Decorating Ideas for Large Framed Wall Mirrors

Fireplace

• The fireplace represents a natural focal point in a room. It's usually placed in a centrally located area, allowing for an arrangement of furniture to be placed around it. One of the simplest ways to make this area stand out even more is to decorate the area above the fireplace with a large mirror and other decorative accessories. Start by painting the fireplace wall. Paint it a rich color such as burgundy or cobalt blue. Add coats of accent paint to the walls around it; choose a different color for this, such as off-white or pale yellow. Look for a large framed mirror with an ornate frame; a gilded gold or silver frame offers a bit of visual drama. If you have chosen a plainer decorating style, look for a solidly built oak frame. Hang the mirror directly above the mouth of the fireplace to reinforce the fireplace as focal point.

Sconces

• Many decorative mirrors also come with matching candle sconce sets. Buying a mirror/sconce combination set allows you to take advantage of the mirror's reflective quality. Make a gallery of soft light by hanging a large framed wall mirror on the wall. Position the matching sconces on either side of it. Or hang the sconces directly underneath the mirror on the wall so that the flicker of the candle flames reflects in the mirror.

Wall of Mirrors

• Many homes feature a wall gallery of pictures. If you like the look of a picture gallery, but would like to create a slight variation on this decorating theme, hang framed mirrors instead. Use one large framed mirror as the centerpiece for the gallery. Look for a mirror that you find eye-catching and which matches the decorating style in the room where you're creating the gallery. A large round mirror will break up the visual monotony of the grouping. Hang a grouping of three or four pictures off to one side of the mirror to put together an asymmetrical display. Positioning two small mirrors of the same design on each side of the mirror allows you to create a more symmetrical display.

Floor

• Positioning a mirror on the floor offers you a quick fool-the-eye fix for a small, dark room. Place a mirror on the floor in an area of the room that you'd like to emphasize. For example, if you want to lighten a corner of the room, place a tall floor lamp in a corner. Position your large mirror in front of it. Decorate the area by placing arrangements of dried flowers or groupings of pottery; this will add color and keep the mirror from sliding down.