6 Clever Ways to Decorate with Mirrors

Plus - Tips for Using Mirrors in Art Centric Rooms!

Wondering how to decorate with mirrors to add that touch of elegance, style, and luxury to your interiors? Mirrors are considered reflective pieces. Therefore, whether they’re coating the walls or strategically placed in corners, they can work well in combination with art, lighting, and other ornamental elements! Mirrors make great accents when used strategically in interior design. What’s more, is that they can be quite versatile, fitting seamlessly into both traditional and modern interior design.

Mirrors, after all, have infinite potential when it comes to decorating. They have and always will be a decorative element in the home. Installed both for their functionality and as a stylish accessory, mirrors can indeed lift the style of any home decor.

The Role of Mirrors in Interior Design

Why should you use mirrors in your interior design? Beyond being functional pieces, mirrors play different roles in accentuating your interior design. Below are some amazing reasons why you should consider adding mirrors into your décor.

1.      Mirrors Add Visual Interest as a Decorative Element

Mirrors are a great way to add glamour and make any room feel more sophisticated. If you want to instantly infuse your home with a striking texture or color, adding a mirror is a great way to bring in an unexpected oomph and personality into an otherwise boring space.  

Mirrors come in a wide range of designs, shapes, and sizes. From antique, ornate, oversized mirror designs to small, sleek pieces with slim frames, there are tons of options to fit your preferences. Treat a mirror like you would a wall art, selecting the best design that complements your home decor for maximum impact.

2.      Mirrors Add Light and Brighten Up Corners

If you have a dark room that could use a little bit more light, place your wall mirror in an area that gets natural light. As such, it will reflect the light into darker areas and throughout the space, making the room feel lighter and more open. It can thus add an airy feel to your living room, dining room, bathrooms, and bedroom spaces. You can place your mirrors next to, directly opposite, or at an angle from a window to brighten up your living spaces, but pay keen attention to avoid any possible glare from direct sunlight. 

Additionally, you can maximize your lighting investment by positioning decorative wall mirrors opposite or next to your light fixture to enhance your lighting.

3.      Mirrors Add a Focal Point to a Room
 

Mirrors can help the eye move more freely throughout a space. They are great for creating focal points in a room. Placing a mirror over a fireplace or above your bed’s headboard will help draw attention to that area, making it the room's central feature. For this purpose, go for a large enough mirror with a unique frame that will immediately capture attention and stand out.

4.      Mirrors Add Depth and Give the Illusion of a Larger Space

Mirrors are the interior designer’s secret for making a small room look bigger. By reflecting objects in a small space, they add depth and dimension to the room, giving the impression of a larger room. Incorporate full length mirrors in small rooms to enhance the space. For instance, adding a large bathroom mirror against the mirror wall is an effective way to make the small room feel more spacious.

Tall mirrors in portrait orientation will generally elongate a room, while mirrors that span in landscape orientation will give an illusion of wider space.

Factors to Consider when Decorating with Mirrors

You’ve finally made up your mind to incorporate mirrors into your interior design. How can you integrate them into your rooms? Decorating with mirrors offers an opportunity to make a big impact in your home decor. However, there are some important factors to consider before treating yourself to a big purchase. Here are 3 factors you should take into consideration when decorating with mirrors in your home.

1.      Scale

Mirrors come in different sizes, from tiny accent pieces to large wall hangings, and choosing the right size will help you achieve your design goals. While bigger is always better when it comes to mirrors and decorative art pieces, it is important to consider the proportionality of the mirror depending on its intended purpose and application. 

For instance, if you want your mirror to be the main attraction on an accent wall, you'll ideally go for a large, prominent piece. However, if you're looking for something that will subtly enhance your room's aesthetic, you can go for a smaller mirror with more meticulous detailing.

Furthermore, when placing a mirror above a furniture piece, it should not be wider than the furniture above which it is placed, or smaller than half the furniture’s width. There is no limit when it comes to the height of the mirror. Therefore, depending on the available wall space, experiment with tall mirrors to make a dramatic statement in your interiors.

2.      Positioning

When it comes to decorating with mirrors, there are basic principles that will help you achieve a more professionally-done look in your interior spaces. Just like when hanging art, you need to place your mirrors at eye level for an intimate and harmonious décor. Thus, the center of the mirror should be approximately 48 to 50 inches off the floor. You can adjust this height accordingly depending on the average height of the people in your household. Setting your mirrors at eye level will prevent people from having to strain to get a view.

However, to hang mirrors above furniture such as a sofa in your living room, a bed, or a credenza, ensure that the bottom edge of the wall mirror frame is approximately six inches above the top of the furniture. For fireplaces, place your mirror directly onto the mantel, or less than 4-inches above it. Limiting the space between the wall mirror frame and your furniture allows for a more cohesive look.

Unless you are intentionally aiming for the visual illusion, avoid placing mirrors directly opposite each other. It creates an infinite loop of reflections, which may appear visually chaotic. 

3.      The Mirror Reflection
 

When decorating with mirrors, you must consider the reflection on the mirror. Clone a scenic view by hanging your mirror across from the window or door. Take into account the mirror’s reflection as part of your décor. You need to position the mirror to reflect the things that matter to you, such as beautiful artwork, a magnificent chandelier, or a captivating view. Avoid reflecting clutter or blank walls in your mirror. 

Position a decorative mirror directly across from an interesting view, like a garden or an attractive street scene, so you can enjoy the view even when you're inside. If you live in a beautiful, serene place, this is an easy way to bring the outdoors in.

Top 6 Expert Mirror Decorating Ideas for Art-Centric Rooms

Nothing elevates a space like a strategically placed mirror. As an art lover, you are probably wondering how to best incorporate mirrors into your art centric room that is already filled with splendid art pieces.

Mirrors go perfectly with art in interior design. You can subtly add mirrors to small sections of your interiors, or go bold with pieces that complement your art. But where to begin? To help you get started, we've rounded up some of our favorite mirror decorating ideas that go perfectly with your art pieces, as well as expert tips on how they can work in your own home.

1.      Ornate Mirror on a Gallery Wall

If you have a gallery wall, whether it's just a few pieces of art or a full-on collection, adding an ornate mirror at the center is a great way to elevate your décor. Incorporating a beautiful mirror in your art collection is an easy way to add a cohesive element that will make your collection feel polished.

To pull off this look, consider selecting a mirror with the same color frame or style. However, if you’re working with an eclectic art collection, opt for daring and contrasting frame designs. 

2.      Mirror Opposite an Artwork

If you have an artwork you love on display, consider hanging your mirror directly across from it to create an interesting conversation between the two pieces. The mirror’s reflection will double the visual impact of the art piece. This is especially effective with dramatic large-scale artworks. It is indeed a brilliant way to add character to a blank wall in your hallways, living room, or dining room spaces.

3.      Mirrors as Decorative Pieces

Instead of just complementing the art, you can install framed mirrors as the prime decorative pieces in your art-centric room. In a room with modest art pieces, a grand ornamental mirror frame can add a much-needed pop of color and design. Opt for an ornate Art Nouveau frame, an Antique Style mirror, or an artsy Sunburst Mirror to instantly capture the attention of your guests, automatically creating a focal point. 

Mirrors can independently act as centerpieces in place of art when placed as an accent piece above furniture. To decorate with smaller mirrors on your accent walls, opt for mirror sets with 2 or 3 pieces. Small mirrors usually look better in groups. You can go for a set with different shapes and sizes to create an interesting pattern, or a regular consistent shape for symmetry. Try hanging three round mirrors together as a group above a buffet table or over a sofa.

To decorate with large mirrors, you can simply lean a tall floor mirror against a wall. Alternatively, you can install mirror tiles or floor-to-ceiling mirror wall panels against your entire accent wall. This can create an interesting mirrored wall backdrop against which you can place your art.

Moreover, you can complement and contrast by adding a round mirror to soften an angular room with geometric shapes, or adding an ornate mirror to a rather minimalist interior design.

4.      Pairing Mirrors with Light

Mirrors and lighting make the perfect combination when it comes to interior design. Therefore, placing your mirrors behind sculptural light fixtures will allow you to not only double on the light, but also the art. Having your mirrors reflect against an artwork that is illuminated with art lighting in the interior design is also another amazing way to maximize the splendor. 

Light is particularly important where mirrors are installed primarily for their functionality, such as in bathrooms and bedrooms. In such cases where you need a close-up view of yourself, consider centering your vanity mirror between two dimmable lamps above your bathroom vanity or dressing table. You can also place a high-quality picture light above the mirror. Backlit mirrors are another fun way to add glamour and make any room feel more sophisticated.

Perfect Picture Lights offers quality hand-crafted picture lights as well as modern track lights that are specifically assorted with your art lighting needs in mind.  They come in a wide range of finishes and can therefore be customized according to your needs.

5.      Mirrored Furniture

Pair form with function by adding mirrors to functional pieces in your décor. This is a genius way to enjoy the multiple benefits of mirrors without drawing any attention from your art. A mirror-style coffee table or a console table with mirror details is a modest way to instantly add visual interest to an art-centric room.

If you’re displaying your sculptures and decorative accessories against a display shelf, lining the back of the shelf with mirrors allows you to complement the artwork while still adding depth to your display.

Furthermore, you can add mirror fronts to the cabinet doors in your bedroom, making the room appear larger and brighter.

6.      Window Effect Mirrors

Invest in a trellis accent mirror created in the design and shape of a window to add character and light to your art-centric room, without competing with the aesthetics of the art. Window effect mirrors make all the difference in rooms that have a limited number of windows. 

Mimic a window with your trellis accent mirror, creating a symmetrical arrangement by hanging two mirrors on either side of a painting for visual balance, and positioning it strategically to reflect the beautiful outdoors. 

The Mirror Image Double Take

Mirrors can be used to create the illusion of more space, add more light, highlight an interesting architectural feature in your home, and to simulate the effect of a window where there is none. Used well, mirrors create a sense of depth, light, and dimension into all your living spaces. Whether it’s fitted as a dining room or entryway mirror, or as wall decor in your living room, a mirror is a welcomed addition in every luxury interior. 

Follow the tips and decorating ideas in this article to master how to decorate with mirrors for your art-centric rooms. Always remember to top it all with a quality light fixture from Perfect Picture Lights.

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Winny Okoth is a practicing Construction Project Manager and Interior Designer. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Construction Project Management. Winny Okoth has a great passion for every form of design as well as 3D visualization skills for architectural and interior design.