Home Gym Mirrors: Ideas & Options To Keep Perfect Form

5 Reasons Why You Need Mirrors In Your Home Gym 

There are a lot of reasons one will need a mirror or two in their home gym. Some will want the mirrors to assist in properly lighting the space and others for a more aesthetic purpose.

Below are the five most common reasons to include mirrors in your home gym setup. 

1. To Help Adjust Your Posture 

While working out, proper form and posture are essential to get the most from every lift.  

A workout mirror can help guide your form and movements, though, you will learn to use the right form by watching yourself. 

Over time you won’t need to rely on home gym mirrors as much, but the best gym mirrors will really help those just starting out or when you begin a new routine. 

2. To See Where You Need Improvement

Flexing in front of a gym mirror may appear to be a simple case of showing off, but there are reasons behind that flex. One of the most important is to ensure your muscle growth is even and consistent. 

Muscle imbalance (especially the lats) happens all the time, and using a gym mirror to spot when one side of the muscle group is developing slower will help you make the right adjustments to your routines to correct the muscle imbalance. 

3. To Reduce The Risk Of Injury 

Using the mirror to test the movements with lighter weights can help you lift properly when you are stepping up the weight. 

Because a home gym typically has no spotter, the home gym mirror will help you maintain your confidence. Gym mirrors will show the movements shown back to you and allow you to make adjustments, improving your form and lowering the risk of injury. 

Related Article - Which Types Of Lifts Require Spotters?

4. To Make The Room Appear Larger 

Mirrors also reflect artificial and natural light, and that light can add depth to the room. 

While it is an optical illusion and you won't actually have more floor space, the addition of mirrors around your gym space will maximise any natural light you have, and make your home gym appear larger and more open. 

5. To Motivate You When Exercising 

No matter what your fitness goals are, you probably want to watch your growth and development over time. Gym mirrors will help in all the ways listed above and let you track your progress.

All the effort, time, and punishment you put yourself through during a workout doesn't have an overnight effect. However, when you start to see the benefits, you are more likely to stay motivated and continue working out.

A home gym mirror may be the most motivational piece of home gym equipment you can own. 

Learn More About - Best Home Gym Setups (Expert Layout & Planning Advice)

What To Look For When Buying Home Gym Mirrors 

Before you head out and buy the first mirror you see, there are a few factors to consider. Including all of the information given above, we have several consideration factors to think about. 

Mirror Size 

The size of the mirror has a big impact on price. Larger or thicker mirrors will cost more than a small mirror, but it will also directly correlate with weight and installation difficulty.

A large mirror can weigh over 50 pounds and will require at least two people to install properly. Smaller mirrors are easier to handle and cost less, but you may need to buy multiple smaller mirrors to get the same coverage as a single, large mirror. 

Mirror Material 

Along with their shape and design, the materials mirrors use as the reflective surfaces and overall construction are important. Durability, moisture resistance, and strength will all matter to your final decision. 

There are various needs, types, and uses for gym mirrors, and this will have an impact on which is the right style for you:

Shape 

You can generally choose from a range of small or large wall mirrors in various shapes, but rounded mirrors change the angle of reflection.

Think of rounded mirrors as two sides of a spoon. They are either convex or concave and this impacts the image you see:

• Concave mirrors make the reflection smaller and closer because they bulge inwards. 
• Convex mirrors make the reflection larger and further away because they bulge outwards.

Rounded mirrors are already used in every day life (as make-up mirrors or as a parking garage mirror), and these custom wall mirrors can be useful in your home gym.

Sturdiness 

In a home gym setting, a mirror needs to be sturdy and resilient.

Vibrations from the workout equipment can crack thin mirrors, and there's a chance your home gym mirror will be impacted by a rogue barbell or free weight. 

Thicker mirrors made from sturdier materials are always a better option, and if you have a wall mirror make sure it's installed securely. 

Fixed Vs Portable 

Fixed mirrors, or fixed wall mirror options, are generally the best for home gyms. However, you may not have the space or budget for this type of mirror installation at present. 

Portable mirrors can help bridge that gap in the meantime and offer a more affordable, though less durable, option. 

Frame Vs Frameless 

Mirrors either have a frame or are frameless. A regular wall mirror will typically have a frame, but most home gyms and commercial gyms use frameless mirrors. 

Frameless gym mirrors are easier to install and take up less space in your home gym. 

Framed mirrors can be more durable as the frame protects the mirror from damage. 

Generally, a frameless mirror is best for your home gym, but if you just have a single large mirror then a framed option can be useful.[2]

Where To Find Large & Affordable Home Gym Mirrors

Mirrors can be found in almost any department store, such as Walmart or Target. 

But, these are generally cheap, smaller mirrors that use inferior materials and won’t last very long in a gym setting. To find larger, affordable, and more useful home gym mirrors, you may need to look elsewhere. 

Amazon

Shopping on Amazon will give you the largest pool of potential mirrors that you can find in one place. You will also find various styles, shapes, and sizes to meet your needs.

If you want a particular freestanding or wall mirror in bulk, shipping and other charges can be limited or even eliminated with an Amazon Prime account or through special deals from the site. You won't find many custom wall mirrors on this platform, but it's good for buying in bulk.

Home Depot & Lowe's

Hardware and home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe's are also going to have a large selection of mirrors.

Usually, these will be a standard selection of kitchen and bath mirrors, but if you are looking for oversized glass mirrors, large mirrors, or custom wall mirrors, these stores may be your best option. 

Ikea

Ikea is another store that has a lot of home essentials, including mirrors. They sell a large variety like Walmart and Target, but also have higher-end options that work well as home gym mirrors. 

While Ikea may not be close to your area, there is usually one within driving distance. They also offer shipping with low fees to your door. 

Second-Hand

If a brand new mirror is too expensive or hard to find, you may have luck with a second-hand option.  

There are a few specialist retailers, like Fab Glass, who buy and sell secondhand mirrors suitable for your workout room. It's worth checking what's nearby because you could get some home mirrors at a bargain price. 

You can also try garage sales or estate sales, but the selection of mirrors for home use can vary. 

You may also have some luck on second-hand websites like eBay, Craigs List, or even Facebook Marketplace. Searching the local listings for mirrors in general as well as the specific type you are after will usually land you several results to browse through. 

7 Cheap Garage Gym Mirrors Reviewed 

In this section, we will look closely at seven different mirror products for your consideration. Of course, each has its own advantages and disadvantages, but this is a great place to start with your own ideas. 

Creative Mirror Ideas For Your Home Gym 

Here in this section, we will showcase some of the most impressive, functional, practical, and incredible home gym mirror ideas. 

With this setup, the gym is minimal, but that doesn't mean the mirror has to be. The full wall mirror is bordered with a frame to set it off from the wall but still catches and reflects light to make the space seem bigger. The reflective mirror and white border really open up the space.

Vertical frameless mirrors are put together here to add depth to the mirrored wall. It offers a whole body view from anywhere in the gym and adds light where there would normally be shadows. 

No matter where you are working in this home gym, you will be able to see form, posture, and performance. 

When space is limited, you can add a full length mirror (or three as seen here) to a wall to add some clarity, light reflection, and size to the room. 

These framed mirrors are installed with j-hooks to stabilize but offer removal later if needed. 

If you can’t afford the mirrored paneling and don’t want to hire a professional, you can accomplish the same aesthetic with cheaper low-end mirrors stacked and mounted on top of one another. 

You can even lay them longways for an alternative appearance. 

Two (or more) frameless mirrors hung as a single mirror is an old trick to save money on larger mirrors while still getting the same look and feel.

Here in this space, you can see how much room and light it brings to the space, even with just the overhead light on. 

If space is an issue, you can create a half-garage gym, as they are known. This one utilizes one small mirror directly in front of the squat rack. If this is where you do most of your lifting, then one mirror will work well.

You are basically reserving part of your garage for the gym space, the rest for your cars and storage needs. Here a single frameless mirror hung at the rack line will be plenty to see what you are doing. 

Once again, we see the frameless mirrors controlling the space. Here, though, instead of lining up uniformly and all the way across, the distinctive carve-out space is used elegantly to hold the mirrors in different spaces.

Full-length mirrors of different sizes and lengths are sure to create a full wall illusion. 

Not in a garage gym and not in a room at all, really, but here is one example of the mirror—a smart mirror workout system with interactive coaching and performance monitoring inside the mirror itself. 

This gym space makes great use of mirrors. Each is a frameless glass mirror cut to size and mounted on plywood. 

The plywood acts as the mount, base, support, and frame for a large mirror while giving a striking appearance to the otherwise dark space.

Floor to ceiling mirrors are expertly mounted here and (we assume) have been cut to size.

The permanent mount solution gives the acrylic mirrors more strength than they already have and can have a towel rack/balance bar mounted to them for dance as well as a visual aid when working out. 

A simple, elegant, and affordable solution, this small gym uses one 6x8 foot mirror on one wall to add depth, light, and all other mirror features to the workout space. 

These were permanently mounted with mirror mastic, but j-hooks and some assistance from a friend can accomplish the same effect. 

How To Install Wall Mirrors For A Home Gym 

When it comes to installing your mirror, you have a couple of options. One is a semi-permanent method that allows you to remove the mirror later if needed, and the other is a permanent method using adhesives to secure the mirror to the wall. 

For both options, you will need the following materials: 

For the Permanent Install method, you will also need mirror mastic. This is a special type of glue designed to mount glass and metal to drywall.

Once you have your equipment you need to follow these steps: 

1. Measure the mirror on all sides. 

It is best to take measurements an inch or two from the edges and the middle of each side. This will help you notice if there is a wide spot or if the mirror is truly square. Measure a few times to ensure you have the right numbers. 

2. Mark the measurements on the wall using your marker or pencil. 

Use the tape measure and pencil along with the level to draw the mirror outline if you wish. This will help you know where to place the j-hooks. 

3. Drill pilot hole for the screw anchors using your drill and bit.

Use the j-hooks to line with your markings and drill where the j-hook screws will go. Remember that the mirror will set inside the “J” portion of the hook, so align them properly. 

4. Install the anchors into the pilot holes for all 4 sides of the mirror. 

Place the j-hooks in place with their screws on only three sides. Usually, this will be top, bottom, and either the left or right. You want one open side with enough room to maneuver the mirror into place. 

5. Glue the back of the mirror (If you are using the adhesive method). 

Place a small amount of glue on the back of the mirror, about 4 inches from the edge all the way around. Use more adhesive in the middle of the mounting location on the wall itself, following the instructions on the adhesive packaging. 

6. Slide the mirror into the j-hooks until it rests on all three sides. 

For the adhesive method, you want to lightly press and hold the center of the mirror against the wall and move the pressure outward to the edges. This will spread the mastic and allow it to begin curing. 

7. Complete the installation

Install the 4th row of j-hooks to the remaining side of the mirror. Then, if you wish to remove the mirror later, you only need one or two j-hooks on this side. This will allow you to quickly remove them and pull the mirror out. 

Gym Mirror Alternatives

If you don't want home mirrors in your workout room then there are a few alternative options: 

1. Phone Camera & Tripod

Many people use their cell phone camera to keep track of their fitness progress. If you get a good quality tripod you can record your strength training workouts and watch it back to see if there are areas of improvement. 

Pros: 

• No professional installation 
• Won't take up as much space in your workout room 
• Cheaper than most mirrors

Cons: 

• Hard to watch yourself in real time so it slows down your home workout
• Won't help with the lighting in home gyms like the best mirrors do

2. Web Cam

Web cams can be useful to record your training for analysis later. If they're set up in the right place they can capture your entire workout room, and it can be broadcast onto a larger screen. 

Pros: 

• Doesn't take up as much space as a large mirror 
• Affordable way to track your fitness progress

Cons: 

• Complicated set up if you want to feed through to a larger screen
• Harder to track cardio and strength training in real time 
• Won't help with home gym lighting like a some mirrors for home gyms will

Home Gym Mirror FAQs

Can you install a home gym mirror by yourself? 

Depending on the size and weight of the mirror, you can usually install a gym mirror yourself. However, proper positioning and the weight of a thicker mirror may require two people. You should use a second person to help hold the mirror in place when mounting to ensure it is hung or placed properly. 

How much do home gym mirrors cost? 

The final cost will also depend on the size, shape, and type of mirror you select. Acrylic mirrors will be cheaper than glass mirrors in most cases, but can also get quite expensive when buying multiples. You can find mirrors for as low as $50, and prices can reach a few hundred dollars per mirror.  

How much does it cost for a professional to install gym mirrors? 

Installation costs will also have a wide range. This will depend on who you hire to do the job, their hourly labor fees, and any extras that they charge (or don’t charge) such as materials, clean up, disposal and travel. On average, a single mirror install will take about an hour, and many contractors will have a 2-hour minimum, charging between $25 and $60 per hour. 

Can you use regular mirrors for your home gym? 

You can use any mirror for a home gym, but the size and durability need to be accounted for. A small bathroom mirror, for example, will give you a reflective image, but you need to be close and won’t be able to see full body reflections. 

Are there different grades of mirrors? 

Mirrors for home use aren't typically graded, but quality and durability come with thickness. Home use mirrors will generally come in 1/8 to ¼ inch thicknesses, including 3/16 and other sizes. Thicker mirrors are more durable but also more expensive. For home gym use, thicker is generally better to help prevent breaking. 

Conclusion

Home gym mirrors can be a tricky purchase. There are many options to consider, styles and sizes to think about, and types to research. Our favorite is still the H&A 65"x24" Full Length Mirror.

When it all comes together, though, you have a home gym equipment piece that brings everything together. From helping with lighting and enlarging the space to showing you proper form and technique as you grow, a mirror is important to your gym space. 

Whether you use a single, full-length mirror, or line entire walls with reflective surfaces, your home gym mirror setup needs to be practical, perform to expectations and enable you to see everything as it is.

Hopefully, this article has shown you what to expect when shopping for your next gym mirror. 

References:

1. https://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk/acrylic-mirror-vs-glass-mirror/
2. https://www.homoq.com/comparison-between-framed-and-frameless-wall-mirror/