Décor upgrades can be costly when we add element after element for a grand change. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Some elements, like mirrors, can create a big impact for less. While crucial for personal grooming, mirrors also have huge potential to transform the look and feel of a space.
Mirrors can create the illusion of space in small rooms you’re not particularly fond of. They can maximise lighting in a room where introducing more natural light through additional windows isn’t possible by reflecting the existing light. They can serve as a sophisticated focal point, whether residential or commercial, no matter the style or place. They can also conceal imperfections on the wall that are otherwise difficult to remove.
However, mirrors have one big flaw: they’re fragile. You must handle them carefully on the way to your home, during cleaning, and even when storing them. But all these concerns can be a thing of the past if you choose to decorate with convenient mirror plastic sheets, which are a worthy alternative.
Are Plastic Mirrors Any Good?
They sure are, especially considering their many benefits—often more than traditional glass mirrors. In recent years, advancements in plastic developments have made plastic mirrors desirable for various styles, tastes, and settings. Here are some advantages:
A Versatile Option
Unlike conventional glass mirrors, plastic mirror sheets can be made from various plastics, including acrylic, polystyrene, polycarbonate, and PET. Depending on your preference, you have options suitable for various environments and projects.
A Lightweight Solution
If you want to know exactly how lightweight these mirrors are, they are half the weight of traditional glass mirrors. They’re much easier to lift, carry, handle, and work with. They’re suitable for various applications where safety is necessary, including schools, kids’ playrooms, hospitals, malls, stores, gyms, dance studios, and other public facilities.
In residential environments, they can be used to cover walls, display cases, and tables and even as horse stable and garden mirrors. They can also be used on windows if you prefer. The benefit of this application is that it has exceptional thermal insulation properties, so it can trap heat and help you lower your heating expenses in the winter.
A Durable Choice
While Glass is elegant on its own, its breakable nature is its biggest flaw, which the mirrored acrylic sheets or any of the other plastic material choices easily overcome. Not only are they weather—and UV-resistant, but they’re also more resistant to breakage thanks to their specific properties and lightweight.
To give you an exact idea of their strength, acrylic is up to 17 times more shattering-resistant. This further adds to their appeal and explains why they’ve grown in popularity over the recent years. If you get one of the products with a protective film, you can also benefit from resistance to scratches.
These are your go-to solutions if you’re up for convenience when setting up a mirror. Simple and easy to apply, they’re also easy to care for, as a simple wash-up with a mild detergent, water, and a soft cloth would do. This last aspect comes from their composition, making them less prone to smearing. In other words, if you’re up for the kind of mirror that will take up a little bit of time to be cleaned and will only pose an annoying chore for you, this is it.
A Customisable Alternative
Ever wanted more flexibility with mirroring, but Glass failed to offer this? Well, there’s no need to wish it anymore, as this is possible with plexiglass mirror sheets, which are very seamless to cut and shape as you desire. Whether you order your plexiglass mirror cut to size or you cut it yourself, it makes for a seamless result.
With this in mind, it gives you lots of freedom with the size, whether small for that tiny part of the wall you want to be covered in the living room or particularly large to cover an entire hallway’s wall. Don’t worry about chipping or cracking with the bending either – this is another area where the plastic, acrylic glass mirror solution is superior. Even if you do an accidental knock or bump, it won’t be the end for your mirror. This is good to know, especially if you share your home with kids and pets who could be prone to such accidents.
For a hassle-free DIY project, after you’re done with the cutting, shaping, and bending, remove the backing and press the mirror onto the surface of your choice – it’s as simple and secure as that! Still, remember, if it’s not one of the designs with adhesive, then make sure the one you order comes with drilled holes, so your only job would be to add the screws.
Although they’re easier and safer to fix, quicker than the glass counterpart, to avoid any unwanted warping during the installation, it’s necessary to ensure you choose a flat surface to place the plastic sheets on. If it isn’t, consider first applying them to a board, like one made of wood or MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard), and then to a surface that isn’t flat.
An Affordable Pick
The beauty of the mirror acrylic perspex sheet design or any of the other designs from polycarbonate, polystyrene, and the like is that their superior benefits to those of Glass come with an additional benefit: lower cost. Whether you choose to buy the sheets in bulk or have your custom-cut mirror, it’s up to you—what you can expect to get is a lower price and a higher overall value that keeps on increasing with time.
