Ingrain Backlit Mirrors with Demister

Ingrain backlit mirrors with demister buying guide

A backlit mirror hides its LEDs behind the glass, so you see a soft glow around the mirror and not the light source itself. Every Ingrain mirror in this collection adds a touch sensor with stepless dimming and a built-in demister, so the mirror lights, dims and clears in one unit. The practical call: choose backlit for atmosphere and a clear glass, and plan the wall light for the grooming you do at the basin. The sections below cover what backlit means, how it compares with frontlit, the seven mirrors, the controls and demister, wiring, size, height and care, with the source for each rule named in the text.

What backlit means

An Australian retailer's guide says backlit mirrors have lights on the back that cast a soft glow onto the wall behind them, while front-lit mirrors have the LEDs set into the glass or around the edge, facing the user. A Perth showroom's guide describes the result as a subtle, halo-like glow produced when the light bounces off the wall, and says it suits spa-like, minimalist and modern designs. A third guide says the light source stays hidden, so only the glow is visible.

Ingrain's backlit listings describe the same effect: backlit LED for ambience and gentle lighting, with 6500K natural daylight colour. The glow reaches the wall around the mirror, so the finish and colour of the wall matter. A pale tiled wall carries the glow, and a dark wall absorbs it.

Backlit or frontlit

The two types do different jobs. The retailer's guide says front-lit mirrors are more luminous and suit task use, while backlit mirrors are dimmer, because their light reflects off the wall, and suit ambient light. A second Australian guide says a frontlit mirror gives the most even illumination and minimises shadows under the eyes, nose and jaw, while a backlit mirror can leave shadows in those areas. The same guide says combined mirrors give the most balanced everyday performance.

The guides also match the type to the room. They say backlit suits a bright, naturally lit bathroom or a larger bathroom, and frontlit suits a dark or windowless one. The showroom's guide says LED mirrors can replace separate overhead lighting, but the other guide says an LED mirror does not replace ceiling lighting, and that mirror light does not reach showers, baths or walk-in areas. The safe reading is to treat a backlit mirror as the ambient layer and keep ceiling light for the task. For the grooming alternative see Ingrain frontlit mirrors with demister, and for mirrors with both see Ingrain frontlit and backlit mirrors.

The seven mirrors in this collection

The Ingrain Round Frameless Backlit LED Mirror comes in 600mm or 800mm, 34mm deep, at 36W or 48W. The Ingrain Arch Frameless Backlit LED Mirror is 500mm by 900mm, 35mm deep, 60W, portrait only. The Ingrain Pill Shaped Frameless Backlit LED Mirror is also 500mm by 900mm, 35mm deep and 60W, portrait only. The Ingrain Rectangle Frameless Backlit LED Mirror is 600mm by 800mm, 30mm deep, 66W, and hangs in either orientation.

The framed rectangle comes in brushed nickel, brushed gold and matte black, in 600mm by 800mm with an aluminium frame, 43mm deep, 66W. The listings say the brushed gold version hangs either way, while the brushed nickel and matte black versions are horizontal only. All seven share 5mm copper-free glass, 6500K light, IP44, 220 to 240V, a 1m lead, and screws and hangers for mounting. For the shape groups see round mirrors, arched mirrors, pill shape mirrors and rectangular mirrors.

Frameless or framed

The frameless versions read as glass and glow only, and the framed rectangle adds a slim aluminium line in brushed nickel, brushed gold or matte black. A frame protects the glass edge from knocks, which is why one retailer's guide suggests a framed mirror in a home with children or pets, while frameless gives a plain, flat look that sits behind the vanity and tapware. For the choice see frameless mirrors and framed mirrors. For the brushed gold finish across the Ingrain range, see Ingrain brushed gold mirrors.

The touch sensor and dimming

The installation and owner guide supplied with these mirrors describes the controls. The touch sensor glows blue when the light is inactive and white when it is active. A short press turns the mirror LED on. Pressing and holding while it is white gives stepless dimming, which means the brightness changes smoothly, not in fixed steps. A long press while the sensor is blue turns off the button light.

Stepless dimming is what makes a backlit mirror useful at night. A low setting gives a soft glow for a quick visit, and a high setting lifts the wall light for the morning routine. One guide says adjustable colour temperature matters more than raw brightness. Ingrain's backlit range is fixed at 6500K, so the dimming is the control you have.

How the demister works

A mirror fogs when the glass is colder than the bathroom air, so steam condenses on it. The Ingrain guide says the demister heats fully in 3 to 5 minutes, glows white at the front touch sensor when active, and turns off automatically after 60 minutes if left on. Press the demister button before the shower and the glass is warm by the time the room is full of steam.

The listings say the arch and brushed gold versions have a built-in demister with an auto-off function, and the guide describes the same behaviour for the whole range. A demister clears the glass; ventilation clears the room, so run the exhaust fan after a shower. For a plain guide to the pads see mirror demisters.

Wiring and who fits it

The listings say these mirrors require hardwired installation by a licensed electrician. The Ingrain guide says the mirrors should be installed and tested by a qualified electrician in accordance with current local regulations, must be earthed, and must have a means of disconnection from the supply in the fixed wiring. It says the product conforms to AS/NZS safety standards, and that any timer or switch has to sit in the right zone for its IP rating. It also says the mirror is for indoor use only.

The wiring is three connections: live, earth and neutral. The guide lists the mirror wires as black or labelled L for live, green and yellow or labelled with the earth symbol for earth, and white or labelled N for neutral. It says to turn off the connections at the electrical board or sub-board before installing or doing any maintenance. Plan the supply point behind the mirror before the wall is closed, and plan the switch where you can reach it.

Hanging the mirror

The guide gives four steps for the round, pill and arch mirrors and the same four for the rectangles. Mark two screw positions on the wall aligned with the mirror's mounting plate holes, using a tape and a spirit level. Drill the holes and insert wall plugs, then screw in the screws provided, leaving 4 to 5mm exposed to hang the mirror. Turn off the main power and connect the wires. Hang the mirror on the screw hangers and turn the mains back on to check it works.

A note in the guide says the wall plugs provided suit stone or brick walls but not wooden walls, and that the wall surface should be of suitable strength and construction. The guide also says, where possible, to screw the mirror into studs or other suitable anchors, and to use suitable anchors in hollow walls. A hanging guide says cavity anchors suit plasterboard without a stud, and that a mirror over 100cm should be lifted by two people.

Size against the vanity

Houzz gives the clearest width rule: when the mirror is not the same width as the vanity, make it 70 to 80 per cent as wide, and 60 to 70 per cent when sconces share the wall. On a 600mm vanity that is a mirror about 420mm to 480mm wide. On a 900mm vanity it is about 630mm to 720mm, and on a 1200mm vanity about 840mm to 960mm.

Turn the rule around for the Ingrain sizes. A 500mm arch or pill suits a vanity about 625mm to 715mm wide. A 600mm round suits one about 750mm to 855mm, and an 800mm round or rectangle suits one about 1000mm to 1145mm. A 600mm by 800mm rectangle hung horizontally is 800mm wide, and hung upright it is 600mm wide and suits a vanity about 750mm to 855mm. Tape the outline to the wall and look at it from the doorway before you decide.

Height on the wall

Hang the mirror so its centre meets your eyes. An Australian height guide puts the centre at 1500mm to 1650mm from the floor, with 100mm to 200mm between the tap and the base of the mirror and the top edge at least 100mm below the ceiling. Houzz says a mirror needs to reach about 30cm above and below the eye line of its users.

Work it through for the Ingrain sizes. A 900mm tall arch or pill centred at 1600mm covers 1150mm to 2050mm, which clears a tap and leaves 350mm under a 2400mm ceiling. A 600mm tall rectangle hung horizontally and centred at 1550mm covers 1250mm to 1850mm, which clears a tap and reaches above the eye line of most adults. The height guide notes that average eye level runs from 1600mm to 1750mm, so measure the people who use the basin.

A worked height example

The Australian height guide gives a worked example: on an 850mm vanity with a 175mm basin mixer, the base of the mirror falls between 1125mm and 1225mm from the floor, and with a taller 305mm mixer between 1255mm and 1355mm. A 900mm arch or pill with its base at 1125mm reaches 2025mm, and with its base at 1355mm it reaches 2255mm. Both clear a 2400mm ceiling by more than the 100mm the guide requires. A 600mm tall rectangle reaches 1725mm to 1955mm. Check the top edge as well as the base, because a taller mixer lifts the base.

Two mirrors over a double vanity

A double vanity gives you the choice between one wide mirror and two. Homes and Gardens says to hang a mirror over each sink on a double vanity for balance, and Houzz says several tall, skinny mirrors give a vertical look. The Australian height guide asks for at least 100mm between two mirrors. The 500mm arch and pill suit this layout, because they are narrow enough to pair over two basins. Plan the supply for both mirrors before the wall is closed.

Small bathrooms and light

A humidity guide says a mirror 600mm to 900mm tall suits most single vanities, and suggests keeping 150mm to 200mm clear above a mirror from cabinets or exhaust fans. One guide says a small ensuite may need a frontlit mirror for practical light, and that a backlit mirror works best where ceiling light is already good. A bathroom lighting guide recommends light at the sides of the mirror and not only overhead, because overhead light alone casts shadows on the face. If the room has one downlight, a backlit mirror adds the glow and the downlight does the work. If the downlight is weak, plan a second light at the side of the mirror, or choose a mirror that lights the face directly, so that the morning routine does not depend on the glow alone.

Using the mirror safely

The Ingrain guide lists a few more rules. The product is for indoor use only, at an ambient temperature of 25 degrees. The appliance is not for use by minors, or by people without experience or knowledge, unless supervised or instructed by someone responsible for their safety. It says not to stare at the operating light source for long periods, and to place any timer or switch in the right zone for its IP rating. Treat the mirror as you would any fixed bathroom light.

Upright or sideways

The listings say which way each mirror hangs. The arch and the pill are portrait only. The frameless rectangle hangs either way, the brushed gold framed rectangle hangs either way, and the brushed nickel and matte black framed rectangles are horizontal only. The round has no direction. Check the orientation line before you buy, because the wiring position and the touch sensor change with the direction.

Glass and edges

Edges matter in a bathroom. An architecture publication's humidity guide says moisture gets into a mirror through the edges and through tiny scratches in the protective paint on the back, and that copper-free or edge-sealed glass slows the oxidation that causes black spots. The Ingrain listings give 5mm copper-free glass for corrosion resistance. The Ingrain guide adds that keeping the edges dry matters, because moisture left on them can cause damage known as black edge.

Care and cleaning

The Ingrain guide gives a clear routine. Clean with clean, warm water and a soft cloth that does not leave lint, wring out the excess water before wiping, and dry the mirror at once with a dry lint-free cloth. Avoid acid or alkali-based cleaners, never use abrasive cleaners, and do not use commercial mirror cleaners that contain ammonia or vinegar. Do not spray cleaner directly onto the mirror: apply it to the cloth, which keeps it off the edges.

The humidity guide adds that fixings should be checked once a year, and a stockist's care sheet for an LED demister mirror says to avoid glass cleaner and window cleaner because they can damage the silver coating. If the mirror gets wet, dry it off promptly.

Reading a listing

The listings carry the same fields in the same order. Start with the overall width and height, then the depth, which on this collection runs from 30mm on the frameless rectangle to 43mm on the framed rectangles. Next read the orientation line, then the wall mounting line, which says screws and hangers. For the lighting read the colour temperature line, the wattage, the voltage and the IP rating, and the installation line. Finally download the specification sheet and the installation and owner guide, which every listing offers, and read both before you choose the fixings.

Choosing quickly

• Soft glow and a clear mirror: any of the seven, with the demister before the shower.
• A narrow vanity: the 500mm arch or pill, or a 600mm round.
• A wide vanity: the 800mm round or the 600mm by 800mm rectangle, hung horizontally.
• A frame that matches the tapware: the framed rectangle in brushed nickel, brushed gold or matte black.
• Grooming at the basin: add ceiling or side light, or choose a frontlit mirror.
• Steamy ensuite: the demister on before the shower, and the exhaust fan on after.

The final check is the same for every mirror here: width against the vanity, height against the eye line, light against the room and wiring against the wall. For the whole Ingrain range, see Ingrain mirrors, for the lit group LED mirrors, and for the general guide mirrors.