Mirror size guide: above a console, dresser or fireplace

Above a console, dresser or sideboard

Choose a mirror about two-thirds to three-quarters as wide as the furniture below it, and hang it so its bottom edge sits 15 to 25 cm (6–10 in) above the top. That gap is close enough for the two to read as one arrangement and high enough to leave room for a lamp, a vase or a stack of books. A mirror wider than the furniture looks top-heavy; one narrower than about half of it looks lost.

Most of our mirrors are 51 to 102 cm (20–40 in) wide, and half are 66 cm (26 in) or narrower, which suits narrow consoles and smaller dressers; for a wide dresser or a sideboard, look at the widest mirrors or hang a pair. For a long sideboard, a wide rectangular mirror or a pair of matching mirrors side by side reaches the right width; a pair also frames a lamp at each end neatly.

Above a fireplace

Above a mantel, a mirror about two-thirds of the mantel’s width looks balanced, hung with its bottom edge 10 to 20 cm (4–8 in) above the mantel shelf so candles and objects on the mantel have room. A round or arched mirror softens the straight lines of a fireplace surround; a tall rectangular one makes a low ceiling feel higher. Leaning a large mirror on a deep mantel works too, as long as it is secured to the wall at the top.

Above a bathroom vanity

Over a vanity, choose a mirror a little narrower than the vanity itself and centre it on the sink, or on each sink for a double vanity with two mirrors. Hang it so your face sits near the middle of the glass when you stand at the sink. Leave room above the faucet and for any wall sconces on either side.

Entryways and hallways

By the front door, a mirror gives you a last look on the way out and makes a small entry feel wider. In a narrow hallway, a slim rectangular or round mirror with a shallow frame keeps the passage clear, hung at eye level so it works for everyone walking past. Place it where it reflects light or an open view rather than a closet door or a coat rack, and if there is a console below, size the mirror to the console with the same two-thirds rule.

On a bare wall, and full-length mirrors

On a wall with no furniture, centre the mirror at about eye level, 145 to 152 cm (57–60 in) from the floor, the same height galleries use for art. For a full-length mirror, a useful rule is that a mirror about half your height, hung with its top just above your eyes, shows you from head to toe. The simplest option is a tall mirror leaned against the wall, which needs to reach about eye level, close to your full height; our tallest mirrors reach 170 cm (67 in) and more. Secure a leaning mirror at the top so it cannot tip.

Choosing the shape

Our mirrors come in round, arched, oval and rectangular shapes, with wood, iron or other metal frames, some in brass or gold finishes. A round mirror softens a room full of straight edges, such as a rectangular console or a row of cabinets. An arched mirror adds height and suits a narrow entry. A rectangle echoes a dresser or a doorway and is the easiest shape to size to the furniture below.

1. Measure the furniture’s width and multiply by two-thirds and by three-quarters.
2. Choose the mirror width in that range, then check its height against the wall above.
3. Mark the bottom edge 15 to 25 cm above the furniture, or 10 to 20 cm above a mantel.
4. Hang heavy mirrors from a stud or rated anchors on two points, and check with a level.
5. Look at what the mirror reflects from the doorway and from where you sit before you settle on the spot.