The placement of your mirror can determine how functional it will be and what it can bring to your interior. For example, how high should you hang a mirror over your dresser?
Hang a mirror 8 to 12 inches above a small dresser, 6 to 8 inches if your dresser is medium-sized, and 3 to 5 inches for high dressers. If a mirror is small, place it between 65 and 75 inches from the floor.
In this article, I’ll talk about finding the perfect mirror height and share other tips on mirror placement so you can create a beautiful accent in your room without compromising utility.
Determining Your Ideal Mirror Height
There’s no definitive answer to the question of how high your mirror should hang. Many factors determine the perfect mirror height that will be optimal for you and your family while fitting in with the rest of the furniture.
Size of the Dresser
The first thing to think about is how the mirror will be positioned relative to the furniture in the room. When you hang a mirror above a dresser, the height of the latter makes a big difference.
The required gap between the dresser and mirror will vary depending on whether the dresser is big or small, how high it is, and how massive it looks compared to the rest of the furniture.
Essentially, you want the mirror to fit in with the rest of the interior while also making sure there’s enough free space around it to make it a bright and visible accent.
Here are some general tips on how high your mirror should be depending on the size of furniture you’d like to place it above:
- Dresser shorter than 35 inches (90 cm) in height: Leave eight to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) between it and the mirror.
- Dresser 35 to 40 inches (90 to 100 cm) in height: Hang a mirror six to eight inches (15 to 20 cm) on top of your dresser.
- Dresser taller than 40 inches (100 cm) in height: Go for a smaller gap that’s about three to five inches (7.5 to 12.5 cm).
Size of the Mirror
The next thing to consider is how big your mirror is. You want to balance it out with the rest of the room decor and ensure it remains functional.
I suggest prioritizing the functional aspect first. You can’t change the dimensions of the mirror itself or the floor, but you can always make adjustments depending on what mirror placement looks most aesthetically pleasing to you.
For big mirrors, you can follow the measurements given in the previous section, as they work just fine in most cases. For small mirrors, however, you may have to deviate a little from those recommendations.
To get a better idea of what height you should go for, measure the distance from your mirror to the floor. There should be 65 to 75 inches (165 to 190 cm) between the floor and the top of the mirror.
Once you figure out the approximate placement, feel free to move the mirror within the specified range to achieve the look you like best.
Eye Level
Last but not least, you need to think about the optimal height for the mirror. Unless you only want the mirror for wall decor, it’s essential to ensure it sits at a comfortable height for you and your family members.
The recommended measurements above typically work well enough for placing a mirror at eye level. However, you must ensure they’re comfortable enough for you and make adjustments if necessary.
For some spaces, such as dining rooms, it’s recommended to hang the mirror slightly lower as people mostly spend time there sitting, so the eye level will be different.
Tips on Placing Your Mirror Perfectly
Now that you know what determines the ideal height for your mirror, let’s discuss some additional factors you may want to consider while choosing the perfect placement.
Measure the Width
While figuring out the ideal mirror height is important, you must also consider how wide your mirror is to achieve the best aesthetic balance.
For small dressers, it’s best to choose smaller mirrors. About two-thirds of the dresser’s width would be ideal. The same width can also look good as long as it’s balanced and doesn’t appear overwhelming.
Huge mirrors should be paired with big furniture or a couple of furniture pieces on both sides. On the other hand, if the mirror appears too small and doesn’t stand out as a bright accent, you can accompany it with artwork and create a composition for a more intriguing look.
Choose a Place Close to a Window
You can take full advantage of your mirror by putting it in a place where it can reflect sunlight and brighten up your room. This is quite easy to do: Choose an opposite or adjacent wall so the light can reach your mirror and spread around the space. However, you should be careful it won’t cause a blinding glare when people look directly at the mirror.
Avoid putting mirrors on the same wall where the window is. Otherwise, it won’t be able to take advantage of natural light.
Look at the Reflection
It’s also important to consider how the mirror reflects your room. Look at the wall opposite your dresser and think about whether you’re happy with that reflection. You can add artwork, bookshelves, or flowers to the opposite wall, so it creates a more visually appealing image.
Final Thoughts
The perfect height for hanging a mirror over a dresser depends on the dimensions of the dresser and mirror. The general rule is that there should be bigger gaps for small furniture and just a few inches for bigger pieces.
However, make sure to check that the suggested measurements work for you and your family members and that the mirror sits at a comfortable height for everyone to use it.
