Black Round Mirrors

Where a black round mirror works best

A round mirror softens a room full of straight lines, from door frames and banisters to shelves and radiators, and a black finish gives that circle a clear outline against the wall. Almost all of our black round mirrors are suited to a hallway or a living room, the rooms where a mirror tends to earn its keep.

In a hallway, hang yours by the front door for a last look before heading out, or opposite a window to bounce daylight along a narrow space. In a living room, centre a mirror above a mantelpiece or sofa to give the wall a focal point, and leave a margin of bare wall on either side.

Metal, wood or frameless black round mirrors

The frame decides how much black you see. Many in our range have metal frames; choose a thin metal rim for a neat line that will not crowd a small wall. Many have wood frames, which soften the black and sit well with oak floors and soft furnishings.

We stock frameless designs too, for a cleaner look where the room already has plenty going on. A few have decorative metalwork, from swirling ironwork to geometric wire. Several add surface detail, such as a beaded frame, a textured edge or a perforated rim.

Black round mirror styles and finishes

Most of what we stock here is modern in style, a natural fit for a pared-back room. Many have an industrial look that sits well against exposed brick, concrete or dark timber. Some take a more classic line. A few are convex, curving outwards to reflect a wider view of the room.

Black is the constant, but the finish varies. A few have a matt finish, which looks softer than gloss and keeps the eye on the reflection. Several bring in silver, a good match for other silver details in the room. If you prefer warmth, a few add gold, which sits nicely beside brass.

Sizing a black round mirror for your wall

Start with the wall, not the mirror. Measure the space, then tape a paper circle of the size you have in mind to the wall and live with it for a while; it is the quickest way to judge scale. Above a console or sideboard, choose a mirror a little narrower than the piece below, with a hand's width of wall between mirror and furniture.

We stock these mirrors from small to large. A smaller mirror suits the gap beside a door, while a larger mirror can anchor an empty wall or make a tight hallway feel wider. Check the listing's dimensions and depth before you buy: a deep frame stands further off the wall, which matters where people brush past.

Hanging a black round mirror securely

Most of our black round mirrors are wall mirrors, so the fixing matters as much as the frame. Check the weight on the listing before you start: a large mirror can be heavier than it looks and needs fixings rated for that load, set into masonry or a timber stud. On plasterboard, use cavity fixings made for the job, and never trust a heavy mirror to a picture hook.

Where the listing names the fixings and hook type, read them before you drill. A sawtooth hook lets you nudge the mirror level after it is up, while a keyhole fitting lets it hang close to the wall. Hang it with the centre at roughly eye level, or a little higher above furniture. A few have a hanging strap, which still needs a sound fixing behind it.

Black round mirrors for bathrooms and bedrooms

Many of ours suit a bathroom, where a black outline looks sharp against white tiles and ties in with black taps or a black shower screen. Before you hang a mirror near a basin, bath or shower, check the listing to see whether it is bathroom proof, and keep the room well ventilated, because steam is hard on any mirror's backing.

Most also suit a bedroom. Above a chest of drawers, a mirror gives you a place to check your outfit and makes a small room feel more open. A few stand on a dressing table, so there is nothing to fix to the wall. A few magnify, for close-up tasks like make-up.

Cleaning a black round mirror

Dust the frame or edge with a soft, dry cloth before anything else, so grit is not dragged across the finish. For the mirror itself, put a little glass cleaner on a microfibre cloth rather than on the surface, then wipe in long strokes and buff dry. This keeps liquid from running behind the frame, where it can creep under the edges and leave dark spots in the silvering.

Black finishes show scratches, so skip abrasive pads, scouring powder and harsh solvents. A barely damp cloth is enough for a matt or painted frame, and wood is happiest wiped dry. In a bathroom, wipe away condensation after a shower rather than letting it sit.