Nearly all commercial gyms have walls covered in mirrors. Even some powerlifting gyms use large mirrors in front of dumbbell racks. Mirrors can bring a lot of benefits to your home gym, but there can also be a few reasons why you wouldn’t want to cover your walls with a mirror. Below, we try to lay out the benefits and drawbacks of adding a mirror to your space, and if it’s something you are interested in, how you can go about purchasing one for your gym.
Benefits
- Space appears larger: One of the basic benefits of adding a mirror to space is that mirrors can make spaces appear larger and brighter. If you are a garage gym lifter, this may not be a big issue for you, but if you are a home gym or basement gym lifter, you may be squeezed into a smaller room, and a mirror may open up your space, making it more comfortable.
- Form Check: This would be more important for bodybuilding/aesthetic movements, but it has its place with some other lifts. Being able to check angles and small cues and make adjustments during a set can be extremely beneficial. If you train alone, having a mirror can help you spot yourself when executing proper form.
- Whiteboard: A large mirror can dual as a whiteboard. There are major benefits to writing out your workouts before starting; you can track sets, so you don’t accidentally skip sets, you are less likely to shorten your workout, and you get a small sense of accomplishment as you cross off your workout. Using your mirror as a whiteboard helps you take advantage of your wall space. Black Expo markers work best. They will not show up as clear as they would on a whiteboard, but it does the job.
- Better Workouts: Whether it’s admiring your progress or you’re tired of staring at a wall, lifting in front of a mirror can actually lead to better workouts. By focusing on muscle tension or pushing until physical exertion instead of mental or perceived exhaustion, a mirror may help you push out a few extra reps.
Drawbacks
- Fragile: The first drawback is putting a large breakable object in a space that you use to push around heavy objects. This can be dangerous, especially if you perform explosive movements with weight (olympic weightlifting, crossfit/functional dumbbell movements, kettlebell work, etc.). This can be even more dangerous if you have kids or animals in this space as well.
- Getting used to having it: If you perform competition style lifts in front of a mirror (cleans, snatches, squats, deadlifts) for a long period of time, but then you lift without a mirror, your body can feel out of place. This goes for a lot of movements. If you train without a mirror for the majority of the time, it is easier to train with a mirror or vise versa.
- Takes up wall space: Your home gym wall can be an extremely valuable storage area for you. Whether you hang bands, or you have wall mounted storage for plates, bars, or even your rack; a large mirror will steal a lot of your wall space. If you are already limited by your space and cover your walls with storage, a mirror may not be an option. One way to get more use out of your mirror is to use it as your whiteboard (as mentioned above).
What would it cost?
If you were to search ‘gym mirrors,’ you would find that mirrors can get pretty expensive. Ideally, you would want tempered glass, and searching ‘tempered gym mirrors’ on Amazon, the top choice would set you back almost $500 for a 3’ x 6’ mirror. It is the same if you search ‘gym flooring,’ but most home gym owners know that horse stall mats are a fraction of the price and get the job done just fine.
First, check the second-hand markets. Many new build homes put unframed mirrors in their bathrooms which turn into a quick update for homeowners who sell these unframed mirrors for cheap. If you wanted to buy unframed new mirrors, you could find them at Lowe’s (they even mention home gyms in the description) or other home improvement stores for around $60 (3’x5’), and then you would have to buy the hanging hardware. The hardware is cheap (under $10), and the hanging process is simple. Below you can see threesimple hanging options that you can look for.
Unframed wall mirrors are the recommended option. There are other options for gym mirrors, including regular wall mirrors and shatterproof mirrors. Wall mirrors can be a passable option, but it may be difficult to find a large enough one to work for a gym setting. The look can also feel out of place. Full-length mirrors are often too skinny and more difficult to hang. Shatterproof mirrors are mirrors that you can throw something into them, and they don’t break. Sounds perfect for a home gym. Buyer beware: most seem to be made of plastic, and some of these items have negative comments about the quality of the mirror (blurry reflection, etc.).
Conclusion:
When considering a mirror, it comes down to personal preference, having the wall space, and finding the right mirror to fit your space. Some gym owners scoff at the idea of having a mirror in their gym. Others may miss this aspect of commercial gyms and are looking to add a mirror to their space. If you want a mirror in your gym, check out the recommendations above, and be sure to share a picture of your space with us.