Top Tips For Strategically Placing Mirrors In Your Home

Mirrors are an excellent way to create the illusion of more light and space in your home, as well as adding a decorative element with their frames and ability to reflect other artwork in the room. Here’s a guide to hanging mirrors in your home and useful points to consider. 

Before hanging a larger mirror, it is advisable to source the correct heavy duty mirror fixings to avoid the risk of accidents and injuries. 

The bathroom mirror

The bathroom mirror is probably the most essential of all mirrors, as it is necessary for carrying out tasks such as shaving and applying makeup. The mirror can also add a decorative element with a stylish frame or unusual shape if you wish. Bathrooms are often small spaces, so a large mirror can help to reflect light around the room.

If you have enough space, a full length mirror can help to lighten the room and also allow you to carry out personal grooming and dressing more easily. Anti-fog technology and LED backlighting can help to keep the mirror clear and well lit when you need it. 

The bedroom mirror

Mirrors are also important in the bedroom for dressing tables and to check your outfit when getting dressed. If you are short of space, a full-length mirror attached to your wardrobe door will be convenient to use and also help to make the room feel bigger. Ideally, the mirror will not be positioned directly opposite the bed as this might feel strange and unsettling.

The hall mirror

Mirrors are very useful in the hallway for checking your appearance before you leave the house and also to enlarge narrow spaces. If you have enough space, a full length mirror at the end of the hallway can help to open it up, but even a smaller mirror at eye level can make a difference. 

However, avoid placing two mirrors directly opposite each other in a narrow space, as this can feel very uncomfortable and confusing, and may be a hazard if placed near the foot of the stairs. 

Grouping mirrors together

A smaller mirror can look rather lost on a larger wall, while a single large mirror can be rather overwhelming. A popular solution is to create a grouping of mirrors of different sizes and shapes that create visual interest and are also a fashionable style statement. Go for a mixture of shapes with round, oval, square and rectangular mirrors.

However, you may prefer a sleeker look with a set of uniform mirrors if your room has a minimalist aesthetic. Leave a reasonable amount of space between each mirror to avoid an overly cluttered effect. 

Finding the right frame

The frame is an important design element of the mirror and will impact the whole look and feel of the room. You can choose to match the colour, style and material of the frames to your existing decor, or go for a deliberate contrast.

If you have a rustic country style home, then chunky sanded natural wood frames will look the part. If you have a more contemporary design, then sleek metal or light wood frames may work well. 

Finding the right height for the mirror

Much of the time, the mirror will need to be hung at eye level for most people to allow for checking the reflection. However, if you are hanging the mirror more for decorative purposes or to enhance the feeling of space and light in the room, then the aim will be to create a sense of proportion and balance.

Consider what views the mirror will reflect: ideally, it should not reflect a cluttered area or create too much glare from lighting. Mirrors near windows can help to increase the amount of natural light in the room, but consider if it will compromise your privacy or give unwanted views of your neighbour’s back garden. 

In a smaller room with low ceilings, mounting the mirror higher on the wall can help to make it feel taller. Conversely, if you want to soften the effect of high ceilings that are common in older properties, then mounting the mirror lower down the wall will help to create a cosier feel in the room.