Custom Decorative Mirror for Any Room: Design Questions to Ask Before You Order

When purchasing a mirror that is commissioned rather than off-the-shelf, preparation is key, and asking the correct questions prior to design or production can save time and effort later down the line. Due to the bespoke nature of such an item, the considerations that should be made prior to ordering are much more involved than merely picking a style based on general preferences. With this in mind, these are the questions to ask yourself before buying a custom decorative mirror for any room in the house:

What Is the Mirror Actually For?

It might seem an odd starting point, but the intended use of the mirror has a considerable impact on the manner in which it should be designed. For instance, a mirror that is used primarily for getting a good impression before leaving the house is going to be mounted at a different height and position than one that is purely decorative above the fireplace. The former should have a center that is eye-level and will be positioned so that natural light hits the user’s face. In contrast, the latter can be mounted at a much higher position and at any angle thanks to a lower expectation of regular use.

How Much Room Does the Wall Actually Give You?

Before any discussion of design can begin, it is necessary to have an accurate understanding of how much room there is on the wall in question. Obviously, this involves measuring the width and height of the space that the mirror will occupy. Still, it is also important to leave sufficient space around furniture, fittings, and other pieces of décor such as light switches if the wall has limited length. Equally crucial is an understanding of the material of the wall in question, as timber tends to be weaker than brick or stone and can affect the manner in which a custom decorative mirror is fixed to the surface;

What Kind of Curve or Shape Suits the Room?

Although not every bespoke mirror has to be convex, the depth of the curve has a massive impact on the appearance of the piece. For example, a shallow curve produces much less of a fisheye distortion effect than a deep curve, which in turn makes the former much more desirable in a room where the mirror will be examined regularly. By contrast, a deeply curved large convex mirror is well-suited to a space where its effect can be felt rather than studied, such as a hallway or dining room. Outside of convex mirrors, shape is also important to fit the room’s overall aesthetic, with circular and oval examples performing dissimilar tasks;

What Frame Materials Fit the Existing Décor?

This is generally the stage in the process where most people have the most fun, but it is important to exercise restraint and approach the task methodically. Simply put, the materials of the frame need to fit the existing features in the room rather than being chosen solely based on aesthetics. This means that a brass frame will appear out of place in a room where the fittings are chrome rather than brass, and the same goes for painted wood and existing skirting boards and dado rails. If a customer is purchasing a custom decorative mirror for any room rather than a specific feature space such as a landing, it is also important to ask whether the frame can be finished to match an existing set of frames similarly.

How Will Light in the Room Affect the Final Piece?

Unless the room in which the mirror will reside is perfectly consistent in terms of lighting throughout the day, it is important to consider how natural and artificial light will interact with it. For example, rooms that see a lot of direct sunlight at certain times of the day will struggle to utilize a large convex mirror with a highly reflective surface. This issue should be raised with the manufacturer or designer when a less reflective option is preferable. Similarly, a room that is heavily reliant on artificial light during the evening will showcase the frame in much more detail than the glass once the sun has set, which means that detail is crucial;

Who Else Needs to Weigh In?

If the mirror in question will be part of a shared space, it is important to consult anyone else who spends a lot of time there on a regular basis prior to design beginning rather than discovering their opinion on a mirror that has already been put up. Obviously, this is more of an issue in shared living situations. Still, it is surprising how infrequently such matters are raised when one member of a household wants a mirror but is unaware of a potential issue due to the way the item interacts with the room.

Bringing It All Together

Once these questions have been asked, the process of designing a bespoke mirror becomes much less daunting, as the customer is not starting from a blank canvas and asking vague questions such as “What do you think?” with no concrete ideas to work from. As a general rule of thumb, The Convex Mirror Company tends to see fewer design changes requested once a customer purchases a piece based on the answers to these questions, although every project is different.