15 Mistakes To Avoid When Decorating With Mirrors

We love decorating our home with wall mirrors. A simple product with so many benefits.

They are so versatile, not only making a room look more spacious, spread natural light around, but also seem to add a whole new dimension and breathe new life to a living space.

That said, there are a few things to avoid when decorating with wall mirrors. When I first started getting into home decor, I kind of made some silly mistakes, which were rightly pointed out to me by some guests.

Over the years, I have noticed a few mistakes to avoid when decorating with mirrors, and I hope they can be useful to you too.

Let’s dig in!

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1. Having too many mirrors in a room

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. Although you might have read that mirrors do wonders to a room, having too many in one will simply make it look like a mirror maze and make it unpleasant for the people in it.

2. Hanging up wall mirrors without planning

Yes, wall mirrors are a great way to add to the decor of your home, but you will need to plan it properly before executing. Always consider its surroundings, and test it out before actually hanging it. You really do not want to reflect an undesirable area of your home such as the overflowing pile of clothes in the laundry basket, or worse, a direct view of the toilet bowl.

3. Placing them in direct sunlight

I love to use mirrors to act as a go-between of the living area and outdoor spaces. They kind of bring the outdoors into your home, and they are great for bringing in sunlight too. However, you don’t ever want to place a mirror in direct sunlight. By doing so, the mirror will lose its reflective qualities after some time and the overall quality will deteriorate. Plus, you don’t want to stung by a powerful glare each time you look at it.

4. Not matching the general style of your interior design

Having a mirror that does not blend in well will cause confusion to anyone. There is no way a rustic wooden mirror will go well in an Art Deco style. You get the point. When planning out your purchases, be sure to recognize the general style of your home and get one that can complement it. For example, a frameless wall mirror will go well with a modern minimalist design, while rustic wood mirrors can fit into farmhouse/country-style homes perfectly.

5. Choosing the wrong type of mirrors for bathrooms and kitchens

Bathrooms and kitchens are always exposed to moisture and humidity, especially the bathroom. Guess what will happen to a non treated wooden mirror in a bathroom over time? Yup, algae will probably start growing and the wood will turn bad in an instant. Not only that, you might have even noticed black spots forming on your mirror surface, or watermarks that just won’t go away. Either find one that is water-resistant or place them away from water sources.

6. Hanging a mirror directly opposite your bed

This point is probably contentious since some people like to see themselves the first thing they wake up in the mornings. My opinion is that they can be pretty distracting, and if you believe in Feng Shui, this must be avoided. From an amateur’s scientific perspective, having a mirror reflecting your bed directly also brings light to it, which is not ideal if you want to have a good night’s sleep.

7. Placing mirrors on more than two walls 

This point is somewhat similar to the first point. You really don’t want to have mirrors on every single wall in your room. It is quite uncomfortable and seriously, quite ugly. And by the way, if you think you can have more “space” by hanging more mirrors, I’m sorry to tell you that is not the case at all.

8. Hanging full-length mirrors

Sure, lots of situations call for full-length mirrors to be hung, especially if you have a space constraint. On the other hand, if you have a small corner available in your room, you can consider leaning a wall mirror instead. This method adds a new design to your room without lifting a finger, as well as the benefit of not needing to mount it! Talk about style born out of laziness.

9. Not using mirrors in smaller rooms

Smaller rooms tend to get overlooked, more so if it were a room that is unused or left alone often. While I can totally empathize and honestly, sometimes I can get lazy with dolling up small rooms, a mirror can change the dynamics pretty quickly. A large rectangle mirror hung horizontally across or two arch wall mirrors hung side by side is sometimes all you need to make an impact.

10. Not using mirrors along the hallway

I’m not sure why, but I frequently don’t see people decorating their hallways. Maybe they are not sure what to do or simply never had it in their mind, but here is where mirrors can come in handy. Placing a few small odd shaped mirrors here can make the tight space look larger as well as allow people to check on their hairdo just before heading out.

11. Placing an accent mirror alongside something distinct

Imagine you have a gallery wall, and a piece of wall art is the focal point. You really don’t want to add another wall accent to snatch away its glory. This is where you will avoid hanging a prominent looking mirror, such as a sunburst design or a large mirror, and take away the attention from the main focal point.

12. Hanging a mirror too high

I made this mistake once, but luckily it was very apparent a day or two later. It just looks out of place and not connected to the furniture below it. Here is a simple guideline: hang them at eye level or around 5-5.5 ft; if there is a console, hang it about 6-8 inches above it; above a sofa set, allow 12 inches of space between them.

13. Using a small mirror in the bathroom

The bathroom is one area of your home where bigger is really better. When working within the confines of a bathroom, try out larger designs, or incorporate a mirrored wall. Those facing a real challenge with space should look at using wall mirrors with shelves in here. This is also a great place to experiment with unique bathroom mirror designs!

14. Not using a mirror in the dining room

If you practice Feng Shui, you would know that the dining room is like a wealth vault. Hence, hanging a wall mirror here can help you to keep the wealth in. Beyond that, a nice decorative wall mirror here can enhance the space and also reflect any interesting decor pieces here, such as a pendant crystal chandelier. You will enjoy your meals here even more with the beautiful lights bouncing around!

15. Not caring for your mirrors

And lastly, you would be making a big mistake if you thought that you could simply hang them up and leave them there. Mirrors need love too, and it is important that you maintain them properly or you will start to see dark spots and desilvering. Learn how to care for mirrors here!

What mistakes to avoid when decorating with wall mirrors: In summary

Now that you are equipped with these tips, the next step is to start implementing them!

I recommend checking out shadowbox mirrors if you want to showcase a favorite decorative piece, or learn how to pick the right wall mirror to go along with what you found out today!

And don’t forget to check out our wall mirrors collection too!