Mirrors are one of the most versatile products you can buy for your home. Adding light and the illusion of more space, today mirrors come in all shapes and sizes, from dramatic and full-length to subtle and more compact styles. Read our mirror buying guide to discover which mirror works for your home.

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Things to Consider: Buying a Mirror

Mirror Sizes & Positioning

Proportions are important when it comes to mirrors - too big and they can overpower a room, too small and they can look dwarfed. Make sure to measure the spot where you want to place your mirror as well as the mirror itself before making a purchase. As a general rule, a mirror should be about two-thirds of the width of the object it hangs above (if any).

In terms of hanging height, as a rule mirrors should be positioned at eye-level or slightly lower. Therefore this is up to you and anyone in your home who'll be using it - there's no point investing in a new mirror if no one can look into it.

Mirror Styles for Every Room

Generally speaking, you can put hang mirror wherever you like, but it pays to consider the function of the room before you do. The hallway, living room, bedroom and bathroom are some of the best spots in the house where mirrors have the most impact.

The Hallway: By strategically placing a mirror either in a dark corner, behind a lamp or opposite a window in your hallway, you can direct light to instantly open up the space. Hallway mirrors are also ideal for getting in that quick outfit check before you leave or enter the house. Accent mirrors in hallways act as decorative as well as functional pieces and look great when paired with a few framed photos or even a gallery wall.

The Living Room: The room where families spend most of our time, it's important to make sure that the living room is well-lit and open. Large wall or over mantle mirrors act as the perfect light sources - if you position them correctly, they'll catch and reflect light from windows, creating the illusion of much more space. Mirrors with signature designs or unique frames are great for adding character or tying the style of the living room together.

The Bedroom: The bedroom is the room where we dress for the day so it makes sense to add a full length and/or a dressing table mirror to this space.

The Bathroom: Bathroom mirrors are often more functional than they are stylish. Play around with an adjustable shaving mirror or add optimal storage with a mirrored bathroom cabinet.

Tip: If you're interested in adding a bathroom vanity mirror but don't yet have a unit, then our guide, How to Choose a Bathroom Vanity Unit will show which style will work best in your home.

Popular Mirror Frame Materials

Choosing a frame for your mirror has as much a decorative impact as the mirror style itself. Whether you want to blend with the rest of your interior decor or add something that completely stands out, below you'll find the most common mirror frame materials to choose from.

Wood: Wooden framed mirrors are great for classically styled interiors thanks to their elegant and vintage appeal, however, for more modern homes, wooden mirrors make great focal pieces. Available in a range of natural tones including espresso, birch and redwood, you'll also find a plethora of shapes and styles of wooden mirrors, everything from traditional finishes to weathered and driftwood styles for a more rustic feel.

Glass: Glass framed mirrors are chic, stylish and easily add a modern touch to any room. These mirrors can be cut to suit a range of shapes masking them great for reflecting lights as well as acting as distinctive decorative pieces.

Metal: Metal framed mirrors are often styled into contemporary finished or more recently, industrial-inspired designs. Common metals used include silver, steel, gold and copper.

Plastic: Often moulded from composite resin, plastic framed mirrors are a budget-friendly alternative to wooden and metal framed mirrors.

Best Way to Clean a Mirror

If your mirror isn't too dirty, then cleaning can be sorted in seconds by rubbing with warm water on a microfibre cloth - use circular motions to avoid smears. A little worse? Dilute some washing-up liquid in a sink full of warm water and clean its surface with a sponge. Then buff away any remaining marks with a clean cloth.

Settled on a wall mirror? Our guide, How to Hang Mirrors and Pictures Like a Pro will show you how to hang your new mirror, as well as find pride of place in your home.

Tip: Discover even more home inspiration with:

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