Arched Mirrors

Choosing an arched mirror or arch wall mirror

An arched mirror is defined by its top edge: a single curve rising from two straight sides, borrowed from window and doorway architecture. That curve softens a wall of squares, which is why an arch mirror works so well above a console, a vanity or a bed. The range covers three scales of the same idea. Compact wall arches sit above a sink or a shelf, mid-size accent mirrors fill a stretch of wall, and oversized arched floor mirrors are tall enough to reflect a whole outfit.

Frames divide by material. Metal frames in iron, aluminium and brass-toned finishes carry the slimmest profiles as well as the ornate baroque and windowpane designs. Wood frames, including a solid rubberwood floor mirror, bring warmth in walnut and natural oak tones. A third group runs frameless or nearly so, with a clean glass edge or an illuminated border. Finishes across the range include gold, antique gold, brass, black, silver, antique silver, bronze, antique bronze, cream, white and natural wood.

Match the mirror to its job before you match it to the decor. Above a vanity or a bathroom sink, a wall arch of roughly 20 to 24 inches wide suits a standard basin and should stay narrower than the cabinet below it. Above a console or a fireplace, a mid-size arch in the 30 to 40 inch range fills the wall without crowding the ceiling. For dressing, a full-length arch of around 58 to 66 inches tall lets you see head to foot from a few steps back. Measure the wall and the ceiling height first, since the curve reads taller than a rectangle of the same size.

Mounting is the specification to check first. Some pieces are wall-mounted only, some are freestanding floor mirrors designed to lean, and a few do both. A leaning mirror needs a wall it cannot slip down and, in a home with children or pets, a safety anchor behind it. Glass specifications vary too: several full-length mirrors use shatterproof or explosion-proof backing, and the lit models offer dimmable light in three colour temperatures, either hardwired or plugged in. One floor mirror rolls on wheels and carries storage shelves behind the glass.

Style then narrows the choice. Ornate baroque and hand-carved frames suit traditional and heavily decorated rooms, and the antique bronze and antique silver finishes read older than the golds. Slim metal arches suit modern rooms and bathrooms, where the frame should stay out of the way. Windowpane and woven-texture designs suit a room that needs pattern rather than shine. Wood-framed arches suit a warmer palette and sit naturally beside rattan and natural fibre pieces.