Mirrors make fabulous decorating tools, adding style, brilliance and glamor to myriad spots in your home. These twinkling treasures became especially dear to me when I moved into my historic home and learned that years ago, when houses were built to protect against the weather, people relied on mirrors to brighten their interiors. I tried this trick in my home and was thrilled with the results. Since then, I’ve been calling on the power of mirrors to add sparkle throughout my home.
You don’t have to live in an old or dark home to be wowed by mirrors. Here are just a few ways you can use mirrors to add some flash and dash to your home’s interior.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Mirrors work wonderfully as artwork because they are available in every style and price range and are incredibly versatile. You’ll find everything from funky modern mirrors in cool shapes to antique mirrors with a rich history. If you can’t find a framed mirror you like, you can make your own. Just hunt for a picture frame at a frame shop or garage sale then have it fit with a new mirror.
Mirrors are like chameleons in the decorating world – they take on the look of whatever you put with them. That’s why I like to hang them over a fireplace mantel. They are so neutral they allow you to revamp your mantel display over and again without clashing. If you decide to place a mirror above your mantel, position it to reflect down, not up. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when working with mirrors is to tilt it so that it reflects the ceiling, not the lovely things in the room below. Once your mirror is properly positioned, if you want to, you can break up the cool expanse by leaning a piece of artwork against it to add some color and movement.
Hang mirrors in unusual spots for added panache. When our daughter was married at our home, I hung a gorgeous antique mirror from the molding between the windows in my foyer, where the ceremony took place. I was so taken by how the mirror looked in this unexpected spot that I’ve kept it there. For a variation on this idea, hang a set of small mirrors down the wood molding between two windows. They also look great hung above beds.
Show off a Collection
Years ago I collected mirrored vanity trays, so when I was redoing our daughter’s bedroom, I decided to give these vintage jewels a place in the spotlight. I hung a grouping on the wall above the headboard for an eye-catching display. Similarly, I have a friend who has covered the walls of her tiny powder room with her collection of old hand mirrors. Each one is a work of art, but amassed together, they are breathtaking.
Invite Mirrors to Dinner
If you want to add loads of drama to your dinner table, mirrors will do the trick. I’ve used mirrors as chargers for dinner parties and have used framed mirrors as trays. For added opulence, top a mirrored tray with accents that catch the light, like votives, silver serving pieces and crystal vases.
Create Some Drama
If you want to bring a sophisticated air to your foyer, bedroom or living room, try a large regency mirror. These over-sized mirrors look amazing placed on a floor, leaning against the wall or hung over furniture, like a buffet or sofa. If you have a large foyer, try this simple but dramatic look: Place a large sofa table against the wall, then hang a regency mirror above it. Finish by putting a large clay olive vessel filled with fallen limbs on top of the table so the limbs reflect in the mirror.
Another great way to get a lot of drama with mirrors is to create an eye-catching grid on a blank wall. Find 12 to 16 inexpensive square frames and fit them with mirrors. If you want a contemporary feel, use black, silver or brightly colored frames. For a more traditional look, go with gold or natural wood. For an added romantic touch, you could hang each mirror from a ribbon. Or, purchase a set of mirrors with unusual and captivating frames. For instance, we have a darling mirror available through Nell Hill’s Online that features a round mirror surrounded by metal flowers, which hangs from a rustic metal chain.
When you hang the grid, position the mirrors just an inch or two apart so the individual pieces come together to work as one unit. Depending on the height and width of your wall, you could make the grid stretch vertically or horizontally.
Brighten a Dark Corner
I frequently use floor screens to brighten dark corners in my home, so what could be better than a screen made of mirrors? I found a wonderful floor screen made of distressed mirrors, which add all the luster of a mirror without the clear reflection. It’s been the perfect addition to my stairwell landing. Mirrored wall sconces, outfitted with taper candles, also lend sparkle to dark spots. Check out the metal wall sconce at Nell Hill’s Online – it’s rustic yet regal and is a great price.
Perk up a Display
Mirrors look great tucked into tabletop displays. In your living room, use a mirror as a tray to anchor a tableau, giving the scene a bit of luster. Or, try the same trick in your bathroom, placing a set of attractive jars holding bath salts or cotton balls on top of your mirrored tray. To brighten up a display in a bookcase, hutch or secretary, tuck in a mirror propped up in an easel.
Another inventive way to add the flash of mirrors to your décor is to incorporate a few accents made of mirrors into your displays. I adore old boxes and frequently decorate with them in my home and stores. So when I saw the boxes pictured above, which are made out of vintage looking mirrors, I couldn’t resist. You could also get the same effect with picture frames made from mirrors, mercury glass candlesticks or gazing balls.
It seems like a day doesn’t go by when our team at Nell Hill’s isn’t helping a customer who is on a quest for the perfect mirror. No wonder. We have a huge variety of beautiful mirrors in all three stores and available through Nell Hill’s Online – come check them out!
Next Week … Would you like to decorate with furnishings and accents that are Earth-friendly and beautiful? Then you’re going to love bamboo and wicker. Whether your style is British colonial or contemporary, furniture and accents made from natural, sustainable materials will give you the look you adore. Next week, I’ll show you some of my favorite sustainable pieces and give you tips for working wicker and bamboo into your interior design.
See you soon!
Patti says
August 4, 2010 at 6:56 pmI just love how you and your staff think.
Makes my world so lovely – inside and out.
Hugs,
Patti G
sara farrar says
August 4, 2010 at 8:39 pmfabulous ideas! all of them inspiring! quick question… how do you secure a mirror on a mantel that is pointing down? mine will fall off- help!
Jenny O says
August 4, 2010 at 8:48 pmI, too have a collections of hand mirrors. I saw a picture in a magazine a few years ago of assorted sizes and old and new displayed on a small narrow wall. I want to do that, but can’t figure out what to use to attach them to the wall. Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Donna Didde says
August 4, 2010 at 10:19 pmYour ideas help me so much!
Thanks!
Pam L says
August 4, 2010 at 10:22 pmI JUST placed a rectangular mirror in the center of my round dining table! I love the look of this! I am collecting my lanterns to place on top of the mirror.
Caryl says
August 5, 2010 at 12:27 amAlthough you had a couple of illustrations of it, you didn’t mention how the light from a lamp placed in front of a mirror doubles the light in a room due to
reflection. I recall doing exactly that in an old dark bathroom, and the effect was astonishing.
Jaybird says
August 5, 2010 at 3:19 pmI’m echoing JennyO, how do you hang a mirror over the mantle and still aim it down?? (mine would reflect the ceiling fan if hung flat to the wall :^( I would LOVE to do that, but my brain is rebelling :^) Your mirror ideas are wonderful, and I plan to try some of them as I live in a dungeon! I also loved Pam’s idea of placing one on the table!! It would be lovely with crystal candlesticks massed on it as well!
Toni Luttrell says
August 5, 2010 at 6:32 pmLove getting your helpful decorating ideas, keep them coming.
Mary Carol says
August 6, 2010 at 2:17 pmJenny O—Let me get with Dillon to discuss your dilemma and I will get back to you.
Jenny says
August 7, 2010 at 3:18 pmMary Carol, I just love all of your ideas, but I’m at a stage in my life where I’m trying to weed out clutter. I’d like to replace *some* of it with pieces I’d really enjoy, and I know that’s going to be a trial-and-error process that will evolve along with my taste. I’d love to see you do an article on storing decorating items. You indicate you rotate them, etc., so where do they live when they’re not being displayed? If in boxes, how do you remember what all you have? Do you have a room filled with stuff? Do you get rid of items after a couple of years, or store them for later? This issue really is a linchpin issue for many of us.
Karen Parry says
August 7, 2010 at 3:58 pmI love your ideas and illustrations for mirrors! We live in a home we love, which was actually built in 1980…but it is also too dark for me! Last year, I was thrilled to learn the reflective power of fabric, as well as hard surfaces. When we moved in, our couches were a deep red corduroy. I wasn’t ready to buy new couches, but was desperate for light – so I slip-covered them in white denim, and was amazed at the difference in the sense of light in the room. In my house, it is step-by-step, and now I will look for ways to use mirrors. Thank you for always having great tips!
Lee Bereza says
August 7, 2010 at 5:56 pmI attached 12×12 mirror squares to the sides of the cabinets next to my kitchen sink…2 1/2 on each side. They really bring in the light and make such a difference in a dark kitchen.
Jenny O says
August 11, 2010 at 2:03 pmLooking forward to hearing from you regarding hanging my hand mirrors. Thanks so much for all the helpful hints.
Jenny O
Emily B. says
August 11, 2010 at 6:04 pmJenny, I am having the same dilemma! Both of my grandmothers have recently passed and my mother and I love to shop antique stores, so I am overrun with collectibles! I recently decided to ‘purge’ and try to simplify/streamline, and my downstairs study now looks like a small antique store. How do you store these items? My lifestyle has changed and I don’t entertain frequently, but I hate to sell these items I love. What do you do with things that you love, but don’t ‘need’ or have space for? Please post any suggestions or tips.
Thanks – I love your blog, Mary Carol! Please bring a Nell Hill’s to Texas!!!
Emily
Jenny O says
August 11, 2010 at 10:18 pmEmily,
My first thought is to take the pieces a few at a time and just give them to someone you love, who would care for them and cherish them as well. That way, you will be able to “visit” these treasures and knowing where they are would be comforting as well.
Good luck with it.
Jenny O
Mary Carol says
August 12, 2010 at 7:46 pmSara–Instead of leaning your mirror on the mantle, hang your mirror real close to the mantle.
Mary Carol says
August 12, 2010 at 7:49 pmJenny O–If your hand mirrors are not too wide you can hang them with plate holders–then arrange them in the design you want.
Mary Carol says
August 12, 2010 at 7:58 pmJaybird—As mentioned to Sara above—do not lean your mirror on the mantle–always hang it with a very heavy duty hanger (your local hardware store can help you with that.)
Jaybird says
August 18, 2010 at 3:34 pmI am hanging the mirror! There is a gun over the mantle, so anything else that is up there has to be hung over the gun. What I need to know is how to hang it on the wall and still have it angle down. The way our fireplace is set up, the only thing “mirrored” will be the ceiling fan if there is no way to angle the mirror out from the wall at the top.
Many thanks for your help.
J