Wondering where you might hang a full-length mirror in your home? While you can hang a full-length mirror anywhere you have enough wall space, there *are* certain choices you can make that will make the spot you choose more (or less) functional and beautify both you and your room.

Here are three keys to success when choosing where to hang a full-length mirror in your space:

1) FUNCTION FIRST!

First, assuming you aren’t just trying to use the mirror to open up a room, but actually want to use it to see your outfit, you need to have it in a spot where you can get some distance to see yourself from shoes to a hat. Two places that might be useful would be:

• near the place where you get dressed in the bedroom, bathroom, or closet
• at the entry so you can check your outfit before you leave the house

If you don’t have large open wall space that will fit a full-length mirror, consider hanging it on the wall behind the door or on the back of the door. Aside from being a pretty good spot for robe or towel hooks in the bathroom, that unused real estate could be perfect for your full-length mirror.

 

2) Avoid being backlit, or spot-lit.

Just as important as being able to get some distance from the mirror is making sure that you end up having good lighting cast on you when you stand to look in the mirror. If you are backlit you’ll end up with an angelic halo, but you won’t be able to see your outfit details, and if you have a ceiling light right over your head it will create unpleasant shadows that exaggerate bags under your eyes and add years to your face – ugh, who needs that?? Choose a spot where the light is coming from in front of you both day and night to get the most functionality from your full-length mirror! If you are remodeling, consider flanking the mirror with two sconces just like you might with a bathroom vanity mirror – that will give you the best, most flattering light! Or go high tech and get a mirror with an integrated LED light!

3) SAFETY FIRST!

Lastly, when thinking about where to place your floor-length mirror, think about the activity in that area. Most leaning-style floor mirrors are heavy enough that they like to stay put, especially on carpet, but if you want to make extra sure it’s not likely to slip or tip over, check out this post by Casey at the DIY Playbook on how she adapted furniture safety straps to anchor her mirror. And if you are hanging the mirror in a narrow hallway, consider sticking to a wall-mounted version so you don’t inadvertently create a trip hazard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

🤓 BONUS: Make a statement

Okay, actually this isn’t so much about the mirror being functional as it is about the mirror being beautiful. If the mirror is front and center in a room (especially in a room other than the bedroom) then it should add to the decor of the room. There are so many gorgeous options out there, like this live edge floor mirror from Crate and Barrel or this brass and bone inlay mirror from West Elm. Make sure it adds art to the room along with functionality, just like a well-chosen table lamp or rug!

 

 

On the other hand, if you hang the mirror behind – or on the back of – a door then it can be less decorative, like this mirror or this over-the-door mirror from Target (shown to the right 👉).

Heads-up: mirror quality varies a lot, and off-the-shelf versions will usually be light-weight, inexpensive mirrors, and may cause some distortion. To avoid that – but also avoid the cost of a high end framed mirror – you could call a glass place like Hy-Lite Mirror and Glass and have them cut and install a permanent high-quality mirror, especially if you have a single panel shaker-style door like this.

Hope that helps as you think through the perfect place to hang a full-length mirror in your home.

Meanwhile, did you know this is exactly the kind of question that people ask during our virtual Design Helpline sessions? If you have some practical design questions on your mind and would love to have them answered by a pro, we’re here to help! No question is too small!

May your home always be happy!