We’ve finally reached the phase in our house where we’re tackling the “we’ll-just-put-this-here-for-now” things that get tossed around after a move. After a year and a half of living here, we’re slowly upgrading those temporary choices. One casualty of that effort was the tiny mirror that had been perched above our fireplace mantel since the first week we moved in. It was a holdover from our old den, and honestly, it was just too small—comically small—so it was time for an upgrade.
We always planned to get something larger, but kitchen projects, bedroom tweaks, bathroom updates, and deck work kept pushing it down the list. The small mirror stayed above the fireplace because it was easy, not because it was right. We wanted a bigger mirror to:
- reflect more light
- make the cozy fireplace area feel larger and more defined
- bring some of the cork floor’s warm wood tones up onto the wall
After casually searching thrift stores and local shops for a while, I finally went rogue one afternoon while John was working on the deck and Clara was napping. I tiptoed into the guest room and decided to try a huge mirror we’d leaned above a dresser about a year earlier.
I dragged the beast into the kitchen, climbed onto a chair while holding it, and leaned it on the mantel to see how it looked. It leaned awkwardly at first because of an outlet on the mantel, which made it reflect the ceiling—definitely not a good look—but the color and scale felt right. I left it there to think it over, then went back to work. When John saw it, he immediately said, “That looks awesome—let’s hang it up.”
I celebrated with a dramatic fake faint.
Okay, I didn’t actually faint, but I indulged in a bit of theatrics because John usually needs time to warm up to changes. Also, hanging a giant mirror into thin wood paneling is more work than putting in a tiny finishing nail. He surprised me by being enthusiastic, so we got to work.
We used four heavy-duty 2.5″ screws: two driven into studs and two supported with heavy-duty anchors to keep the mirror level and secure. Because the mirror previously hung vertically, we had to move the hanging hardware on the back of the frame to convert it to a horizontal hang. We reused one of the original screws and added strong picture hanging wire between the two metal holders so the wire could loop over the four screws in the wall. Yes, there’s a lot of duct tape on the back of the mirror from a yard sale rescue years ago, but despite its appearance the frame and backing are solid.
We reused the original screw where we could and attached heavy-duty picture wire rather than flimsy craft wire so the mirror would hang reliably.
Admit it—there’s something charming about all that duct tape back there.
John drove the screws into the studs and anchors while I steadied the frame.
The whole process—moving hardware, adding wire, drilling, and hanging—took around twenty minutes. It required more effort than a single finishing nail, but it wasn’t complicated math, just straightforward practical work. Using picture wire made getting it onto the screws easier because the wire only needs to catch on the heads rather than aligning multiple hooks perfectly.
The impact of a large mirror is dramatic. The frame is a touch more orange than the cork floor, so I might stain it a bit darker to harmonize with the floor tones, but the added reflective surface already makes a huge difference.
From further away, the added height balances the tall elements in the room like the pantry and the tile that reaches the ceiling on our open-shelf wall, giving the space better proportion and scale.
We also added another inexpensive Urban Outfitters rug for the cooking area. We trialed the previous rug there first to make sure it wouldn’t get in the way, and since there’s enough space around the perimeter it worked well, so we ordered the new one.
Back to the mirror: I placed a few thrifted items on the mantel—neutral tones make it easy to switch things up whenever the mood strikes—and Clara even photobombed one shot.
Compare the tiny mirror we had before to the new large one—the change is night and day.
John says this side of the kitchen now feels like an older, well-proportioned home with high ceilings and character. For me, the mirror bounces more light, makes the room feel bigger and airier, and provides a strong focal point visible from the front door. Best of all, this was a free solution using something we already owned—no new purchase necessary. The scale and chunky wood frame are perfect, and the fact that we found it at a yard sale years ago for five dollars is the cherry on top.
We’ve still got a few more tweaks planned for this area over time, so stay tuned for more updates. In the meantime, have you swapped mirrors between rooms or moved something from another space to make it feel fresh? Any toddler photo-bombs or sneaky redecorating while a child naps?