In the world of interior design, there is no other object that has the ability to transform space like the luxury full-length mirror. Apart from being an object used to check oneself before stepping out of the house, luxury mirrors have the ability to manipulate lighting, space and style in their own ways. Luxury mirrors are more than mirrors themselves; they are a method of adding class to a room by their design.
Whatever it is, whether creating your dream master bedroom, decorating the hallway in your apartment or styling your living room, you require a luxury mirror that will serve as a focal point in the space. However, given the many styles, materials and ways of hanging them on the wall, selecting the right one can be a difficult task.
This is the reason why we have developed this guide on luxury mirrors. Here you will discover everything you need to know about luxury mirrors.
1. The Life-changing Power of a Luxury Mirror
But before discussing all the details regarding types and styles, let us first take a look at why purchasing a high-quality full-length mirror should be considered a must in interior designing.
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Creating an Illusion of Space
Interior designers often resort to installing oversized mirrors when they want to create an impression of extra space. A big floor-to-ceiling mirror gives an optical illusion of a much larger room, as its reflection makes the ceiling and the floor appear to stretch far away from the observer. This way, a full-length mirror like the stunning CIARA Large Arch Mirror can visually double the area of a tiny room.
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Natural Light Increase
A space suffused with natural light will always feel more luxurious. In cases where your space does not have any big windows or happens to face directions where little sunlight is received, installing a mirror could do wonders for you. By placing a luxury full-length mirror in opposition or near to your light sources, you are able to reflect the photons throughout your room. This helps to illuminate your room’s darker spots as well as the details of your furniture.
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Functional Art Piece
Whereas an ordinary mirror serves a purely functional purpose, a luxury mirror will be more of a piece of art. Luxury mirrors come in very good designs and include features such as handcrafted wooden finishes and brushed metal finishings. They act as pieces of art which draw attention, just like an expensive painting or a chandelier.
2. Understanding the Types of Full-Length Mirrors
As soon as you start looking for the ideal mirror, you will soon discover that the way you mount the mirror and its structure play an huge role in creating the right atmosphere in the room. The following are the main types of mirrors available:
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The Leaning (Floor) Mirror
These mirrors have been the undisputed queen of luxury interiors. Oversized and extremely heavy, leaning mirrors do not need to be mounted on walls but bend against them. They create an atmosphere of laid-back elegance, reminiscent of the elegant French apartments. A striking piece like the Antique Arch Aurai Large Mirror can be moved easily, requires no drilling, and offers a complete picture of yourself without occupying the wall.
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The Wall-Mounted Mirror
For something more customized and integrated into the room itself, a wall-mounted mirror remains a timeless favorite. By mounting the mirror on the wall, you save space on the floor which makes it perfect for hallways and entryways. A well-framed wall-mounted mirror makes for a beautiful architectural addition to any house. If you are looking for clean, sharp lines, the Louis Minimalist Large Rectangle Mirror provides a flawless, tailored look.
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The Freestanding (Cheval) Mirror
Also known as a Cheval mirror due to the French term for horse because of the four legs it usually rests on, a freestanding mirror is suspended within a freestanding frame. The key factor in a Cheval mirror is that it can be tilted in order to get the exact angle that you desire. This is an extremely practical mirror for dressing rooms and classic bedrooms.
3. Choosing the Perfect Frame Material
The choice of your luxury mirror frame determines its character. It acts as a link between the reflective glass and the other elements of your room décor. Choosing the frame requires that you take into consideration the textures, metals, and woods found in your room.
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Opulence of Gilded and Ornate Frames
In case you have a traditional,Classical-inspired, or maximalist interior style in your house, you definitely need an ornate frame. The frame should include elegant decorative carvings, flower patterns, and metallic finishes like antique gold, brass, or silver. Placing an ornate and huge leaning mirror like the Antique Vienna Baroque Ornate Mirror in a slightly modern room results in a breathtaking contrast effect.
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Metal Frames for the Contemporary Home
For homes with an industrial feel, a minimalist design scheme, or a contemporary style, consider a metal frame that will provide you with sharp edges and clean elegance. A thin matte black powder-coated frame will create a perfect, stylish border around your mirror reflection. The sleek Clover Arch Mirror Minimalist Metal Frame will give you more luxury without dominating the space.
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The Warmth of Natural Wood
Natural wood adds a feeling of grounding and organic beauty to any interior. "Luxury" wooden frames imply much more than ordinary pine. Opt for dark, highly grained, high-quality hardwood frames or light natural finishes. You may go bohemian with your carved wooden frames or choose the highly desirable Scandinavian/Mid-century modern look with beautiful pieces like the TAMARA Wood Arch Large Timber Mirror or the commanding Calma Large Wood Rectangular Mirror.
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Frameless Mirrors
Frameless mirrors can make any mirror look modern and luxurious by their very simplicity. Beveled edges act as a prism, catching all the lights and creating a natural frame. These mirrors can fit any color palette, making them incredibly versatile.
4. Strategic Placement: Where to Put Your Mirror
Buying a luxurious mirror is just half the process since it is the placement that makes the difference. It is in the placement that determines how functional and effective the mirror will be in the room.
Entryways and Hallways
The entryway is the first impression of your home, and at the same time, the last place you stop before stepping out of your house. A full-length mirror is a must have in such a place because you have to make sure you look great before stepping out. Hang your mirror next to the front door and not opposite it. Let it reflect some art work, flowers, or even light from the neighboring room.
An architectural piece like the Tribeca Window Arch Mirror is an exceptional choice here, as the black window panel accents create immediate visual interest for arriving guests.
The Bedroom and Dressing Room
This is the best place for a full-length mirror. If you have enough floor space, a huge leaner mirror positioned next to your closet or at a corner turns your room into a luxury boutique overnight. An imposing option like the Extra Large Wood Rectangle Mirror 215x125cm provides maximum reflection. Place your mirror in a way that it mirrors something soothing like your bed or a window facing a garden.
The Living and Dining Room
In shared spaces, a full-length mirror is mostly employed as a decorative item to enhance lighting and spaciousness. The placement of a big mirror horizontally above a long dining table, such as the Sapphire Beaded Rectangle Large Mirror, will give your room an endless width effect, with the chandelier's glow reflected to create a sparkling vibe during dinner parties.
5. What Makes a Mirror "Luxury"? (The Buying Guide)
In order to make sure that you get value for your money, it is important to understand the difference between a cheap mass-produced mirror and a luxury one. In case you decide to purchase a luxury interior item, you will be getting something made from high quality materials and constructed to last a lifetime. Here are some features to consider:
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Thicker Glass: Regular mirrors come with thin glass that may easily warp or deform. Luxury mirrors feature thicker glass (usually 4 mm to 6 mm), guaranteeing that you get a perfectly flat surface and perfect reflections.
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High Quality Silvering: The reflective coating of any mirror is produced during the silvering process. Expensive mirrors come with a thick layer of silver nitrate backed by copper and several layers of paint to avoid black edge-rot, which usually happens to cheaper models.
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Solid Backing: A high quality mirror should not come with a fragile cardboard backing. Instead, you should expect solid wood or high density MDF backing that prevents deformation and provides additional stability.
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Perfect Joinery: Check the corners of the frame. You should see a seamless joint without any glue or other traces.
6. How to Match a Mirror to Your Interior Design Style
To make the best of your purchase, the mirror should communicate the same style as the other parts of your home.
If your home has a Hamptons or Coastal style, you should be looking for mirrors with whitewashed wood frames, curved top edges, or natural timber detailing. The Wood Arch Large TAMARA Mirror perfectly complements the relaxed, breezy nature of coastal homes.
If you have an Industrial Loft style in your home, you should be going for heavy and dark metal materials. You can try mirrors that feature a windowpane grid pattern in black iron, such as the Tribeca Window Arch Mirror.
If you have a Modern Glamour style in your home, then the best choice would be a completely mirrored frame, an intricate lattice pattern like the Brooklyn Antique Gold Lattice Mirror, or a stunning leaner in polished metal like the Zenith Minimalist Arch Floor Mirror in Light Brushed Gold. Such highly reflective surfaces make up the ultimate luxurious look.
7. Maintaining the Elegance: Mirror Care
With a luxury full-length mirror purchased, it becomes necessary to maintain the mirror for it to remain in excellent condition.
Do not use paper towels that tend to deposit dust particles and scratches on the mirror. Instead, use an excellent quality, flat weave microfiber cloth. Do not use harsh chemicals because many glass cleaners use heavy solvents that can dissolve the back of the mirror when they seep into it through the edge. Use a gentle and ammonia free cleaner.
Never spray the cleaning agent on the mirror directly because it will run down the glass and collect at the edge of the bottom frame. This will cause the solvent to penetrate into the back of the mirror and destroy it. Spray your microfiber cloth instead and then clean the mirror using a sweeping 'S' motion.
8. Partnering with Queensland Mirrors for Your Home
Finding the ideal full-length mirror will be a joyous process since it is a blend of elegance and functionality. This is not just something you will use on a daily basis but rather something that looks like an artistic item and will enhance, enlarge, and beautify your home.
Should you wish to add elegance to your interior design, you can always opt to purchase some exquisite mirrors from reputable luxury stores. Queensland Mirrors specializes in manufacturing outstanding mirrors which will definitely make your Australian home elegant and beautiful.
Whether it is wall-mounted or full-length mirrors , there are several attractive mirrors designed by Queensland Mirrors that will meet all your requirements. Choose wisely and place it in the right place to transform your entire house.
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Will a full-length mirror make my room appear larger?
Absolutely. A full-length mirror causes optical illusions which make the eye think that the room stretches beyond where it actually ends. As it reflects the ceiling and the floor, it makes the room appear twice its size and provides the effect of spaciousness even in the smallest rooms and most narrow hallways. -
Are leaning floor mirrors safe?
Very safe. Leaning floor mirrors are very popular and also very safe provided they are installed properly. Since luxury leaning mirrors tend to be quite heavy, they usually remain in place because of their weight alone. Still, if there are small children in the house or big bouncy dogs or if you happen to live in areas of frequent vibrations, it is highly advisable to anchor the top of the mirror to the wall using wall anti-tip anchors. -
What should I consider when assessing whether the mirror glass is of good quality?
Premium mirrors are made using thick glass (4 mm and above) and premium quality silvering on the back of the mirror. To assess whether the glass is of good quality, stand several meters from the mirror and look at the reflection of any straight line in the mirror, such as the door frame or edges of walls. If the straight line is reflected wavy, it means that the glass is thin and of poor quality. If the line is straight in the reflection, you have a premium mirror. -
Is it possible to install a luxury full-length mirror in the bathroom?
It is possible, but you need to make sure that the mirror is waterproof or specially created for humid areas. The bathroom produces huge amounts of steam and humidity. In case a normal mirror is placed in this area, humidity will get inside the backing, resulting in the darkening and falling off of edges of the glass. Always make sure that the material used in the frame is water resistant.
