My daughter, moving into her college dorm, wanted to put a light, inexpensive full-length mirror on the back of her door--but had no idea how to do this. A mirror with a light plastic frame will usually come with an attachment on the back to hang onto a nail or hook. If you're hanging the mirror on a small nail, tapped into a wooden door, remember to tap the nail in on an angle (not straight into the door) so that the mirror won't slip off the nail head. To secure the bottom of the mirror, you can use removable stick-on strips like those made by 3-M, that can be detached without marking the wall when you move. (Make sure to follow the instructions in the package.)
I once bought a very heavy mirror for my front hall. Nervous about installing it myself, I hired a professional. He arrived alone (I wondered how he would manage!) with a drill, screwdriver and a box of assorted drywall anchors. The trick, he said, was to use the correct anchor for the mirror and for the surface into which it will be installed. You can use a stud sensor (a gadget that beeps and blinks a light when you drag it across the surface of a wall,) to tell you where the studs inside your wall begin and end. Read the instructions that were packaged with your stud sensor.
If you are unable to position the mirror on the wall so that it is fastened into a stud, make sure you take the time to go to your local home improvement store and consult an expert salesperson who can help you purchase the correct anchor for the weight of the mirror and the type of wall surface (plaster or drywall). Also, ask what type of tools you will need for your installation (typically, you may possibly need to have a stud sensor, drill if you are not using self-drilling screws or hooks, screwdriver and/or hammer, and the proper fastener for your mirror and wall.) With the correct equipment you can install any mirror yourself, or with a friend--just follow an expert's instructions carefully.
