Tips on hanging mirrors
Hanging a mirror is a lot like hanging art. You instinctively know when it looks wrong – if the item is too small, too high, etc. Having said that, we are often asked for advice on this very issue, so we thought we’d share with you some of our tips on hanging mirrors!
It’s likely you have in mind a spot for your mirror – a blank wall, a hall or stairway, or over a fireplace. So, to kick off our tips on hanging mirrors series, let’s consider these options…
The blank wall
Traditionally, the mirror should be proportionate to the wall size and furnishings around it; it should be hung low enough to connect to the chest or sofa under it.
In the above picture, you can see that the mirror sits happily between the light sconces (without being cramped) and is hung nice and low to connect to the sofa.
In this picture, the mirror is nicely in proportion to the console and again is hung low enough to connect to the vignette.
Mirrors can be grouped to great effect. Just as with artwork, grouping smaller pieces together to form a perceived larger whole is a great solution to filling a wall. Using a mirror collection has the advantage of reflecting light around the room.
A really useful tip when hanging in multiples -before making lots of holes in your walls, check positions by cutting some newspaper to size and blu-tacking to the wall; you can rearrange til you are happy with the overall effect.
Of course, you could disregard all this and go for bold…opt for an oversized mirror to create a really dramatic scheme…
Here the large, chunky-framed convex mirror becomes the focal point of the room.
Repetition and stacking techniques work really well with mirrors. Here the stacking technique fills the narrow wall space to the left of the window effectively.
In the above picture, see how in a lower ceilinged space, aligning the convex mirrors horizontally along the length of the sofa balances out the scheme to great effect.
The hall or stairway
One of our top tips on hanging mirrors: for darker and smaller areas hang either one large mirror or multiple smaller mirrors to add light and perception of space. Convex mirrors bounce more light around than flat mirrors – owing to the curved shape of the mirror – so using convex mirrors in darker, smaller spaces can be especially effective.
Restricting the scheme to a combination of gold and black gives cohesion to the design.
The fireplace
Round mirrors work really well above fireplaces. Introducing the round shape helps to visually break up the straight lines of the mantle, hearth and the chimney breast itself.
When placing a mirror over a mantle, it helps to bear in mind the following:
1. The maximum height of the mirror frame should be at least 4″-5″ below a cornice, or 2″ below a picture rail.
2. Ideally the mirror frame should not extend beyond the end of the mantelpiece shelf.
3. The width of the mirror (the reflective part only) should be greater than the fireplace opening.
Again, these guidelines aren’t steadfast. Here are a couple of stylish variations…
At least with a round mirror you don’t have to worry about hanging it straight!
If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to take a look at one of our other articles 4 Essential Tips for Hanging a Round Mirror above a Fireplace.