A mirror is a unique decorative piece that can be a design statement, but it is also practical, whether you use it as you shave in the bathroom or to give your hair and outfit one last check in your entryway before you leave your house.
Choosing the right mirror means you have to consider not just aesthetics but utility as well. Plus, you also need to make sure it works with the size and décor of the space. Here is a handy guide to help you select the ideal mirror for several rooms in your home.
Living Room
No living room should be without a mirror. Here is why:
- Strategic mirror placement can work wonders. Put a large wall mirror at one end of your room, and you have instantly created a dramatic focal point. Plus, you will create an illusion of spaciousness, so your living room feels more expansive.
- A mirror adds style to a fireplace mantle. This is a popular place to hang a mirror because it can function like an art piece, especially if you choose a mirror with an unusual shape or ornate frame. Make sure the mirror is not as wide as the mantlepiece length (typically about two-thirds the size) and that there is plenty of space between the top of the mirror and the ceiling.
- It is a can’t-miss design element. When you choose a mirror that meshes with your interior decorating style, it creates satisfying cohesion and makes the living room look polished. But aligning your mirror with your design is key; otherwise, it disrupts the room’s sense of visual harmony. It is also important to match the size of the mirror to the scale of the room because you do not want a large mirror to overpower a small space or a petite mirror to get lost in a vast living room.
- You can create areas of interest anywhere in the room. A mirror does not have to be large to make a statement. Place a small mirror over a table with a curated selection of decorative objects such as bowls, vases, or framed photos.
Bathroom
This is one of those rooms where a mirror is not a luxury but a necessity. But do not sacrifice form for function; today’s mirror trends offer a lot of design options to explore.
- Proportion is key. The size of your vanity will determine the size of your mirror. A good rule of thumb is that the mirror should be wider than the sink but not wider than the vanity countertop.
- Place the mirror so you can see yourself clearly. Height-wise, the mirror should provide good visibility for putting on makeup, brushing your teeth, and doing other daily routines. However, it should not be so high that the top of the mirror reaches all the way to the ceiling.
- Think outside the box (shape). Rectangular and square mirrors are classics, and you cannot go wrong if you choose either one for your bathroom. However, if you favor more cutting-edge home design, consider a different shape, such as oval, arched, or geometric.
- Your mirror style should match the room. If you have a wood vanity and traditional design in your home, a framed mirror will fit right in. More modern or minimalist bathrooms are better aligned with frameless mirrors that give the room a contemporary edge.
- Consider add-on options. Because you will use a bathroom mirror every day, you want to get the most out of it. LED lighting can provide extra illumination, while magnified sections can help if you need a close-up look while performing your personal care routine.
- Double vanities offer some flexibility. A long mirror stretching across both sinks makes a powerful design impact, but you can also choose to hang two separate mirrors, one for each sink, instead. Both mirrors should match in style and size and should ideally have at least four to six inches between them.
Bedroom
Like the living room, a bedroom mirror can transform a space, making it look bigger than it actually is while adding an elegant focal point to the room.
- Full length = full glamour. The bedroom is ideal for a full-length mirror because you can see how an outfit looks when you get dressed in the morning. A freestanding mirror can be placed in the corner of a room along with a slipper chair or makeup table to create a dressing area, or you can hang the mirror on a closet door if your bedroom is tight on space.
- Use a mirror to lighten and brighten. Take a cue from professional interior decorators and place a wall mirror across from your bedroom window. It will catch the natural sunlight, illuminating your space and doubling as a sort of second window because it reflects the real window.
- Play with shapes. Do you have a cloudlike duvet and fluffy throw pillows on your bed and a chaise or armchair for a comfy reading spot? Contrast that softness with a hard-edged mirror. Conversely, a modernist bedroom with sharp corners and edges could pair wonderfully with a round or oval mirror.
- Do not limit yourself to one mirror. The bedroom is one place where you can get away with multiple mirrors. You may have a full-length mirror on your closet door, a small wall mirror above a vanity, and then a larger one as a design element. In this case, you can mix and match shapes and sizes; all the mirrors do not have to match each other, but they should each be cohesive with the bedroom’s design style.
Entryway
As with the other rooms, many of the same rules apply to entryways. Size, style, and placement are all important, but here are a few other things to keep in mind.
- Position your mirror to accentuate length. Placing it at one end of the entryway can make shorter spaces feel longer. A mirror can be especially attractive if you place it at the opposite end of the hall from your front door; hang it above a console table with a flower arrangement and this lovely scene will be the first thing anyone sees when they enter your home.
- Hang the mirror at the right height. Measurements are critical for achieving the proper proportions and perspective. It is not just the wall height and length; you will also need to consider spacing if you are placing the mirror above a table or bench. Generally, hanging the middle of the mirror at eye height is a good guideline if there is no furniture underneath the mirror.
- Keep mirrors away from doors. The last thing you want is seven years of bad luck when your mirror breaks after a door bangs into it.
Use mirrors to make the most of any space in your home and explore all their design possibilities.
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