Decorating with Mirrors

Mirrors can bring so many different elements into a room! They create depth and space and are perfect for smaller rooms, hallways, & bathrooms to make them look bigger. Mirrors also provide design, glamour, & help to maximize light. There are many things to take into consideration when picking out the right mirror.

Bigger tends to be better - Don't be shy on the size when picking out a mirror! Mirror's create a focal point on a wall and going bigger can look much more dramatic and help to visually expand the space. They create depth and can make a room look much larger than it is BUT you do need to take into consideration the size of the wall and the piece you are hanging the mirror over. A mirror should never be wider than the piece below it and the mirror needs to be proportionate to the wall.

Smaller mirrors can work very well too in certain spaces. For example in a bathroom if there is a double sink and you want to add two mirrors, you would want to choose something a little smaller so you can have room for both but again would have to take into consideration the size of the vanity, the wall and the sinks.

Positioning is IMPORTANT - Mirrors can create an illusion of "space" and can make a room feel larger because the light reflects off the glass back into the space. Hanging mirrors opposite of windows can also help with bouncing the natural light throughout the room. Another item that can create more light is a lighting fixture. For example, if you have a chandelier, its always beautiful to see that reflecting into the mirror and providing light throughout the room. Positioning a mirror across from something you would like to see reflected back is always something to also take into consideration.

Height of the mirror matters - Don't hang your mirror too high! You can use mirrors to help with drawing the eye upward which can then make ceilings look much higher but you don't want people to be looking up too far or straining their neck to look into your mirror. Hanging a mirror at eye level is normally the best spot. Obviously it depends on the space and where you are hanging it but for a wall in your living room, dining room, entry way, bathrooms, etc., eye level tends to be the perfect positioning.

Why a round mirror?? - All rooms have straight lines from the walls, 90 degree angles, windows, etc. and if you have very harsh corners for furniture for instance a square couch, square tables, a tv, etc. - it's always nice to soften the room up with soft corners. An example of that is a circular mirror. The circle and curved corners can really soften up a room but also make such a statement. They help with balancing out a room or an entry way and provide a beautiful focal point. There are many different circular mirrors out there that can work well with many different styles whether they are modern, contemporary, traditional, farmhouse, etc.

Therefore I wanted to provide an example for you. When we moved in I added a rectangular mirror to our living room over the couch. I hung plates next to the mirror and I liked how this looked (pictured in the first picture). I then decided I wanted to switch this up a bit and found these arches at Home Goods. The color and style of them worked perfect with the furniture and colors I have going on in the living room and throughout our home. Once I hung up the arches I decided I didn't like the mirror anymore (pictured in the center). I made a trip to Home Goods and originally was thinking a black oval mirror but then I found a large black circular one and thought ... YUP this is exactly what I need for this space. At first I had a smaller mirror in my hand but then when looking at the picture I took of the living room, I didn't want the mirror to look too small next to the arches and disproportionate to the rest of the wall and couch. Therefore I decided to go bigger than I thought and I am so happy I did! This black round mirror made a huge change, provides so much more depth to the room and gives much more of that farmhouse feel which is what I am going for throughout our home. So see, I went a size bigger than I anticipated, made sure it would be proportionate to the space (not bigger than the piece below it, next to it, or the wall), and went with a shape to soften the room.

I hope these tips help you when picking out your next mirror for your home!