Oval Mirrors

Why oval rather than round?

An oval carries height that a circle cannot. A round mirror tall enough to show the whole body would have to be almost six feet wide, which no wall can take, whereas an oval reaches the same height at 23 to 33 inches across. It is the shape that solves full length reflection without a hard rectangle, which is why it keeps returning.

Where an oval works

In a room that is already full of straight lines. A bedroom with a rectangular bed, rectangular wardrobe and rectangular window has no curve in it, and a tall oval introduces one at full height rather than as a small detail. In a narrow space it also reads as less bulky than a rectangle of the same height, because the curve pulls the corners in.

How do you hang one?

Two fixings, level with each other, roughly a third of the way down from the top. An oval has the same rotation problem as a round mirror on a single hook, and on a tall oval that drift is more visible because the long axis exaggerates any tilt. Fix into studs where the weight requires it.

How high should it hang?

Low enough to show your feet, since every oval in this range is full length. The bottom of the glass wants to be 12 to 18 inches from the floor. Hanging it at normal picture height cuts off the lower body and defeats the reason for buying a mirror this tall in the first place.

Can they lean instead?

Some can. A leaning oval needs a flat bottom edge and enough frame depth to sit stable, and the listing states which are built for it. Any oval that leans must still be strapped to the wall at the top rail, because a tall curved frame has a small contact patch on the floor and tips more easily than a rectangle would.

What is in this collection?

Tall oval mirrors 23 to 33 inches wide and 59 to 73 inches tall, in metal and composite frames with an oak finish on one model. Frame material varies by piece and is stated on each listing. Depth runs shallow enough that none of these projects awkwardly into a walkway.

Are oval mirrors in style?

Yes, and for the same structural reason they have always been used: the shape does something a circle and a rectangle cannot. The current preference is for tall, narrow ovals with thin frames rather than the wide, heavily moulded ovals of older interiors, which is what this range reflects.