Mirror & Lighting Guides

The right size, the right height, the right light: clear guides, with real measurements, to decorating with mirrors and lighting.

Antique mirror with spotted silvering in a carved frame Latest guide · Care

Resilver Mirror or Replace It? Tarnished and Scratched Mirrors Explained

Black spots, darkening edges, fine or deep scratches: what damages a mirror, when it is worth having a resilver mirror job done, and the right way to care for it.5 min read Read the guide

Choosing

Size, shape, finish: how to choose a mirror or a light at the right scale.

  1. Mirror Above Couch Ideas: Size, Height and StyleTwo thirds of the sofa width, 8 to 12 in above the back: the measurements for a mirror above couch walls, then elsewhere in the living room and dining room.5 min read

Installing

Hanging heights, hardware, wiring: how to install cleanly and safely.

  1. Installing Ceiling Light Fixtures: Mounting, Wiring and HeightFlush mount, pendant or chandelier: the installation steps, the right mounting for your ceiling and the correct heights above a table, an island or a walkway.6 min read
  2. How to Install Wall Sconce Lighting: Height, Wiring and StepsWall sconce height room by room, tools, wiring and bathroom precautions: everything you need to install a wall sconce neatly and safely.7 min read

Room by room

Bathroom, entryway, living room, bedroom: where to place a mirror, how to light each room.

  1. Decorating With Large Mirrors to Make a Room Look BiggerDecorating with large mirrors makes a room look bigger when they reflect light and depth. Placement, mirror size, mirror walls and gallery walls: the method, room by room.6 min read
  2. Bed Facing Mirror: Where to Put a Mirror in the BedroomA bed facing mirror, an above bed mirror or a full-length mirror by the closet: where to put a mirror in the bedroom, what size to choose and how to hang it safely.6 min read

Style

Japandi, boho chic, warm modern: how to build a calm, cohesive interior.

  1. Living Room Lighting Trends: Trendy Chandeliers, Lamps and MaterialsLayered light, opal glass, natural fibers, sculptural shapes and trendy chandeliers: the lighting trends that matter in the living room and dining room, and how to use them.5 min read
  2. Feng Shui Mirrors: Where to Place Them, Room by RoomNot facing the bed, not facing the front door: what feng shui tradition says about mirrors, room by room, and what those rules mean in practical decorating terms.5 min read

Care

Cleaning a mirror without streaks, dusting a lampshade, caring for brass and rattan.

  1. Resilver Mirror or Replace It? Tarnished and Scratched Mirrors ExplainedBlack spots, darkening edges, fine or deep scratches: what damages a mirror, when it is worth having a resilver mirror job done, and the right way to care for it.5 min read