Light changes what a mirror does. Elysium Home's LED and backlit mirror collection presents Deknudt's illuminated pieces: warm, indirect light held behind copper-free Belgian glass, designed to flatter a reflection and lift a room at the same time. Crafted in Deerlijk since 1946, for bathrooms, dressing rooms, and entryways where light matters as much as form.
Why an LED Mirror?
A backlit mirror does two things at once, and this is the source of its appeal. It provides the even, shadow-free illumination that makes a mirror genuinely useful for grooming, dressing, and applying make-up. And it functions as a light source in its own right, casting a soft ambient glow that changes the character of a room after dark. Conventional overhead lighting throws shadows downward across the face, which is precisely the wrong direction for anyone looking into a mirror. Light emitted from behind and around the glass eliminates that problem entirely. The result is a reflection that is easier to work with and considerably more flattering. Deknudt's approach to illuminated mirrors is characteristically restrained: the light source is never visible, the glow is warm rather than clinical, and the piece reads as a designer object first and a light fitting second. Even switched off, a Deknudt LED mirror is a mirror worth having on the wall.
Room by Room
Bathrooms & Ensuites
The bathroom is where an LED mirror earns its place most obviously. Above a vanity, a backlit mirror provides the even illumination that downlights cannot, removing the shadows that fall across the face under conventional ceiling lighting. In an ensuite used early in the morning or late at night, the ambient glow of a backlit mirror is often light enough on its own, which means the harsh overhead circuit can stay off. Deknudt's copper-free glass matters particularly here: standard mirror glass uses a copper layer beneath the silver backing, and in a steamy bathroom that copper reacts with moisture over time, producing the dark edge spotting that ruins older bathroom mirrors permanently. Every piece in this collection is copper-free as standard, which means the reflective surface stays uniform for decades rather than years. For non-illuminated bathroom options, see our bathroom mirrors collection.
Dressing Rooms & Bedrooms
In a dressing room or walk-in robe, lighting quality determines whether the space is usable. Fabric colour, tone matching, and the fit of a garment are all judged in the mirror, and all are misread under poor light. A backlit mirror gives an even, warm field of illumination across the whole reflection, which is why the same principle is used in theatre dressing rooms and professional fitting rooms. In a bedroom, an LED mirror positioned above a dresser or on a feature wall doubles as a low, warm light source in the evening, replacing a bedside lamp with something considerably more interesting. The larger formats in this collection, particularly the 200cm Luna Light pieces, are substantial enough to anchor a bedroom wall entirely. Compare with our XL statement mirrors for oversized non-illuminated alternatives.
Entryways & Hallways
An entryway is often the darkest part of a home: internal, frequently windowless, and lit by a single ceiling fitting if at all. A backlit mirror solves the light problem and the design problem in one object. Hung above a console, it provides a warm pool of light at exactly the height where it is useful, and gives the entry a considered, hotel-lobby quality that a plain mirror cannot. The Brio pieces suit this position particularly well: the bronze-tinted glass reads as warm rather than stark, and the floating mount means the mirror sits proud of the wall with the glow spilling around its edges. For circular non-illuminated options in the same position, see our round mirrors.
How These Mirrors Are Powered
Every mirror in this collection arrives with its cord fitted and ready to plug in. Because Deknudt manufactures in Belgium, that cord carries a European plug rather than an Australian one, so you have two options. The simplest is an Australian adapter, which is inexpensive, widely available, and has the mirror working within minutes of being hung. The tidier option is to have a licensed electrician hardwire the mirror to a permanent power source, which removes the visible cord altogether. Hardwiring is the better finish anywhere the cord would spoil the effect, and it is the approach we would recommend in a bathroom, where Australian wiring rules set specific requirements for electrical fittings near a basin, bath or shower and a licensed electrician should confirm compliant placement for your layout. If you are renovating, the neatest result comes from deciding on the mirror before the walls are closed up, so the outlet sits exactly where the mirror will hang. For electrical detail on a specific model, call us on 02 9879 6670.
Sizing an LED Mirror
Sizing an illuminated mirror follows the same proportional logic as any other mirror, with one additional consideration: the light needs room to work. Above a bathroom vanity, aim for a mirror between eighty and ninety per cent of the vanity width, with the bottom edge sitting fifteen to twenty centimetres above the benchtop or above the tapware, whichever is higher. Because a backlit mirror throws light outward around its perimeter, it benefits from clear wall space around it rather than being wedged between cabinetry: allow at least ten to fifteen centimetres of bare wall on each side so the glow has somewhere to fall. In a dressing room or bedroom, scale up rather than down. A mirror that is too small for its wall reads as tentative, and the ambient light it produces will be lost in the room rather than shaping it. The pieces in this collection run from eighty-two centimetres through to two metres, which covers a compact powder room at one end and a full feature wall at the other. If you would like help matching a size to a specific room, our team can advise, or you can see the pieces in person at our Lane Cove showroom by appointment. Contact us here.
Backlit or Front-Lit: What Is the Difference?
The distinction matters, and the two produce quite different results. A front-lit mirror carries a visible light source on the face of the glass, usually a strip or a ring of illumination that shines directly outward at whoever is standing in front of it. It is bright and functional, and it is the arrangement used in most commercial make-up mirrors, but the light is direct and the fitting itself is part of what you see. A backlit mirror, which is what this collection contains, conceals the LED entirely behind the glass. The light escapes around the perimeter and reflects off the wall behind, so what reaches your face is soft, indirect and even, and the mirror itself appears to float on a halo. The trade-off is that a backlit mirror produces less raw brightness than a front-lit one. In practice this is rarely a limitation in a domestic setting, and the quality of the light is considerably better. Deknudt has taken the backlit approach across the range because it keeps the mirror reading as an object rather than a fixture.
Why Choose Elysium Home
Elysium Home is the exclusive Australian importer and distributor of Deknudt Mirrors, the Belgian family atelier that has been making designer mirrors in Deerlijk since 1946. Every illuminated piece in this collection is produced with copper-free glass, carries a seven-year warranty, and ships flat eighty-nine dollars anywhere in Australia, fully insured in transit. For Sydney customers we also offer installation at a flat ninety-nine dollars: we supply the fixings, hang and level the mirror, and take the packaging away. Our Lane Cove showroom is open by private appointment for anyone who would rather see a piece lit, in person, before committing. Explore the full Deknudt collection or the complete designer mirror range.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are these LED mirrors powered?
Each mirror arrives with its cord fitted and ready to plug in. Because Deknudt manufactures in Belgium, the plug is European rather than Australian, so you will need either an Australian adapter, which is inexpensive and has the mirror running within minutes, or a licensed electrician can hardwire the mirror to a permanent power source for a cord-free finish. Hardwiring is the tidier result on a feature wall, and it is what we would recommend in a bathroom, where Australian wiring rules govern how electrical fittings may be placed near a basin, bath or shower. If you are mid-renovation, choose the mirror before the walls are closed so the outlet can sit exactly where it is needed.
Can an LED mirror be used in a bathroom?
Yes, and the bathroom is arguably where a backlit mirror is most worth having. The even, shadow-free light is far better for grooming than overhead downlights, which throw shadows straight down across the face. The important technical point is the glass: every Deknudt mirror uses copper-free glass, which resists the moisture-driven edge tarnishing that destroys ordinary bathroom mirrors over a few years. On the electrical side, we recommend having the mirror hardwired by a licensed electrician for bathroom installations rather than running a cord, and your electrician can confirm compliant placement for your particular layout under Australian wiring rules.
What size LED mirror should I choose for above a vanity?
As a starting point, choose a mirror around eighty to ninety per cent of your vanity width, with the bottom edge fifteen to twenty centimetres above the benchtop or the tapware, whichever sits higher. Above a nine hundred millimetre single vanity, that puts you at roughly seventy to eighty centimetres wide. One consideration specific to backlit mirrors: they need clear wall around them for the light to fall on, so allow at least ten to fifteen centimetres of bare wall each side rather than fitting the mirror tightly between cabinets. For a double vanity, either one wide mirror spanning both basins or two individual mirrors centred above each will work; two separate pieces tend to look more architectural.
What is the difference between a backlit mirror and a front-lit mirror?
A front-lit mirror has a visible light source on the face of the glass that shines directly at you, which is bright and functional but means the fitting is part of what you see. A backlit mirror hides the LED behind the glass entirely, so the light escapes around the perimeter, bounces off the wall behind, and reaches your face soft and indirect. The mirror appears to float on a halo of light. Backlit produces less raw brightness than front-lit, but the quality of the light is better and the piece reads as a designer object rather than a bathroom fixture. Every mirror in this collection is backlit.
