The Design Journal

Claris EVOLUTION lighted makeup mirror, backlit, with a built-in 5x magnifier and LED ring over an oak vanity

October 15, 2026

Best Lighting for a Makeup Mirror: CRI and Colour Temperature

CRI 90+, 4000K and light from the front: the three numbers behind the best lighting for a makeup mirror, and the Claris mirrors built for the routine.

Claris STONE smart bathroom mirror, backlit, with a wave motion sensor on the glass above a stone vanity

October 15, 2026

Smart Bathroom Mirror Features, Explained One by One

Sensor, dimming, heat, colour and magnification: what each smart bathroom mirror feature does, and which ones earn a place at the vanity.

Hardwired LED mirror with a backlit offset round shape above a vessel basin, wall switch plate beside the vanity

October 15, 2026

Hardwired vs Plug-In LED Mirror: How to Choose the Install

A hardwired LED mirror hides its connection in the wall; a plug-in goes up any time. The rough-in, switches, anti-fog and dimming, side by side.

BOCA front-lit mirror above a black marble double vanity

October 15, 2026

Vanity Lighting: Backlit Mirror vs Sconces, and When to Use Both

A backlit mirror lights the wall; sconces light the face from the sides. How to choose, the numbers for each, and when to use both.

VIANO round backlit LED mirror in slim matte stainless steel by Claris Company

August 4, 2026

3000K or 4000K for the Bathroom? Mirror Light Colour Temperature, Explained

3000K, 4000K, or 5000K for a bathroom mirror? What the numbers mean, which temperature suits which room, and why the glass matters as much as the light.

ORSO round backlit LED mirror with fine radial lines by Claris Company

July 28, 2026

Backlit vs Front-Lit Mirrors: What's the Difference, and Which to Choose

Backlit mirrors glow from behind the glass. Front-lit mirrors put the light on your face. How each type works, where each belongs, and how designers choose.

ACARI front-lit LED bathroom mirror casting direct, even task light on the face. Belgian glass. Claris Company.

June 13, 2026

Front-Lit Mirrors: Direct Light for the Face

Front-lit mirrors put LED light in front of the face, where grooming actually happens. When to choose front-lit over backlit, and how Solenne, Norma, Beno, Lugo, and Nano each place the light differently.

PULSE backlit LED bathroom mirror in a residential bathroom with an arched niche. Belgian ultra low-iron glass.

June 4, 2026

LED Bathroom Mirrors: A Designer's Guide

LED bathroom mirrors, decoded. Backlight, frontlight, colour temperature, controls, anti-fog, and how the mirror relates to the rest of the room's lighting plan. A working designer's guide.