Mirror mirror on the wall, how the heck do I hang you? At what height do you need to be? Where in the house should you be? And how do I use you to better accentuate my own space?
These are all questions often asked by our clients when we work with them on our room service options. And they are all very valid questions. Mirror placement in a house can be instrumental to the overall feel of a room. They can emphasize the room’s architectural features to make a room look and feel bigger and brighter when hung correctly and can be used as focal points in nearly any room. It’s because of these reasons, they truly are favorite pieces for designers and often referred to when collaborating on a project.
Here we have lined out some simple rules to follow when using mirrors in your own home.
- If you are trying to combat low ceilings, place a mirror on top of a tall piece of furniture such as an entertainment center or bookshelf to create the illusion of higher ceilings. This trick draws the eyes upwards.
- Hang the mirror so the bottom is no more than 4-6 inches above the tallest point on the piece of furniture it will be mounted over. For instance, mount the bedroom mirror above the dresser so the bottom of the framed mirror sits exactly 6 inches above the top of the dresser. The visual break between the mirror and the furniture will elongate the room.
- For hanging mirrors above smaller furniture or just on a wall by itself, opt for the mirror to be hung so the center of mirror is at eye level, usually between 59-65 inches.
- Choose wisely. Not all mirrors are the same. Particularly for your space, evaluate the need of the mirror size and shape before you purchase anything. For example, round mirrors work well in long, blocky rooms with square furniture while horizontal shaped mirrors work well in narrow spaces. Similar to size and shape, consider the mirror’s finishes. Would you prefer a framed mirror or a frameless mirror? One that should be propped up like a picture frame verses hung, one with decorative edging, or one that is embedded into other furniture?
- Try to hang the mirror so it reflects another decorative piece – an artwork on the opposing wall, or a window accentuating the skyline. Failing to do so can lead to you seeing two rooms that were not cleaned up from the day before or two unmade bed spreads…
- When working with a small space, strategically place a mirror across from the room’s window or the room’s light source. The mirror will reflect the light making the room feel bigger and brighter.
Tried and True Mirror Inspiration
- Find a mirror you love and use it as your focal point. Work the other room pieces around the treasured mirror.
- Mirror Paneling – combine mirrors together to make a finished art piece or use an array of different framed and shaped mirrors to make an enchanted mirror wall rather than a photo wall. This idea works particularly well in stairways and foyers where chandeliers likely hang and can reflect the light.
- Hang or rest a mirror directly behind the bedside lamp. Doing so will reflect the light of the lamp making the space behind the bed seem larger.
- Pair a mirror with comfortable outdoor furniture and an outdoor rug on your back porch to make the seating area feel more like a cozy living room. It’s like adding an extension to the square footage of your home when you have a designed and functioning seating area just outside your back deck.
- Go against the norm and refinish your kitchen cabinets with mirrored fronts. The design will enlarge a small kitchen space while also bringing in cottage charm. To break the trend even more, use mirrored tiles as your kitchen or bathroom backsplash.
- Use large mirrors to create your own secret room. Mirrored doors work wonders to conceal another room like a walk in closet or a cabinet you wish to keep hidden.
Have more ideas for how/where to use mirrors? Comment and share below. We love reading feedback and design styles from our friends.
