After bathrooms and bedrooms, adding a wall mirror to the dining room is the next most popular option among homeowners. Placing mirrors in this area can enhance the room’s best features and create the illusion of the room being more open, brighter, and larger. We teach you how to improve your dining room decor with mirrors.
Why Add a Mirror to the Dining Room?
Mirrors are often used as an accent piece to a dining room. They will add depth to your dining experience and can complement a chandelier. The best part of a wall mirror is that it provides an optical illusion of the room being larger. Additionally, this type of wall decor increases the light the room receives.
The Best Place to Put a Mirror
While it may seem obvious as to where to place a mirror in your dining room, there are some tips to consider. Some might seem obvious, but others you may not have ever considered.
- A Mirror Needs to be Proportionate to Your Wall: A long mirror should be hung on a long wall. Short mirrors are placed on small walls. The mirror size needs to be proportionate to the size of the wall, otherwise your decorative mirror will look out of place.
- Shape Matters: The shape of your mirror needs to match the space. Square or circular mirrors should be hung on square walls. Rectangular and oval mirrors go best on rectangular walls. This tip is like the first suggestion in that it needs to be proportionate to the dining room space.
- Place a Mirror Where it Is Useful: Determine where in your dining room it is most practical to place a mirror. Then, incorporate it into that space. Mirrors are generally most useful at eye level, allowing you to do a last-minute appearance check prior to inviting guests into your home.
- Do Not Place Mirrors Facing a Window: When mirrors face a window, there is a potential for a blinding glare from the sun. Depending on which way your window is facing, it may not be an issue. You may want to test out the positioning of your wall mirrors prior to making them permanent to see which angles prevent excessive glare.
What Is the Best Positioning?
When it comes to positioning, a large mirror should never be placed where guests can watch themselves eat. This may be unsettling for people, and it could make them feel self-conscious. Your dining room mirror should also be put at standing height as opposed to seated height. Finally, place the dining room mirror where it reflects the room’s best feature.
To create an impressive overall effect, consider grouping the mirror with other decor, such as candles. Adding a mirror provides a wonderful focal point for the room, permitting you to display the room’s best features. This is how you know that you have positioned it in the best spot.
Not all mirrors are the same, though. Choose one that reflects the room’s unique style, whether that’s a rectangular mirror or a vanity mirror. Elegant, ornate, formal dining rooms should contain a regal mirror that complements the style. For modern spaces, choose a mirror that is sleeker in its appearance.
How High Should You Hang Your Mirror?
While there are different factors to take into consideration, mirrors should be hung at standing eye level. For most individuals, this tends to be 60” from the floor. If the placement is above a sideboard or buffet table, the height will need to be adjusted according to the piece’s height. Allow for a four-inch gap between the top of a buffet table and the mirror.
Decorating Tips
There are several tips to incorporate when decorating a dining room with a mirror. These dining room mirror ideas will give you the best overall effect.
- Play with Several Different Mirrors to Provide Dimension: One option involves ditching a large, dramatic mirror and replacing it with a few mirrors to one side. This will provide a centerpiece to the room. The dining room wall mirror adds visual interest by incorporating something different than just a standard style.
- Mirrors Can be Hung Close to Windows for Natural Light: While putting a mirror across from a window can be problematic, putting it near a window allows for natural light to be reflected further into the room. It adds brightness and an open feel to the space.
- Add the Mirror for Dramatic Effect: Dining rooms are a wonderful area to generate a big, dramatic effect. Mirrors can catch light from a window. They can also be near a sideboard to generate a focal point.
- Instead of a Long Mirror, Break Up the Space: For long walls, add three or more mirrors together in a row. This works beautifully in a modern dining room with clean lines. The mirror should have borders around them, and they should also match the color of the furniture. The look can be further enhanced by adding wall sconces between the mirrors.
- For a Modern Dining Space, Incorporate Oval or Arced Mirrors: This also works to provide an optical illusion of adding height to a room. By adding rimless oval mirrors, they can provide a gorgeous contrast to other furniture shapes.
- Avoid Hanging Mirrors Above Where a Guest Is Seated: Putting a mirror above a guest’s head may generate uneasiness as they sit beneath it. Even though it may be completely secured to your wall, the weight of your mirror may also make some people concerned through meal time.
Dining room decor with mirrors provides added depth, height, openness, and brightness to your space. By incorporating it into your design, you can open a room up without taking down walls and can add more light to make the room appear brighter. Mirrors offer that wonderful “cheat” to any room when they are well-placed and the tips above are taken into consideration.
