A good mirror is like the icing on the cake of an interior – they add an extra layer of aesthetic embellishment as well as performing their most practical function – reflecting our own image.  Mirrors can be styled to emphasise a certain décor style, to create the illusion of more space, and to add light to a room. Large or small, mirrors can be styled to enhance their function and increase their beauty.

Interior expert Heather Nette King, stylist for Early Settler, is a big fan of mirrors to provide great décor solutions. Here are her top tips for how to style mirrors in your home:

Round mirrors

Round mirrors are perfect when their curves mimic other round objects in a room, like a circular dining table, or an arched doorway or alcove. 

Repeat the curve throughout the room with accessories like rugs, vases and platters  for a really cohesive look.

Large mirrors

These are perfect for last minute outfit checks in a hallway, bedroom or dressing room.

Ideally because of their size, they should be securely mounted to the wall, but a high rectangular mirror can look very chic when simply leaning against the wall. 

Stylish rattan or cane baskets placed at the base of the mirror look great and can provide easy access storage for accessories and shoes.

Mirrors over consoles

A console decorated with a beautifully curated collection of objects can be easy to create. 

Firstly, make sure the height of the mirror makes sense – can you see yourself without crouching or standing on tip-toes?  Then add up to five or so decorator items of varying height, shape, colour and texture, ensuring that the space between these objects is not even. 

The tallest item should be reflected in the mirror as this creates a lovely connection between the objects and rest of the room – candlesticks are great for this.

Mirrors over fireplaces and mantelpieces

These mirrors are generally hung higher than console mirrors and will reflect any pendant lights hanging in a room, so a standout pendant is worth investing in as it will get double the visual mileage. 

Mantels generally sit squarely above a fireplace, so mirrors should also be hung precisely in the middle of the mantle and be either the same width or just a little narrower to avoid any awkward overhang.

Due to all of this lovely symmetry, mantels look best when they reflect objects that are placed evenly apart, and particularly with identically sized objects at each end.

Mirrors that act as windows

Hanging a mirror close to a window can have the lovely effect of reflecting the outdoors in, whether it be skies or greenery.

Mirrors as objects of art

Smaller mirrors can be a great addition to a wall that has a collection of artworks hung ‘gallery style’ or ‘French style’. 

Choose a mirror with a dramatically different frame to those artworks as this will add a dramatic counterpoint.

Alternatively, choose one with very similar framing if you’d like a more cohesive look.