bathroom mirror over wall panels

Fitting a mirror over bathroom panels may look daunting to the novice DIYer, but with the help of a friend and the right drill, it's pretty straightforward. When looking for renter friendly bathroom makeover ideas, it's a great idea to install the panels and a mirror for an extra decorative touch. This brief step-by-step guide explains how to hang a mirror over bathroom wall panels and bathroom splashbacks. You can also use TV wall panels to hang TVs over, too.

What you’ll need to hang a mirror

Before you start, you’ll need:

  • a pipe and wire detector
  • a mirror with predrilled holes
  • a hammer drill
  • safety goggles
  • a pencil
  • electrical or any non-transparent tape

After assessing the wall, decide where you want to hang the mirror. Most people hang theirs above the basin where they’ll be doing things like brushing their teeth, applying moisturiser, or removing contact lenses.

Check for concealed pipes

With your pipe and wire detector, check that no pipes or cables are concealed in the area you want to drill.

Align the mirror

Hold the mirror up to the wall and ask someone to confirm it's well-aligned. Use your pencil to mark the drill holes before drawing markers using the predrilled holes in the corners of the mirror as stencils.

Mark the length of the wall plugs

Mark the length of your wall plugs on the drill bit with a piece of tape, so you don’t drill deeper than is needed.

Drill the holes and use silicone sealant to retain waterproofing

Drill the holes at the marked positions. If it's a brick or stone wall, you'll need to switch the drill to hammer mode. Next, gently tap the wall plugs using a hammer, ensuring they're flush with the wall.

When you're drilling through bathroom panels, you'll want them to remain waterproof. You can retain their waterproof properties using a silicone sealant after drilling and inserting the wall plugs, as this will seal the area between the wall plugs and panels.

Screw the mirror into place

Line up the holes in the mirror with the holes in the walls and screw the mirror into place. Use mirror screws that have plastic washers to fit on the front and back of the mirror. Don’t overtighten the screws, or you’ll crack the mirror.
bathroom mirror with wall panels
There you have it – five simple steps to hanging a mirror over bathroom panels without sacrificing their waterproofing.