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9 best dressing table mirrors for ultimate at-home pampering

Add a portable, stylish piece to your bathroom or bedroom set-up

Rachel Ogden
Thursday 18 February 2021 09:56 GMT
Create salon quality styles at home with these stunning dressing table mirrors
Create salon quality styles at home with these stunning dressing table mirrors (The Independent)

Whether it’s nailing #hairgoals, shaving or getting yourself ready for a filter-free selfie, one thing is a must – a dressing table mirror that delivers.

But they’re more than just a practical purchase – dressing table mirrors can be a stylish addition to your bedroom, boosting light levels by reflecting daylight around the space and creating a covetable focal point.

There’s a huge variety of styles to choose from – some can be wall-mounted if you’re short on surface area, while other designs boast built-in lighting and touch or motion sensors so you can see every detail clearly, and sectioned mirrors give a multi-angled view. 

Read more: 9 of the best dressing tables that will turn any bedroom into a boudoir

At the risk of incurring seven years’ bad luck, or at the very least, having lots of broken glass to sweep up, we set about primping ourselves in front of an array of dressing table mirrors to select the best.

The designs below were rated on clarity, versatility (i.e. multiple magnification or dual-purpose), ease of use and if they provided any additional features, such as storage or lighting.

Our edit includes everything from compact designs to larger, more traditional dressing table mirrors fit for a boudoir. 

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

The Dormy House bruton mirror

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The simple style of this dressing table mirror makes it a good fit for either a more traditional or a modern setting. Even better, you can select one of ten different painted colours for the frame or opt for it unfinished so you can paint it to match your décor. Our sample came in “smooth pebble”, a gorgeous neutral tone, and arrived assembled. It’s incredibly practical – you can view your profile from all angles with the triple aspect, swivel the middle section back or forward (the hinge holds it in place) or remove the centre mirror should you need it for something else. 

The mirrored side sections allow this to be a freestanding piece on your dressing table so there’s no mounting or fixing either. We liked the details on this product – each piece of mirror has a bevelled edge, which lends it a classic feel, while behind, the frame is accessible, meaning if the worst happened, the glass could be replaced. The frame itself is made from smooth MDF and feels durable, weighty and solid. In terms of price, it’s excellent value for a piece of furniture that’s sure to sit on your dressing table for years to come.

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EKO iMira mini magnifying mirror

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However good your dressing table mirror at home is, chances are that the ones at a hotel or out and about won’t be, so fixing make-up or hair on the go is a challenge – which is where this freestanding mini mirror comes in. It detaches from its stand for travel, so you can easily pop it in a shoulder bag or case, plus its built-in LED light is charged via USB so you don’t have to hunt around for a socket to use it or have a trailing cable. It’s rich in other features too – the stand doubles as a tray for trinkets and jewellery, while its light has three brightness settings. 

The mirror itself has x5 magnification – meaning you can perfect your eyeliner flicks, or, like we did, obsess over every visible pore and wrinkle – and it tilts through 55-degrees, so we were able to get just the right angle. Sadly, there’s not much difference between the mid-bright and the maximum brightness, plus it takes practice to get the right pressure of touch to make it switch between the settings. Too hard and the light turns off, too soft, and you’re not sure if it’s changed the brightness at all until you touch it again. That said, it’s an excellent balance of everything you could ask for in a smaller mirror – quick to charge, portable, brightly lit and an affordable price.

  1.  £59 from EKO
Prices may vary
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simplehuman sensor mirror trio

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If your idea of fun is spending the evening with the phone off the hook while you examine every inch of facial skin, this mirror is for you. No blackhead or enlarged pore is safe from its useful trio of rotating mirrors – one side is x5 magnification for a general examination, while the other combines a x1 mirror for a normal view with a x10 section so you can really get into the detail.

What makes it special, though, is the lighting ring around the edge. It has an optional motion sensor, so the light turns on with a wave or when you put your face towards it, plus you can switch between warm and cool light and vary the brightness with a touch. 

We found this to be one of our favourite mirrors – it was effortless to use with clear instructions, easy to power up as there’s the option of USB charging or an adaptor, and the mirrors provide incredible clarity. It’s also a good size – not too big so it takes up lots of space, but still with a 20cm (8-inch) mirror width. We liked the option of smooth metallic finishes too – our sample was rose gold, which looked stunning in-situ. The only downside is that the price is the equivalent of several trips to the salon.

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Redcandy golden hands desk mirror

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What this unusual-looking glass lacks in mirrored surface area, it makes up for in quirky charm. The rounded section is surrounded by a pair of gold wirework hands holding the mirror that then extend into a small stand so it can sit on a tabletop without a wobble.

Its short, compact size also means that should you not have space on a dressing table or desk, it could be popped on a shelf instead. It’s light enough to be picked up and held close with one hand should you be a whizz at a one-handed makeover.

The mirror itself is pretty standard – there are no lights or extra features here. What it does offer is a good place for a few bits of jewellery – the fingers of the hands make a good spot to hang rings or bracelets to stop them becoming damaged or tangled. Essentially, this means that the golden hands mirror might not work so well as your main dressing table mirror but would be great as an additional extra.

  1.  £32 from Redcandy
Prices may vary
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Wayfair eells dresser mirror

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For the price, you’d imagine the eells dresser mirror would be bigger than it is – it’s just 30cm tall and 20cm wide. On a dressing table, it would probably need to be raised up for everyday use, as there’s no way to tilt it. That said, the compact size goes in its favour if your table is scattered with bottles and make-up, especially because it has a built-in caddy that’s ideal for stashing nail polish, lipstick, earrings and cosmetic brushes. The base of the glass-framed caddy is mirrored too, adding an extra shot of glam to your trinkets. 

Eells is freestanding and fairly light – it’s a shame that it doesn’t have any hooks at the back as it’d look great hung on a wall. Another attractive feature is its arched top and slim brass frame, which would work well with most styles of décor. More a pretty choice than a practical one, again, this would be best as an extra dressing table mirror rather than your daily go-to.

  1.  £74 from Wayfair
Prices may vary
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Dunelm baroque dressing table mirror

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Dunelm’s baroque mirror was the only one we had to put together and it wasn’t an easy job. While most of the screws went in quickly, attaching the struts to the stand had to be done with an allen key and was the most time-consuming and frustrating task of the assembly. The estimated time in the instructions was 30 minutes, and thanks to all the allen key resistance, that turned out to be about right. Given the mirror’s simple design, it’s hard to wonder why it doesn’t come ready-made or at least partially made.

The effort is worth it though – the baroque is a stylish and solid piece of furniture. It’s made from MDF and pine, with a wide, sturdy base, hinges that allow the mirror to be removed for other tasks, and the ability to be tilted back or forwards. Our sample came in black, although it’s also available painted white or grey to suit any room. Great value for the price but one to avoid if you prefer your products to be ready to go straight from the box.

  1.  £49 from Dunelm
Prices may vary
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The White Company dressing table mirror

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Like many of The White Company’s offerings, the beauty of this dressing table mirror lies in its simple elegance. Consisting of a rectangular section of glass in a generous frame, the hinge allows it to swivel to just the right angle, while the base keeps it firmly planted on the tabletop.

Of all the freestanding mirrors we tested, this was by far the heaviest, coming in at a sturdy 4.5kg – great if you’re prone to knocking things over while reaching for a hairbrush. We also liked the wide section of mirror it provided, which made it easy to put on make-up without moving around too much.

As you might guess from the price point, the frame and base aren’t just silver-coloured but thickly plated in silver and finished with a clear lacquer to prevent tarnishing. Not only does this give the frame a rich yet soft glow, it also means it’ll stay looking gorgeous for years to come. The only downside is that fingerprints show up on the base and frame, so you may leave the odd smudge when you adjust it. We found the best way to change the angle was by nudging the mirror from the velvety back instead.

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Seletti poker cards shaped mirror

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What better inspiration for a dressing table mirror than a perfectly manicured hand? Seletti’s wall-mounted statement mirror combines a vintage vibe with a generous expanse of glass that’s both wide (72cm) and tall (68cm) – ideal for attempting a voluminous blow dry or new up-do. It’s well designed for hanging – the glass isn’t too heavy and there’s a multi-ridged plate on the back that allows you to mount it easily. The printed design doesn’t obscure the main area of glass either and is relatively unobtrusive. 

The fact that the mirror is wall-hung means it’s less suitable for close-up tasks, especially if you’d have to lean over a table to see detail. It’s also on the pricey side. However, if your dressing table is packed with products or quite slim, a wall mirror like this makes a good choice – it’s stylish without being bulky and the perfect dimensions for a compact or mid-sized bedroom.

  1.  £210 from Amara
Prices may vary
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Next harlow vanity mirror

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The most affordable mirror in our round-up, the harlow brings a lot to the (dressing) table. An updated version of a bathroom classic, this large round swivelling mirror combines a x1 side with a x3 side, so you can switch between normal and magnifying glass easily. It’ll also swivel by using the knobs at either side so there’s no need to touch the frame or glass and leave fingerprints behind.

The design is sturdy and well executed – the approx. 24cm diameter mirrors are surrounded by a chrome-plated frame on a matching stand with subtle detailing. Underneath, there’s a soft base so it shouldn’t leave scratches on your dressing table top and the whole thing is quite light and easy to carry, so you can pop it into the bathroom if required. While the magnification can be a little blurry at the edges and it isn’t as high as some – you won’t see every rogue brow hair, for example – if all you’re looking for is something to help with more precise make-up application, it’s a great-value buy.

  1.  £30 from Next
Prices may vary
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The verdict: Dressing table mirrors

Picking The Dormy House’s mirror as our best buy was an easy choice as we felt it was a good balance of price, size and versatility. For those on a budget, Next’s Harlow is one of the best affordable options we saw, while we were also really impressed by Simplehuman’s high-tech Sensor mirror.

We also love this velvet footstool from Aldi which is almost identical to Made.com’s £100 version - who doesn't love a luxury look on a budget?

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