Mirror, mirror on the wall…

Which is the fairest of you all? What’s up with everyone decorating their homes with mirrors anyway? Is it vanity? Is it superstition? An illusion to make a space look bigger? Whatever the reason may be, a mirror can be a super fun way to decorate your space!

There are so many different areas where placing a mirror could serve an actual purpose: bathrooms, entry points, dressing rooms, bedrooms, and even a dining room. I know that last one may seem crazy, but let me tell you, I once had floor-to-ceiling mirrors in my dining room, and at first, I thought it was too outrageous! However, then I kind of liked what it did to the space. See, my dining room was so small, but with those mirrors, it made the space appear twice its size. And with the proper supporting decor, I was able to make it look chic.

Now, for the more obvious functionality of spaces like the entry and bathrooms: those are the points in your home where you will most likely need to at least glance at yourself before taking on the day or seeing what the day did to you. A wall mirror above a vanity or a console table is a great location. However, a fun way to mix it up is by adding a mirror on a window because it adds all that natural lighting as a backdrop.

Having a mirror in your bedroom and dressing room is another great functionality point, as it acts as great reinforcement of your day's outfit reflection. For these spaces, I like tall mirrors that are either hung on the wall or propped on a stand.

After deciding on the areas where we want our mirrors, then comes the time to decide on the shape, size, and material. All three will depend on what else is going on in your room. I like to think that a mirror is the cherry on top when decorating a room; it should not be the driving design factor.

The shape of your mirror should complement the objects surrounding it. You could go either way here: if you have a lot of linear-shaped items in your space, you could add a rectilinear mirror, or you could offset the straight lines with something a little more circular. And vice versa. I personally like to combine linear and curvilinear shapes to keep the eye engaged and the mind interested.

The size of your mirror really depends on what it is going above or around. If you have a blank wall without any furniture, a large mirror to fill that space would be great. However, if you have a centerpiece of furniture on a wall, find a mirror that fits within those dimensions. I like to add mirrors that fit the parameters of the object they sit above, as to not overwhelm the eye and provide visual balance.

Finally, the material of your mirror, once again, should be influenced by its surroundings. Treat a mirror like a piece of art and ask yourself: how does this help enhance the space it’s in? How does it add to the story and complete it? If you have a lot of cool materials like metals and stones, I would offset that by adding a wood or rattan mirror. If you have a lot of wood and warm tones, think about adding a mirror with a mother of pearl frame. There are so many fun options out there that you should not limit yourself and really take the chance to explore!

As you start your journey in finding the perfect mirror, below are some helpful sources:

We know I love a local antique store, so definetly take a gander there. A great online source is Chairish.
Madegoods is a great store that provides fun mirror options.
Serena and Lily has some great costal options.
Lulu and Georgia is a great source for fun modern mirrors.

And there you have it: some advice and some starting sources to help you find the perfect mirror for your home. Now let’s go and make it beautiful!

Mirrors

Mirror, mirror on the wall…

Daybeds

San Diego Interiors