Is it ok to put a mirror above a fireplace? Yes, absolutely! Using mirrors above a fireplace mantel, is a classic, timeless decor look. Wondering how do you style a mantel with mirror? Use these fireplace mirror ideas to create a stunning, designer inspired mantel in your space.
- Fireplace Mirror Ideas
- Large Fireplace Mirror Ideas
- Vintage & Antique Fireplace Mirror Ideas
- Decorative Mirrors Above a Fireplace Mantel
- Oval Mirrors for Fireplace Mantels
- Round Mirrors Above a Fireplace Mantel
- Arched Mirrors Over a Fireplace Mantel
- Rectangle Mirrors for a Mantel
- White Framed Mirrors on a Mantel
- Black Framed Mirrors on a Fireplace Mantel
- Bronze & Gold Mirrors for a Fireplace Mantel
- Wood Framed Mirrors Above a Fireplace Mantel
- Layered Mirrors on Your Mantel
- Leaning a Mirror Against Your Mantel
- Wall Mounted Mirrors Above a Fireplace Mantel
- Mirrors on the Inside of a Fireplace
- More Fireplace & Mantel Decor Ideas
- Pin it for Later!
Fireplace Mirror Ideas
You’ve probably seen mirrors being used above a fireplace mantel before. But why do fireplaces have mirrors? In olden days, mirrors were a sign of wealth. What better way to show off your mirror then to place it above the focal point of the space – the fireplace!
In our modern times, mirrors are widely available and yet the tradition of placing them above a fireplace still remains. There’s a couple of good reasons to decorate a fireplace mantel with a mirror:
- Mirrors make the space feel bigger. They help reflect light and thus create a big ambiance in a room.
- Mirrors create a nice focal point. Most of the time, your fireplace is going to stand out in the room. Why not make it the centerpiece of the space by adding mirror on the top?
- Mirrors can be swapped out on occasion to change up the style of the space. There are so many design styles to choose from – you don’t have to stick with just one mirror for the rest of time!
Should you have a mirror above a fireplace? In truth, the space above a fireplace mantel can be quite large. So you’re going to want to decorate it with something. Why not use a mirror?
Let’s take a look at how to decorate a mantel with mirror for the best impact.
Large Fireplace Mirror Ideas
One of the first questions you might ask yourself before shopping is “how big should a mirror be over a fireplace mantel?” In truth, there’s not right or wrong answer. It all depends on the look you are going for and the size of your space.
Can you get away with using a large or even a huge mirror above your fireplace mantel? Absolutely!
Now, many designers will tell you to leave some room around the edges of a mirror so that it does not take up the entire space above a mantel. But personally, I think you can take a mantel mirror all the way to the ceiling.
Large Wall Mirrors
Large Black Framed Arched Mirror
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Buy Now → The one thing I wouldn’t do is have a mirror that goes past the horizontal length of the mantel, unless you have a very unique space. Otherwise, this is going to make your fireplace look too small compared to the size of the mirror.
You can see in the photo above that the mirror is just the right size for the mantel space. Any bigger and it would overwhelm the mantel.
Vintage & Antique Fireplace Mirror Ideas
Many older homes on the market include fireplaces with mantels. And usually these aren’t the kind of fireplaces you see for sale at a furniture store.
People were more decorative with wood finishes and trim in olden times. These vintage beauties might need a little TLC, but they make for a great focal point in a room.
Some older fireplace will already have a mirror built in. Most of the time, unless the mirror is very damaged, it’s best to keep it intact. Who knows what’s behind the mirror (unfinished walls, etc.)
But you can also buy vintage looking mirrors for fireplace mantel ideas with mirrors. Many of these mirrors (such the influencer favorite – Anthropologie’s Gleaming Primrose Mirror) are designed to look antique.
Or consider shopping at places like thrift stores, flea markets, Facebook Marketplace or eBay for vintage mirror finds that can be used over a mantel.
Decorative Mirrors Above a Fireplace Mantel
You might wonder “what shape mirror is best over a fireplace?” Don’t just think you’re limited to round or rectangular fireplace mirror ideas. If you really want to make a statement in your space, go for a uniquely shaped decorative mirror for your fireplace mantel.
Personally, I love “sunburst” or “starburst” type mirrors like the one in the photo above. What an eye catching look for a living room fireplace mantel.
Decorative Wall Mirrors
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Decorative Gold Sunburst Mirror
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Buy Now → As you can see in the photo, you often times don’t need to add in any additional decorations with a mirror like this – it speaks for itself! These kinds of mirrors are good if you’re on a budget, or don’t like to decorate that often.
Alternatively, if you do like to switch out your decor from time to time, consider having a small collection of decorative mirrors that you can use over your fireplace mantel. They’re an easy way to freshen up the space every so often.
Oval Mirrors for Fireplace Mantels
You might think of using oval mirrors over a bathroom sink or perhaps a makeup vanity. But you can also use an oval mirror above a fireplace mantel.
The trick with oval mirrors is to find one that fills the space nicely. Many oval mirrors are rather slim and might not look big enough across your fireplace mantel.
If that’s that case, then you can turn the oval mirror horizontally so that it spreads out over the mantel.
Another alternative is to use an oval mirror with a robust frame, similar to the one shown in the photo above. Wall scones on either side of the oval mirror help to fill out the space horizontally.
Round Mirrors Above a Fireplace Mantel
Round mirrors above a fireplace mantel have become more popular as of late since they have a bit of a simple, modern feel to them. You can find them in all kinds of different sizes and finishes – white, black, wood, gold, bronze, silver, etc.
Now depending on the size, round mirrors might feel a bit small when placed against a wide mantel. The trick to fix this issue is to place taller decorative objects on either side of the round mirror.
Round & Oval Wall Mirrors
Oval Clement Horizontal Mirror
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Oval Princeville Rattan Mirror
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Round Bourdon Double-Framed Mirror
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Buy Now → This will help balance the space and make the mirror blend in better with the overall look. But if you can afford it, I would buy the biggest round mirror that will work for your mantel.
When in doubt, go with a bigger sized mirror for a mantel. The fireplace is a large area that will grab your eye when you enter the room. You want the mantel decor to be correctly proportioned to the fireplace.
Arched Mirrors Over a Fireplace Mantel
Another popular look for decorating a fireplace mantel with a mirror is to use an arched mirror. These classic mirrors look great with a wide variety of decor styles and themes. They also help fill out the mantel space both horizontally and vertically.
Most arched mirrors you’ll find on the market have a flat bottom. This makes them a great choice to use when leaning a mirror against a mantel wall instead of mounting it on the wall itself.
Arched Wall Mirrors
Arched Adeline Ornate Mantle Mirror
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Buy Now → If you live in an apartment where you’re not allowed to mount things on the wall, consider using an arched mirror to decorate a fireplace mantel.
Arch mirrors look great decorated for the holidays with a wreath hung over the front of the mirror.
Rectangle Mirrors for a Mantel
Another great option to use for fireplace mirror ideas is the classic rectangle mirror.
You might think to use a square mirror over your mantel. And while this might be a good option for some mantels, a rectangle mirror will help you fill out more of the space horizontally.
These versatile mirrors come in lots of different shapes, sizes and colors. Similar to decorative mirrors, you can have a small collection of rectangle mirrors that you swap out on occasion over your fireplace mantel.
White Framed Mirrors on a Mantel
Can you use a white framed mirror on your mantel, even if it’s against a white wall? Yes, I think so.
In fact, a good rule of thumb if you don’t want your mirror to stand out too much is to use a frame that is the same color as the wall and/or fireplace. This gives the fireplace mantel decor with mirror a more streamlined, blended look.
Black & White Wall Mirrors
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Black Uttermost Saul Round Mirror
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White Pebble Beach Beaded Mirror
Buy Now →You can see in the photo above that the white frame mirror still makes a small statement even against a white wall and a white brick fireplace. The plants in front of it help to draw the eye upward toward the mirror.
Black Framed Mirrors on a Fireplace Mantel
Black decor accents are certainly having a moment right now. An easy way to incorporate this trend into your space is to use a black frame mirror above your fireplace mantel.
Now a black framed mirror against a white or neutral shaded wall color is going to really pop and help bring the focal point up towards the mantel.
Conversely, if you want your mirror to blend in more with the fireplace & mantel, you’ll need to use a frame that is closer to the color of the fireplace & mantel.
Bronze & Gold Mirrors for a Fireplace Mantel
Metallic finishes have become more popular in recent years and work well with a variety of decor schemes. Two popular colors really stand out for mantel mirrors – bronze and gold.
Bronze frames work well when you don’t want to use a black frame, but still want to have a mirror in a darker shade. I also like that bronze can have a bit of an ombre effect which helps add depth and interest to the decor.
Metallic Wall Mirrors
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Metallic Carved Ornate Frame Wall Mirror
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Metallic Dina Gold Wall Mirror
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Metallic Gold Alexandra Mirror
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Metallic Uttermost Tortin Round Wall Mirror
Buy Now →Gold framed mirrors might seem old timey, but consider using sleek & modern “glam” style mirrors. On the other hand, if you’re going for a vintage or antique mirror for your mantel, a gold finish is a great choice.
Wood Framed Mirrors Above a Fireplace Mantel
Wood framed mirrors above your mantel are a great choice if you have a wood fireplace surround. It creates a really cohesive look when the mirror frame is the same stain or paint color as the fireplace surround.
Alternatively, you can add wood framed mirrors to stone or brick fireplaces. This is a nice look for rustic, farmhouse or coastal decor themes.
I like the idea of painting or staining an old vintage wood mirror to bring it back to life. If you’re handy, this makes a great DIY project for your living room fireplace mantel decor with mirror.
Layered Mirrors on Your Mantel
Now here’s a design trick for those with really wide mantels or small budgets. Use a bunch of mirrors layered together on the mantel to create a unique look.
This works really well visually because it takes up a bunch of space horizontally. If you’re on a budget, look for smaller mirrors on sale, mirrors that are sold in bundled sets, DIY mirror frame ideas and mirrors from thrift stores, Craigslist, etc.
Another trick here is use some empty photo frames in front of the layered mirrors. This gives the impression of having more mirrors on display than you actually do!
Leaning a Mirror Against Your Mantel
What if you don’t want to mount your mirror above your fireplace? Sometimes you’re not able to mount the mirror because of rental rules.
Other times you might not want to a very heavy mirror against a wall for safety reasons. Luckily, with a mantel, you have a nice “shelf” area that can be used to rest a mirror against.
You can use non slip shelf liner to rest the mirror against to keep it from sliding forward. Soft bumper pads attached to the back of the mirror will help protect the paint on the wall from being scratched.
Wall Mounted Mirrors Above a Fireplace Mantel
Now if you are going to mount a mirror above your fireplace mantel, you’ll want to make sure to do it in a way that is safe.
Mounting brackets, furniture straps and other devices can be used to keep your mirror safely attached to the wall above the mantel.
If you have concrete board walls (which are near impossible to mount anything to!), I highly recommend these concrete wall hooks for hanging art and mirrors above a fireplace mantel.
Mirrors on the Inside of a Fireplace
As a final fireplace mirror idea, consider placing mirrors inside an empty fireplace. If your fireplace doesn’t work anymore or isn’t used, then you’re probably going to want to decorate it a bit.
Mirrors inside of the fireplace make for a great way to use the space. I talk more about how to do this in this article: 16 Empty Fireplace Decorating Ideas for an Attractive Look
I hope this article gave you some good fireplace mirror ideas! How are you going to style your fireplace mantel with a mirror?
More Fireplace & Mantel Decor Ideas
For more fireplace & mantel decor inspiration, tips and styles, check out these posts:
- 20 Simple Ways to Decorate a Fireplace & Mantle with Flameless Candles
- 11 Simple Fireplace Built-In Decorating Ideas You Need To Try
- 16 Empty Fireplace Decorating Ideas for an Attractive Look
- 12 Electric Fireplace Ideas That Will Look Realistic, Cozy
- 9 Vibrant Corner Fireplace Decorating Ideas For This Unique Space
- 12 Simple Ways To Style Fireplace Decor With A TV
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