Mirrors can impact lighting, feng shui and even dictate the perceived size of a room. Selecting the right mirror for a specific space can be daunting but if you follow our simple guidelines, the process will be much easier!
In the Bathroom
First, the size of a bathroom mirror can impact the style and function of the room. Generally, your mirror should span the length of your sink or longer. If there are two side by side sinks, it’s best to ensure the mirror spans most of the length of the counter.
The standard layout formula for a bathroom is where there are two sinks, two mirrors will hang above them and where there is one sink, one mirror will hang above it.
Consider the lighting situation in your bathroom, including how and where electrical is installed.
Shape; when the bathroom is wired for two sconces on either side of the mirror, a circular, arched or rounded mirror looks the best, but these are not concrete style rules and can definitely be bent for creative designs. Whereas, when the electrical it setup for sconces to hang above the mirror, a square or rectangular mirror is the better style choice.
As far as quality goes for bathroom mirrors, look for a “bath rated” and mirror to avoid fogging up of mirrors, “shatterproof” and “plated not painted” to ensure durability..
Above Furniture
First, size is extremely important. Any mirror hanging above of a piece of furniture needs to be smaller in width and height than the piece of furniture otherwise the mirror will overpower instead of enhance the piece of furniture below it.
As far as shape goes, there as less general rules and you can take more creative liberty with a mirror in this situation. For balance and contrast, if the furniture is square or rectangular with sharp, defined corners, consider selecting a round, arched or organic shaped mirror. For a more soft, round edged piece of furniture, a sharp edged (square or rectangular) mirror would be an ideal selection.
Layout and hanging tips; Hang mirror so that the space between the bottom of the mirror is 6 to 8 inches from the surface of the dresser, console table or buffet table (if your furniture is around 35 inches tall). If the furniture is shorter than 35 inches, 8 to 12 inches is a better measurement. It can be helpful to hang a piece of cardboard of the same dimensions as the art or mirror with painters tape to visualize which measurement looks best.
Quality; for high traffic areas, such as an entryway, consider a shatterproof mirror. Also consider whether or not the weight of the mirror will work for the wall space. A heavier mirror will need to be hung on a stud, so don’t overlook this step for safety purposes.
On a Blank Wall
Mirrors on a blank wall can really open up a room, making it feel larger. So, as far as size goes, it’s best to generally opt for a larger sized mirror. However, you don’t want the mirror to overpower the wall.
Hang art on a wall at a height where the midpoint of the art is between 57 and 60 inches from the floor. It can be helpful to hang a piece of cardboard of the same dimensions with painters tape to visualize the size on the wall.
As far as shape goes, it can be helpful to asses the surrounding furniture and decor in the room. If there are too many crisp edges around, soften things up with a round or organic shaped mirror, visa versa.
Takeaway
Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and the mirror you end up selecting will depend on your personal preferences and the home decor style. When hanging any mirror, don’t forget, drywall can only hold about 1.6 pounds to 2 pounds per square foot, while mounting a mirror to the stud (with proper hardware) can allow you to hang mirrors up to 100 pounds. If you do need to opt for mounting, use several screws that are #4 or larger and make sure they go at least an inch into the drywall.
