Mirrored Sliding Closet Doors: Are They Right for Your Bedroom?
Mirrored sliding doors can make a small bedroom feel twice as big, or make a room feel restless. Here is how to decide, with mirrored doors we made and installed across the Valley.
Mirrored sliding doors are one of the most common requests we get, and for good reason. They need no swing space, they give you a full-length mirror without using a wall, and they bounce light around the room. But they are not right for every bedroom. Here is how we help clients decide, with mirrored doors we made and installed in homes across the San Fernando Valley.
What mirrored doors do well
They make a small room feel larger. A full-height mirror visually doubles the depth of the room. In a narrow bedroom, that is often the single biggest change you can make without moving a wall.
They carry light. Mirrors reflect the window and the ceiling fixtures, so a darker room feels brighter during the day and evenings.
They replace a dressing mirror. You get a full-length mirror exactly where you get dressed, without hanging one on the wall or the back of a door.
On Glade Ave. in Canoga Park, full-height mirrored doors brightened both the bedrooms and the hallway, and made each space feel larger.
When to think twice
- The closet faces the bed. Some people do not like seeing themselves from bed. A mirror in the middle panel only, or solid panels, is a calm alternative.
- The room is already very bright. In a room with large windows on the opposite wall, a mirror can add glare in the afternoon.
- Little children and heavy play. Modern mirror panels are made for doors, but if a room sees a lot of rough play, a panel door may be more relaxed.
Framed or frameless?
Framed doors set each mirror in a slim aluminum frame. The frame protects the edges and gives the doors a defined look. On Dora St. in Sun Valley, we fitted two bedroom closets with full-height mirrors in slim black aluminum frames on a matching black track.
Frameless doors have no visible frame on their faces, so the wall reads as one continuous mirror. On Nagle Ave. in North Hollywood, frameless panels glide on a slim top track and reflect the window light and the herringbone floor.
Black or silver?
The frame color sets the tone. Black frames give a sharper, more contemporary outline and go well with black hardware and darker floors. Silver frames are quieter and suit lighter rooms and traditional homes. For a bedroom closet in Greater Los Angeles we made two-panel bypass doors in satin silver frames that blend with the room.
Mirror in one panel only
You do not have to choose all or nothing. On Texhoma Ave. in Northridge, the bedroom doors are white Shaker-style panels with a full-height mirror in the middle panel only, so the closet doubles as a dressing mirror without turning the whole wall into glass.
What to check before you order
- The opening. We measure the width and height carefully. Older homes rarely have perfectly square openings, and doors are made to fit the real opening.
- The track. Depending on the door system, the doors run on a bottom track or hang from a top track. We check the floor and the header above the opening before choosing.
- The interior. Sliding doors open only part of the width at a time. If you are replacing the doors, it is a good moment to plan the interior around the real opening. See reach-in closets.
Read more about all door types in our sliding closet doors guide, or see the sliding closet doors service page.
Frequently asked questions
Do mirrored sliding doors make a room look bigger?
Yes. A full-height mirror reflects the room and the light from the window, so a small bedroom looks deeper and brighter.
Are frameless mirror doors less durable?
Frameless panels are made for door use. Framed doors protect the edges a little more, which some families prefer in busy rooms. We help you choose for your room.
How long does it take to replace closet doors?
From the measurement to installation usually takes about one to two weeks. Installing the doors themselves usually takes a day, longer if we are doing several closets.
Do you install mirrored doors in Porter Ranch and Canoga Park?
Yes. Our portfolio includes mirrored doors on Liverpool Way in Porter Ranch and Glade Ave. in Canoga Park, and we work across the San Fernando Valley.
