirror to have. The slightly expensive price is worth it, considering the extra stylish edgework that you will get. Read this article about why bathroom mirrors are so expensive for more ideas.
What is the Best Width for Beveled Mirrors?
Wide bevels look more elegant as compared to cheap mirrors created with narrow bevels. Simply put, choose the widest bevel that you can afford. 1 inch is the standard bevel edge, and it looks fine, but the 1 ¾ bevel looks better. Moreover, if you plan to frame the mirror, make sure that you choose the widest bevel that you can afford. The reason for this is that the rabbet or the groove in the back of the frame will hide part of the beveled edge.
Do Bevel Mirrors Have Higher Quality?
There is no distinction when it comes to quality between the flat and beveled mirrors. All mirrors start flat and are then beveled for decorative effect and to enhance the look of the mirror. When beveling is done on a ¼ thick mirror, the slanting bevel thins the glass down to an edge thickness of 1/8 of an inch. We have also written this article that discusses if beveled mirrors are better. You can check out the article and learn the advantages of choosing beveled mirrors for your home.
Conclusion
We have talked about why mirrors are beveled and the advantages that you can get from beveled mirrors. We have learned that all beveled mirrors are created from flat mirrors. The process of beveling the mirror thins out the edges and provides a polished look into it. They are ideal if you are going for a minimalist look and would like to avoid framed mirrors. Check out the best options that you can use for your space. Thank you for reading.