Mirrors are one of those interior design tools that no home can really do without. They offer many benefits, such as reflecting more light into a space or making a room feel more expansive. If you’d like to add more mirrors to your home but aren’t sure what kind to buy or where to hang them, read on for my personal tips.
Choosing Mirror Size
As far as size goes, you should usually go for the largest mirror you can afford. Because mirrors tend to recede into the background, you can get away with a large mirror even in a space where a large painting of the same size wouldn’t work. Don’t forget that mirrored walls are an option too — they really open up a small space, like a bathroom.
Selecting Mirror Shapes
Mirrors come in a lot of shapes besides rectangular, so consider your options carefully before buying. It’s possible that a round, oval, bull’s-eye, square, or sunburst mirror would be the perfect shape for your wall. At my firm, we sometimes use beveled mirrors with small medallions in the corners.
Finding the Right Mirror Style and Frame
Traditional mirrors, which often have sculpted frames with intricate details, are best for traditional houses. If you have a brand-new mirror that you want to include in a traditional room, you can always have it antiqued. Contemporary or modern mirrors tend to have simpler frames.
Hanging Your Mirror
A hallway mirror should be at eye level so you can check your reflection before you leave the house. If you’re hanging your mirror above a piece of furniture, the mirror should be closer to the furniture than it is to the ceiling. A nice way to fill a large wall is to hang one mirror in the center of a group of small individual paintings or prints. Remember that mirrors need to be hung with at least two wall hooks or picture hangers. Always have very heavy mirrors hung by professionals.
Please reach out if you could use some help with sourcing antique or custom mirrors for your home. I work with a wide variety of interior design styles, so I have a lot of experience with using both traditional and contemporary mirrors. Once you’ve learned about the different kinds of mirrors available and how to utilize them effectively, adding an extra touch of luxe to your home will be that much easier.
For more ideas and articles, follow us on Instagram at @chambersinteriors, or visit our website at www.chambersinteriors.com.
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