The right mirror – or mirrors – can reflect your personal style and enhance the look of any space while doubling as wall art. Learn how to navigate through dazzling options to find the best accents.
Mirror Styles
Mirrors in unique shapes are a great way to get trendy, but quatrefoil never goes out of style. Add a pop of pizzazz with this eye-catching shape.
A hanging mirror looks so effortless, a little rustic, and adds something extra with a rope or chain. It’s perfect for smaller spaces.
As simple as it sounds, a good round mirror (preferably a little oversized) is super chic in any space, especially if you love modern minimalism.
Brighten your day with a sunburst mirror that does double duty with functionality and major style.
On-trend Mirror Decorating Tips
In art and folklore, mirrors often symbolize a portal between two worlds. It’s no surprise, then, that many of today’s hottest mirror decorating trends involve contrasts and unified opposites:
Rustic Glamour
Rustic mirrors incorporate the strong natural textures of eco-friendly reclaimed wood, aged and distressed metal finishes, and nature-themed details, creating a look that’s both earthy and luxurious.
Metal
Metal is the hottest of contemporary frame materials, from the warm, golden-brown glow of brass to the rustic and Art Deco appeal of copper, and the elegance of gold in Venetian and Empire styles.
Outdoors Comes In
As transitional all-weather furniture continues to blur boundaries between indoors and out, natural frame materials such as leather, shells, bamboo, and tree bark/roots are popping up in rustic, coastal, and other nature-inspired interiors.
Try Old World for a New Look
Antique style is a great place to start if you’re looking for a distinctive mirror that’s both on-trend and timeless. Consider these shapes and styles for traditional inspiration.
Until about the 1600s, mirrors were too expensive to appear as common household decorations. But in the 16th and 17th centuries, the carefully guarded glasswork skills of Italian artisans produced some of the most ornate mirrors of the era, including round (aka “bulls-eye”) girandole mirrors and intricate Murano glass. Venetian wall mirrors are distinguished by an ornate crown, hand-etched borders, and gold and silver accents.
Arches are everywhere in architectural history, from ancient Roman aqueducts to the stained glass windows of medieval cathedrals. The historical richness of this iconic form gives arch mirrors a powerful presence in home interiors. Use these pointed or rounded mirrors as faux windows, to create visual symmetry, or to give soaring emphasis to a room’s high ceilings.
Floor Mirrors
If you’re looking for a standout statement piece, start here. There are three main floor mirror types.
Cheval
Created in the late 18th century, this full-length dressing mirror can be easily tilted and adjusted to different angles via its dual-pinned suspension within a frame (the frame is known as a horse, and cheval is French for “horse”).
Traditional
Free-standing, leaning, or wall-mount, traditional floor mirrors give you a head-to-toe view – but they don’t have to be limited to the vertical. Try hanging a full-length mirror horizontally on a long, narrow wall for an unexpected accent.
Leaning
Typically ranging from 5 to 8 feet in height, and rectangular or arched in shape, these are bold, room-defining accents with dramatic frames that can be used to embellish bedrooms, dressing rooms, entryways, living rooms, and more.
The Basics of Bevels
Frameless wall mirrors remain the most popular choice for contemporary interiors and bathrooms, but frameless needn’t mean boring. For something different that’s not too dramatic, try bevels. These angled edges add personality and life to functional mirrors, and a versatile style that won’t clash with other furnishings.
“Frames limit where the item can be used,” says Daniel Kalina of Décor Wonderland, whose beveled mirrors are Hayneedle customer favorites. But with bevels, you get an up-to-date style that could also survive a bathroom redesign. One thing to keep in mind: wider bevels are more visually dramatic, but they’re also costlier to produce.
Additional Mirror Trends & Tips
Lighter and warmer woods such as oak, walnut, and cherry are on-trend for contemporary frames.
Blue/turquoise and combinations of black and white are this season’s on-trend mirror colors.
Molded polyurethane, resin, and acrylic frames offer the beauty and longevity of metal or wood, and often at a lower cost.
Don’t forget about kids’ mirrors: discover wall and floor-standing designs for dress-up and daily dressing.
