How to Install Mirrors on Bifold Closet Doors

Lead Image for How to Install Mirrors on Bifold Closet Doors
  • 2-4 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 40-150

Whether you have bifold closet doors, sliding doors, or another configuration, consider installing mirrors to enhance the functionality and aesthetic appearance of the space. Mirrors are useful for a number of reasons. In addition to providing a reflective surface on which to check your own appearance before you leave the house, mirrors can also help to lighten up a room by reflecting incoming light back to other parts of the space. Furthermore, well-placed mirrors provide the illusion that a room is more expansive than it actually is. Read on for a step-by-step guide to installing mirrors on your existing bifold closet doors.

Before beginning an installation process of this type, be aware that you may also wish to purchase new doors with built-in mirrors for your closet. While this is a more expensive procedure, you avoid the risk of an uneven or botched installation, and mirrors that are built into a door are much less likely to become detached and break.

Gather Your Materials

Many hardware stores sell complete mirror installation kits. Before purchasing one of these or any other supplies, measure your closet doors and decide how many mirrors you would like to install as well as how large those mirrors should be. Closet doors are ideal locations for full-length mirrors, but you may wish to set a mirror that is shorter instead.

Generally, a mirror installation kit will include the following items:

Mirrors, typically already set in frames

Screws

Latched hooks for hanging the mirror

An adhesive of some kind to attach the mirror to the door

In addition, make sure that you have a tape measure and a leveling device of some kind in order to make sure that you hang the mirrors in the appropriate place. You will also need a pencil.

Decide on the Location

Comparing the size of the mirror to the door itself, decide where you would like to have the mirror situated. You may find it helpful to cut out a piece of cardboard that is the same size as the mirror; you can manipulate the cardboard and hold it against the door in order to get a feel for the final appearance of the mirror, and there's no risk of dropping and breaking the mirror itself.

Use a tape measure or yardstick in order to center the mirror on the door and mark off the corners with a pencil.

Affix the Adhesive or the Hooks

Depending upon the type of mirror you have purchased, the adhesive itself may be different. Some mirrors screw into the door directly. In these cases, you will need a second person to hold the mirror carefully in place while you drill into the closet door. More often than not, however, mirrors are designed to avoid damaging the door itself. Some mirrors hang with adhesive tape or foam, while others use screw-in hooks to support themselves. Follow the instructions for mounting the mirror as indicated by the manufacturer.

After you have securely attached the adhesive or hooks, carefully attach the mirror to the door. Ensure that the mirror is entirely level, and be careful of mirrors that do not attach completely, as they may fall off of the door immediately. If you have any other questions, consult with a specialist at a hardware or home furnishings store.