Home dance studios can come in many flavors and price points. You can go all out by remodeling your entire garage into a professional dance studio or go for a minimalistic approach by putting mirrors and exercise mats in a corner of your bedroom as a personal practice space. But no matter the scope of your project, it needs to be a welcoming and usable space.

The mirrors you choose can make or break the space, so do as much research as you can before deciding what approach to take. Here are four considerations to help you guide your plans in the right direction.

1. Stationary or Rolling

When you're practicing complex dance moves, mirrors both behind you and in front can be extremely helpful. The mirrors allow you to see your posture from behind so you can correct your form if a problem isn't evident from the front. So you can either mount mirrors on two opposite walls of your studio or go with one mirrored wall and a large rolling mirror.

A rolling mirror can offer several advantages. First, it can cost much less than mounting an entire second wall of mirrors. Second, you can adjust it at an angle to help you see what your posture looks like from the right side or the left side. And finally, you can easily roll it into another room in your house to practice there if you have any reason to do so.

2. Glass or Non-Glass

If you choose to use glass mirrors, you'll need to make sure they have a safety component. A safety backing can ensure that the mirror won't fall in shards on your clumsiest student even if he or she does shatter it accidentally. Another alternative is to use glassless mirrors, such as dance mirrors made of Mylar so that your students can't shatter the surface even if they try.

Non-glass mirrors can be very useful if you're teaching children. If your dance studio is simply for your own use, you don't have to worry about students hurting themselves, so you can use whatever material you personally prefer.

3. Bevels

Bevels on the side of a mirror are undesirable when you're setting up a dance studio. That's because, unless you're using one huge mirror for your entire wall, you're going to have some seams where two sections of mirror come together. If each edge has a bevel, then placing two edges together creates twice the width of the beveled area, which creates quite a distortion.

Mirrors that lack beveled edges can create a smoother, clearer image that's more consistent along the length of the wall.

4. Thickness

The larger a mirror is, the heavier it is. Glass mirrors can be extremely heavy, especially the fulllength or floor-to-ceiling mirrors needed for dance practice and classes. The heavier the mirror is, the more strain is automatically placed on the glass panel whenever you try to move it, no matter how careful you are.

When choosing your mirrors, don't go for a super-thin variety even if they are more affordable. Accidentally shattering one during installation could completely erase any savings you eked out by choosing the cheapest option.

These four considerations will help you think through your personal requirements for the mirrors you want to include in your home dance studio. Whether you're starting small with a personal practice area or building a space to conduct an existing dance teaching business, your mirrors are one of the most critical components, so don't take this decision lightly.

If you'd like professional advice about mirrors, get in touch with Monterey Glass Specialists Inc. for more information about custom mirrors and other highquality glass products for all your dance studio needs.