TV mirrors add novelty and utility to public spaces

A TV mirror demands an audience not only because guests haven’t seen a product like it, but also because the placement options put the screen where it will be seen and noticed, especially in public restrooms, restaurants, bars and hotel lobbies. In addition, the advantages of using a mirror TV product in these public areas and the fact that it is in the direct line of vision of the customer gives the hotel many possibilities with advertising, promoting special events or streaming coverage of a popular game. Placing a TV mirror in a unique space such as the wall area of a seating booth, gives the customer the advantage of watching the programming in close proximity while the mirror keeps customers from accessing the TV.

Choosing a TV mirror lets operators create a versatile public space, making the TV totally vanish in the off position, yet maintaining, when desired, a connection with the world. “The CityCenter public restroom is a great example of a mirror TV dramatically changing a space without compromising the nature of the design,” said Jim Mischel, president and chief designer at Electric Mirror. “In that example, the designer opened up the view of the city by suspending mirrors integrated with TVs over the users.” 

Applications for TV mirrors in public spaces are many: bars, restaurants, hotel lobbies, airport lounges, public restrooms and conventions spaces. “We have seen more restaurants and bars incorporate them into their designs,” added Mischel. “A bar may want to create a casual feel and show sports highlights in the afternoon and transition into a chic lounge in the evening using reflection to create the desired effect. That transition is possible and easy with a mirror TV.”

Gretchen Gilbertson, founder of Seura, added that technology should complement a space rather than distract from its design. “For example, Denver’s Pi Restaurant located in the Hilton Garden Inn utilizes a vanishing television mirror in the dining area,” Gilbertson said. “The restaurant is multipurpose. For breakfast patrons, the television mirror serves up the day’s news and weather. In the evening, the television disappears and the subtle mirror reflects Pi’s elegant atmosphere.”

Bars and restaurants also use TV mirrors behind the bar and above the bar and in their guest booth seating. “The beauty of the mirror TV versus a regular TV in a public restroom for instance, is that a mirror TV allows placement of the LCD where the guest can actually see it because it’s in the mirror they are looking into, as opposed to mounting a TV above their heads or in other areas where the targeted or intended audience might not see it or notice it,” said Deborah Hansen, president of Decorus.

A TV mirror also is a great way to conceal all the wires, brackets and cables that you often see associated with a regular LCD mounted in a space, Hansen added.

Consider use and maintenance when specifying a TV mirror

All TV mirrors are not created equal; different products are suitable for different applications. For example, a unit in a guestroom bathroom should be optimized for mirror performance first. The opposite is true for a unit in a public space, which is generally optimized for TV performance first and mirror quality or reflection second.

“The most obvious difference between a bathroom application and all other applications for a mirror TV is the size of the television,” said Jim Mischel, president and chief designer at Electric Mirror.

“TV mirrors for the vanity often face a space challenge that does not often apply in larger spaces. The average size of the TV in a bathroom is 15 inches and in most other public spaces it is between 40 to 55 inches.  We build our products specifically for the environment they are going to be used in, because safety is so important, and it should not be something a designer has to spend a lot of time thinking about.”

There are several options for installing a TV mirror. “On some larger screens partial recessing may be necessary,” said Deborah Hansen, president of Decorus. “Our company also provides custom frames designed to the specifications of each model and brand of TV and help enhance décor and conceal brackets.”

To install a surface-mount unit you need an electrical outlet (or clock outlet) and the desired programming hookup such as cable or satellite dish. “Our TV mirrors come with all the standard LED HDTV inputs and outputs so hooking the unit up would be done exactly the same as you would a regular LCD or LED TV,” Hansen said.

If access to the TV is needed, most manufacturers make it easy to remove the mirror, depending on the degree of customization. And cleaning the mirror doesn’t require extra maintenance. “Seura uses proprietary glass coatings applied to the back side of the glass,” said Gretchen Gilbertson, founder of Seura. “This process makes cleaning our TV mirrors as safe and easy as cleaning a window or traditional mirror.”

See also: Some checks and balances when considering a TV mirror