10 Mirrors and how to style your space
Because of their ability to reflect light, mirrors are a super tool at maximising light in low-lit, gloomier rooms, enhancing the available natural light.
Decorating with mirrors can make a space appear larger and brighter and with the right placement can echo the greenery from outside, giving a sense of bringing the outdoors in.
Mirrors create a focal point, can make long narrow spaces feel wider and work wonders in unexpected places, not just in the more traditional placements.
Mirrors can set the tone of the room, echoing styling touches you have chosen in other areas and helping create that cohesive look. The opportunities are endless with mirrors.
With mirrors in all shapes and sizes, how do you begin to choose a design which is right for your space?
We have collated our favourites from the Nest collection and given our top choice mirrors for styling, whether you’re looking to add colour to a room or choosing a floor-length mirror based more on practicality.
Enhancing a room colour or adding a colourful focal point
A top choice for us is the Vitra Colour Frame Mirror from designer Julie Richoz who has perfectly selected colour combinations for the frame - all distinctive and a joyful celebration of how to use colour in design.
This mirror works beautifully on its own, complimenting a colour scheme or providing that contrasting ‘pop’. The design works really effectively arranged as a collective for maximum impact; creating a colourful focal point in a more pared-back setting.
The deep-set nature of the frame allows for ornaments to be placed alongside the mirror interior which can make a really lovely place to display a much-loved item. The orange and blue combination is particularly striking yet tasteful.
The staple circular mirror, suitable for any room
Some homes might feature a mirror in every room and others might use them more for practicality opting for the hallway and bedroom. But in most homes, mirrors are a must for the bathroom!
Finding a stylish, well-sized mirror that will be durable and stay looking its best when exposed to moisture isn’t always easy to find. Cue, the Montana AROUND Mirror. With a staple circular design, perfect for viewing and bouncing those rays of light around the room, the Around is an all-round solution.
The frame is available in six colours, to complement or contrast with your colour scheme and is ideal for bathrooms, with a water-resistant finish. We’re in love with the Monarch Blue finish.
Creating or enhancing a Scandinavian aesthetic
Nothing looks more at home in a minimal Scandi interior than a beautifully crafted wooden mirror. In perfect harmony with the sublime simplicity of the decor, the material speaks for itself, bringing warmth and natural character.
If this is the style you’re looking to achieve, we suggest the VLA62 Radio House Mirror from Carl Hansen & Son - a striking piece of Danish modernism.
Solid oak beautifully frames the full-length mirror, sure to continue looking beautiful for many years ahead and well worth the investment.
Reflecting multiple angles at once
Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? For those looking for a more traditional take on a mirror, a design that can offer multiple angles all at once, we suggest the GUBI Vanity Wall Mirror.
Instantly memorable upon its release due to it being a modern take on the vanity mirrors of the 18th Century, Vanity is a wooden design with multiple mirrored panels that allows the person to admire their reflection from different angles all at the same time.
Even if not being used in the traditional dressing table setting, the Vanity Mirror can work wonders visually in a space reflecting three areas simultaneously and providing a really interesting focal point when viewed from numerous angles.
Our choice for a dressing room setting or living space - how incredible does it look styled over a piano!
A vision in lights
Mirrors come in all shapes and sizes and some go one step further and illuminate at the same time. Inspired by the traditional dressing table mirror, the Normann Copenhagen Illu Mirror is our top choice for those looking for a mirror with integrated lighting.
Rather than having exposed bulbs on the mirror frame like the ones we have all seen in dressing room spaces, the Illu has LED lighting cleverly integrated into the frame unobtrusively providing a soft light to your space. Ideal if additional lighting is required in the room and you’re looking for a little more from your mirror.
The design itself is joyful, with a playful, rippling design. At over a metre and a half tall, the larger version allows you to view your whole outfit with ease.
Creating soft lines and organic shapes
A beautiful example of how a mirror can create a visual impression and work in harmony with the feel of a room. The ferm LIVING Pond Mirror is the perfect choice for those looking to create or enhance a more fluid, natural and organic aesthetic.
This design is an Instagram favourite, as we have seen more and more people opting for softer, curved lines when making interior choices. A perfectly functioning mirror, the Pond Mirror is a thing of beauty in its own right, working almost like a piece of artwork on the wall, blending beautifully but mesmerising at the same time.
Available in three alluring watery shapes and looking great hung vertically or horizontally.
Space saving with a small footprint
The Skagerak Collection Georg Mirror from Fritz Hansen is at the top of our list for those looking for a mirror that leans.
You might not wish to hang a mirror and possibly don’t have the space to fit a wider free-standing mirror in your intended space but enjoy the idea of having a full-length mirror leaning against the wall. The Georg pairs wonderfully with a coat and shoe rack in a hallway, offering practicality with a tiny footprint.
The frame exudes lightness and simplicity with clean lines, and a distinctive Nordic style, leaning on the wooden frame where it meets the wall and floor.
We love the untreated oak for its earnest and natural appeal but the black offers a striking look for homes with that styling running throughout. Both are on show in our showroom!
Finding solutions for areas with little wall space
For instances where wall space for hanging a mirror is limited, but you need a practical full-length view - our vote goes to the ferm LIVING Shard Free Standing Mirror.
Ideal for the bedroom and hallway or places where space is at a premium, this design features a super useful frame that doubles up as a space in which to hang clothing. The style is geometric, refined, sleek and stylish and when placed correctly can provide a large area to enhance the natural light or reflect a beautiful view.
Enhancing the central focal point of a room
Traditionally mirrors are often hung over or placed on a mantlepiece within a room, a great way of enhancing that central focal point in the room. They reflect the ceiling and opposite walls making the space feel larger.
Our favourite mirror that can be used in this way is the GUBI F.A.33 Wall Mirror, bringing some 1930s elegance and glamour. Designed by legendary Italian architect Gio Ponti, the frame is distinctive, lightly curved and now iconic in its own right.
Choose from sleek black brass for impact or polished brass to further enhance brass touches from other furniture within the room.
Creating an illusion with mirrors
Our final choice goes to the Muuto Arced Mirror, a modern interpretation of the traditional rectangular wooden mirror.
A design cleverly created with purposeful details to give a window-like allure to the spaces it’s placed within, a really useful tool in rooms lacking windows and the associated light they bring. The colour palette for the frame colour choices are all exquisite, complimenting or contrasting depending on your style.
Understanding how to decorate with mirrors can transform a home and visually help to create brighter spaces. Whether you’re feeling brave with placement, colour or style, mirrors are an effective accessory to reflect, create an illusion of space or unite an interior style.
Have you been inspired to get creative with mirrors? Take a look at our mirror collection here or share your styling with us over Instagram, by tagging us @nest_co_uk.
