Guide to Mirrors & Decorative Accents: Sizing, Placement & Styles
A room without accents feels unfinished; even with the right furniture layout and lighting, it still won’t look right without a mirror, a vase, or something on the walls. This guide covers all of the decor pieces that actually finish a room. You’ll find mirrors get a close look, since they earn their spot in almost every room. Then come the vases, candles, picture frames, wreaths, planters, and gallery walls, which all play a part. You’ll even find practical how-tos for the spots you can get stuck on, such as decorating an awkward shelf, a dead corner, or even the wall above the toilet.
Mirror essentials for sizing and placement
These are the three questions readers ask most often. Read these first if you’re shopping or hanging a mirror.
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- Mirror sizes. Standard mirror dimensions and how to pick yours
- Mirror above the bed. Whether to do it, and how to do it right
- Where to put a mirror in your bedroom. Placement that works in any layout
Mirror types, styles, and installation
Beyond the basics, these share the specific mirror styles, installation situations, and a few problem solvers.
- Types of mirrors. All the shapes and styles in one place
- Round mirror design. The shape that softens a hard room
- Mirror wall panels. Full-wall mirrors and when they work
- Lighted mirrors pros and cons. Built-in lighting, evaluated
- Bathroom mirror size calculator. Plug in your vanity, get the mirror size
- Kitchen mirror backsplash pros and cons. Mirror as a backsplash, real-world take
- How to fix a cracked mirror. Salvaging a damaged mirror
- How to cover a mirror wall. Updating a dated mirrored wall without demo
Wall art and gallery walls
Once the mirror’s up, the rest of the wall fills in. These cover the broader wall-decor actions to take.
- Wall decor ideas for a home office. Wall treatments that work for the work-from-home setup
- Gallery wall layout generator. Free tool for plotting a gallery wall
Vases and floral arrangements
This is the accessory that adds the most life to a room with the least amount of effort.
- Types of vases. Vase shapes and what each one’s good for
- Vase filler ideas. What to put in a vase besides flowers
Candles and candle styling
You benefit from light, scent, and a dose of warmth with candles.
- Types of candle holders. Holders that fit the room’s style
- Types of scents for candles. Picking a candle scent by room
- Candle sizes. Standard candle sizes and burn times
Centerpieces
The middle-of-the-table accessory sets the tone for the whole room.
- Dining room table centerpieces. Permanent and seasonal centerpiece ideas
- Kitchen island centerpieces. Styling the island when it’s not in use
- Winter table centerpiece ideas. Cold-weather centerpieces with staying power
Clocks, picture frames, wreaths, planters
The smaller decor categories that finish a room and add distinct character.
- Types of clocks. Wall, mantel, and floor clock styles
- Types of grandfather clocks. The classic floor clock, by style
- Types of picture frames. Frame styles and what each one says
- What size wreath for the front door. Sizing the wreath to the door
- Fence planters. Planters for the fence line
- Wheelbarrow planter ideas. Repurposing a wheelbarrow as a planter
Themed and room-specific decor
Decor by room and by theme, here are the styling moves that can pull a space together.
- Zen decor ideas. The calm, minimal direction
- Purple bedroom designs and decor. Decorating a bedroom around purple
- Kitchen bar decor ideas. Decorating a small kitchen bar
- Toilet tank decor ideas. The small spot above the toilet, styled
- Styling a settee. Dressing the smaller bench-style seating
- Christmas front porch decor. Seasonal porch styling
How to decorate specific spots
Real-world spots you can get stuck on, like the awkward shelf, the empty corner, or the slanted wall.
- How to decorate a bathroom counter. Functional and pretty, both
- How to decorate a half wall. Making a partial wall feel intentional
- How to decorate a kitchen island. Island styling that survives daily use
- How to decorate kitchen counters. Counter styling without the clutter
- How to decorate a nightstand. Bedside surface, done right
- How to decorate the top of an armoire. Filling the dead zone above tall furniture
- How to decorate alcoves in high ceilings. High-up alcoves, made useful
- How to decorate slanted walls. Working with attic and dormer walls
- How to decorate glass kitchen cabinets. Styling what’s visible behind the glass
- Ways to decorate a side table. Side table vignettes that work
- Cheap ways to decorate a teen girl’s bedroom. Budget bedroom decor that holds up
Staging and virtual styling
If you’re selling, listing, or just getting a second opinion on a room, this is the staging set you’ll want to see.
- Staging a dining room. Dining-room staging for listings
- Staging a home office. Office staging that photographs well
- Staging a kitchen table. Kitchen table staging in a few moves
- Kitchen staging ideas. Broader kitchen staging guide
- Virtual staging. Digital staging for empty rooms
- Virtual staging software. The tools for doing it yourself
More mirror and accessory guides get added here as the cluster grows. Let us know in the comments if we’re missing anything you need when it comes to mirrors and decorative accents.
To showcase highly specific designs, some images on this website use advanced AI-generation software to illustrate ideas and room inspiration. See our editorial policy to learn more.
