Gold Round Mirrors

Why a gold round mirror works

A round mirror softens a room. Its curve breaks up the straight edges of doors, shelving and furniture, and a gold finish adds a warmth that a silver frame lacks. Gold sits comfortably with wood, marble, plaster and painted walls, and in the evening it picks up the glow of a table lamp. Since every mirror here is round with a gold finish, the decisions that matter are the shade, the frame, the size and where it will go.

Rooms that suit a gold round mirror

Almost all of our gold round mirrors suit a hallway or living room. In a hallway, a mirror by the door gives you a last look before you head out and bounces light into a space that often has little daylight. In a living room, hang it above a fireplace or sofa, where the curve contrasts with the long lines beneath it.

Many also work in a bedroom, above a chest of drawers or dressing table. Some are suited to a bathroom. Before you hang a mirror over a basin, check whether its product details list it as bathroom proof.

Shades of gold for a round mirror

Gold covers a wide spread of tones, and the shade decides how much your mirror stands out. A bright, even gold looks crisp against white, grey or deep green walls. For a softer sheen, a few of ours have a brushed finish. A few have an antique finish, deeper and quieter, which suits a period home. Some are finished in gold leaf, which gives a warm, gilded glow. A few add black for a sharper contrast.

Match the warmth of any brass you already have rather than the exact tone. Gold can share a room with chrome or nickel too, as long as gold leads and the cooler metal appears in smaller touches, such as a switch plate.

Gold round mirror frames and styles

Most of ours have a metal frame. Many have a clean, modern frame that suits a pared-back room. Some frames add texture, which catches the light in small highlights and gives a plain wall more interest. A few take a sunburst form, which makes a strong focal point on a chimney breast. An ornate frame, found on a few, suits a grand or high-ceilinged room. Resin, used on a few frames, can hold fine moulded detail.

Most are modern in style, but we also stock classic, traditional and industrial designs. A classic or traditional frame sits well above a period fireplace or against panelled walls, while an industrial design looks at home with exposed brick or dark paint. A few have a vintage feel. A few lean towards art deco.

Sizing a gold round mirror for your wall

Start by measuring. Over a console table, sideboard or mantelpiece, a mirror a little narrower than the furniture looks balanced, with about a hand's width between the furniture and the bottom of the frame. On an empty wall, a large circle gives the eye somewhere to rest, while a small mirror on a big wall can look lost. Hang it so the centre sits at roughly eye level.

The diameter or width in the product details settles whether a mirror fits, and the depth tells you how far it stands off the wall, which matters in a narrow hallway. Some designs come in a choice of sizes, so you can keep the frame and choose the scale. A few are sold as sets, to hang as a group on a long wall or beside a staircase.

Hanging a gold round mirror securely

Most of ours are wall mirrors, and a large mirror can be heavy. Check the weight in the product details, because it decides the fixings. In brick or block, choose wall plugs and screws rated comfortably above that weight. On plasterboard, fix into a timber stud where you can, or use heavy-duty cavity fixings made for the load.

The hook type settles how the mirror hangs. A keyhole fixing lets the mirror sit flush against the wall, while a hook leaves a little room to adjust it until it is level. Check the wall for pipes and cables before drilling, work with a spirit level, and ask someone to help you lift a large mirror into place.

Cleaning a gold round mirror

A gold finish needs a gentler touch than glass. Dust the frame regularly with a soft, dry microfibre cloth, and avoid abrasive pads, metal polish and strong household sprays, which can dull or strip the colour. If your mirror is finished in gold leaf, dust it lightly and keep water off it altogether.

For the glass, spray a little glass cleaner onto a cloth rather than onto the mirror, so no liquid runs onto the frame or seeps behind the glass, where it can mark the silvering at the edges. In a bathroom, open a window or run the extractor after a shower so the mirror and frame dry quickly.