What type of mirror for my fireplace mantel?

[aspentosh]

A few years ago I redid our built-ins but never got around to replacing the mantel that was there. Fast forward and now we're done building it, so I just need to finish staining and then install it. 





The space between the top of the mantel and the bottom of the trim is a little more than 30". What shape, color, and maybe even size would you put over your mantel? I'm thinking not rectangular to break up the hard angles... We're pretty casual and my DD's art desk is in here, so I don't really want anything fancy. 

[maudefindlay]

I would do an oval or one with rounded edges.

[maudefindlay]

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[Susie]

I'm not a fan of a mirror for that spot.  It looks like you have a gallery wall of small frames on the opposite side of the room that would be reflected in the mirror, in the middle of a set of built ins that also have small frames and items on the shelves.  That is going to be a lot of busy little things in one room.  Neither the wall nor the shelves are too busy on their own, but put them together, and multiply the gallery wall x2 with the mirror reflection, and I think it's too much.  

Instead, I would select one large piece of art for the mantle.  It would be so much more visually soothing, would change up the scale, and overall look more sophisticated.

[aspentosh]

Apr 18, 2022 13:43:40 GMT -5 Susie said:

I'm not a fan of a mirror for that spot.  It looks like you have a gallery wall of small frames on the opposite side of the room that would be reflected in the mirror, in the middle of a set of built ins that also have small frames and items on the shelves.  That is going to be a lot of busy little things in one room.  Neither the wall nor the shelves are too busy on their own, but put them together, and multiply the gallery wall x2 with the mirror reflection, and I think it's too much.  

Instead, I would select one large piece of art for the mantle.  It would be so much more visually soothing, would change up the scale, and overall look more sophisticated.

We actually took down that gallery wall recently and replaced it with a larger piece of art with only a couple personal photos. And the shelves have been restyled since that first photo as well... still has a lot on it, but more big stuff, some books, and fewer small things. The wall to the right of the shelves also has two large pieces of art.

[boiler717]

I did a gold version of the target one posted above with rounded corners in our still in progress basement. This hasn’t been styled but you get the idea! I still can’t PIP for some reason sorry.

[Roc A Bee]

I’d do a gold or black arched one.

[aspentosh]

Grabbed the one maudefindlay linked (thank you!!) and I really like it. I can't tell if it looks a little small next to our massive mantel now, so I think I'll layer in some art. Or no? 

[dr.girlfriend]

Maybe art on one side and like an object on the other? A vase, or something with a little shine to it?  I also wonder if the proportions would work better if you hung the mirror a few inches above the mantel rather than resting on it.

[aspentosh]

dr.girlfriend, I think we came to the same conclusion about hanging it vs resting it. I'm going to grab some mortar specific screws once I am certain it's staying. I've definitely got to play around with what else will go there. And I'm not convinced that is the right size art for pairing with that mirror. But it's ok, because I have a lot of art, lol.

[darby]

I think it looks great! I agree hanging would help the proportions. I also think something tall & narrow on the left would look really good. A vase with some pussy willows, a tall lantern with a candle maybe.