Mirrors

How to Choose Mirrors

Mirrors can be a decorator's best friend. They can brighten dark hallways, add functionality to your decor, or dress up plain walls. Both beautiful and useful, mirrors keep you and your home looking pulled together. Because these pieces come in many sizes, shapes and styles, choosing the right one for you requires some reflection.

Selecting Size & Budget

Mirrors can help you achieve a high-end look on a low-end budget. Large pieces make great focal points, especially when placed prominently on walls above mantles or furniture pieces. However, keep in mind that the larger mirrors are more expensive. While small mirrors are more budget-friendly, a single piece may look a little lonely on a large, empty wall. Stick to pieces about two-thirds the size of any furniture directly below them in order to achieve a proportional look. If your budget is tight with a big space to fill then a pair, row, or cluster of smaller mirrors might finish your wall for less.

By extending your focal point past the wall, a mirror immediately opens up your space. This is particularly true if you utilize a large mirror because you will have a broader unbroken view. Designers especially like to use big mirrors in small rooms to instantly add square footage.

Tall standing mirrors that lean against the wall can add elegance and drama to a room. Gone are the days where these types of mirrors were only for dressing areas, designers add floor mirrors that are about ¾ the ceiling height to dining and living areas to create both grand and minimalist effects.

Choosing a Style

To pick the right style of mirror, decide whether you're more interested in form or function. For bathrooms, bedrooms and hallways, consider oval or rectangular mirrors. These elongated shapes make it easy to get a clear picture of your face and outfit at the same time. Circular or unusually shaped mirrors are better for decoration, especially when placed across from windows to bring the outdoors inside. Sun burst-shaped and beveled mirrors work well in vintage-inspired homes, while geometric shapes like triangles or diamonds add quirky accents to minimalist spaces.

Mirrors can also be framed or frameless. Elaborately carved or molded frames create a formal look, while those who want to keep things casual should stick to clean lines and simple designs. For a functional mirror that seems to disappear into the background, try a large, frameless piece.

Picking a Color

When choosing mirrors with colored frames, consider how they will look against the shade of your wall. These colors include:

• Blue
• Brown
• Gold
• Silver
• White

Picking a contrasting hue will instantly draw attention to your mirror. However, if bright colors aren't your style, create a softer statement by buying a frame that is noticeably lighter or darker than the surrounding decor. Wood-framed mirrors do not have to match other wood pieces in the room. For example, cherry frames pick up the reddish tone of mahogany furniture. When choosing a metal frame, remember that steel and chrome pair nicely, but don't mix well with gold or copper.

When placed on walls adjacent or across from a window with a view or a favorite piece of art, a mirror can make the most of what you love by filling the room with a duplicate of that beauty.

Considering Materials

Framed mirrors can be sleek and contemporary, gilded and luxurious, or rustic and natural simply based on their materials. Able to be molded into many shapes, plastic is a popular and inexpensive choice for frames, though it is also prone to scratches and chips. Metal and wood provide more durable frame options and come in a variety of stains and colors.

Mirrors can be a fabulous addition to virtually any room around your home. They are a classic and often inexpensive way to enhance a space, here are some of the many reasons we love them:

Add brightness and light – Mirrors will enhance the brightness in any space by reflecting the light in the room. By placing them where they can reflect windows or light fixtures you’ll add instant illumination to your room. Hallways and other spaces that lack their own natural light source are no-brainers for mirrors.

A window you can move – It is tempting to hang these movable windows in any empty location around your house; however, designers caution - hang a mirror with purpose. Step back and look at what it is reflecting. Here’s a trick for a bad view dilemma — if you have a perfect spot for a mirror but you don’t like the “view” that it reflects, angle the mirror slightly so that you just get light reflected or that the reflection works better.

Smaller mirrors can be grouped like works of art – Cluster randomly sized and framed mirrors gallery style for eclectic collectors look, or arrange a series of matching mirrors side-by-side for a more refined and orderly approach.

Final check – Mirrors are especially welcome in entryways. Here they will serve the purpose of a last spot to check your appearance before you head out for the day.

Not just for walls – you can find tables and accent cabinets with mirrored faces, or curios and display cabinets with mirrored backs. Interestingly, you'll find that mirrored surfaces have the almost magical ability to make the furniture they are on virtually disappear, meaning you can add storage space in a room without visual weight.