by Heidi Labron

Created on: February 24, 2009

Hanging a mirror seems like a very simple task, but actually doing it properly can take a little planning. The placement of a mirror, the type of mirror and the space it will be used in are all important factors to take into consideration when hanging a mirror. But a well placed mirror can add character and interest to your room as well as functionality,

#1. What is the purpose of this mirror? Mirrors are used not only for being able to see yourself, but they can also add depth to a small room or create more light in an otherwise dark area so you need to think about why you are adding a mirror to the room in the first place. If the mirror is for your bathroom, then you'll want one that is large enough to see yourself clearly, preferably a full length or wide mirror so that you can see more than your face. We spend a lot of time in the bathroom and the mirror should be clean, large and without funny optical problems.

#2. What will the mirror reflect? Mirrors not only reflect you when you step into their view, but they also reflect the items in the room around it. If your mirror is in a living area such as a bedroom or living room, have someone hold it in the place you'd like to hang it and walk around to see what is reflected. Sometimes, we forget that we'll be sitting on a couch below a mirror and although the mirror looked great when we stood in front of it, sitting below we might notice a funny patch on a ceiling reflected or a strange part of a wall shining back at us. Try to imagine how you'll use the room once the mirror is in place and you'll avoid unwanted reflections.

#3. Where is the light? Lighting is important to think about when hanging a mirror. If you have many windows, your mirror may face one and light will bounce off it into the room. This can be good or bad, depending on the use of the room. You don't want a steady stream of sunshine to glare right into a mirror that hangs over a couch that might face some chairs. You'll be left staring into the glaring light when sitting on chairs facing the couch. But having lights or windows near a mirror can also bounce much needed light around a room.

#4. Consider your studs. Mirrors are generally quite heavy and you'll need to locate the wall studs before hanging. If there are enough studs close together for a wide, heavy mirror, you'll be just fine. Otherwise, you may need to choose a better area to hang the mirror. Without proper support, your mirror could fall, or worse, tear out the drywall.

#5. A laser level is your friend. Invest in a laser level, sold at most hardware stores. They will bounce light off your walls and help you to find the most accurate straight line so that you can hang your mirror without it being crooked. If you don't have a laser level, you can eyeball it close enough, but you might need to make adjustments. Stand back frequently while you are hanging it and make sure that it is as level as possible. (Round mirrors are easier to hang!)

#6. Make a mark before putting in a nail. Try making a small pencil mark on your wall to position the mirror where you think your nail will go before actually hammering. You don't want to end up with holes in your wall if you have the mirror too high, for example. If you mark the wall first with pencil, you can step back and make sure you are correct and then place the nail.

If you take a bit of time to really consider your mirror before hanging, it can be functional as well as a beautiful addition to a room.

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