When you are evaluating all the ways to spruce up your interior and add flavor and variety to your walls, you most often tend to think of custom wall coverings or paint.

However, do not neglect another common household item: mirrors. Every home usually has at least one mirror, and how you choose to display it (and where) can make a big impact on how the room it is in is perceived.

When it comes to choosing a mirror, though, you will find that you have more options now than ever before. While glass used to be the standard for mirrors, acrylic mirrors are becoming more popular. Is acrylic the right material for your mirror, or should you stick with tried and true glass? In order to answer that question and make the right choice, you will need to learn more about the benefits and setbacks of both.

What Is An Acrylic Mirror?

The term “acrylic” mirror refers to a thermoplastic sheet that is polished to create enough of a reflection to be used as a mirror. Acrylic mirrors contain no glass and are instead made entirely of plastics; you may in fact hear them referred to as “glassless mirrors.” However, whether acrylic is the right choice for you will depend on where you are using it and your intended goals.

Silver Mirror

The Benefits Of An Acrylic Mirror Over Glass

Acrylic mirrors come with a variety of benefits, and one of the most apparent is their weight. Acrylic weighs only about half as much as glass, so if you are faced with a mirror that you want to move often or that you need to install yourself, choosing acrylic can make the task significantly easier.

Because acrylic mirrors are made out of reflective plastic sheets, it is also possible to cut them into a variety of shapes—which is perfect for rooms where you would like something more unique than your standard circle, oval and rectangle mirrors.

Due to their plastic nature that makes acrylic material more flexible, mirrors made from acrylic are also significantly more resistant to stressors and impact than glass mirrors. It is difficult to get an acrylic mirror to break or crack because it can be bent. If you have small children, pets or other similar circumstances to think about, an acrylic mirror may be a good choice to keep the area safe from broken glass shards.

And if you are really trying something experimental and unique, acrylic can bend enough to allow you to install a mirror on a non-flat surface. Because of its light weight, acrylic mirrors may let you place a mirror in a location that previously was not sturdy enough to support one because it places much less pressure on the walls as well.

Why Glass Mirrors May Outcompete Acrylic

Despite the many advantages that acrylic mirrors offer, glass may remain the right material for your circumstances. There is a reason that it continues to be popular; it can be surprisingly strong, especially when cut thick. Glass also offers a perfect reflection due to its nature, whereas acrylic materials are made reflective and so may be slightly cloudier or not offer as crisp and clean an image.

One of the main benefits of glass mirrors is their rigidity. While acrylic can be praised for its lightweight, it is the heavy duty, unbendable nature of glass that makes it appealing to many; acrylic may bend or warp over time or during installation, creating a less than perfect look, but glass will remain perfectly straight and flat.

And if you are looking at pre-made decorative mirrors, you are almost guaranteed to be looking only at glass products for their high quality and pristine reflection. Glass also wicks away moisture, causing it to bead and roll off, whereas acrylic may absorb moisture that can cloud or distort it.

Trust The Acrylic Mirror Experts To Help You Make The Right Choice

Both types of mirrors have their own significant advantages and disadvantages. While acrylic is more durable than glass when it comes to impacts and bending, glass is not prone to warping and offers a crystal clear reflection. Choosing the right mirror for your situation will likely come down to the specific uses that you have planned, the look and feel of the room itself and your personal preferences.