Mirror, mirror.
What’s the best position for a mirror? How big should a mirror be? What shape and aspect would best suit my space? Should I hang it, or stand it on the floor? We get asked these questions all the time by clients, and the answers will depend on a number of factors.
Position.
The question I would always ask when placing a mirror is - what is it reflecting? Whilst a mirror is a decorative item in itself, they can often be defined by what they reflect. For example, you could hang a stunning ornate gilded mirror in a hallway, but if it reflects a messy coat rack or storage cupboard, it could greatly take away from the look of the mirror. Another important thing to consider is natural light. It’s always nice to reflect a window to bring some of the outdoors into the home, as well as add light to a dark space. For example, terrace homes and town houses often have long hallways with few (if any) windows. By placing a mirror opposite a room with good natural light, it can help draw some additional light into the hallway.
Size.
Bigger is better, right? Well, not always! Mirrors are great at opening up space, but it’s important to remember that not every space needs to feel bigger. Yes, a mirror in a small room can help make it feel more spacious, and in this case a large mirror could certainly be beneficial. However a big open plan space with lots of windows and natural light may not benefit from having a very large mirror, and could in fact make the space feel too big and empty. Another thing to consider is if the mirror is being hung above a mantle or piece of furniture. Generally speaking, you should avoid the width of the mirror being wider than that of the mantle or furniture below it (this principal applies to pictures too!). This can cause the mirror to dominate it’s space, rather than compliment it, and can look a bit ‘top heavy’.
Shape and aspect.
The ideal shape and aspect of a mirror will greatly be determined by it’s intended location. For example, a tall/skinny vertical mirror would not really be suitable above a tall chest of drawers, because you would likely be reflecting a lot of ceiling, and not much of the room.
Rectangular mirrors can be a great option for their versatility. In a landscape aspect, they can help expand and open space beautifully, and in a portrait aspect, they can be give an increased sense of height to a space. As a general rule of thumb, the aspect of a rectangular mirror should be determined by the aspect of the space. If you have a long horizontal wall, you would likely be best hanging the mirror in a landscape aspect, and vice-versa, a narrow wall would be more suited to a vertical aspect mirror. However, that same narrow wall with a piece of furniture along it (such as a hall table), may then allow you to hang that mirror in a landscape aspect, to compliment the furniture it is above.
If in doubt, go round! We love round mirrors, and find that they can be suitable in so many different situations. Above a mantle, over a hall/dressing table, or even at the entrance of your home, they can often provide a unique element, breaking up the lines of the square/rectangular features of a home. Available in so many sizes and styles these days, you can get them framed, frameless, ornate, or even convex!
Hang it or stand it?
We get asked this question more and more often these days, with the vertical floor standing mirror becoming a very popular choice in modern decorating. We love the look of a floor standing mirror, but believe that certain things need to be considered when doing this. Firstly, the distance that the bottom of the mirror is from the wall will pose both decorative and practical questions. The further it is from the wall, the more the mirror will be ‘looking up’ and can sometimes cause a strange reflective aspect for the user. Another thing to consider is, the further the base of the mirror is from the wall, the more it can impede on the surrounding space, and also cause difficulties with cleaning the floor behind the mirror. On the other hand, if the base is closer to the wall, it will provide a more conventional reflection, as well as impeding less on its surrounding space. Whichever way to go, we would always recommend that your floor standing mirror be professionally secured to the wall, to avoid it potentially tipping and falling (especially with young children around).
As you can probably tell, we’re big fans of mirrors and what they can bring to your home! If you have any questions about your particular mirror or space, we’d be happy to have a chat.