What will the mirror reflect? Something worth seeing twice?

What would be reflected in a mirror in that spot? Appears you have some interesting pieces - is that a wine botttle holder on left? Metal art above doorway? My thought is whatever is above the great antique cabinet should be ’heftier’ or more impact than the photo art. It seems good size but maybe frame is too light in weight for over that cabinet. Is there something else in your home that would work? If you hang a mirror, I think a vintage one with heavier frame than the art would be good. Great would be if it was a gilt frame….sort of mettalic looking.

I think a mirror with an interesting design would be lovely there … reflecting light and adding dimension. Especially with a lamp on the chest — would be so cozy at night.

Mirrors can be art, too.

I would cut out cardboard or paper to tape up and see what sizes you prefer.

You could also do a layered look:

I agree with much of this. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-use-mirrors-for-more-light-and-style-stsetivw-vs~18775985

We live in a forest and the back has lighting at night.

Beautiful views.

I seem to have lost the reflection picture. Sorry, I'll try again. thank you. Great suggestions. I do love the big round mirror

Beautiful setting. Would be a lovely reflection to see in a mirror! You have a really nice mix of furnishings— a mirror with an intersting frame &/or shape will only add to that.

Thank you KW. The wood piece on the left of the fireplace is a riddling rack. It's mostly used with champagne. They put the bottles in upside down and turn them regularly to make the sediment go to the neck of the bottle so it can be removed. Thank you for your ideas.

jinx,

I really love the mirror in the second picture you posted. It's the large one with some golden touches and a great lamp on the left of the cabinet. Do you know where it came from? I found a 40 inch round with some iron like antique finished squares around it. I'll try to add a photo. The only worry is that I have taupe/gray walls.

Since all of your furniture faces the TV instead of that gorgeous view, I think a mirror is a great idea. At least you will see the view via a mirror! A large round one would be nice to off-set all the rectangles in the area. Just don't go too small.

Blakez, sorry, no … the one I posted is an old stock image (I think from 2012). I like the one you posted, too!

Geez, no mirror.

Place some vertical canvas in the location.

Stain your mantel darker

Eliminate the candelsticks

Why ”Geez, no mirror”? Why is this board so mirror phobic?

It’d be a lot better looking than generic, mass-produced filler art nearly the size of the doorway. Makes that corner look too hectic and busy. The OP’s current art looks much better than that.

I really like the color a larger painting brings to the room. There is plenty of glass on the walls already.

Jinx, I love mirrors...........when they are used in the right location for the correct purpose. This is simply not the right location for a mirror.

Why do so many of the commentators on this forum suggest a mirror? Because they don't know when they are effective and when they are distracting.

The canvas adds 'texture' to the room.

A mirror in this location will not typically be used for viewing oneself

A mirror is likely to reflect the light from the windows and may cause glare in the room.

This is not a technical issue that needs to be perfect, like kitchen or bathroom scale and design, flooring measurements, etc. It’s subjective. Opinion. Yours, mine, everyone’s. There’s no right or wrong here, the OP would like a mirror there instead of art, which they already have.

The fireplace has plenty of texture, I just think a large piece of art is much more distracting and not well-balanced. If they decide against a mirror, the art they have looks fine.

Decorative mirrors are art, too. They add light, dimension, can have lovely and interesting frames. I don’t think you personally don’t like them, but plenty of posters here do, and base that on always trying to talk someone out of using one. One pro repetitively says mirrors only belong in bathrooms.

I agree with you about the possibility of glare, that’s a good point for the OP to consider. I had a similar situation with a pretty mirror in my living room (former house), across from a wall of windows, and didn’t ever have any issues with glaring … but of course can’t tell if the OP’s room would. I’m glad you brought that up.

ETA: I think these boards can be extremely myopic regarding common decorating issues, this is one of them. There are so many possibilities in the great big design world, but most OPs are given rote and sometimes biased advice, no matter the situation. (I’m not saying you do that, you don’t, just speaking in general.)

All these idea are great! Whether it is art or mirror, but only the Poster will know what works in the room.

I would try both out and feel it out.

I can see the art adding lots of color to the room where the tv when off, is a big black box. Even with the fireplace having so much texture.

Then again, if you don't like color, the mirror works, adding light, views or adding it behind objects creating a layered effect.

Personal choice.

Oh, so sorry for the last post. I don't know what happened and I tried to delete it but it won't go away. technology isn't my strong point. If you click on it, it will enlarge so you can read it. I did try putting a mirror there and I had to set it on the cabinet. Ir reflects the windows and outside ok but when I'm sitting on the sofa you can only see the ceiling and beam. Could I tilt it or is it a lost cause? YOU MAY HAVE TO CLICK ON THIS POST IF IT'S TOO SMALL.

Thankyou for the suggestion olychick. I may try that if it's returnable if I don't like the effect. Actually our TV is tilted a bit and sitting on the soda when the tv is off I can see most of the room behind me. So that's a good idea to try.

This is a repost: I really appreciate all of your suggestions. This gives me a great pool of ideas to consider. You all don't know me and my particular tasts and I do appreciate out of the box thinking where I might usually not go. I've experimented with a variety of styles since I've lived in this house and I like to change it up and tweek it as I go along. My style now is NW casual with interjections of contemporary throwing in zingers as in the antique piece I refuse to give up. I had a large vertical canvas over the antique for a long time but I got weary of it ( although I liked it at first). I don't care for modern art so much. I'm a hobby photographer and travel a lot and try to incorporate photos that I take. I do like the 2 horizontal pictures with the ceramics and skinny lamp but would frame and use mine. However I also do get excited about using a large mirror there that I've never tried.. I love the look. We don't get direct sun in the great room ( forest again) and we use a lot of potted flowers and outdoor furniture that's very attractive. We have a natural pond that's right off the patio and I created floating lanterns to add. If interested the company that installed our lighting featured it on their website in their project gallery, 4th picture down on the first column with firepit. Maybe it will give some of you ideas. oregonoutdoorlighting.com.

@blakez15 your backyard looks like an idyllic setting - so serene and peaceful! They did a wonderful job on the lighting. You‘ve done a great job creating an interior that’s in sync with your exterior - it flows naturally. I’m North of you - across the river - so I do appreciate the harmonious setting.

Ignore all the other stuff except floor plants on either side of fireplace. Do that and move the wine storage piece to where the antique chest/art is now. Find a better spot for both..hallway?

I‘d put a stunning piece of art there. Go to an art show this summer and pick a piece of art you love. Or a myriad of other places. (not mass produced art) So many of the mirrors I see look generic and boring. Your room is better than that. Maybe I’m being too harsh. If you could find a beautiful, unique mirror, that could work.