Decorating With Large Mirrors to Make a Room Look Bigger

Decorating with large mirrors is the simplest way to make a room look bigger without knocking down a wall. The mirror still has to reflect something worth doubling: a window, a view, a light-colored wall. Hung in the wrong place, it shows only a corner of the ceiling or a cluttered shelf, and the room feels smaller than before.

Here is how to choose the placement, the mirror size and the format, from a single wall mirror to a full mirror wall, with measurements for the living room, the entryway and the hallway.

Why decorating with large mirrors makes a room look bigger

The eye reads a reflection as a continuation of the space. A mirror of about 11 sq ft (1 m²) on a wall creates the illusion of an opening onto a second room as deep as the one you are standing in. Two effects add up: perceived depth, and light, since the mirror sends part of the daylight it receives toward darker areas.

What matters is not the mirror itself but what it shows. Before buying, stand where it will hang and hold your phone in selfie mode, facing the room: what you see on screen is what the mirror will double.

Where to place the mirror in relation to the window

On a wall perpendicular to the window

This position gives the most light without glare. The mirror catches the light at an angle and sends it to the back of the room. In a north-facing living room, or one with windows on both sides, it is the best choice.

Facing the window

The mirror reflects the view and doubles the window. The effect is strongest when the view is open (garden, sky, trees). If you face a nearby building, choose the perpendicular wall instead.

Between two windows

A tall, narrow mirror between two windows creates a third opening. It is a classic layout in older apartments, and it works very well with an arched mirror that echoes the shape of the windows.

Mirror size: think big

A small mirror decorates; a large mirror opens up the room. Under 24 in (60 cm) per side, the effect on the space stays weak. For a real gain, the mirror should cover a good share of the wall and come down low enough to reflect the floor, which is the strongest depth cue.

A large mirror leaned on the floor against the wall is the most effective of all: it reflects the floor and looks like an open door. A floor mirror 67 to 71 in (170 to 180 cm) tall works with ceilings from 8 ft (2.4 m). Secure it to the wall with an anti-tip strap.

Mirror wall or wall of mirrors

The full mirror wall

Covering an entire wall with mirror literally doubles a room. Use it on a narrow wall (an alcove, the end of a hallway, the wall behind a banquette) rather than the largest living room wall, where it quickly feels like a dance studio. The panels are glued with a neutral-cure mirror adhesive: standard acetoxy (vinegar-smelling) silicones attack the silver backing and cause black spots. The weight climbs fast (about 2 lb per sq ft, or 10 kg per m², in 4 mm glass): beyond about 21 sq ft (2 m²), have a professional install it.

A wall of mirrors as a gallery

Easier to install and more decorative, a wall of mirrors combines 5 to 9 mirrors in different shapes and frames. To get the composition right:

• mark out a rectangular zone of about two thirds of the wall;
• place the largest mirror slightly off center, then arrange the others around it;
• keep a constant gap of 2 to 3 in (5 to 8 cm) between frames;
• cut the outlines from kraft paper and tape them to the wall before drilling.

For a cohesive look, stick to one family of frames (all gold, or black metal and wood) and vary the shapes. Round mirrors in three different diameters make an easy base.

Large mirrors in living room spaces: ideas

• Above the fireplace: as wide as the mantel or slightly narrower, with the bottom 4 to 8 in (10 to 20 cm) above it.
• Behind a floor lamp: a large mirror behind a floor lamp doubles the evening light and makes a reading corner feel more generous.
• Above a console: on a 47 in (120 cm) piece, choose a mirror 31 to 39 in (80 to 100 cm) wide.
• As a faux window: a mirror with window-pane bars or an arched top on a blank wall imitates an opening.
• Facing a plant or artwork: the mirror doubles it and turns it into a focal point.

Narrow spaces: hallway mirror, entryway, small bathroom

In a hallway, placement changes the effect. On the long wall, a hallway mirror widens the passage. At the far end, it lengthens it, but it also shows you walking toward yourself, which not everyone enjoys. A row of three identical rectangular mirrors spaced 12 to 20 in (30 to 50 cm) apart gives rhythm to a long hallway better than one large one.

In the entryway, the mirror is also for a last look: center it 59 to 63 in (150 to 160 cm) from the floor. In a small bathroom, cover the full width of the vanity. A rectangle mirror works best there, because it extends the lines of the tile.

Frame, glass and finish: what changes the effect

To make a room look bigger, the reflection must dominate. A thin frame, under about 1 in (1 to 3 cm), in metal or light wood, leaves the glass center stage. A frameless mirror with a beveled edge almost disappears into the wall and suits small spaces. Wide, carved frames are decorative, but keep them for large sizes where they stay in proportion.

The glass matters too. A classic silver mirror reflects nearly all the light it receives. Smoked or bronze-tinted glass, very elegant, reflects noticeably less: it dresses a room that is already bright but will not light up a dark hallway. Finally, shape guides the eye. A vertical format makes the ceiling look higher, a horizontal one widens the wall. In a low room, under 8 ft (2.4 m), favor vertical.

Mistakes that make a room look smaller

• Hanging it too high: the mirror only reflects the ceiling. Keep its center around 59 to 63 in (150 to 160 cm).
• Reflecting clutter: loaded shelves, a desk corner, a crowded entryway.
• Scattering small mirrors across several walls: the eye wanders instead of reading depth.
• Placing two mirrors face to face: the tunnel effect is tiring and blurs the sense of space.
• Putting a very thick, dark frame on a small mirror: the frame outweighs the reflection.