5 Easy Tips for Mirror Decorating Ideas in the Living Room
Mirrors are one of my favorite things to look for when I go thrifting and using mirror decorating ideas in the living room is a go-to style for my cozy cottage home decor style. Mirror decorating ideas in the living room can be a stunning way to create a focal point in your living space while being a budget-friendly decorative element. Check out some of my favorite thrifted finds and how I use these decorative mirrors in my living room decor!
Confession: I can’t even begin to tell you how many vintage mirrors I have in my decor stash to use for mirror decorating ideas in the living room and around our home. Wall mirrors are one of my favorite things to look for when I go thrifting or antiquing. Mirror decorating ideas in the living room are definitely some of the ways I love to make the living space feel cozy.
At the same time, living room mirrors are a perfect way to reflect more natural light into any space and make it feel light and bright.
If decorative mirrors are not on your regular thrifting list, I’m here today to convince you that mirror decorating ideas in the living room are a great option for any house decor, no matter your personal style or even the size of your living space. By the end of this post, I hope you’ll want to add a beautiful mirror to your own thrifting list!
Speaking of thrifting, this is one of my favorite blog posts to share each month with my friends over at Thrifting With the Gals!
Thrifting With the Gals
Page Contents
When Thrifting With the Gals rolls around each month, I get excited for all of the inspiration I know I will get from these ladies, as well as the creative decorating ideas. At the end of this post, you can see a sneak peek of the thrifted home decor they each sharing this month and then click on over to read their blog posts.
Our regular Thrifting With the Gals include:
- Rachel from The Pond’s Farmhouse
- Ann from Dabbling and Decorating
- Lora from Create and Ponder
Our guest host this month is Laura from Decor to Adore
How do I arrange mirrors in my living room?
Today, I want to show you 5 of my favorite mirror decorating ideas in the living room. However, wall mirrors are popular choices for both small living rooms as well as large living spaces. There are many ways to use decorative mirrors with your mirror decorating ideas in the living room.
Here are some living room mirror ideas that are easy to use in any space:
- Above a fireplace
- Opposite a window to reflect natural light
- Above an entryway table
- Above a sofa table or console table
- Large wall mirror on a transitional wall, such as between a living area and the kitchen
- Fill a blank wall space
- Part of a gallery wall
- To enhance the architectural design of a space
- Behind a sofa, flanked with symmetrical artwork or sconces
- Over a buffet table or at the end of a dining table in an open space
- To make a smaller space feel larger
- As a statement piece or focal point of a room
- Combine several mirrors of different sizes and different shapes for an eclectic look
5 Easy Tips for Mirror Decorating Ideas in the Living Room
1. Layer mirrors and art for mirror decorating ideas in the living room.
Where to put decorative mirrors?
One way that I often use a large mirror for mirror decorating ideas in the living room is to use it as an anchor piece to layer artwork and other smaller antique mirrors. I love switching up the large gallery wall behind the sofa in our family room. Wall mirrors are the best way to give the illusion of more space to our long, narrow family room living space.
I have done used a statement mirror as a backdrop to layer other decorative pieces in several different ways. Basically, though, I start by adding a large mirror over the mantel. Sometimes I lean the mirror on the wall and sometimes I hang it, depending on the size of the mirror and how much mantel space I need in front of the statement mirror.
Next, I lean a variety of framed artwork, an ornate frame that is empty for a touch of elegance and texture, or antique mirrors.
Usually, I add some of my favorite faux greenery or potted plants to soften the straight edges of the mirrors and artwork. I may also add some thrifted candle holders with my favorite flameless taper candles. I love how they flicker on in the evenings since they are on a timer. The candlelight and mirror reflection make the living space feel extra cozy!
2. Fill a gallery wall for eclectic mirror decorating ideas in the living room.
How to decorate a wall of mirrors?
Another of my favorite mirror decorating ideas in the living rom is to use a variety of wall mirrors, even incorporating some organic shapes if you want, is to hang a grouping of mirrors together to fill a large wall space. If you enjoy thrifting for decorative mirrors like I do, mirror decorating in the living room is a great way to display your collection too!
How do I arrange mirrors in my living room?
- Hang a center statement mirror, such as a sunburst mirror, with groupings of smaller mirrors on each side.
- Arrange mirrors in odd numbers for a more eclectic arrangement.
- Hang matching mirrors in a trio.
- Mix vintage mirrors with framed artwork (I love THIS artwork that looks like vintage paintings. Combined with thrifted frames, it is super inexpensive and so beautiful!)
- Hang a grouping of mirrors in a geometric design or symmetrical grid-style.
3. Use mirror decorating ideas in the living room to reflect light.
The reflective surface of mirror decorating ideas in the living room are a simple solution to a room that feels too dark or perhaps doesn’t receive as much natural light. Strategically placing decorative mirrors in certain places can create a really cozy and inviting atmosphere by bouncing around both natural light from windows and cozy light from table lamps or even candles.
One of my favorite winter mantel decor designs was when I placed a grouping of thrifted brass candle holders in front of decorative mirrors (also thrifted, of course!) for mirror decorating in the living room. I used my favorite flameless taper candles that operate on a timer so they just flickered on each evening! Then, I added some soft greenery. The cozy glow from the candles hit the reflective surface of the mirrors and added such a cozy glow to the entire family room.
Here are a few more mirror decorating ideas in the living room that will reflect the light:
- Hang mirrors on an open wall opposite a window to reflect the natural light.
- Lean mirrors against the wall behind table lamps on a console table to create more light.
- Hang mirrored candle sconces on the wall, flanking artwork or even a TV.
- Hang or lean a mirror behind a grouping of candle holders with flameless taper candles that are on a timer.
4. Use an oversized mirror for a focal point with mirror decorating ideas in the living room.
While I tend to enjoy using collections of decorative objects, even thrifted mirrors, in my decorating, sometimes using an oversized decorative mirror as a single statement piece can really be the key to making a room feel cozy, yet uncluttered, and inviting, but not too stuffy.
A large, even oversized mirror, makes an amazing focal point for any mirror decorating ideas in the living room. In our music room, we hung a huge DIY mirror horizontally over a long, 10 foot apothecary. While this space offers a lot of storage and is a very functional room for all of the music that happens in our home, it is also a big statement piece in our open floor plan.
Here is the quick version of this DIY oversized mirror:
- We thrifted a large, chippy white door frame that was still intact. It’s one of my favorite thrifted finds!
- Cut plywood to create a backing to the door frame.
- Use extra strong bonding adhesive to attach mirror squares in the desired size.
- Add a piece of wood to the bottom of the “door frame” to complete the mirror frame.
- Paint and distress to blend with the rest of the door frame.
- Hang with a French cleat (see a detailed post HERE about hanging extra heavy items on the wall).
5. Layer seasonal decor for mirror decorating ideas in the living room.
While I just love decorating in general, seasonal decorating is so fun to me! Another favorite way that I enjoy using mirror decorating ideas in the living room is to incorporate them into my season home decor. There are a lot of great ideas to use mirror decorating ideas in the living room with seasonal decorations and I often use a mirror as a second layer of a backdrop for seasonal accents.
For my winter living room decor, I added pretty mounted antlers layered over a large vintage mirror as part of my gallery wall. To do this, we tied thin jute twine to the back of the antlers and ran the twine over the top edge of the mirror, secured with a thumbtack.
Another super easy way to attach decor to a mirror for mirror decorating ideas in the living room is with a suction cup or command hook. To add a pretty Christmas wreaths to my favorite thrifted round mirror, I used a simple suction cup with a hook!
Even if you don’t hang anything on the the actual mirror, you can definitely still use a mirror for extra layers with seasonal decorating. Often, I will lean a mirror against the wall on my mantel and then lean other things in front of it. Decorative accents like architectural salvage, thrifted frames, or vintage style artwork are all great ideas to combine seasonal decorations with mirror decoration ideas in the living room.
In my bedroom, I added a beautiful mirror that I found on Facebook Marketplace! It is definitely very old and the owner supposedly got it in Sweden. I have no way of knowing the journey of this pretty piece for sure, but I’m so glad it found a new home in our house! Since it is so heavy, we leaned it against the wall, atop a wooden cabinet. For a coastal touch, I added a couple of old books in a gray-blue color along with a large piece of coral, which I found at an antique store!
Tip: I often see beautiful mirrors on Facebook Marketplace so if you are on the hunt for mirror decorating ideas in the living room, definitely check there! You can use search terms such as “floor mirrors, bathroom mirror, wall mirror, or even living room decor” to help you look.
What to put next to a mirror on the wall?
Many of us use pretty decorative mirrors for mirror decorating ideas in the living room. However, once the right mirror is hung, deciding what to hang next to the mirror on the wall can require some consideration!
In a small room, you may want to consider pretty light sconces that can add even more reflective light to the space. I use THESE wireless gold wall sconces in my bedroom and love them! They are so easy to install and do not require hardwiring. Plus, I love that they mix so perfectly with my vintage and thrifted home decor.
Candle sconces can be another pretty accent to hang on the wall beside a mirror. THESE mirrored sconces have great vintage style! You may also want to check your thrift stores and vintage markets. You may find some really beautiful thrifted options for wall sconces!
Often, I mix any number of my many thrifted mirrors into a gallery wall with artwork. Thrift stores are a great place to find budget-friendly wall art. I also like to check antique malls, vintage shops, flea markets, and yard sales for wall art. Or, as I mentioned earlier, you can definitely pick up a variety of styles of thrifted picture frames. Then, combine them with these gorgeous vintage style prints.
THESE prints are one of my favorite ways to add a simple touch of seasonal decor without spending a lot of money. The best part is that they look so much like actual paintings. Combined with vintage frames, they definitely pass for true vintage artwork for your walls and mix perfectly with pretty wall mirrors!
Where to find thrifted wall mirrors?
I’ve shared these ideas throughout the post, but I have so many mirrors that I’ve gotten second hand. My favorite places to find decorative mirrors for mirror decorating ideas in the living room are:
- Yard sales
- Vintage markets
- Antique malls
- Facebook marketplace
- Thrift stores
- Flea markets
While I don’t often purchase home decor without having a pretty good idea of where or how I will use it, mirrors are one of those things that I don’t hold back on. Unless it is a huge mirror, if I see smaller decorative mirrors that I love and are a decent price, I love to add them to my collection. Different gallery walls require different shapes and sizes of mirrors and it seems like I always find a way to use them!
Whether you already have pretty mirrors or you are just getting started with ways to use with mirror decorating ideas in the living room, I hope this post inspires you to have some fun with your living room decor. Beautiful home decor with mirror decorating ideas in the living room doesn’t need to break the bank and it doesn’t have to be frustrating!
I always suggest shopping your home first for mirror decorating ideas in the living room. Then, make a list of the kinds of things you’d like to have and hit the thrift stores, yard sales, vintage markets, and clearance aisles. Combining decorative mirrors with vintage accents is beautiful for any room of the house. Hopefully, this post has given you a few ways that you can try mirror decorating ideas in the living room or any other room of the house too!
Now, before you head off to start having fun with your home decor and mirror decorating ideas in the living room, make sure to visit with other Thrifting With the Gals ladies! There is a lot of wonderful home decor inspiration today that I know you will enjoy. You can click on any of the pictures or links below to get all the details about their thrifted treasures and how they are using them to create beautiful, cozy homes!
Ann from Dabbling and Decorating
Laura from Decor to Adore
Rachel from The Pond’s Farmhouse
Lora from Create and Ponder
If you enjoyed mirror decorating ideas in the living room, you may also love these other popular blog posts with tips and ideas for home decorating:
- How to Use Thrifted Art in Your Vintage Home Decor
- How to Use 10 Common Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor
- 75 Favorite Thrift Store Home Decor Finds (and how to style them)
- How to Use Antique Wall Decor for Vintage Charm
- 38 Decor Ideas to Fill Awkward Spaces in a Living Room
- 5 Simple Tips to Transition from Winter to Spring Home Decor Ideas (on a budget)
- How to Decorate A Dough Bowl for Spring Centerpieces
Get in the know
You’ll always hear it from Robyn’s French Nest first. My passion is helping you create a haven for you and your loved ones!
I’d love for you to follow me on social media! You can find my home decor inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!
Blessings,
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Posts on Robyn’s French Nest may contain affiliate links. You can see our full disclosure details here.)