Wall Mirrors

How do you hang a mirror on the wall?

Find the studs first, then choose the fixing to match the weight. Under about 20 pounds a mirror can hang from a single anchor in drywall. Above that it needs either a stud or a pair of heavy-duty toggle bolts, and the mirror should be supported at two points rather than one so it cannot swing. Mark both points with a level before you drill anything.

How do you hang a heavy mirror?

Use a French cleat and spread the load across two studs. A cleat is two interlocking angled rails, one on the wall and one on the mirror, and it carries far more than a hook because the weight presses into the wall rather than pulling straight down on a single fixing. For anything above roughly 40 pounds, treat a cleat and studs as the minimum rather than an upgrade.

How high should it go?

Centre the glass at eye level, about 57 to 60 inches from the floor, which is the standard gallery hanging height and works because it is roughly average standing eye level. Over a console or a dresser, leave 4 to 8 inches between the furniture top and the bottom of the frame so the two read as a pair rather than one stacked object.

Can you hang a mirror without nails?

Only a light one. Adhesive strips rated for the weight will hold a small framed mirror on clean, painted drywall, and the rating should be at least double the mirror's actual weight because strips lose grip over time and in humidity. Do not use adhesive on textured wallpaper, on anything above head height, or on glass over about 20 pounds.

How do you remove a mirror glued to the wall?

Slowly, and with the glass taped first. Run masking tape in a grid across the face so that if it cracks it holds together, then work a thin pry bar or a length of wire behind the mirror and cut through the adhesive with a sawing motion, starting at a top corner. Wear gloves and eye protection throughout.

What shapes and sizes are here?

Round, arched, oval and rectangular, from 16 inches wide up to 40, and from 16 inches tall up to 76. Frames are metal, aluminum, wood and composite depending on the piece, so check the individual listing for what a given mirror is made from. The taller pieces in this range are full length mirrors that hang rather than lean.

Where a wall mirror earns its place

Opposite or beside a window, where it doubles the daylight rather than reflecting a blank wall. Above a console in an entry it gives you somewhere to check yourself on the way out. In a narrow hallway a mirror on the long wall makes the corridor read wider, which is the oldest trick in the book and still the most effective.