How to Choose the Perfect Wall Mirror

Aug 26

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There really isn’t anything better to enhance a space than a new mirror. Mirrors have light reflecting qualities, so they do wonders for enlarging narrow or dark spaces, not to mention brightening a room that doesn’t have a lot of natural light. I personally don’t feel like a room can ever have too many of them, especially since they come in all styles and sizes. I personally own large wall mirrors, round mirrors, floor mirrors and more—they are amazing focal points and they really do provide the best optical illusion in small rooms. Let’s take a look at some of my favorites!

brooke hanging round gold beaded mirror — *This* *gold round beaded mirror* *is the newest addition to my collection.*

Why Decorate with Mirrors?

You will find a wall mirror in almost every room of my house. I have a giant leaning mirror in my dining room that was absolutely an investment piece, but it sets the stage in a great way for the room and reflects the light of my windows super well. It is one of my most often asked about pieces!

close up of giant gold leaner wall mirror in dining room — *Although it was an* *investment piece, it also takes up half the wall, so I am saving on art (so I tell myself). It’s a focal point and really elevates the space!*

How to Choose a Mirror

Choosing the right mirror can feel a bit overwhelming sheerly for the volume of styles available, but there are a few things that I look for when selecting a mirror style. I personally like to start with the shape of the wall mirror and the type of frame. Most frames are made from metal, wood, woven material, or even leather.

While I am going to share some of my favorite mirror finds, I can’t pretend I don’t love a good statement piece from an antique store… if you know what you are looking for! Fun fact: Older mirrors tend to have wooden backing while newer mirrors have paper backing. This makes them heavier. Antique mirrors usually have bubbly or wavy glass, so these are better to use in spaces for sheer decorative effect, otherwise you may think you’ve gained 30 pounds! After deciding on the frame material for your mirror, you’ll want to think about shape…

Round Mirrors

Circle mirrors are great in between two windows, more rectangular pieces of art, or hung on a gallery wall. Round mirrors break up hard lines and edges in a room like corners, furniture, and artwork. My large beaded entryway mirror is one of my favorites because it is so beautiful it really doubles as an art piece as well.

*It has made quite the statement in my entryway. It is a great size to hang above a console and the natural wood tone is effortlessly flows with my other home decor. This is definitely* *the most “link requested” mirror* *in my home!*

Rectangle Mirrors

Rectangular mirrors are great to hang over pieces of furniture like console tables, or dressers. You can lean them or hang them. I like combination mirrors — mirrors that are oblong with a bit of a curved detail, like this favorite from Ballard Designs.

*This cane mirror seen above is a favorite that we have in Wells' room. It makes me happy every time I walk by it! I also love to have mirrors in narrow hallways to make the space feel a bit wider.*
A common mistake I see that people make is hanging their mirrors too high over a piece of furniture. You want your mirror to hit about eye level or four to eight inches above the piece of furniture. You don’t want to create an awkward gap between your table and your mirror.

Large Floor Mirrors or Leaner Mirrors

Again, an extra large and tall floor mirror can be an investment piece, but it's something you will likely have for a very long time. Just like your furniture, it's something you'll decorate around seasonally, so choose something that is timeless and works well with all of your other long-term pieces.

brooke's reflection in oversized dining room mirror with bubble chandelier and faux olive tree in background — *I've switched up the artwork and decor in my dining room over the years, but my love for this mirror remains! Pairing it with* *my large faux olive tree* *transformed this into one of my favorite corners.*

Where to Place Your Mirror

The most common place to put a mirror is over the mantle of a fireplace. It’s not really for practical use unless you’re seven feet tall, but it is a great focal point for a living room and the perfect place to reflect extra light. This is a great place to use a uniquely shaped mirror or an antique mirror with beveled glass. I like to use round mirrors here as well, to break up the lines from my fireplace and built-ins.

An entryway and hallway is another great place for a mirror, in this case for their practicality. Most people like to check themselves out before leaving the house (if you don’t, you’re lying). They’re great over a little console table or a bench. I also think that hallways are great places to put a leaning mirror.