In contemporary home décor, mirrors are all the rage, with interior designers praising their space enhancing abilities and how they can transform a room into a brighter, bigger and more spectacular space.
It is however so easy to go way overboard by following the experts’ advice in the completely wrong direction, or not having any expert advise as guidance in the first place.
So today we share our knowlegde with you on some common mistakes to avoid, tips & tricks to follow, as well as a little bit of info on 2022 Design Trends that relate to mirrors.
Now lets start with what NOT to do…
4 Common mistakes made when hanging and using mirrors in your house:
1. Hanging mirrors in direct sunlight.
Although mirrors are often used to reflect light into a home, placing them directly in the sunlight is not recommended. Move any mirrors that are constantly soaking in the sun on a wall or floor to another place in the house where it will be out of direct sunlight but still reflect light into the room.
Mirrors that are exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time will become dull and their reflective quality will also reduce after some time.
2. Overexposing mirrors to moisture in Kitchens & Bathrooms.
Mirrors are certainly a must have in any bathroom! Putting mirrors near areas with high humidity levels, however, can cause black spots to appear on the mirror’s face.
So try to avoid positioning your bathroom mirrors too close to where water will splash directly onto it. And think about creating more ventilation by leaving a slight gap between the mirror and wall.
3. Placing mirrors on more than 2 walls in a room
So you have just learned that you can make a room look bigger by using mirrors. And now you go crazy by having mirrors hung on every wall, thinking that it will quadruple the size of your room…
Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way!
Having too many mirrors in one room can actually have the opposite effect by making the room feel cluttered & emphasizing the (small) size of the room. As a rule of thumb, keep your mirrors down to two walls in a room.
4. Hanging your mirrors across from clutter.
The mirrors in your home should reflect light and happiness, not piles of paperwork, toys or any other clutter around your house.
For example, you may want to avoid a mirror directly across from your laundry room, where clothes tend to pile up and spill over.
Or, if your home has an area where coats, laptop bags, and shoes tend to get dumped when people walk in the door, avoid mirrors in that area. Ultimately, doubling the clutter in your home is the last thing you want to do!
Next lets look at what you DO want to do…
8 Tips & tricks on how to hang and use mirrors
1. Consider the reflection.
Before you hang a mirror take into account what is across from it. We now know not to hang across from clutter. But what DO you want to catch in your mirrors?
When mirrors are hung opposite an important architectural element, painting, or piece of furniture it will give that item even more importance.
Another reflection that is a good choice is to hang a mirror across from a garden window. It will not only significantly increase the amount of light in the room, but it will also bring the greenery of nature in.
2. Get the height right.
Unless you’re hanging a mirror over a headboard or a mantle, the sweet spot for placement is at the average person’s eye level. This is roughly 1.5m from the floor to the center of the mirror.
This of course is the same for artwork and a uniform hanging height can become a thread of continuity that will tie your space together and make it feel feel roomier.
Also, leave a little breathing room on the wall between the edge of your mirror and the edge of wall or ceiling or other wall hanging.
3. Hang your mirrors properly.
One small nail hammered into the wall, unless your mirror is tiny, will simply not do.
A mirror hung on a wire hooked on a single hook is not only dangerous but it can cause the mirror to rest against the wall at an angle, distorting the reflection.
Be sure to use proper wall hooks or picture hangers -one at either end of your mirror. This will ensure the mirror is held flat to the wall.
And if the mirror is very large and heavy, rather have it hung by professionals.
4. Think big (but go small with the frame).
An oversized mirror (the larger, the better) is a cure-all for smaller spaces because it increases the sense of visual space! As long as you stick with a fairly simple frame.
A large mirror paired with a wide or ornate frame can hamper your goal of making the place feel bigger.
While you can also consider smaller mirrors with more decorative frames.
5. Find a design that does double duty.
For example, a mirror with a shelf attached can be a secret weapon for any small space.
We love these ‘shelfies’ and entry hall mirror:
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6. Mirror a wall (yes, the whole wall).
Got a minute hallway? Designer Elaine Griffin suggests combating “the tunnel effect” by mirroring the wall on one side.
“The side you don’t typically see first when approaching your hall should be the one that gets mirrored,” she says.
7. Pair your mirrors with a light source.
This reflection trick will boosts brightness in a room and adds both atmosphere and dimension.
Because it is reflective, mirrors can illuminate a dark room by bouncing off light from natural and artificial light sources close by.
Hang your mirror in a spot where it will reflect the chandelier or lamps to create a romantic feel in your room.
And it is not just lighting fixtures that go well with mirrors; candles and mirrors are an ideal combo, too.
8. Pair one (or more) with a painting.
Wall art that’s too small can make your whole space feel puny, so adding mirrors can be used as an easy fix.
Just hang one on either side of the art and—voilà!—a visually proportionate setup and more light bouncing around the room.
Sun and starburst mirrors can also stand in for art themselves, if they’re sizable enough.
Or hang a gallery of mirrors in an arrangement to create a light-reflecting, space-enhancing focal point.
Lastly, lets look at a couple of 2022 design trends that can relate to the use of mirrors…
3 Design Trends of 2022
1. Rounded furniture
With a nod to the 1960s and 70s, the increasing popularity in rounded furniture started in 2021 and looks to be continuing in the new year. This trend is showing up in everything from couches and coffee table, to mirrors and kitchen islands.
Round mirrors can also soften a space that’s furnished with hard materials – and will be a better fit than square or rectangular pieces on an awkward-shaped wall.
Check out these round and rounded mirrors in our online store:
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Australian Blackwood Mini Round Mirrors
R310.00 – R934.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Deep Frame Round Mirrors
R1506.00 – R3014.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Birch Round Frameless Mirrors
R196.00 – R1974.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
2. Calming neutrals
With the pandemic causing more people to work remotely and spend more time at home in general, it’s no surprise that calming neutral tones will continue to be popular in 2022.
Think tans, grays, beiges and soft whites that create a Zen-like atmosphere and allow your home to become an oasis.
And to connect that with your decision making when buying a mirror – look for these coloured frames on your mirrors. Or change the frames of the mirrors you already have to these colours.
3. Multifunctional spaces (and furniture)
Continuing with the demands caused by spending more time at home and working remotely, the concept of a multi-functional space will be on trend for 2022.
Look for an emphasis on efficient spaces and smart, multifunctional furniture this year.
This also connects with our tip no 5 on how to hang and use mirrors and the multifunction mirrors we have there.
I’m looking for a table top mirror. Do you have please?
Hi Diane, thank you for reading our article and reaching out. We only have the wall mounted mirrors in our mirror selection at the moment. Unfortunately no table top ‘self standing’ mirrors.