How to Replace a Mirror on a Wardrobe

Mirrors are widely popular additions to wardrobe units. Not only do they allow you to maximise your use of the space, but they achieve this while also creating the visual effect of making the room appear larger.

But, of course, mirrors aren’t immune to damage. If they incur extreme force or stress, they can crack or shatter. Thankfully, replacing a mirror on a wardrobe can be undertaken by a glass specialist quickly and easily.

In some cases, this task is straightforward enough for you to undertake yourself. But, this will largely depend on whether or not the glass is broken. If the glass is broken, then the safest choice is to leave it to the experts.

What’s more, there are a wide variety of different wardrobe mirrors available on the market. So, how you approach this task will largely depend on the type of mirror that you’re using.

That’s why, below, the team at Stevenage Glass have shared our complete guide on how to replace a mirror on a wardrobe, covering all of the different potential ways that you could attach a mirror to a wardrobe.

In the first section we look at how to remove a mirror from a wardrobe door, on the outside and inside. Then the following section looks at how to attach a new mirror to your wardrobe door.

How to Remove a Mirror from a Wardrobe Door

If you have a wardrobe door mirror that is fixed in place with a strong adhesive, this is the safest way to remove it from the door. This is because it allows you to work slowly and gently, without applying force to the mirror.

If you want to keep your wardrobe and your mirror after it has been removed, then this is the best option for removal.

Equipment needed:

• Thick gloves
• Eye protection
• Flathead screwdriver (or a putty knife)
• Masking tape
• Heat gun (a hairdryer will also work)

Method

1. Put on your gloves and eye protection

We also highly recommend that you wear a long sleeved top and full-length trousers.

2. Tape the mirror

Apply the masking tape across the surface of the mirror, including all edges and corners. This will ensure that, even if the mirror does break, no shards of glass fall out and pose a safety risk.

3. Apply the heat

Turn on the heat gun, and aim it along the mirror’s edges. Slowly follow the edges in a circular motion, working your way inwards (towards the mirror’s centre) as you go.

4. Insert the flathead screwdriver

You can also insert a flathead screwdriver (or putty knife) inbetween the mirror and the wardrobe as it begins to come apart. This will help to speed up the process.

5. Continue applying the heat

Depending on the strength of the glue that is used (and whether or not you are using a professional heat gun) this process can take some time. So, stay patient, and repeat the process until the mirror comes away.

6. Clean the area

Now that the mirror has been removed, use a damp cloth to wipe away any residue on the door. As for the mirror itself, you could either repurpose the mirror with a frame, give it to a charity shop, or recycle it at your local recycling centre.

How to Remove a Mirror from the Inside of a Wardrobe Door

If you have a mirror that is embedded within the wardrobe itself (for example, if you have sliding mirror wardrobe doors) then the process of removal is a little more complicated.

Equipment needed:  

• Thick gloves
• Eye protection
• Masking tape
• Screwdriver
• Paint scraper

Method

1. Put on your gloves and eye protection

We also highly recommend that you wear a long sleeved top and full-length trousers.

2. Tape the mirror

Apply the masking tape across the surface of the mirror, including all edges and corners. This will ensure that, even if the mirror does break, no shards of glass fall out and pose a safety risk.

3. Remove the mirrored sliding door away from the two tracks

Although some doors allow you to do this easily, by lifting the door upwards, others will require you to do this while holding down a lever (typically positioned by the upper door track).

4. Remove the door tracks

Using a screwdriver, remove the screws holding the door tracks to the wardrobe, and lift away.

5. Clean the area

Using a scraper, remove any loose paint or debris that is stuck to the door frame.

How to Attach a Mirror to a Wardrobe Door

How to approach this will depend on the type of mirror you have chosen:

For ‘Over the Door’ Hanging Mirrors

‘Over-the-door’ hanging mirrors are the easiest type of mirror to install. Usually, it is simply a case of hanging the mirror over the top of the door. This means that no equipment is required!

However, this type does require you to have a wardrobe with sufficient space above the door for the hooks to sit. So, before you purchase an ‘over the door’ hanging mirror, we recommend measuring this space first.

Alternatively, you could use a sharp scraper to add notches to the top of the wardrobe door, in the areas where the mirror would sit.

For Framed Mirrors

You can buy affordable, stylish framed mirrors directly from most home stores. This is a great way to add a mirror to a wardrobe, cheaply. You can get a custom mirror cut to size from Stevenage Glass, ideal for older or larger wardrobes.

Equipment needed:

• Masking tape
• Double-sided adhesive strips
• Level
• Pencil

Method

1. Tape the mirror

Apply the masking tape across the surface of the mirror, including all edges and corners. This will ensure that, even if the mirror does break, no shards of glass fall out and pose a safety risk.

2. Mark out where you want to position the mirror

Using a pencil, lightly mark out two dots, where you want the top corners of your mirror to sit. Use your level to check that this will keep the mirror level, once installed. If not, erase your marks, and reapply.

3. Apply the adhesive strips

Apply the adhesive strips to the back of the mirror and the wardrobe door. The strips should start at the top corners of each side of the back of the mirror. Then, apply two more strips to the wardrobe door, in the areas that you have already marked.

4. Fix the mirror to the door

Once the strips are in place, remove the coverings from all of the strips, and press the mirror onto the door (ensuring the strips are all aligned). Hold in place for at least 30 seconds, before releasing.

For Custom, Frameless Mirrors

Although they are a slightly pricier option, frameless mirrors are a fantastic way to upgrade your existing wardrobe, creating a sleek and luxurious aesthetic.

For these mirrors, you can follow the same process outlined above.

Alternatively, you can use an adhesive glue to permanently fix the mirror to the door. This creates a much more flawless finish, especially if you have a hollow-core interior door. However, note that it is permanent, and will make it much more difficult to remove the mirror from the door in the future

If you are looking to upgrade or replace your wardrobe mirror, or have any further questions about safe wardrobe mirror installation, the Stevenage Glass team are on hand to help.