Hanging a mirror above the fireplace is a time-honored styling trick.
Indeed, that prime spot over the mantle is perfect for helping mirrors do what they do best: making rooms appear bigger and brighter.
But it also makes sense from an aesthetic perspective, as mirrors can bring added interest to your fireplace area.
The question is, what is the best mirror to display above the fireplace and get the living room looking like the finished article?
It’s an open-ended question, and it’s our job to bring you definitive answers (20 answers, to be exact), which you can find below in no particular order.
Add texture with a fluted mirror
Many people think of high-end hotel lobbies when they see fluted furniture.
If you wouldn’t mind having a living room that’s reminiscent of luxury hotels, fluted detailing is the way to go.
Consider opting for a mirror with a semi-fluted design, as this means your fireplace aesthetic gets to enjoy a layer of texture, but it also means you can rotate the mirror to create a different look whenever you feel like it.
Bring the sunshine inside
There’s a lot of pressure to fill that prime spot above the fireplace with a true statement piece, so you can be forgiven for playing it safe and choosing the trendiest option.
Sunburst mirrors are super popular right now and it’s not hard to see why given the design is inspired by the biggest star in our solar system.
They’re also highly decorative and powerfully symmetrical, helping them to become stars of the living room.
Multiply the fun
We all know that a nice big expansive mirror will expand your sense of space, but there’s no denying that you end up with something way more eye-catching when have your reflection broken up.
Better still, choose a multi-mirror that also reflects your image at different depths and the amount of interest in your fireplace area will increase by tenfold!
It’s amazing what happens to your range of choice of fireplace mirrors when you’re not overly concerned with making the space look bigger and brighter.
Turn heads with an aged fireplace mirror
The older and more worn-down something is, the more character it possesses, which is an invaluable quality to have in your living room decor.
This aged appeal applies to mirrors, too.
But don’t think you have to start bidding at auctions to get hold of a genuine antique mirror – artificially aged mirrors will do just fine, such as speckled designs.
Try an irregular shape
Safe to say that round-shaped mirrors are the shape of choice for that blank space over the mantle.
This opens up an opportunity to showcase a completely different silhouette and set your fireplace aesthetic apart from the crowd.
Mirrors with an irregular outline are a really good example of using shape to surprise the observer, swapping symmetry for that organic touch.
Throw a shelf into the mix
Maybe your fireplace isn’t equipped with a mantelpiece, or at least not one that has practical use for displaying decor, in which case the shelf mirror will come in handy.
There are two primary reasons why shelf mirrors deserve pride of place above the fireplace.
Firstly, it’s a chance to enjoy a clash of form between a round mirror and a straight-lined shelf. And secondly, it’s a chance to chuck in additional materials, such as a marble shelf, to create a truly eclectic look.
Stack it up
Sure, you could hang up a tall rectangular mirror to assert some vertical authority over the fireplace, but it’s been done to death…
If you want to make a lengthways statement with a unique design twist, choose a mirror with a stacked circle design.
Aim for country appeal
Never underestimate the ability of raw and rustic materials to warm up your home.
You’re headed in the right direction by choosing a fireplace mirror with a wooden frame, but the treatment of the wood is key to a cozy living room.
A mirror frame with a distressed whitewash paint finish is well into rustic territory, and will certainly have you plotting the next design move to bring you closer to the farmhouse style.
Show off a handmade fireplace mirror
There’s nothing like the human touch. Handmade mirrors are filled with heart and soul, unlike their counterparts that roll off a conveyor belt.
When you do down the hand-forged path, sometimes it’s best to lean into the less-than-perfect look.
Mirrors made with hammered metal and left a little rough around the edges are an excellent case in point, as these ‘imperfections’ fuel the piece as a whole with ridiculous amounts of visual interest.
Link them up
Let’s say you want to adorn your fireplace with a wide format mirror, but you’re sick and tired of rectangles.
Not to worry, because you can create a repeating pattern with a more interesting shape, such as a diamond, and the results are spectacular.
Think twice before buying separate mirrors, though. You can just buy an intersecting diamond mirror instead.
See around corners
If you’re not fussed about being able to check your appearance, you could raise the drama a notch by going with a warped mirror.
By warped we mean a convex mirror whereby the mirror surface bulges outward to widen your field of view. It’s a great fireplace mirror idea if you want to gain a unique perspective of your surroundings.
Hang it by the pendant
Even a graceful round mirror could do with some light decorative touches here and there.
This is why we often recommend suspending mirrors from a higher point (i.e. leave the bracket exposed) as then you get additional embellishments to work with.
For instance, a pendant mirror features a single pendant suspension and it does what jewelry does to your outfit: it makes it prettier.
Go with an industrial fireplace mirror
Fireplaces tend to have a hardwearing, industrial vibe about them (they hold open fire, for crying out loud), so it makes perfect sense to crown it with an industrial mirror.
Think along the lines of mirror designs that have an antique metal finish and bolt style nailheads – basically the kind of features you would see in an old factory – and you’ve aced the industrial look.
Enjoy a crushed design
Why on earth would anyone pay for a mirror that’s been battered and bruised to the point where it’s beyond repair?
Because it’s super characterful, that’s why!
A mirror with a crushed design is a mirror with texture, dimension and personality. It will easily take on the task of bestowing your living room with a proper wall accent piece.
Help the planet
There’s really no excuse nowadays for not styling your home using sustainable materials, what with there being eco-friendly options for pretty much all decor.
A fireplace mirror that’s fringed in natural raffia is a fine example. In fact, it’s our favorite example, because the natural fibres give the piece a wonderful boho energy.
Make a geometric statement
Whoever decided to use honey bees for design inspiration deserves a medal.
Honeycomb mirrors are a thing of design beauty and slot perfectly into contemporary interiors, thanks to their geometric appeal.
So, if your living room decor is looking a bit dated, a cluster of hexagonal mirrors in different sizes above the fireplace will bring about an instant upgrade.
Impress with an offset mirror
A mirror that’s set centrally within its frame is as ordinary as it gets.
Therefore, if you’d like to graduate from an ordinary fireplace mirror to an extraordinary one, it’s time to move away from the center.
This is where offset mirrors come into play. In this design style, the mirror touches part of the frame to create an off-center look and it’s definitely a head turner.
Keep it simple
You can’t go wrong with a simplified fireplace aesthetic. Less is more, as the old saying goes.
To this end, have a go at hanging a round mirror with a strap. Why does it have to be a round mirror? Because then you’ll be treated to a fun contrast of lines – the roundness of the mirror set against the straight-lined strap.
Play with rattan
If you think mirrors made with rattan have limited design potential, you couldn’t be more wrong.
But this misconception is totally forgivable. You only ever see rattan in its natural color and weaved into baskets and such.
Picture this and you’ll never look at rattan the same again: a rattan mirror painted in a bold color and sculpted into an art deco-inspired silhouette.
Wow with a slatted fireplace mirror
You’d be hard pressed to think of something more pleasing to the eye than radial design.
For the uninitiated, radial design is when there’s symmetry in every direction, emanating from the center, and it lends itself well to round mirrors.
Using slatted wood to create this radial effect is a really good idea, especially if it exhibits varied wood tones, as you’ll be left with a mirror that boasts decorative appeal and rustic charm in equal measure.