I wanted to share this image with you of a room designed by Barry Dixon, hung with a beautiful mirror, as seen in the September 2011 issue of House Beautiful. Three of the things that make this vignette so successful are that 1) the mirror is hung at a natural height for a person to look in to its center, 2) the mirror itself is a lovely piece of art due to its oval shape and ornate frame, and 3) that it is reflecting a beautiful piece of art and a well chosen hanging lamp and medallion.
Room by Barry Dixon as seen in House Beautiful Sep 2011 |
They wanted a new tv so we removed the mirror and hung the tv over the fireplace, and also rearranged the furniture and replaced the too-small rug with the larger rug from the dining room along with new paint and updated lighting and window treatments. While I would have loved to put a piece of art over the fireplace, function for the family is always a first priority!
When choosing to hang a mirror consider what it will reflect when you look at it from all parts of the room. If it reflects a beautiful view or piece of art that you love, go for it! If it's hung so high that it just reflects white ceiling you've lost an opportunity to add to your space. Same goes for reflecting a long dark hallway - who needs more hallway? In those instances consider, instead, a piece of art, maybe with a natural theme like a forest with dappled light coming through aspen trees or a sunny desert vista.
And remember, if the room feels 'dark' but a mirror will only reflect more of that dark room, add real light with table and floor lamps.
If you have questions about when to hang a mirror or how high to hang it, don't hesitate to send me an email with a picture of your space and your question, at design@rivalee.com. Happy decorating!