Tips For Hanging a Mirror Over a Mantle
Before the electric light was invented, mirrors were placed above the fireplace to reflect candle light around the room.
Back in the day, mirrors were also an expensive item.
Owning one was a display of your wealth.
But being wealthy in days gone by meant you may have created a few potential enemies.
So a mirror over the fireplace was also a way to see over your shoulder at who’s coming through the door.
But nowadays, mirrors are affordable & come in many contemporary & modern styles.
They’re a wonderful addition to your decor & to this day, they are still a great addition above the mantle.
So how do you hang a mirror above a fireplace? Once you’ve decided on the best mirror to suit your decor, then there are a few ways to mount it to the wall as well as placement & height.
There’s a few considerations on how to hang a mirror above your fireplace which I'll cover in this article.
These are:
1. Choosing the right mirror for your mantle & decor.
2. Correct proportions & placement.
3. Methods for hanging a mirror safely & securely.
4. Alternative ways for displaying a mirror over a mantle.
1. Matching the Mirror to Your Decor & Mantle
If you already have your mirror & you’re excited to get it up on the wall, you can skip this section.
But otherwise, it’s best to make the right choice first before you start screwing in hooks or drilling holes.
It’s great that there are so many styles of mirrors on the market, as you won’t have a problem finding the right one.
But it can also be overwhelming, there’s just too many gorgeous mirrors & it can be difficult to decide on just one!
But you need to consider the style or theme of your decor.
Ornate mirrors with gilded frames can be very elegant & are well suited for a more formal room.
They’ll sit well with a traditional open fireplace or period mantle.
These ornate mirrors & many more can be found at CasaGear.com
You can read my affiliate disclosure & why I recommend certain companies here.
But they are also a great contrast to a modern or even industrial style decor, placed above a sleeker & contemporary fireplace.
As well as a huge array of frame styles, you can also buy frameless mirrors.
Frameless mirrors can be a good choice if you don’t want the mirror to be as dominant.
A question that’s often asked is what shape mirror to use above a fireplace.
Framed & frameless mirrors come in many different shapes & sizes, meaning a square or rectangular mirror will blend well with modern decor.
A round or oval mirror will add a touch of elegance.
There are also framed & frameless mirrors in unusual shapes & styles that will fit with vintage decor for example.
Wooden frames are also very versatile, they can be ornate, but also modern & even fit with a coastal theme.
The colour of the frame will affect the impact the mirror has in the room as well.
Colourful frames will make the mirror even more of a centrepiece.
If you want to delve in further on matching a mirror to your decor, I’ve written a complete guide on how to choose the perfect mirror for any room.
2. Finding the Right Shape & Proportions
Understanding where the mirror is going to hang in relation to the fireplace is important in getting the proportions right.
Each fireplace will be different.
There’s the traditional open fireplace with the chimney protruding into the room.
Sometimes the firebox is swapped out for a gas heater or other modern type.
This means the mantle may be removed, and you have the fireplace sitting flush to a featureless wall.
In newer builds, the chimney wall may be much wider in relation to the fireplace.
And then there are simply fires & heaters that are fitted into a standard wall.
So you need to find the right size & shape mirror that will be in proportion to your particular situation.
A common question is how far above the mantle a mirror should hang.
I’ve covered these rules of thumb in other articles, as they relate to anything you’re hanging on the wall.
There’s the 66% rule, in which 66% of the wall space should be above the mirror being hung & 33% between the mirror & what it’s hung above.
Of course, these are just guidelines, not hard & fast rules.
A large mirror can look great & create an impact in a space by virtually taking up all the available wall space.
But too small a mirror will look lost, so whether it’s square, rectangular or round, the mirror needs to be an appropriate size.
Whatever shape mirror you choose, there’s another rule of thumb used for hanging any artwork above furniture, & that’s the 80/20 rule.
This means the width of the mirror should be approximately 80% of the width of the mantle.
Although this mirror would look lost & too small by itself, the ornaments either side gives it balance.
This concept can also be used for a flat, bare wall.
If you don’t have a mantle & you’re sizing the mirror to the width of the firebox or heater, it may seem undersized in relation to wall or other decor elements.
By arranging other types of wall art, you will be able to incorporate a smaller mirror.
Try placing chairs either side of a fire that sits on a larger wall.
Then you can incorporate a larger mirror & it won’t feel so dominating.
And who says you have to use one mirror?
By arranging multiple mirrors, you can be even more creative.
3. Different Methods for Securing a Mirror Above a Fireplace
The last thing you want, once your beautiful piece of reflective glass is hung, is for it to come crashing down.
So it’s important to make sure you’re using the most secure hanging method for a particular type of mirror.
Framed mirrors generally come with hanging hardware attached.
Usually d hooks, a French cleat or a strong wire.
Depending on which of these you’re working with, not all these methods will be applicable.
So let’s take a look at the options so you can decide what’s best.
Command Strips & Other Adhesive Hooks
I was undecided to even include this method, as double sided tapes & adhesive hooks can be surprisingly strong.
But it’s a mirror we’re hanging, which unlike a print or other wall art which may come loose, probably isn’t going to be a danger to anyone.
Perhaps if you have a small lightweight mirror in a plastic frame, or you’re arranging a number of small mirrors, you may feel comfortable with this method.
If you want to learn more about adhesive strips & hooks, here’s an article that goes into more detail.
I’ve also covered how to hang a wall clock without nails which explores a few other methods as well.
Nails
If your mirror is going up on drywall ( or plasterboard ), make sure to find the wall studs.
A nail just in drywall can only hold a few lbs, or a couple of kg at most.
Whereas a nail hammered into a stud will hold up to 20 lbs, that’s 9 kg
Using more than one nail of course, will be even stronger.
Hercules or Monkey Hooks
Another good option for drywall are Hercules hooks.
Also known as monkey hooks, because of their curved shape. They simply pierce through the drywall & then brace against the inside wall.
They are rated to hold as much as 150 lbs or 60 kg.
Hardwall Hooks
These are designed to hammer straight onto concrete or masonry.
Providing they are used correctly & are flat to the wall, they’re rated to hold around 22 to 33lb, that’s 10 to 15 kg.
Screws & Screw Hooks
Probably the most used & practical way to hang a mirror simply due to their weight bearing capabilities.
Again, if you’re going into drywall you’ll need to locate the studs.
Brick or masonry walls will require drilling a hole first to insert a wall plug for the screw or hook to .. well ..screw into.
But when used correctly, your mirror will stay on the wall even through the strongest earthquake!
Hanging Frameless Mirrors
For a sleeker or minimalist look, you may want to use a frameless mirror over the mantle.
There’s a few options you can use.
Adhesives
Mostly used in bathrooms, industrial strength adhesives are available specifically for mirrors.
This stuff is strong & providing the wall is clean & correctly prepped, can be used on tiles, drywall & painted surfaces.
Mounting Clips
You'll need to know the weight & thickness of your mirror to match the clips.
Then mark out where they need to sit on the wall & simply screw into place.
Depending on how you secure them to the wall will also determine how much weight they’ll hold.
They’re rated to at least 20 lb or 9 kg, but if you’re using them on drywall with a heavy mirror, toggle bolts, also known as butterfly anchors will be the go.
J Channel
Mostly used for really large mirrors in gyms & other studios, they are as the name suggests.
The channel is secured to the wall where the bottom of the mirror will sit.
This is done by drilling & using wall plugs to secure the channel.
The clips at the top are secured the same way.
Adhesive is also applied to the back of the mirror.
4. Other Ideas to Display a Mirror Over a Fireplace
If you’ve made it this far through the article, thanks for sticking around!
You may have decided to avoid any drilling or gluing, so here are some alternative ways to display your mirror.
Lean on Me
Can’t get much simpler, but that doesn’t mean it’s not effective.
Simply leaning your mirror on the mantle against the wall can have a more relaxed vibe, & when surrounded by other ornaments & decorations will still be a wonderful focal point.
Just make sure it’s secure & won’t slide forward.
Shelves
Don’t have a mantle? Try making a full length shelf across the wall & rest your mirror on this.
This can work with a protruding or flat wall.
Picture Rail
If you’re fortunate to have a picture rail, simply hang the mirror as you would an artwork.
Alternatively, some mouldings ( or cornices as they’re known in some countries ) are able to accommodate a hook from which you could also hang the mirror.
Decorative Panels
Okay, this will require some fixing to the wall though.
Mount a decorative panel or mesh the full width of the chimney & right up to the ceiling.
If you have a flat wall, you can still cut the panel to an appropriate size to visually create this affect.
Then you’re able to hang your mirror & even other wall art & decorations.
I’ve been toying with this idea for ages & one day I’ll do it at my place.
There’s all sorts of panels available from faux brick, tiles, wood, concrete & stone.
Final Thoughts
It’s almost as if the mantle was invented to have a mirror above it.
Some people prefer artwork over the fireplace, but there’s so many amazing mirror designs, I feel they are art.
I hope this article has helped & inspired you to use a mirror for your fireplace & if you feel it could help someone else...spread the love .. I am always grateful for a share.
Leave a comment below too if you like!
If you're looking for a wall mirror, Casa Gear have a very extensive range.
I am an affiliate, this means you don't pay any more, I simply get a small commission.
It really helps to keep the doors open for business .. so thanks in advance if you find one you like.
You can read why I only promote certain companies here.
You may also like these articles:
