You have selected the perfect sideboard to accentuate the interior exquisiteness of your room and are close to getting things done how you wanted. However, the only thing that is left to decorate your room with utmost elegance is hanging a mirror above the sideboard.
But what is the appropriate height to hang the mirror? While most people tend to find this endeavor quite challenging, you can easily work your way around it with the right guidelines.
I recommend sparing about four to six inches between the mirror and the sideboard. This will offer some flexibility depending on how you intend to use the sideboard and the room layout. Furthermore, there are other factors to consider besides placing the mirror up to six inches above the sideboard.
Thus, if you have a perfect sideboard for your hallway, dining room, or living room, and you wish to hang a mirror above it, you have to consider various factors.
This post focuses on how to hang a mirror above a sideboard and other important aspects.
How High Should your mirror be above a sideboard?
Contents
While maintaining a 4-6 inches distance between the bottom of the mirror and the sideboard is crucial, several other factors should also be considered.
Read below to understand more about these factors.
Room height
If your house features a high ceiling, consider placing the mirror a little higher than in a standard room. However, if you have a huge mirror in a room with a lower ceiling, I recommend placing it slightly lower.
You can use a piece of cardboard or paper and move it around it to find the perfect location for a permanent placement for the mirror.
Eye-level
If your sideboard is located in a space where people rarely sit down, such as a hallway, it is advisable to place the mirror at eye level while standing. As an expert designer, I prefer that to be around 57-60 inches.
On the other hand, if your sideboard is in a dining room or living room, it is perhaps best to place the mirror at people’s eye level when seated. In this case, four or six inches may be acceptable, but you are free to lower it as much as you want.
Additionally, you can place the mirror directly above the sideboard in a living room that has low sofas for people to sit.
Intended use
If your sideboard is in an entryway and is only used to put your bag or keys when you enter the house, consider placing the mirror at the height of 4-6 inches.
On the other hand, if you use the sideboard to hold vases or family photos, among other decorations, it is more artful to raise the mirror by several inches. Similarly, the case applies if you are using the sideboard as a serving buffet in the dining room.
Regardless of its intended use, consider whether any item that you will place on the sideboard will affect the mirror. While some designs may look better showing their reflection on the mirror, it can sometimes make things appear cluttered.
Personal preference
Your personal preference is one of the most important but often overlooked considerations. Since it is your house, your own opinion bears the most weight. If you prefer having the mirror atop the sideboard in
Why does the height of placing a mirror above the sideboard matter?
The height of the mirror is a very crucial aspect for consideration when placing a mirror above the sideboard. If the height is not proper or the minimum distance is not maintained, then the mirror will create a rather unpleasant look.
Since the sideboard itself is low in height, having the right measurement for placing the mirror is important for the aesthetic value of the interior. Here is why the height of the mirror above the sideboard matters.
It gives an aesthetic and artful touch
Mirrors, whether placed above a buffet table, sideboard, fireplace, or console table, require the right measurement to deliver a luxuriously esthetic appearance.
With regards to height, placing the mirror far above the sideboard will not only result in a disproportionate look of the house but also fail to deliver an aesthetic end.
Real-life and practical use
While a mirror is a great decorative piece, it also features some functional use. Besides enhancing the interior décor of a room, placing a mirror correctly above the sideboard also helps with real-life uses.
Whether you are taking a glance at yourself before you head out of the door or when fixing your makeup, the mirror should be at a proportionate height from the sideboard.
Visual breaks
You can easily hamper the visual pleasure that results from placing the mirror at a proportional height to the sideboard by placing it such that it reflects the decorations on the sideboard. In turn, this will result in a cluttered and messy look.
Additionally, your eyes need the visual break from the mirror to the sideboard. As a result, it requires you to place a fair gap in-between the two. This will enhance the aesthetic value of the room without compromising your visual pleasure.
How Big Should A Mirror Be Over A Sideboard?
Designers typically recommend having a mirror that is at least 2/3 and no more than ¾ the width of your sideboard. Using these measurements easily creates a balance since having a small mirror above a large sideboard would look disproportional.
As far as the height is concerned, it is also important to consider the scale of the room. If yours is a tall room, I suggest using a taller mirror. Besides the scale of the mirror to the sideboard, the scale of the mirror’s width to the room is critical. While many different heights can work well, ensure that you hang the mirror at the proper level to correspond with the room.
Should I hang a mirror vertical or horizontal?
A typical rule of thumb is that the taller room, the taller the mirror should be. This principle also applies to a long room, where a long mirror should be used. These are some of the basic guidelines that you should put into consideration before hanging a mirror.
Thus, if your room is quite tall but not very wide, I recommend that you hang the mirror in a vertical position. On the other hand, if the room is long and features a low ceiling, it is advisable to hang your mirror horizontally.
However, if you are hanging the mirror between two windows, then the mirror should be scaled to the area of the wall on which it is being hanged. Consider hanging it horizontally, especially if the distance between the windows is longer than the height of the ceiling.
However, hang it vertically if you are using a narrow space. This also goes to any section of the wall between a window and a corner.
Also, remember to consider the scale of where you place the mirror over. If it is above a sofa or sideboard, the mirror should measure at least 2/3 the width of the furniture below to achieve a balance.
Additionally, ensure that it isn’t over ¾ the width, or else there will be no balance. For instance, if a mirror above the sofa is too long to place horizontally and too tall for the room to be placed vertically, you will be left with no choice but to select a different mirror.
Otherwise, you will have a house off-balance.
