Entrance door with a mirror in the interior: pros and cons, photo

Category: Entrance doors

Published 06/06/2021 · Comments: · Reading time: 6 min · Views: Post Views: 3,144

In the last few years, the fashion for metal entrance doors with mirrors has intensified. They look expensive and add charm to the room. The pros and cons of using doors with mirrors will be discussed in more detail in this article.

Choosing mirrors for doors

To use mirror panels in the interior, you need to select a reflective surface.

It must meet the following criteria:

Be resistant to moisture. Considering that entrance doors are not protected from adverse weather factors, you must ensure that the decor lasts longer. This is especially worth thinking about if there is no canopy or roof in front of the front door. Otherwise, it will be affected by moisture and deteriorate very quickly.

The optimal thickness is at least 3 mm. This way the canvas will be more durable and will be able to maintain its rigidity.

The fastening should be such that during mechanical shocks the mirror cracks and does not fall under your feet. This will prevent injuries from occurring.

Have high quality amalgam. This is a special silver coating that is applied to the mirror. The coating must be smooth, without roughness or deformation. Make sure that there are no pale spots on the surface of the mirror, as they may indicate that this area has the lowest reflectivity. There should be no bubbles on the surface that freeze in the glass.

Be resistant to mechanical damage.

Let's talk more about design

Design with mirror inserts

A skillfully chosen mirror shape and size can make even those corridors that can be called ascetic stylish. Such designer design of entrance doors could perfectly combine visual appeal and practicality. But if you decide on a full mirror surface, then you can choose an insert.

They can be like this:

A narrow single strip along the entire canvas (placed vertically).
Several small (about 5) wide stripes horizontally.
A series of narrow strips that are placed horizontally with small spaces between them.
Vertical insert made of curved mirror.
A mirror that is divided into squares of equal size, located at the same distance from each other.
Subtle mirror patterns with different geometric shapes.
Graceful lines with smooth weaves that create unusual patterns.
Oval narrow mirror in the center.
Full-length matte mirror with a mirror-like shiny pattern.
Diamond shaped inserts.
Mirror strip with a matte type pattern on it.
Forged elements combined with a mirror surface.

Moreover, reflective glass can be overhead or built-in. Any of the options can transform your home 100%. The main thing is that you choose everything to match the style of the house or even create the entire interior with an eye on the door design. The mirrors used can be in different shades (gold, bronze) and differ in reflectivity. Inserts and overlays are often placed on the inner surface of steel doors. Double-sided finishing is more suitable for country mansions, secure office premises or even a closed vestibule for several apartments at the same time.

Please note that an entrance door with a mirror usually has wrought iron elements on the outside, which gives it a respectable and reliable appearance.

But for apartment buildings it will be more practical to choose options with only interior decoration, and if desired, from the apartment side the product can be decorated using lighting on the slopes. This will help give the door a chic look.

Flaws

Despite the beauty of the product, the front door, which is equipped with a mirror surface, also has disadvantages:
If the mirror inserts occupy most of the door area, then difficulties arise with the installation of the peephole and handle.
Care is required in use because the mirror is a breakable material.
A high-quality mirror surface cannot be cheap, which means that such door models will cost you a lot.
Regular care is required. Dust and stains are visible on the mirror surface, so it has to be wiped every day using special products.

Sometimes it is better not to install large mirrors in the house for medical reasons, especially if one of the family members has mental disorders. In addition, feng shui adherents are opposed to mirror panels, who believe that mirrors without beautiful frames take away all the positive energy.

Manufacturing Features

The production of entrance doors with a mirror panel is carried out using the same technologies as for other models. The process differs only in the need to attach reflective glass. Mirrors are usually fixed to the canvas using mounting adhesive and fastening elements. An adhesive composition without chemical components is used only to install small mirror inserts. Sometimes even double-sided tape is used, which gives additional shock absorption to the canvas.

Please note that the fixation of heavy and large mirrors is carried out exclusively mechanically, using self-tapping screws and self-tapping screws, which help to securely hold the mirror on all sides.

Selection rules

Practicality and design of metal and mirror construction are not the only qualities that an iron entrance door should have. First of all, the doors that lead into the house must be reliable.

In addition to the factors stated above, when choosing, you should also consider this:
Safety – to create the door leaf, door block and stiffeners, high-quality durable materials must be used. It is better to give preference to hidden type hinges that can withstand heavy loads, as well as locks with a high class of resistance to burglary and blades with pins that are burglar-resistant.
Thermal and sound insulation. The purpose of the front door is to prevent not only uninvited guests from entering the house, but also noise and drafts.
It would be preferable to choose a model with a removable mirror - the simpler the removal process, the easier it will be to replace the mirror, lock, or even change the door design if necessary.

Taking into account these recommendations, choosing a good door for the entrance is not difficult, but you will need to decide on the choice of design yourself, based on the interior and preferences. In addition, despite the abundance of interesting and ready-made models on sale, you can always make an individual order based on your own project.

Features of an entrance door with a mirror

To install entrance doors with a mirror, first study the design characteristics.

Advantages of an entrance door with mirrors

It is advisable to study the advantages of entrance doors with mirrors. They will be discussed in more detail below.

Visual expansion of space

If you pay attention, apartment buildings have a similar layout. The corridor is made small so that other important rooms are spacious (kitchen, bedroom, living room, bathroom, etc.). Even if you buy a house with an open plan, you think about saving space in the hallway.

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If you ask a designer how you can visually expand the space in the hallway, they will answer you - install reflective elements, even a mirrored floor is welcome.

That is why it is better to install an entrance door that will be completely filled with mirrors.

Space saving

If the apartment is small, the owners try to use all the available space. Often a large full-length mirror is installed.

If there is no space in the hallway to install a large wardrobe with mirrored doors, and you plan to install an open storage system, you can choose an entrance door with mirrors.

Suitable if there is no room in the hallway to put a free-standing mirror on the floor.

Functional

Every person, when leaving the house, tends to look at himself in the mirror to understand whether the outfit he has put together is suitable or not. Also, mirrors in the hallway allow you to notice stains and other imperfections on outerwear.

As mentioned above, if you do not have space to install a large mirror, choose an entrance door with a mirror surface. In addition, the door is the last thing a person sees when leaving the house. Therefore, it will be convenient for you to look at your reflection.

Decor

An entrance door with mirrors is beautiful. Such designs will make the corridor look fresher and add emphasis. They also add variety to your interior.

Disadvantages of an entrance door with a mirror

Despite the many advantages, some home and apartment owners refuse to use a front door with mirrors.

This is due to the following disadvantages:

Difficult to replace glass. If the mirror surface becomes damaged, it will need to be replaced. To do this, you will have to completely dismantle the door, and to do this you need to remove it.
High price. To install high-quality glass in a door, you will have to spend money on it.
Heavy weight. The total weight of the door and mirror is quite impressive. To prevent the front door from bending and falling out, you will need to make the awnings more secure. This again requires costs.
Image distortion. If the mirror is not thick enough, your reflection in it may be distorted. It is not always possible to find a compromise between the quality and weight of glass.
Difficult to replace the lock. If the lock inside the glass breaks or jams, it will be difficult to change it. The mirror surface may become cracked or scratched and will need to be replaced.

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May break

Most often, owners of front doors with mirrors encounter glass breaking. This can happen for various reasons. However, you may encounter the same problems if you install a mirror in the floor or a wardrobe with mirrored doors. To minimize this disadvantage, choose your glass carefully.

The mirror gets dirty

Another drawback is soiling. Even slight contact may cause smudges, fingerprints and dust to appear on the surface. This is why you will have to spend a lot of time and effort to clean the glass.

You will also need to frequently purchase special products suitable for cleaning mirrors. Otherwise, streaks and dirt will ruin the initial effect.

Door peephole location

If you visit a store that sells doors, you will notice that not all models with mirrors have a door peephole. Such models can be chosen only by those who have a video surveillance system in their apartment. Otherwise, you won't know who knocked on your door.

Some manufacturers are concerned about consumers, so they install a door peephole. However, they do this not in the center of the structure, but from the side. This significantly reduces visibility.

You can also find models in which the peephole is carefully cut out in the mirror.

General information

Advantages

It is convenient to order such a door to save space on the wall surface. Most often, in small hallways it is difficult to place mirrors somewhere vertically, since you need to install a hanger and place shoe cabinets along the walls. But besides beauty and a good solution for saving space in the corridor,

A mirror on the door has a list of practical advantages:

Gives you the opportunity to see yourself in full growth and evaluate your appearance before going out.
Lamps that are reflected in the mirror fill the room with light and visually expand the corridor.
This makes the hallway more comfortable and adds sophistication to the interior.
The mirror surface gives visible lightness to even massive door panels.

Types of mirror inserts on the entrance door

There are different door models that differ in the location of the mirror inserts. They will be discussed in more detail below.

Mirror panel on the whole door

In such models, mirror inserts are glued or mounted along the entire inside of the front door. Suitable for compact hallways, as the space will visually increase.

Small mirror inserts

To use an entrance door with a mirror as decoration, choose models with small mirror inserts. They will allow you to place accents in the design. The only drawback is that you won’t be able to look in the mirror before leaving the house.

Sun protection film

Sun protection film will look beautiful on the door. You can buy it at a building materials store. It should be glued to the door panel, which will create the effect of a mirror. This design is cheap and will not deform.

It looks beautiful, but the film cannot replace your mirror. Also, scratches quickly appear on the film, which can ruin the original appearance. However, given the low price, you can quickly replace it.

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Advantages and disadvantages

According to designers, the front door is the key element of the interior, the appearance of which determines the design of the hallway and the general perception of the apartment or country house. Nowadays the market offers a large number of door designs with mirrors installed inside; such models are in great demand in Russia, the CIS countries and Europe.

Door leaves are distinguished by an interesting design, an abundance of shapes and colors of glass inserts. However, such models perform not only a decorative function.

Like any design, the entrance door to an apartment with a mounted mirror has advantages and disadvantages of use. The advantages of the product include:

Practicality. Before going out, you can examine your outfit in detail thanks to a full-length mirror.

Increased space. Using an entrance door with a mirror installed inside, you can create the illusion of an infinitely long corridor and visually enlarge the room (this option is great for small apartments and small hallways).

Lightness and neutrality. Thanks to the same mirror, the door leaf visually appears lighter. In addition, such a door fits well into any room, with any style.

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Metal door structures with mirror elements on the inside are very practical and easy to use. They do not require special care and allow you to radically transform your apartment. Many designers use this technique - with the help of mirrors you can “push the boundaries” of the interior.

In studio apartments or one-room apartments, installing such a product will create the impression of more space.

If you are just going to use an entrance door with a mirror in your hallway, then first of all you need to study the disadvantages of such designs. These include:

Difficult and time-consuming installation of fittings. Difficulties are caused by cutting out a hole for a bell, lock or handle, especially problematic if there is a mirror insert on the entire canvas.

Difficulty in replacing the mirror. Metal doors with glass inside are difficult to dismantle. To replace the insert, you will have to remove the canvas and all the fittings, take the structure to the workshop and carry out the replacement there.

High price. Powder coated mirror or Venetian glass are very expensive.

Large weight of the structure. Depending on the thickness and size of the glass, reliable canopies and hinges are installed that can withstand heavy loads. However, such a door leaf is very massive.

Special care requirements. You need to take care of the glass and remove dust and dirt from the surface in a timely manner. In stores you can find special cleaning products for these purposes.

It is worth noting that most of the disadvantages of door designs with mirrors are typical only for cheap models. Manufacturers, even at the door manufacturing stage, try to eliminate problems that could arise during replacement or during the operation of the product. For this purpose, iron doors are equipped with hidden locking mechanisms - the so-called invisible ones.

The absence of a keyhole protects the surface from damage even if the key is used incorrectly.

Production

There is nothing special about making entrance doors with mirrors. The production technology is similar to the classical method. The only difference is in the fastening of the glass sheet. Firstly, manufacturers are trying to use glass that combines light weight and strength.

Methods for attaching a mirror to a door:

Mortise. To do this, special fasteners in the form of screws, screws and frames are screwed to the door. Then they attach the mirrors to the front door. The peculiarity of this method is that the glass panel can be attached over the entire surface or only at the edges.

Gluing. To do this, use construction adhesive or double-sided tape. The glass is securely attached to the front door using adhesive materials.

Glue is used only for small mirror inserts. Large and heavy glass sheets will not adhere to the adhesive material, and will very soon begin to fall off.

Manufacturers also avoid adhesive bases that contain chemical impurities. After all, they can damage the glass sheet.

Double-sided tape provides shock absorption. If you close the door abruptly, it will reduce the load on the mirror surface and prevent its deformation.

Mirror door finishes come in several types, which are shown in the photo. In the first case, the mirror is attached only from the inside, which faces the hallway.

You can choose an entrance door with a mirror attached to both sides. Then small glass sheets are used, and only individual inserts are mounted on the outside.

The second option is more attractive. However, you will need reliable protection from intruders who may try to damage your door.

As you can see, there are many characteristics of a front door with a mirror. Therefore, you have the right to decide for yourself whether this option is suitable for you or not. Such doors are beautiful, however, they require costs to maintain their original appearance.

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What to consider when installing

A metal entrance door with a mirror is heavy, so before installation it is necessary to check the reliability of the canopies and, if necessary, replace them with stronger elements.

To ensure that the installed door is as safe as possible in operation, it also does not hurt to check the strength of the stiffeners and the structural block. They must be made of quality materials.

The lock on the front door must meet a high burglary resistance class. The canvas may be equipped with anti-burglary pins that increase the level of protection of the internal space.

High-quality insulation is another important factor to consider when installing a metal structure.

To ensure that your new door with a mirror lasts a long time and fully performs its security function, entrust the installation of the entrance structure to experienced specialists.