You do not necessarily need to go oval. I happen to prefer rectangles. But you can certainly go a bit bigger

I have to say that mirrors over dressers are really a thing of the past so IMO a piece of art would be a much better choice. I also do not like beveled mirrors in frames. As for the shape it is fine but the size IMO is too small for a 2” frame so 1.5” would be better. Also a table lamp not sconces

I think you’re headed in the right direction and that this will be a nice look for your traditional styled room. I like the idea of oval, since there are so many square shapes in that area already ... as well as complimenting the curves of your bed. I’d get the mirror done and up, then see how you feel about sconces. The actual mirror in place will have a much heavier presence, obviously, than just the cardboard there.

But to me, the scale, shape, and description of the mirror sound fine, especially if you do sconces with it.

ETA: Love that your DH is making it — hope you’ll show us when it’s done.

I love the photo of him holding up the sconce :-)

Its a bit small for the volume of the dresser below. I would go bigger with the mirror and forget the sconces, which will look crowded and too small once the mirror is large enough. Perhaps they'll fit in elsewhere. Love your doors and frames!

I’d be careful about going bigger, with this area being between two doorways. It could easily overpower and look out of proportion. Again — the real framed mirror will look a lot different in size and depth than a flat piece of cardboard, plus you’ll have decor on the dresser adding to the group.

If this were on a large expanse of wall alone, I’d agree you could size up. But I wouldn’t in this space.

Here's a crazy idea: what if you hung the oval mirror horizontally to make it look more in proportion to the dresser?

Obviously, the shape isn't exactly right on this, but it's just meant to illustrate you don't have to hang the mirror vertically.

Love that idea!!^^

Thank you everyone for your responses! My husband and I both prefer a mirror to artwork over my dresser (it may be out of style but we would both rather do what we like than worry about what is currently in style, plus, it will reflect a pretty view of our backyard through sliding doors). And although we did consider a rectangle, Jinx made a good point about using an oval, along with not going too big for the space. And we had originally considered orienting the oval horizontally, as Sabrina Alfin Interiors suggested here, but thought it looked better oriented vertically. But I posted it hanging both ways below as it is so easy to move.

The pictures below are the originally sized mirror( 26 1/2” x 34”), with a 2 1/2” frame (Patricia Colwell Consulting, I appreciated your recommending 1 1/2” frame but thought that might be too small and it’s so much easier to cut more out to make it smaller than pasting it back together so I started with the 2 1/2” size. My husband liked your idea of not using beveled glass though). Both the vertical and horizontal orientation are shown. So now I’m asking: horizontal or vertical, this size or slightly larger and 2 1/2”, 2” or 1 1/2 “ frame?

(And Jinx, I will post when it’s done. My husband hasn’t done this before but he has a nice shop and wants to try it. I now have until the end of the day to try to finalize the size as he will wait until tomorrow to start on it!)

Vertically and off centered a bit and a bit lower, resembling 2nd picture. Balance with a large lamp (will provide nicer and better lighting). This is a traditional look, but a more modern version than what you were thinking

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I like the vertical way for your room — I like the balanced and traditional look of it. So lovely. :)

Thank you both for your response! Maureen, your pictures are very pretty, something to consider. I tend to gravitate towards very uncluttered surfaces- just the jewelry box and a picture of our children, but I may reconsider when the mirror is installed.

Larger! Google images for oval mirror over dresser for examples.

Uncluttered is fine but the lamp is key.

I think I prefer sconces to a lamp. We already have lamps on each of our nightstands and a floor lamp by one of the chairs. Not sure I want another lamp in the bedroom but maybe I’ll think differently after the mirror is hung...

I love the oval. Your doors look arts & Crafts style - oval is so nice with that. Like the sconces too - great with your furniture

Thank you for your response. After reading all the different viewpoints, I think we are going with the oval mirror in roughly the size shown and the sconces. (And I thought the doors were shaker, but I’m not really familiar with the terminology so they may very well be arts and crafts.)

Arts & Crafts & Shaker styles have similarities - mostly the clean & simple lines. I like the Arts & Crafts era styles & tend to identify everything I see having these simple lines as that. They could actually be properly called Shaker style. I’ve seen kitchen cab styles called Shaker that when I saw them I thought - Nice! Arts & Crafts!

What about a squared off bottom and a rounded top on the mirror? It would tie in the squareness of the dresser while also mimicking the arched detail on that center dresser door?

...

I think this bigger one is the best of all, the first one that lynartist posted. But lower it a smidgen.

I’m not so sure of the sconces though.

I know your hubby is wanting to do this lovely thing for you! Sounds difficult. As this chest has nice Chippendale style brasses I would be more inclined to look for a mirror with a chinoiserie feel to it. Something not so matchy. Updated sconces too.

Lynartist, thank you for all the pictures. You have a very diplomatic style of communication which is much appreciated here! We like the first oval the most, with the first of the last three a close second for me. And I love the idea of adding gold leaf, although my husband almost spit up his coffee when I read him your remarks about adding this to his repertoire! (Apparently, he is well versed in this technique from his former profession).

Your updated sconce was interesting- I had something very similar installed over our fireplace mantle. Ditched the shade, shortened the shaft, and it is now very similar to the ones I purchased for over the dresser, except in black.

(And it was the doors that we were referring to as shaker, rather than the dresser. I also thought the dresser was Chippendale style, rather than Early American you mentioned...)

Barbara, I think your initial impression is right on the mark. To me, this size (or perhaps a smidge larger, but not much) and orientation is simply perfect style-wise, and sized proportionately to the surroundings.

How lovely that your husband will create this for you! That's a treasure (both the mirror and the man).

Ocotillo, thank you for your very supportive and gracious response. My husband especially loved the part about him being such a treasure! (I am very fortunate in so many ways)

following

I hope I get the response from any of you lovely people. Got here via google. As I am also looking for ideas for my mirror over dresser. How did you guys edit those pictires? Which application? I mean how do you put different mirror in the original photo to see?