Look at the reflection before the frame
Use a small mirror to test the direction, or ask someone to hold a lightweight piece safely. Check what appears from the entrance and sofa. Reflecting a window can be pleasant; reflecting crowded storage may multiply the feeling you were trying to reduce.
You do not have to position it directly opposite the light source. A side wall may offer a more interesting, less direct reflection. Watch at different times for glare at your usual seat, and avoid positions that concentrate strong sunlight onto sensitive objects.
Decide how it will be used
An entrance mirror for checking clothes needs a different height and field of view from a decorative piece above a sideboard. Test with the people who will use it. Do not assume a position selected for one person will serve everyone equally well.
In a hallway, make sure frame depth does not narrow the route or create something to strike when carrying a bag. A large, heavy shape requires assessing the wall support, not merely admiring the visual effect it might create.
Leaning is not the same as securing
A leaning mirror can look relaxed, but it should not depend on friction or furniture that can move. Follow the manufacturer’s safety and anchoring instructions. In homes with children or pets, pay particular attention to tipping and impact risks.
Use fixings appropriate to the total weight and wall material. If the support is unknown or services may be concealed, get help before drilling. Decorative adhesive tape is not a substitute for a mounting system specified for the mirror.
Check the whole scale
An elaborate frame already contributes considerable detail. Keeping the surface below clearer can give the arrangement breathing room. A simple mirror may not need surrounding ornaments either; the reflected image changes throughout the day.
Before buying, mark its outside outline on the wall. Include the frame in the measurement and check switches and door clearances. The proportions need to work from the places where you will actually see it, rather than only from a carefully chosen photograph angle.
