Mirror Above Bed (Pros and Cons)

Your bedroom should be the ultimate haven of peace and comfort; the most important one will always be the bed. When the bed is placed directly against one of the bedroom walls, it often leaves a wall section just above it that is perfect for a mirror.

A mirror above your bed may look whimsical and fantastic depending on the bedroom’s layout, the arrangement of other furniture in the bedroom, and the amount of light that you are comfortable with. Just imagine it reflecting the soft, clear blue of a daytime sky or the fluffy white clouds that appear during a serene afternoon.

If your bedroom design style is in a 1920s interior concept where silver details and accents dominate, placing a mirror above your bed will match the style perfectly—like the delicate frosting on a beautifully designed cake.

For a classic look and a bigger impact, choose a mirror with a distinct color or shape, like a sunburst mirror.  Try hanging three of your favorite mirror styles together since grouping mirrors together will also help make a statement.

A bedroom with a low ceiling height and a large, solid headboard with a mirror above the bed will help the room feel spacious and airier.  Placing one above the headboard will allow you to appreciate the artwork on the opposite wall from additional vantage points.

If your bed is on the north side of your bedroom, placing a mirror above your bed could attract fruitful and positive energy since the north is the center of Lord Kubera- God of Wealth, as classified by the traditional Indian system of architecture known as “vastu shastra”.

Mirrors Over The Bed Pros and Cons

It seems that having mirrors in the bedroom has some impact on our sleep quality compared to other rooms since we’re not sleeping there.  Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of having this reflective surface in the bedroom.

Pros of Mirrors Above the Bed

• Stylish – Interior decor like this above the headboard offers aesthetic appeal and makes the bedroom look stylish.

•  Help Enlarge the Space – Mounted above the bed can it make the room appear larger.  With the correct arrangement of furniture, big and wide pieces can create the illusion of a larger room. 

So, if you have a relatively small room where the bed is directly across the door, placing a mirror above the headboard will make the room appear more spacious, wider, and freer.

•  Brighten the Bedroom – Mirrors can help make the room much brighter since the reflective surfaces absorb the image and light of a space and make it bounce. 

But placing the reflective pane directly on top of your bed won’t produce any reflected light that may impair your sleep.

•  Add Visual Depth – They create a sense of space and provide awareness for brightness and depth. Imagine how serene it can be to step into a small bedroom that has an alluring reflective piece placed above the bed, an option that adds depth to the space. Its calming reflection can truly enhance the room’s atmosphere.

•  Romantic Design – Use round-shaped mirrors to make a connection since they represent unity, romance, and accessibility in Feng shui. The soft edges and infinite circle of a round style can be an alluring focal point in your bedroom.

Cons of Mirrors Above the Bed

Here, we share some information about the disadvantages of having a mirror above the bed.

•  Possible Bad Feng-Shui – Feng Shui is a discipline that believes the way we arrange a room’s furnishings can affect the way energies flow through it. 

Unfortunately, Feng Shui guidelines are not very keen on mirrors above beds, especially if they will be facing a door directly or if they end up reflecting a corner of the bed.

The basic rule of Feng Shui, is the ancient belief in energy in a space. Keeping these items away from your bed and light brings peace and sound sleep. It is best to put it away from your bed and not facing a window.

•  Falling Hazard Above Bed – Any hanging mirror could potentially fall and break under the right circumstances. Placing one above your bed can be hazardous if not careful.

Since it has a tendency to shatter after it drops, and it might fall on you when you are sleeping and most vulnerable.

How To Hang A Mirror Above Your Bed

When hanging a mirror above your bed, the key is balance.  There are some things to consider before hanging one above your bed.

The first thing to take into account is the lighting; it is not just the position that is important, but the light around a mirror is essential as well.  

Not all mirrors are intended to be hung; some are designed to be tilted.  This will make the room look larger and function as an interesting decor piece, presenting new visual options.

When it comes to safely hanging a mirror, a cable wire hung across a single hook or nail is just not enough; make sure that you are hanging it with the proper mounting hardware and that each hook on the back requires its own hook in the wall.

The recommended ideal space between a mirror and any furniture below it with a height of about 35 inches is 6 to 8 inches.  

However, without a headboard, the standard bed height measures approximately 25 inches, measuring from the top of your mattress to the floor – then an 8 to 12-inch space is best.  

If you want it to go above your headboard, make sure there is a five to 10-inch space between the top of the headboard and the bottom of the mirror.

The first step to hanging a mirror above your bed is to determine its weight and make sure that you have the proper hardware.  

Most new mirrors already have mounting hardware included and attached to the back, such as D-rings, wire, clips, or brackets.  If the item you have does not have mounting hardware built-in, you need to first install it.

The next step is knowing your wall type since it will affect how you hang it.  Wall types include drywall, plaster wall, or brick.

Once you determine what type of wall you have in your bedroom, decide where you want to hang it, considering factors like your bedding, other accessories, and the colors in your room.

Mark the corners or edges with painter’s tape or a pencil to visualize the mirror placement. During this process, you might have questions about the benefits of placing it in certain locations versus others.

Locate any studs, pipes, or wires in the area by using a multi-function stud finder.  If you have a heavy mirror, secure it by drilling one screw into a stud to help support the item once hung.  Ensure you avoid drilling through pipes or inserting a screw into live wires.

Ensure the mirror is leveled; getting the correct measurements is critical to get it perfectly level.  Read more about types of wall hangers here.

To be sure, start by measuring and marking the top of the mirror with painter’s tape, then use a level to make sure the line is straight. 

Remember to mark the center on the tape since you’ll need it as a reference point to place screws and wall anchors.  

It is important to level the measurement between the mounting points as well. Using bracket hardware is the easiest; you only need to measure the frame from the top to the bracket and the length of the bracket, then transfer those measurements to the wall.  Then start installing with the middle screw and level it as you put in the rest of the screws.

When leveling D-rings or keyholes, measure the frame from the top to the D-ring or keyhole.  Once you have done that, measure the distance between the two mounting points. Reflect these measurements to the wall, ensuring the two mounting points are leveled.

Hanging the mirror using a wire is challenging since you’ll need to determine the mounting points yourself.  To better distribute the weight, we suggest making two points to distribute the pressure equally across the wire.  

Make sure that these two points are not too close together; for a large mirror, having the two points around 12 inches apart is the standard distance, and adjust from there.  

Once you finalize the distance between these points, measure the distance between the taut wire and the top of the frame, leveling the two mounting points.

Avoid Heavy Mirrors

Since mirrors are robust and fragile, hanging them presents a challenge, especially for drywall and plaster walls, because of their size and weight. 

It is preferable to hang a heavy object from a stud in the wall, but if the studs are not exactly where you want them, it is best to use wall anchors to secure a heavy piece.  

Avoid using nails or tacks to hang a heavy item; instead, use quality mounting hardware to keep them secure.

It is all about feeling safe and secure in the bedroom, and it’s hard to feel safe with something heavy hanging directly over your head. 

What Does A Mirror Hung Above The Bed Mean?

If we base the correct placement on the Feng Shui philosophy, placing a mirror above the bed is not a good Feng Shui practice for the bedroom. 

Mirrors produce constant energy from the Feng Shui element water, and any heavy object above our head is not very promising.  

Everything in a bedroom should contribute to an atmosphere of peace, and placing this above the bed can hamper a good night’s sleep since it catches light and sound from windows and doors. The focus should be on selecting products that emit only positive energies and placing them in a harmonious location. 

Feng Shui practice considers that mirrors double the existing energies, although it is not technically bad to put them above the bed.

However, it is said that if it reflects your image while you’re sleeping, it would mean that it will double whatever chi or luck you have at the moment.

In interior design, placing a mirror above the bed can make that wall space look artsy and bright; it is a great bedroom wall accent idea, especially for small bedrooms.  

A popular design concept is placing an eclectic mix of them above the bed, creating an eye-catching display that bounces light around the bedroom.  

Frames with metallic edges add a little extra shimmer, particularly when placed at different heights along the wall it creates an absolutely stunning visual piece.

Mirror Mounted Over The Bed Ideas

A bigger mirror is better: To make the most of its influence in the bedroom and create a focal point on a wall, a large mirror works best. 

However, when placing one over the bed, we recommend expanding it upward instead of outward.  Bear in mind that the frame should not be wider than the headboard where it is hanging over.  

If a large frame doesn’t work in the open space above your bed, smaller decor pieces can be beautiful and striking as well.

Positioning is key:  If your room doesn’t have a window, positioning a mirror near lighting fixtures on the wall above your bed will achieve a similar effect.  

It is best to place it above your bed, opposite a reflection of something that would normally make you happy, such as artwork.

Don’t hang it too high:  Hanging one too high over the bed makes the room feel more disconnected.  

We suggest that you bring it slightly lower to bring a feeling of a more intimate space.  We strongly advise against cluttering and leaving large gaps between your bed and the mirror.

Complement and contrast:  Another idea for incorporating one above your bed is to go for opposites. 

For angular bedroom spaces, choose rounder mirrors. If you have a lot of clean lines in the furniture in your bedroom, try to bring in a more ornate frame since it will add more personality and detail. 

Choose interesting frames and combine one with new glass to create custom designs.  Mixing different materials, such as metals with patina instead of very simple finishes and wood, will give a curated look.  

Go for materials that are seemingly disparate pieces but with the same undertones for a unified and unique look.

Grouping multiple simple panes with frames above the bed can look chic. Use varying sizes and shapes, but don’t allow them to reflect each other. Otherwise, this creates a disconcerting fun-house effect.

Round Mirrors

Circular mirrors look great when mixed with other pieces of art. Try to hang your round item either at the center of the headboard and hang other items or artwork around it, or have the frame’s surface off-center and keep items or artwork to the right or left of it.

The ideal placement for a mirror is at or near eye level, where it doesn’t interfere with the headboard or lighting.

Make sure that you use the correct hardware to attach the piece securely. This is typically done by affixing a heavy-duty D-ring or large bracket to the back that is rated for the weight capacity of the item.

Find the wall studs or use wall anchors to ensure the product is securely held in place by the hardware.

Rectangular Mirrors

Typically, rectangular mirrors work best independently, depending on the width.  

It is not recommended to have a frame wider than the bed below it because it will overshadow the bed, which should be the focal piece in the bedroom.  

Rectangular frames are best when placed in the center of the width of the bed.

Multiple Mirrors

Try to experiment with depth by hanging multiple mirrors above your bed to create an open space that is right for you and the space. 

Placing different-sized frames can create an interesting effect by multiple panes reflecting multiple angles.

• Make sure to balance having enough mirrors above your bed and create a feeling of a bigger bedroom. Remember not to add so many that your room looks awkward or disarranged. 
• If the space on your wall only allows you to place small pieces, place them at eye level on your wall and keep in mind to space them evenly in a row.

See more related content in our article about how to fix a cracked mirror on this page.