Sometimes a mirror is the final touch. Sometimes it is the piece that sets the direction for everything around it. The best ones do both.
The right mirror can change the feel of a room. It can bring light into a darker hallway, give a fireplace more presence or fill an empty wall with something worth looking at. And sometimes the frame is just as important as the reflection.
From ornate gilt and antique-inspired designs to arched, oversized, window and convex mirrors, there are plenty of ways to make a mirror part of the room. Lean a full-length design against a bedroom wall, hang a statement piece above a fireplace or use a smaller decorative mirror amongst pictures and other favourite things.
The Frame Makes the Mirror
A mirror doesn't have to disappear into the background. A heavily detailed gilt frame can bring a little drama to a fireplace, while black, bronze, silver and natural wood give a very different feel.
Some frames are deliberately ornate, with carved details and antique-style finishes. Others are simpler and more contemporary. Don't feel you have to match the frame to everything else in the room — sometimes the most interesting choice is the one that stands out.
Above the Fireplace, in the Hallway or Bedroom
An overmantle mirror can become part of the fireplace arrangement, drawing the eye upwards and reflecting the room around it. In a hallway, a large mirror can bring more light and make the space feel less enclosed, particularly when positioned opposite a window or light source.
For bedrooms and dressing spaces, full-length and leaner mirrors are an obvious choice. They give you a practical reflection while also adding height to the room, and a leaning mirror can be moved or repositioned as the space changes.
Oversized, Arched and Full of Character
Sometimes bigger really does work better. An oversized mirror can hold its own on a large wall, above a generous console or behind a sofa, without needing much else around it.
Arched and rounded mirrors can soften rooms with lots of straight lines, while full-length designs bring height and a strong vertical shape. The proportions of the mirror are worth considering alongside the furniture and wall around it — a large piece needs enough space to breathe.
A Little More Unexpected
Not every mirror has to be rectangular and flat. Window mirrors bring an architectural feel to a wall, with divided panes that give the reflection more structure. Convex mirrors do something completely different, curving the reflection and making even a smaller mirror feel like an object in its own right.
Smaller decorative mirrors can also be used as part of a larger arrangement, mixed with artwork, photographs and other pieces to create a wall that feels collected rather than overly planned.
Let the Mirror Do More
Think about what the mirror will reflect as well as where it will go. A favourite lamp, a beautiful piece of furniture, a window or a little extra daylight can all change the effect.
