How To Choose A Window Mirror

How to Choose the Best Window Mirror for Your Style?

To choose the very best window mirror for your home, you'll need to consider how it will fit in with your decorating style. Here are the best models to complement different styles.

Traditional

Warm and inviting, composed of various elements from different styles, traditional decors are both elegant yet comforting. Dress up your traditional living room with an elegant window mirror to harmonize your style.

• Frame materials: elegance is the key, so avoid any rough, distressed or industrial style frame materials and finishes. Metal makes a nice choice when used in elegant arch window mirrors, as does wood painted in off-white tones.

• Style: arched window mirrors look great in a traditional decor, their curves are pleasing to the eye, as is the regularity of their form. Cathedral style windows can also work, when not too large or overly gothic in style. Tall, elegant window mirrors with square panes and wide pane dividers also add to the general classic look and feel you have in a traditional styled home.

Modern

A modern style home tends to focus on the style trend of the moment, with a focus on graphic lines and sometimes a striking use of various different materials juxtaposed.

• Frame materials: metal can make an interesting choice if your modern look tends slightly towards an urbanized, industrial feel. Painted wood or colored plastic also works well when its bright color contrasts or picks up an accent color for a fun modern touch.

• Style: Opt for a statement window mirror that really stands out. It could be its unusual shape, bright colored frame or a combination of the two. Modern interiors are anything but predictable and traditional, so don't be afraid to play with different shapes, textures or colors.

Minimalist

It can be difficult to find items to decorate your minimalist home, without destroying your minimalist effect. Window mirrors are an ideal choice if you like an uncluttered look and as they are wall hung, they won't destroy your clean lines or add distraction.

• Frame materials: wood or metal, as long as your frame is simple and does not cry out for attention, it will suit your minimalist decor.

• Style: opt for clean styles with no extra details. Simple rectangular models with evenly spaced windows panes work well, or you could match your window mirror style to your actual windows to further harmonize your look.

Eclectic

If your style is truly your own and incorporates a mix-match of various different styles, then you need a window mirror that will also stand out.

• Frame materials: here, anything goes. However, you may want to prioritize colorful frames, such as painted wood or plastics.

• Style: models with colored shutters provide a fun way to brighten up your room. You could also experiment with different shapes, circles or wave-shaped wall mirrors detract from the everyday and work well in an environment where there are a lot of different pieces vying for attention. Replica stained glass models are also a popular choice bringing color and originality to your home's walls.

Industrial

Exuding masculinity with factory and warehouse elements, use a window mirror to easily complement your industrial decor without overdoing it.

• Frame materials: metal frames make a good choice for industrial decors, as does salvaged wood with metal detailing.

• Style: Look for minimalist styles, with or without pane dividers. Tall or wide models also work well in industrial decors. Don't choose styles that are overcomplicated, or with too many individual panes, as this will distract from the simplicity of the style.

Rustic

Rustic decors combine farmhouse style elements, with the occasional touch of industrial, favoring natural and raw finishes. There are a lot of farmhouse style window mirrors that perfectly complement this style of decor.

• Frame materials: wood, either natural or painted and distressed. Reclaimed wood is also a good option for an individual piece with added authenticity.

• Style: simple, yet well-proportioned. Rustic styles are complemented by arch window frame mirrors, or rectangular ones with wide wooden grilles.

Shabby Chic

If you have a romantic, antique or vintage French style home, you'll want to opt for an elegant, well-proportioned window mirror.

• Frame material: distressed pale painted wood is a popular finish for window mirrors in the shabby chic home. Resin is also a good choice for more ornate 19th century French style versions. Just be sure that the finish is not too perfect, for that "lived-in" look.

• Style: Opt for ornate styles with light colored frames to match your decor. Arches and pane dividers are de rigueur. Clean lines, elegance and symmetry are important. You can also find elegant circular versions of ornate details, or large paned rectangular models with antique-style headers that look great above sideboards and mantels.

How to Choose the Best Window Mirror for Each Room?

You'll also need to bear in mind where you are planning to place your mirror. Your choice of room will have a strong influence on what style of window mirror you choose.

Living room

A window mirror for your living room should be simple in design. The living room is the one of the most frequented rooms in the house, designed for family moments and relaxation. It is also generally one of the largest rooms, so you can opt for larger and wider window mirrors than in other rooms.

Dining room

Generally, more formal than your living room, dining rooms look best with more elegant window mirrors. Opt for vertical models with or without top arches. You can also add to the classic, formal style of a dining room by placing your window mirror over a mantel or console table.

Bathroom

Sadly, a lot of bathrooms don't have enough natural light, so it's a great place to add a window mirror, reflecting that precious amount of natural light and giving you the impression of extra space. At the same time, however, you don't want an oversized bathroom window mirror that will detract from the rest of your decor.

Place a window mirror the same size as your regular window on a neighboring wall for a harmonized design or use a round or fun-shaped window mirror as an alternative to your traditional rectangular mirror above your washbasin.

Bedroom

Arched window mirrors are popular choices for the bedroom. Select a model to suit your style, but don't choose one that is too large as it could overpower your decor. As bedrooms are typically private rooms, you should look for small to medium sized window mirrors with smooth shaping and clear lines.

What Size Window Mirror is Best?

Here are our tips for choosing the best size window mirror for your room:

• Take the size of your actual windows into consideration when making your choice. A feature window mirror can be much larger, but you'll want to locate it on a wall without any real windows. If it is much smaller, it may appear dwarfed by your regular windows and just look out of place.

• If you are planning on placing your window mirror above a particular item of furniture, double-check its width before ordering. Generally it looks better if your window mirror is narrower than the mantel or console over which it is going to be placed.

• Decide how much of a feature you want your window mirror to be, choose a large model that will stand out if you have a lot of empty walls.

• Check the dimensions of some of your favorite models. Select the largest one and stick together pieces of paper, or use some unwanted fabric, until you have an approximate template of your mirror. Stick this template on your wall and see how you feel about the size. Take a photo, or several, and continue cutting down your template to the smaller sized mirrors you also have your eye on. Go with the one that fills the space best, without detracting from the style of your room.