Characterful Ways to Decorate With Gilt Mirrors
A lot can be read about us by the very look at our personal spaces. Our homes are reflections of who we strive to become. People spend many sleepless nights making a single decorating decision, convinced that it is their home’s task to render vivid to them who they might ideally be. And they are absolutely right! Our homes have a memorising function, helping us remember what we hold important in our lives. That’s why interior design and decorating are so crucial to our well-being. But whatever interior style attracts you the most, your life can surely benefit from a touch of glamour and elegance in your home. And nothing says it better than a vintage gilt mirror.
A beautiful gilt mirror can be one of the grandest pieces in a room. It is a true game changer whose value goes far beyond a handy surface to reflect upon on your way out. Mirrors can be highly decorative, make the room feel brighter, and help us trick the eye into seeing some added visual height when space is at a premium. But gilt mirrors even tell a more impressive story!
Synonymous with luxury and royalty, gilt mirrors are a timeless choice for bringing a touch of drama into the space. But it wasn’t long ago when just about any mirror, regardless of its frame, was an epitome of opulence. Two centuries ago, mirror glass was worth its weight in gold and only royalty could hope to get their hands on it. Even though the mirror glass is no longer so precious, the symbolism remains to this day. And now design aficionados are starting to cherish lavish ornate golden frames instead.
Image: Large gilt mirror. Vinterior Seller: Owl and The Elephant
What styles of gilt mirrors are there?
Much like all vintage and antique furniture, there’s a vast array of gilded mirrors to choose from. Whether you’re working with a compact living space or decorating a grand drawing room, here are a few of our favourite gilt mirrors to choose from.
Antique gilt mirrors
An antique mirror is a classic choice for infusing some frills into your space. It makes a fabulous focal point in any room and invites you to be bold and dignified about your decorating choices. Once associated only with traditional interiors, gilt antique mirrors are now popping up everywhere from the maximalist to the Scandinavian style. Here at Vinterior, we feel particularly drawn to eclectic spaces with lots of Mid-century designs and fiercely oversized antique mirrors.
These mirrors are often heavily carved and decorated with flowers and cherubs in their gilded, intricate siding. They are flashy and unapologetic about their royal background, so naturally, they make a fabulous focal point, but also inject a sense of history into the space.
Image: Antique gilt mirror. Vinterior Seller: Swag Antiques
Eglomise mirrors
A lesser-known alternative to a classic antique mirror is Rococo’s favourite – the Eglomise mirror. If you are into French interior charm and enjoy the raw look of these mirrors (the back side of the glass is gilded and then etched) consider adding them to the build. Paired with other antiques or mid-century pieces, an Eglomise mirror will anchor the room and provide it with layers of interest.
Just remember, Eglomise mirrors are not the best solution for bathrooms, hallways or any other space where you need to check yourself out.
Image: Antique Eglomise Mirror. Vinterior Seller: Vivre Interieur Authentique
Sunburst mirrors
Often associated with the Mid-century modern aesthetic, gilt sunburst mirrors actually date way back to the 15th century. Popular among the royal households of Southern Europe of the time, these distinct frames radiate petal-like rays from a centred mirror like a shining star, making them impossible to ignore. Their eye-catching character and the fact that they work well with numerous styles propelled them to become a huge global trend in recent years, but this renewed interest is hardly just a fad, so don’t be afraid to experiment with it as it won’t go away anytime soon.
Golden sunburst mirrors can be used to complement a fireplace mantle, as a standalone decorative piece or as part of a larger gallery wall arrangement. Often seen hanging over a hallway console table or mid-century sideboard, decorating with a sunburst gold mirror is an easy way to create a statement style. Even the smallest of sunburst mirrors, when curated into a striking scheme, will make a grand impact.
Image: Mid-century sunburst mirror. Vinterior Seller: 20th Century Filth
How should you decorate with gold-framed mirrors?
Now you’ve got a taste for which mirrors to choose from when you start your decorating project, it’s time to take a look at how to use them effectively. Below, we reflect on some top tips for decorating with gilded mirrors.
Bounce the light around
Placing a large golden mirror opposite a room’s light source will trick the eye into thinking there is an additional window in the room. Decorating with a statement mirror in this way has a dual purpose. Not only will it make your space feel amply larger, but it can also highlight an exciting architectural feature, treasured art piece or sculpture, or simply illuminate your favourite place to sit.
Another lesser-known decorating trick is to hang a strategically selected petite mirror high on the wall so you can reflect a statement light fixture and double the light in the room.
Image: A large gilt mirror in a living room. Vinterior Seller: Project Vintage
Break up a visually busy room
Break a visually busy room by introducing an oversized gilt mirror. It will add depth and calm to the space by allowing the eye somewhere to rest away from a maximalist scheme or curation of varied patterns and prints. The same is true for the gallery walls. A well-chosen gilt mirror can be such a hero piece for grounding the layout and giving it a noble-feeling twist.
Image: Antique mirror on a gallery wall. Vinterior Seller: J.H. Blakely & Sons
Curate a relaxing retreat
Gilt mirrors often represent opulence and grandeur and there’s nowhere like the bath for a bit of indulgence. A large ornate gilt mirror can take a bathroom from drab to fab and create a lush environment for your daily rituals. Gilt mirrors feel homely in traditional interiors, but don’t shy away from introducing them into more modern bathrooms to give them an eclectic edge.
Image: A triptych-style gilt mirror. Vinterior Seller: Resìna Vintage
Decorating with gilt mirrors shouldn’t be daunting and a highly decorative piece should never put you off building a characterful home you love. We hope our guide to decorating with golden-framed mirrors has helped you gain the confidence to decorate with ease. If you have any more questions about where to buy, how to hang, or where to place a gilt mirror in your home, reach out in the comments below and one of our experts will be able to help.