Alright, so you’re thinking about hanging an oval wall mirror, yeah? Brilliant choice — honestly, they’re one of my favourite things to work with. They’ve got this softness that rectangular mirrors just can’t match. But where do you put the thing? And what frame do you wrap around it? Let me tell you, I’ve seen some proper disasters.
Take my mate’s flat in Shoreditch last spring. Gorgeous exposed brick, lovely light… and then they plonked this huge, ornate gold oval mirror right above a low, mid-century sideboard. Looked like a fancy pendant dangling from nowhere! Felt all wrong. We shifted it — hung it a bit lower, so it actually reflected the greenery on the table rather than just the ceiling. Changed the whole vibe.
Frames, though — that’s where personality sneaks in. I’m a sucker for a thin, black lacquered frame. Minimal, lets the oval shape sing. But if your room’s all clean lines and neutral tones? Go wild with a chunky, carved wooden frame. Adds warmth, tells a story. I once found this stunning oval mirror in a flea market in Brussels — frame was all chipped gilt and faded turquoise. Looked like it had lived a hundred lives. Stuck it in a plain white hallway and it just… glowed. Didn’t need another thing around it.
Placement’s a bit of a dark art, innit? Don’t just stick it at “eye level” like some rulebook says — whose eyes? Mine? My nan’s? Think about what it’s catching. Over a console in the entryway? Angle it so you catch a sliver of that nice lamp or a vase, not just the front door. In a narrow corridor? An oval mirror can make it breathe — just make sure it’s not opposite a messy shoe pile, unless you want to be reminded of your trainers every morning!
Oh, and lighting — blimey, don’t ignore it. An oval mirror near a window can bounce light around like magic. But under a harsh downlight? Might feel a bit like a dressing room interrogation. Soft, side-lit is your friend.
At the end of the day, it’s about what feels right to you. I’ve got a simple, unframed oval mirror leaning on my bedroom mantel. Breaks every “rule” — but every morning, it catches the sunrise. Couldn’t ask for better than that.
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