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3 Expert Tips on How to Hang a Mirror on a Door
Ed Malaker
Last updated:
Mirrors are essential when you’re getting ready to leave the house, but many aren’t in a good position for easy use, especially if you have several people in the household getting ready at the same time. A door mirror can be a great solution, so keep reading as we list several expert tips and tricks that you can follow to install one in your home quickly and painlessly on any door.
Before You Begin
Image By: josemdelaa_Pixabay
Before hanging your mirror, it’s important to consider a few things. First, you will need to inspect the door that you wish to hang the mirror. A hollow door will likely require a different hanging method than a solid door. The weight and size of your mirror will also matter. A large, heavy mirror will require more support than a small, lightweight one. We also recommend gathering the tools and supplies that you’ll need before you start so you can complete the project in one go. Fortunately, you only need a few tools to hang your mirror and one friend or family member.
Materials and Supplies
Drill
Screwdriver
Measuring tape
Pencil
Toggle bolt
Masking tape
Level
Over-the-door hooks
The 3 Expert Tips on How to Hang a Mirror on a Door
1. Standard Hanging Method for a Solid Door
Choose a door that gets plenty of light so it will be easy to see yourself, and have a friend or family member hold the mirror to help get it into an ideal position.
Use a pencil to mark the top of the mirror to give you a reference point.
Use measuring tape to measure the width of your door, and divide it by two to find the center and mark it with a pencil.
Use your measuring tape to measure the width of your mirror, divide it by two to find the center, and mark the position at the top of your mirror with a pencil or use a small piece of masking or painter’s tape.
Have a friend or family member hold up the mirror so the center point on the door and the center point on the mirror match. Then, with the mirror in position, mark the bottom center with a pencil.
Screw two plastic mirror clips about halfway in along the bottom line, spaced evenly away from the center mark but not wider than the mirror.
Slide the mirror into the two clips to help support the weight, but have your friend or family member hold the top, so it doesn’t fall over.
Use a level to create two even marks on either side of the mirror about halfway up.
Screw in a mirror clip to each side where you placed a mark while your friend keeps the mirror steady. Some doors have hollow areas, so move the side screws up or down so you can insert them into solid wood for maximum support.
Screw the bottom clips in completely, and tighten the side clips so they hold firmly against the door and your friend or family member can let go.
Add two more mirror clips to the top edge of the mirror, screwing them tightly to the door.
Image Credit: Parilov, Shutterstock
2. Over-the-Door Hanging Method
If any of the doors in your home are hollow, an over-the-door hanging mirror can be a simple and easy solution. However, it requires a door that doesn’t sit too tightly against the frame, as the door will be difficult to open and close once you install the mirror.
Choose a door that opens and closes easily with no rubbing or resistance.
Check your local home improvement center or online for slim over-the-door hooks approximately the size of your door. If the hook is too thick, it can make it difficult to open and close your door.
Open the door wide.
Attach the over-the-door-hooks to the back top of your mirror
Carefully lift the mirror and hooks, and place the open side of the hooks over the door. In some cases, you will need to open the mouths of the hooks slightly so they fit over your door.
Carefully let go of the mirror to make sure it’s stable.
Gently slide the hooks left and right to center the mirror.
3. Hollow Door Hanging Method
If you prefer the stability of screwing the mirror into the door, you can use a toggle bolt to provide the support that you need.
Have your friend or family member hold the mirror in position while you mark the top.
Use a tape measure to measure the door, and divide the distance by half to find the center. Mark the center position along the top line.
Measure the width of your mirror, and divide it by 2 to find the center. Mark the top center of the mirror with a pencil or a small piece of masking tape.
Have a friend match up the two center points so you can mark the bottom of the mirror
Carefully drill two holes into the door at the bottom of the mirror at equal distances from the center, making sure your drill doesn’t come out the other side of the door.
Insert the toggle bolts, and tighten them until they start to hold the mirror.
Add another toggle bolt to each side of the mirror so your friend or family member can let it go.
Add another two toggle screws to the top of the mirror.
Tighten all the screws to hold the mirror firmly against the door
Image Credit: Sergey Ryzhov, Shutterstock
What Kind of Mirror Should I Purchase for My Door?
The best mirrors for hanging are tall, thin, and lightweight. It should also have plenty of room along the sides to attach clips that will hold the mirror against the door.
Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock
What If I Don’t Have Enough Clips to Hold My Mirror to the Door?
You can usually find plastic mirror clips at your local home improvement center, like Lowe’s or Home Depot. They’re also easy to find online.
Where Can I Find Over-the-Door Mirror Hangers?
Like plastic mirror clips, you will usually find over-the-door mirror hangers at your local home improvement center or online. There are many different kinds of over-the-door hangers, though, so it can be harder to find something suitable for your mirror, and in some cases, you will need to modify it to make it work.
Image Credit: Alex Gorins, Shutterstock
Summary
Hanging a mirror on your door is not difficult, but you will want to work slowly and carefully to ensure that your measurements are correct so your mirror is in the right position when you finish installing it. It’s easiest to hang a mirror on the back of a solid door, but with over-the-door hangers or toggle screws, you can also hang them on a hollow door.
Ed Malaker is an experienced writer who has brought his knowledge to a wide range of blogs, including home improvement, guitars, computer programming, tools, fitness, and pets. If you don't catch him writing, you can usually find Ed working in the garden or taking on DIY projects around the house. Ed’s also a talented musician, spending time composing music for independent films or helping people fix their guitars.
Ed Malaker
