Does everyone in the UK have a big mirror in the living room?

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Aggravating-Nail-764@reddit

I don’t have a mirror in the living room as I hate seeing myself in mirrors (I do have them, they are just confined to the bathrooms and main bedroom). I do have large artworks around though - things to look at when I should actually be working

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totential_rigger@reddit

I have a massive mirror in every room pretty much. It makes them feel bigger. I don't need them to feel bigger as I'm in a five bed maze but I like my rooms to feel airy

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im_not_funny12@reddit

No.

I do not need something reflecting me watching TV, drinking wine and eating pizza.

I know what kind of slob I look like. I don't need to see it.

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CaptainParkingspace@reddit

But it’s not at sofa level, it’s over the fireplace. You don’t see yourself unless you stand in front of it.

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danddersson@reddit

There used to be stern warnings about mirrors over open fire places (so my parents informed me). Women/girls would tend to use them, which their dresses/nightdress could catch on fire .(Dresses tended to have a wide silhouette then, and be made of inflamable fabric).

To this day, a mirror over a fireplace worries me.

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zipitdirtbag@reddit

If there's no fire in it, the risk will be very low.

It would in fact require no control measures to reduce the risk of harm.

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Valherudragonlords@reddit

Look at Mr. Fancy pants with his fireplace. Bet he has a wife too

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Psychological_Salt93@reddit

Lmao. Just spat out my coke zero

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Sexy-Dumbledore@reddit (OP)

Maybe if I liberate myself from the big mirror, I won't feel like such a mess all the time 🤔 you might be on to something.

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FryOneFatManic@reddit

We have one too, over the fireplace like everyone else I know.

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Lopsided_Snower@reddit

Mine’s where the fire used to be

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FantasticWeasel@reddit

Seeing a reflection of your face in a mantlepiece mirror is preferable to seeing your reflection in a dark tv screen. The latter really makes me regret my life choices.

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Jacktheforkie@reddit

Mines behind the sofa on the wall

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secretrebel@reddit

Mine too. The TV is over the fireplace.

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Jacktheforkie@reddit

Same lol

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CaptainParkingspace@reddit

Don’t look at r/tvtoohigh

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Winston_Carbuncle@reddit

No, definitely look at it. Save your neck.

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acryliq@reddit

That’s the beauty of the big mirror, it’s so high up on the wall you can never see yourself in it.

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YoungGazz@reddit

r/MirrorTooHigh

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Healthy_Chipmunk_990@reddit

Then there is a completely dark scene coming up in your fav show you just binged 2 seasons of, and you suddenly see your slob of a reflection staring right back at you. 😳

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Winston_Carbuncle@reddit

If we have to see it so should you. Or at least shut your curtains

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im_not_funny12@reddit

Hey, if you're peekin', you're payin', cough up buttercup!

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Im_Never_Wr0ng@reddit

How much are you charging? Asking for a friend.

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amboandy@reddit

With a name like u/im_not_funny I would have thought your career was on Gogglebox, but evidently not.

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Beabettame@reddit

I have mirrors in most places. In my living rooms above the sofas. In my 2 hallway one for decorative and one full length from a far because my full length one in my room is too close. Bathrooms and all bedroom. I like the way they reflect the lifht

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Hawkstreamer@reddit

Many ppl do yes. We have big decorative mirrors all over the house. They lighten up rol. By reflecting light, they make rooms look bigger and are great if youre vain n the doorbell rings!

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kitknit81@reddit

Yes. But I don’t really know why I haven’t. I don’t use it very often, I have mirrors in the bathrooms and a smaller one in my bedroom. It’s just something I always had in my home growing up and when I bought a place I got a big mirror. I could probably get rid of it….

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Classic-Wafer-7838@reddit

Now that I've stopped to think about it, I think I have a mirror in every room of the house - big mirror in living room, medium mirror in kitchen/dining room, large mirror plus full length mirror in main bedroom, full length in both spare rooms... no mirror in the utility room with the cat litter box, though, maybe I need a trip to Ikea...

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Top-Aerie-6225@reddit

Nope. Big one in the bedroom, small one in the bathroom. That's it. I don't need any more sources of disappointment in my life.

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qyburnicus@reddit

Yeah it’s just something to put over the fireplace, did not have one in previous places without fireplaces

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Busy-Doughnut6180@reddit

Yes, massive. It's over where the electric fire used to be.

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garry_baldi@reddit

I bet you've got a giant clock in the kitchen too eh?!

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Formal-Proposal7850@reddit

Yup. Big mirror haver here

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OriginalStockingfan@reddit

Never had one. I suppose it can make a small room look bigger? I keep the mirrors to bed and bathrooms.

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anxious_antelope813@reddit

I bought a big mirror today to go above my sofa - it makes the space look/feel bigger.

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Thats_my_nirnroot@reddit

Yes, it's a big one (maybe 2.5x1m) and is mounted above my sofa.

It's meant to make the room feel bigger, and reflect more light 🙌

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blackcurrantcat@reddit

No. I don’t have a big mirror in my house anywhere, actually, which was not intended, I just didn’t think of it when I was decorating and now it’s too late. I just never really know what I look like which is fine by me.

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chocklityclair@reddit

How is it....too late? Are you saying that you've so thoroughly decorated your walls that there is no possibility of attaching anything else to them? What does that look like? Please show us.

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blackcurrantcat@reddit

That’s exactly what I’m saying. I’m not going to show you because there’s no need but all my wall space is taken up with other stuff, whether that’s doors, furniture, windows or pictures.

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Thats_my_nirnroot@reddit

Yeah fair enough! And don't get me wrong, my wife is in charge of our décor, and she chose big mirrors.

But I do like them, I think they serve a purpose!

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Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit

Nobody here is concerned about that mirror crashing down on your head?

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Fudge_is_1337@reddit

At a certain point you have to just believe in your ability to mount stuff. Easier in external brick walls, just buy massive anchors

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Thats_my_nirnroot@reddit

Based on my DIY capabilities, perhaps!

It like anything,

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Unlikely_Egg@reddit

Yes I have one above the fireplace as it makes the room look bigger.

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Psychological_Salt93@reddit

I had an 8ft mirror over my sofa. Hated it but it went with the decor so I bought it from the previous owners when we bought the house. When I decorated I couldn't wait to get rid of it. I replaced the very expensive mirror with metal cogs meant for the garden that I screwed onto a big piece of wood that I had painted and distressed. Cogs only cost £60. Many people i know have a mirror in the living room. I hate them. Just more fucking glass to clean

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ShoTime369@reddit

It makes to room feel bigger and brighter. We have small dingy houses so these things are welcomed.

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Time-Invite3655@reddit

My parents and grandparents both have/had mirrors in the living room - above the fire. We, however, do not - our only mirrors are in the bathroom and bedroom.

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AnneKnightley@reddit

Never had one.

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Jake613@reddit

No, not everyone has one. The reason they are used is to make the room look bigger.

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EldritchCleavage@reddit

Reflects light back into the room.

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Aggravating_Cloud657@reddit

No, but my parents have one and I'm considering it. It makes the room appear bigger and brighter.

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twiddlepipper@reddit

We have a big mirror in our living room because we live in a shoebox and it brings in more light.

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Leifang666@reddit

A mirror makes a room look bigger and British homes tend to be smaller than say an American home. That's why they became normal to have. I don't have a mirror in my living room.

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BrowsingnDaydreaming@reddit

in the living room? we have personally never had one but then my parents were immigrants so idk. Usually one in the bedrooms, bathrooms and hallways though.

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CandidLiterature@reddit

No it does not feel weird. Why would it be fine in the hallway then weird in the living room? They’re up on the wall, it’s not like you’re sitting on the sofa staring at yourself.

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BrowsingnDaydreaming@reddit

I guess cos on the hallway i don’t have to look at myself whilst I’m rotting on the sofa or have guests over. Idk

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Hour-Estate-2962@reddit

It's typically higher up than that so you wouldn't look in it while sitting down

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Winston_Carbuncle@reddit

Usually one in the bedrooms

Ceiling ?

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RedsChronicles@reddit

Yeah of course, but our living room also has our front door and you gotta have a mirror by the front door.

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Postik123@reddit

I did at my old house, above the fireplace. I always thought it could make a room look bigger and reflected light making the room brighter.

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heroics-delta8s@reddit

Yes.. I have one anyway..

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browneyone@reddit

No but my wife wants one.

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WildWinterberry@reddit

It makes the living room look bigger but they’re quickly being replaced by mounted TVs

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Difficult_Style207@reddit

I've got one. My nan had one. It skipped a generation.

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chocklityclair@reddit

A large mirror brings light into a room and makes it look bigger, plus if it's also decorative then it looks nice in itself.

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Organic-Can7856@reddit

Absolutely not.

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barejokez@reddit

I have one in my dining room if that counts?

It's not something I peer at regularly (though I do check my hair in it if it's the closest mirror). But mirrors are decorative, plus they can make a room feel bigger, and spread light more evenly. It's not a weird thing to have on the wall, and it's not just there for people to do their makeup in...

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EnjoysAGoodRead@reddit

My parents do. Mostly older folk I know do. I remember my mum always liked having a big mirror there as it made the room look bigger (she thinks).

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BoleynRose@reddit

We have small children, no way am I introducing something to be smudged or broken.

We have one in the hallway instead, quick check to see if you look like a goblin or not before leaving the house.

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foxyfree@reddit

I am not a Brit and just stumbled into this chat. TIL that the Brits hang mirrors in their living rooms, preferably above a fire place. As an American, I can say that is not something I’ve seen much in the US: mirrors in the living room, or everyone having a fireplace. Most people in the US keep mirrors in the bathroom and bedroom.

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Sexy-Dumbledore@reddit (OP)

Ah good! An outsiders opinion. My in laws are German and are unfamiliar with the big mirror concept.

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foxyfree@reddit

It’s been a really interesting thread for me! I never thought of using a mirror to bring in more light to the living room, and now I’m thinking about a mirror in the living room. It is so unusual here my husband will wonder what the heck is going on and if I’m alright, lol

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sarahlovesjourney@reddit

Yes, we have one in the living room.

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LaurenNotABot@reddit

Yes , we do 😅 Purely decorative and it’s high enough so it doesn’t reflect me being a couch potato but nicely reflects a little light around the room.

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2greenfingers@reddit

It's not a particularly big mirror but it's one of the first things I put up when I moved into my house. I'm uk born and bread.

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onlysmaller@reddit

We had one over the (non functional) fireplace growing up, it was too high up for most of our family to use it. My dad was tallest at 5’8. My grandparents had the same so I think it maybe was a thing but isn’t anymore.

My partner and I don’t have any large mirrors in the house as he struggles with his self esteem. I have a little one for doing make up.

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Fair_Aardvark2434@reddit

I've got one in my living room and i always have. I think it's because in the UK our rooms tend to be quite small and mirrors make them seem bigger.

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littlepinkgrowl@reddit

We do - reflects light and makes the room look bigger!

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BroodLord1962@reddit

I've never had a mirror in the living room and I've never known any friend have one either

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Scottish_squirrel@reddit

No because we have big patio doors that let in a flood of light. If it was a darker room I'd maybe have one to reflect the light.

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achillea4@reddit

Not in the living room - I have art all over the walls. I do have a long narrow kitchen so have a long mirror on one of the walls to reflect more light and make it look bigger. I've not seen big mirrors in living rooms since the 80s.

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OriginalPlonker@reddit

I was just about to say that we had one until we switched to a wall-mounted TV, then glanced over to the right at the big mirror casually resting on top of the sideboard.

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GladAd2948@reddit

Yes but I rarely notice it…

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Sexy-Dumbledore@reddit (OP)

This is extremely cool. The wallpaper is making me want to sit in a talking pit and smoke cigs next to lots of brown furniture.

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2greenfingers@reddit

Special gigs?

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Sexy-Dumbledore@reddit (OP)

Long cone shaped ones? 😇

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ManicTonic22@reddit

There is an incredible house in Nottinghamshire I absolutely adore, which came to mind straight away when I read your description!

https://www.thelocationguys.co.uk/locations/the-modernist-house-ng15-nottinghamshire/

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Sexy-Dumbledore@reddit (OP)

This is exactly what I had in mind. I love this! How did this get taken over by the silver crushed velvet everything look? 😅

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Ngumo@reddit

That mirror is taking up valuable tv space

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twos-company@reddit

Groovy baby, yeah!

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Rocky-bar@reddit

What an ace room! Where did you get the wallpaper? Does the fire work? Nice mirror too.

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AbjectGovernment1247@reddit

I love your wallpaper.

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Winston_Carbuncle@reddit

Reminds me of the opening credits to Still Game.

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Winston_Carbuncle@reddit

Do you like magic mushrooms? Because this would be an excellent room in which to do magic mushrooms

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MadamKitsune@reddit

That wallpaper is giving me flashbacks to my childhood.

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GoodboyJohnnyBoy@reddit

Ha I have a massive mirror in my living room basically the reflection makes the room look larger we don’t have very large rooms in the Uk generally unless you’re loaded I’m not.

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Apprehensive-List794@reddit

I don’t and my mother and grandmother didn’t but I do know a lot of people who do

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Active_Definition_57@reddit

As a child we had a smallish mirror on the wall at the far end of the living room. Presumably just to break up the blank space because it wasn't a very practical spot for checking hair etc

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Not_Depressed_zzz@reddit

I can’t afford my electricity / internet, both of which I need to work/ survival, let alone a big mirror! LOL

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Derfel60@reddit

I cant think of anyone who doesnt have a mirror over the mantlepiece

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aemdiate@reddit

I can't think of anyone who does, and I live in a community of Victorian semis. Out of interest are you in the North or South?

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Derfel60@reddit

South, Somerset. But every house ive ever been to has had one, even in different countries.

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Experiment328095@reddit

I’m in Scotland, I’ve got a big mirror in my livingroom, most people I know do

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DameKumquat@reddit

If you don't have a big mirror over the mantelpiece, then you need a large light piece of art. A mirror reflects light and makes the place look bigger and more cheerful.

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Sexy-Dumbledore@reddit (OP)

I don't have a mantelpiece in my living room so I feel like I need the big mirror to act as some kind of focal point. Now that's it's been brought to my attention, I can't help but think how weird my in-laws living rooms look without the obligatory mirror. They don't have any big pieces of art either.

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decidedlyindecisive@reddit

Hark at thee, Mr Moneybags Mantlepiece.

^/s

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Amazing-Heron-105@reddit

Hark at thee,

Never seen "Ark at ee" written out properly before nor pondered it's actual meaning. Hark is an old English word meaning to listen closely. "Listen to yourself". Interesting.

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fearghaz@reddit

Really? Did they stop forcing kids to sing hymns or something?

If so, this is the first time I've ever been grateful for the indoctrination I got as a bairn.

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NecroVelcro@reddit

I don't have a mantelpiece. I do have a black and purple Pokémon print, a piece of Ghostbusters Teletext artwork, a black sconce, a 3D Slimer and a "Live, Laugh, Lobotomy" tin plate plaque on the wall.

"More cheerful"?

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EnterShakira_@reddit

Yes. The mantelpiece. That thing that everyone has in their house.

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DameKumquat@reddit

Pretty much any house built before the 1970s has fireplaces or a place where one was. That's about two thirds of the homes in the UK.

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TheShakyHandsMan@reddit

My house is 70s and doesn’t have a fireplace. I’ve used the space where it would have been for a 70” tv

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arch_fiasco@reddit

Tbf most terraced houses in Yorkshire & Derbyshire have one, but that's just my experience.

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Winston_Carbuncle@reddit

Good job we all live in terraced houses in Yorkshire and Derbyshire then

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Sasspishus@reddit

Most older houses in the UK have a mantlepiece, unless the previous owner got rid if it or boarded it up

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prussian_princess@reddit

plays tiniest violin in the world

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_Nefarium@reddit

I do so there's at least two of us. I've got a mantle piece, and a mirror over it.

I've actually got a second mantle piece upstairs, there's a mirror over that one too. Smaller mirror though mind you.

It's only now that I sit here I realise I have two dressing tables each with a mirror, and a standing floor mirror. I must be mirror mad. I can't say I ever use them. Makes up for the lack of a mirror in the bathroom.

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arch_fiasco@reddit

I guess I'll have to pour out a cuppa in your name then

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b0bscene@reddit

I don't bother with mantelpieces. I just hang most of my mirrors in the east wing.

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NewtRider@reddit

You have a big wall to put it on.

I have

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MrDibbsey@reddit

Well if you have a fireplace chances are you'll have one, so that's a not insignificant percentage of the housing stock. Most houses I've visited have had one.

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Kamoebas@reddit

Nope. Have one in the bathrooms and one full length for the wife in the bedroom. Nothing in the living room.

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Puzzleheaded_Drink76@reddit

It's not universal, but it is a thing that people have. Mostly about reflecting light. I have one on the gloomy wall of my living room, above a sideboard

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Puzzleheaded_Drink76@reddit

It's not just the British. Miranda in Sex and the City has a sunburst mirror above her fireplace.

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ThanksIHateIt1994@reddit

No, not everyone. I prefer artwork on the walls.

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elhazelenby@reddit

I have one in my corridor next to my bedroom

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fearghaz@reddit

No, but the reason people do it is to create the illusion of space.

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thethirdbar@reddit

I love my big mantelpiece mirror.

Thinking on, I gave quite a few mirrors around the place. I can think of three in my bedroom alone (not including hand mirrors)

I am pretty vain, though.

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CoolRanchBaby@reddit

In the 90s all those home decorating shows had people like Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen who told people “have a mirror to make your [tiny hovel] look bigger” lol. I think it’s a hang over from that.

I personally have never had one in the living room.

My parents have one by their front door to have a look at yourself before you go out. That makes sense to me but I don’t have a good space by the door. I don’t need one in my living room anyway.

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Goldf_sh4@reddit

Mirrors spread light and make spaces look and feel bigger.

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yearsofpractice@reddit

Hey OP. I live in a Victorian terrace and have big mirrors in each downstairs room - just makes the naturally dingy places feel more light.

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Particular-Lime1651@reddit

Parents do, I don't

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CaveteCanem@reddit

Yes, it helps bounce the light around

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No-Window-6771@reddit

There it is

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Longjumping_Bar_6128@reddit

Yep, above the mantlepiece, my sister also has one in her lounge. My parents however, do not. Personal preference and think it just depends on the layout of your lounge / living room!

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BG3restart@reddit

I do not have one. I think it's mostly to give the illusion of space.

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Wonderful_Nerve_8308@reddit

We have 1 at the corridor. It helps make the space look bigger.

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qbnaith@reddit

I’ve never understood this “it makes the space look bigger” thing. The space is the space. It should look the size it is.

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Oster-P@reddit

It's just how we perceive things. For instance if you paint your ceiling and walls dark or light colours it can change the feel of the room.

It's not that it makes the space look physically bigger, it can just make it feel more open.

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qbnaith@reddit

Still don’t get it. I want the rooms i live in to look the size it is.

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ScreamingEnglishman@reddit

This is a strange horse you're choosing to die on? What's wrong with wanting to remove feelings of claustrophobia from something you live in (and often people of lower income have no choice)

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qbnaith@reddit

If I had to die on a horse (and I believe the term is usually hill) I would choose my childhood pony Tom

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Wonderful_Nerve_8308@reddit

I'm glad you have a house as big as you like.

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qbnaith@reddit

I live in a tiny one bed in north London. Adore it. Wouldn’t have it any other way.

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TheShakyHandsMan@reddit

At least you’ll only need an A4 sized mirror to make the place look bigger.

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WayneCl@reddit

We have a mirror in the back garden to make the small lawn and flower bed look bigger.

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GoOutForASandwich@reddit

So many people pay a lot of money for a big garden when they could just buy a mirror at a charity shop

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WoodSteelStone@reddit

Me too. Let's hope OP's father in law doesn't find out.

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JennyW93@reddit

I have one in the living room on the wall opposite the window. The room is not the brightest, so I have to do what I can to bounce more light around.

I’d use conventional lighting but have you seen the price of electricity?

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Content-Yogurt-4859@reddit

My parents always had a big mirror in the living and it help make the space look a bit bigger and lighter.

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dannibell007@reddit

Yeah I think this is the main reason people have them to make the rooms bigger and lighter. I don't have one but I do have one in my hallway for the same reason.

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IamNATx@reddit

Yes. I was always perplexed if I ever went to someone's house who didn't have a big mirror as one of their centre pieces

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CandidLiterature@reddit

It’s literally the first thing I bought with some housewarming money when I bought my house. If you’ve got chimney breasts like most older British properties, it just looks weird not to have something there.

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srm79@reddit

A big mirror and a big clock! That's my memory of home decor in the 80's and 90's

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bisectional@reddit

We don't have one because our living room would look silly with one..

People use them to increase the amount of light in dark rooms because typically in Britain houses weren't designed with outside light in mind. It also helps make the room appear bigger

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Spanner1993@reddit

Its just to make the room feel bigger in smaller properties, its not a 'UK thing'. If anything, its a 'lower, middle class thing'.

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Latte-Addict@reddit

I can never remember having a big mirror in the living room, even wen growing up, mind you we weren't a well off family, the only big thing we had in the living room was the 'big light' everybody had one, most popular thing ever.

Dad used to ask me to ask me to switch the big light on, I would always trip over the remote control for the TV, which he held constantly in his hand (make sense of that! ;) )

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Japhet_Corncrake@reddit

No, never have, probably never will.

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Great-Ad-632@reddit

I have a mirror in the living room because my very very dark living room would have no daylight otherwise!

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Hertfordgal@reddit

I used to have a very large mirror in my small one bed flat. I was told that it made the room look bigger 😏

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MonkeyHamlet@reddit

Makes the room look bigger

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LochNessMother@reddit

I didn’t growing up - we had big paintings over the fireplace. But an over-mantle mirror is totally a thing (that’s what it’s called). We have one that hides our big giant telly. It was insanely expensive, I love it.

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Dutch_Slim@reddit

Ooh how does this work??!

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KingForceHundred@reddit

Of course they don’t.

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Capable_Tip7815@reddit

Hell no.

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DreamCloudz1@reddit

God no! I have one mirror on the landing upstairs and a small make-up mirror.

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BeanOnAJourney@reddit

Yes, and the dining room. It gives the appearance of more space and light.

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Azirru@reddit

We don't even have a single big mirror in our house, just one above the sink and one for make up

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leclercwitch@reddit

No. I only have a mirror in the bathroom and in the office. I will be buying a big mirror for the bedroom though, but they’re bloody expensive!

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pixelunicorns@reddit

Nope, I have one in the bedroom and one in the bathroom.

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beeurd@reddit

Not everyone, but it is very common in my experience.

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Polz34@reddit

I don't have a mirror in my living room full stop. I have one in the bathroom (above the sink) one on the front of the wardrobe, and a smaller one above where my hairdryer is, and then one full length one in the hallway.

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WoodenEggplant4624@reddit

I grew up in the 60s and my mother and grandmother always had a mirror on the chimneybreast.

I did hang a mirror above the fireplace for a while but now I have it in the hallway.

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Peteat6@reddit

Mirrors are used to increase the apparent size of a room. They’re good for that, and for making the room seem lighter.

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Willing_Temporary_73@reddit

Yep above our ‘fireplace’ it’s massive and we don’t use it

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Electronic-Fennel828@reddit

I do not, and I don’t want one to be honest. My mum has always had one though

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No_Height_2408@reddit

Yes to make my pokey living room look bigger

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Upbeat_Branch_4231@reddit

No. I don't have any mirror in the living room.

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Interesting-Bit725@reddit

It’s fairly common but hardly universal. Personally I prefer to have artwork I actually enjoy looking at in the living room.

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Drea_44@reddit

Yep my mum, sisters, aunties, cousin and mine house and I love it, its got the best light to do my hair and makeup, check myself before leaving the house. Mirrors every room is standard for me and my family

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Rare-Bumblebee-1803@reddit

No I have a mirror in the hall.

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Chaldera@reddit

No.

We do however have a wall length, floor-to-ceiling mirror built in to our bathroom wall, so you can watch yourself while you poo or shower.

Idk why, the property management company our landlord bought the flat from are clearly freaks

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Only_Tip9560@reddit

Yep, big mirror above the fireplace. Decorative but also for occasional gazing at my beautiful British self.

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Swimming_Possible_68@reddit

Nope.... No mirror on the living room here....

Some pictures, some photos, a clock. But no mirror.

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suspicious-donut88@reddit

I do indeed have a massive mirror in my living room. My wallpaper wall is quite busy so pictures seem to get lost but a massive mirror looks lovely.

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ChallengingKumquat@reddit

Yes, and so do most people I know.

English houses are small, and a big mirror makes the room seem bigger.

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ZBD1949@reddit

Whatever for?

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MinimumGarbage9354@reddit

Nope never have and don't remember ever seeing.

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Full-Suggestion-1320@reddit

It was a big thing in my area in the 1980s and 1990s, the idea was that it made the room bigger and reflected light.

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CocoRufus@reddit

I have a big antique mirror in my sitting room above my sofa 👍

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CatsChat@reddit

Is this over the fireplace? Or a full length mirror for checking you look okay before leaving the house

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Azuras-Becky@reddit

My mum DOES have a giant mirror in the living room, actually. She says it makes the room look bigger.

Personally I avoid my reflection whenever possible so I couldn't do that.

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Redgrapefruitrage@reddit

It’s used to create the illusion of space, especially in our old Victorian houses. We have a big mirror about the fireplace in the lounge, two smaller mirrors in the hallway, one in each bedroom and three small, decorative mirrors in the bathroom.

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Solid_Contact6529@reddit

Yes, it makes the room look bigger, and to my mind a mantelpiece looks empty without a mirror on it.

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Sea-Network-8640@reddit

No mirror in the living room. It's to bounce light around a room that does not get sun or where people want to play with light.

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insertitherenow@reddit

Yes. Small room and it reflects the light making it seem larger. Similar reason I have one above the bed. (0:

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slippery-pineapple@reddit

I mean, not everyone does, but I do think it's relatively common. Decorative mirrors are definitely a thing! We have one above the fireplace

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MapOfIllHealth@reddit

Ours was always a clock over the mantle. I don’t need to see my reflection every time I stand up.

Our cat used to freak us out by staring at intently as it approached 5:30pm every night (dinner time).

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k0n3kt@reddit

Im sure you need a big mirror in the lounge. How else can you check yourself before leaving. I suppose the hallway works too.

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Madwife2009@reddit

I have never lived in a house that had a large mirror in the living room. I've lived in a lot of houses.

That said, I've visited a lot of houses that do have large mirrors in the living room. I've also visited a lot of houses that don't have mirrors in the living room (I used to be a midwife and health visitor).

I always assumed that a mirror in the living room was an effort to make the room look bigger?

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Single-Aardvark9330@reddit

My parents used to have one above the mantel piece, but when the living room was redone they got a more modern looking fireplace and put a clock above it

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Fancy-Professor-7113@reddit

I do, I live in a big Victorian house with fireplaces and there's a mirror on the chimney in breast in the living room and the dining room.

I had one in the hall but it was too spooky so I took that one down.

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mojnjaro@reddit

I have a big clock over the fire with numbers on the wall so very big

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Fizl99@reddit

I have a big clock too. Used to have a mirror when I was younger

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EverybodySayin@reddit

It's not at all uncommon here, our houses are small and it's a way to create the illusion of a bigger room.

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EdgeCityRed@reddit

This is the best use of a mirror for that purpose I've ever seen!

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APiousCultist@reddit

Reminds me of a Pizza Express I was in once. Floor to ceiling mirror on wall, really messed with my brain but definitely made the space feel huge.

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EdgeCityRed@reddit

There's always a fear someone might walk into it!

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Novel_Individual_143@reddit

That’s birds

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itsableeder@reddit

We have a mirror above the fireplace. It makes the room feel a bit bigger and brighter.

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ProgressMiserable878@reddit

Mine is a heavy oak framed mirror and is stood on the floor vertically. Been there 5 years. People say why isn't it on the wall and I say why should it be. 😁

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8thGlass@reddit

I’m an american living in the uk for over a decade and while mirrors in shared living spaces aren’t uncommon, there’s a particular style that is uniquely british here, which is what you’re describing and imho devoid of taste and utility.

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Foundation_Wrong@reddit

It’s definitely a thing, I decorated a whole room to go with a beautiful mirror once. Over the fireplace is traditional!

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Curious-Term9483@reddit

Yep. It makes the room look bigger. Maybe that is why?

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dead_jester@reddit

No. I do not have a big mirror or even a small mirror in my sitting room and haven’t had one in any sitting room. I’m 61.

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magicaltrevor953@reddit

The idea is when you come to sell the house it will be seen as aspirational, the potential buyer will walk in to the room and then say "I can really see myself living here".

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Orangeandjasmine777@reddit

We don't "all have it"! I've never had a mirror in the living room or sittjng room. Whatever you may call it. I don't need to see myself in every room in the house.

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Late-Champion8678@reddit

I used to have one over the fireplace until I got cats and I worried about one of them knocking it over and flattening the other (they have destroyed two small TVs with zoomies).

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MercatorLondon@reddit

A mirror works best hung over an unused fireplace. That drafty decoration takes up an entire wall in a small room, and people can place small trinkets on the ledge. I am not sure what is the exact point of that. But then I am not middle or upper class /s

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SilverellaUK@reddit

Are you now in a country that has more sunshine? We have mirrors to reflect the light around the room to brighten our houses in our dull weather and to make our small rooms look bigger.

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NecroVelcro@reddit

Nope. I've got a small swivel mirror which sits on top of a mini storage unit on the window sill in the living room and two medium mirrors in the bathroom.

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According-Let3541@reddit

I don’t but I also had a belief that a mirror was fairly essential. The reason I don’t have a mirror is that I couldn’t find one that I liked and eventually realised I didn’t need a mirror. But that belief was very ingrained.

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Katharinemaddison@reddit

Fairly normal. We do though I’d prefer a painting but we have an open fire. Tv in a corner visible from all seating.

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Vickyinredditland@reddit

I have one over the mantelpiece, living and dining room actually, and it's a kitchen diner so you've just made me realise there's a mirror in every room of my house 😭. Am I really vain and only just noticed??? 😂

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Princes_Slayer@reddit

I had one above the fireplace in my first house. But not bothered in maybe 20 years. I certainly don’t think it’s odd when people have one though

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ltcmdrjo@reddit

Never had anything above the fireplace in any of my families homes, but that was because it tended to the one wall that didn't have furniture in front of it, or art on the walls. The chimney tended to be left as the only wall that you could see the actual wallpaper.

A mirror in the hallway serves the practical purpose of being able to inspect yourself before you head out of the front door

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Opposite_Funny9958@reddit

I have big mirror over the fireplace as is normal. So is having a big picture if you have one. I’m a bit older and like having my TV placed ON a piece of furniture and not halfway up the wall as a feature which will give me neck strain. I do not understand this “let’s put the telly up there” thing.

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KeremyJyles@reddit

Common enough but not nearly universal, I don't have one nor would I even actively notice someone else not having one.

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Chaffro@reddit

Even the most narcissistic person I know doesn't have a mirror in her living room.

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Goudinho99@reddit

Yes, it makes my small flat seem bigger!

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jilljd38@reddit

Nope bathroom that's I have , that's all my parents had , I have a teenager to tell if I look ridiculous

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Abwettar@reddit

Growing up everyone I knew did have a big mirror in the living room, above the mantlepiece. But thats when TVs were sat on the floor and usually went over in the corner.

Now most people have TVs on the wall above the mantlepiece, so it doesn't seem to be a thing anymore.

Mirrors in rooms help them look larger. The same can be said for mirrors in small gardens or yards. I imagine that's why it was done, can't recall ever using it as a mirror 🤔

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Either_Reality3687@reddit

Nope no mirror in the front room.

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DeadAnarchistPhil@reddit

I think the idea was to hang it above eyesight (when sat down so you’re not distracted by the slob on the couch watching TV), so it could reflect the wall on the opposite side and make the room look bigger.

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IcyPuffin@reddit

I think they are pretty common. It is meabt to make the room seem bigger and lighter.

However i dont have one. I have never had one. Ive never felt the need to make a room feel bigger than it is, nor any lighter.

I dont recall any of my family having one, either. If there was a fireplace there might have been a picture, but never a mirror.

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Accurate_Dot542@reddit

I've always had a big mirror in the living room! There's 2 in the hallway, 1 in the bathroom 3 in my bedroom. My partner thinks it's too many but if I had more places to put them I'd have more.

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Fun-Yam2210@reddit

I have lots of mirrors in my house, strategically placed to reflect most light. English houses are dingy and it’s generally not sunny - mirrors are necessary.

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JimBowen0306@reddit

I do. Not sure everyone does though.

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pullingteeths@reddit

I do because there isn't space for one in my bedroom or anywhere else in the house

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nikki15485@reddit

I had to put mine in the hall at my new house because I put tv over the fireplace mantel , so now its by the front door which is kind of a bonus too

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SongsAboutGhosts@reddit

No, but presumably it's to make spaces look bigger and lighter.

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ac0rn5@reddit

We've got mirror above the fireplace, without it the room is quite dark.

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prettypetitetoy@reddit

not everyone, but it’s common

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cognitiveglitch@reddit

No but we have an enormous living room.

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lawrekat63@reddit

No. I only have mirrors in my bathroom and bathroom

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Background-Rabbit-84@reddit

I have a big mirror. I keep it there because it increases the light in the room by reflecting the light coming in the window

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nklights@reddit

As an American - so really, I should just shut my mouth - I admit to having one in my living room for 2 reasons: 1. It makes the place look a larger & 2. It’s useful for a final glance to check my appearance before heading out the door.

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Impossible-Use4950@reddit

I do, it's above eye level if I'm sitting, and is too far away to scrutinise myself in, nor can I see more than head and shoulders in it when I stand up. It has always been there. I suppose it makes the room look more spacious?

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Hot-Satisfaction19@reddit

when i was wee yep. brought in more light apparently. living room, sitting room, hall, yep :)

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APiousCultist@reddit

A big mirror? Yes. In the living room? No.

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fuck_peeps_not_sheep@reddit

I have a small one in the living room strategically placed to bounce more natural light around my liveing room - i think thats what they are for

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Vixrotre@reddit

Nope. We got a pretty small flat, so no big mirrors. We have one somewhere but no good space to put it. We got a couple small ones - one on an arm in the bathroom, and one I usually have by or on my desk.

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Mean-Construction207@reddit

Got one in the rented house i live in now, but I've never put one up myself in places I've decorated. It's never occurred to me.

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sshipway@reddit

It is fairly common in the UK, and is a style that started around Victorian times.
A large mirror will help make the room lighter, and feel larger (Victorian houses had higher ceilings, and so the rooms felt smaller); European rooms are generally smaller than places like Australia and USA.
It also dates back to when mirrors wewre more pricy and so having one in a family space would (a) be accessible to everyone, and (b) make your family look wealthy to visitors.
It is also common to have a mirror in the hallway as these tend to be a lot narrower and darker, and let you check your level of visual awesomeness before leaving the house

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Imtryingforheckssake@reddit

My parents do (and have done in every house we've ever lived in).

I'm now middle aged and don't, as I don't have any spare wall space.

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Fit-Fault338@reddit

I do.Simply because my room is dark so what little light there is reflects back.

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BTZ-25@reddit

It creates the illusion of more space and provides more light.

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CMRC23@reddit

No we keep it in the hallway

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ExternalMuffin9790@reddit

We did when I was a kid in my mother's house, dad's house, and my grandmother had a smaller one at the bottom of the stairs.
Not anymore.

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Hot-Health7006@reddit

From the UK, but live in SE Asia.

Had a large mirror in the living room, but we had some Feng Shui guy round. His gang basically rearranged the whole house and we had to get rid of the mirror as it was bad juju.

He said that the mirror made the energy flow out of the house.

Not a believer, but the wife is. Happy wife, happy life.

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Andries89@reddit

How else can we watch ourselves go at it

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CurvePuzzleheaded361@reddit

Absolutely a thing with older relatives of mine!

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curlypistachio@reddit

My working theory is that it’s simply traditional to have a mirror or art above a mantelpiece. I also think it’s a class thing, that having a tv above a fire place/mantel piece is very gauche/lower class/nouveau riche. Therefore, we choose mirrors

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dr_wtf@reddit

Nope, and don't know anyone that has one. It I think it was a common trope on those design programmes from the 90s when people could still afford to buy houses, because it makes the room look bigger. Personally I try to avoid anything that will cause unwanted sunlight reflecting off the TV.

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bobbingblondie@reddit

We have one, but it's only because the living room is kind of dark due to an extension. It helps to throw the light around more. My parents and in-laws don't have one.

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ThginkAccbeR@reddit

No mirror here.

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Aivellac@reddit

We only have a mirror in the bathroom. Our fire is a little gas one build into a stone wall so putting a mirror up there isn't a good look anyway, the stone doesn't need it.

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presterjohn7171@reddit

It's extremely popular because as a nation we can be a bit shy about committing to art so a mirror makes a good substitute for it.

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Draigdwi@reddit

Lived in many countries and visited even more. Only remember one living room with a mirror. Most likely because that room was ridiculously small. Bathrooms with mirrors- yes, bedrooms - yes, entrance halls - yes. Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens - no.

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bunnymama7@reddit

Yes above the mantelpiece

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Pyschospherex@reddit

I have a big mirror over the fireplace.

Do I get extra points for it having a gold frame, a curved top and little carved plinth bits to make the sides look like pillars.

Yes it's as proper tacky 90's looking aa you are imagining right now but I cba taking it down.

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DavidJonnsJewellery@reddit

Yeah, it's a thing. We always had a mirror in the living room.

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GtrplayerII@reddit

Funny... I just started watching The Unique Property company on YT.

An estate agent that specializes in older homes and flats in and around London.

He does video tours and a good majority, there's always a mirror in one of the receiving rooms when they are decorated to period....I remember thinking..."now why is that?"

I'm one case he explained how the mirror helped spread natural light through the tiny 300+ year old row house in the daytime.

I have seen in shows and magazines that mirrors are often used in decor to create the illusion of bigger rooms.

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Isgortio@reddit

No. I have a full length mirror in the bedroom, a normal sized mirror in the bathroom and a smaller mirror in the kitchen/hallway near the front door just in case I haven't caught that I look like a monster from the other 2 mirrors yet.

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Amzy29@reddit

I don’t.

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Just-Standard-992@reddit

I’ve been living in England for 13 years and now that I think about it, every house I’ve ever lived at or visited here has had a mirror over the fireplace (if they have one), regardless of the location of said fireplace.

I reckon its to make the ever dwindling amount of greeting cards for every occasion look bigger.

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Good-Gur-7742@reddit

I have an enormous antique mirror over my fireplace. It isn’t really for looking in, it’s decoration, and it reflects light across the room making it feel bigger.

I have lots of large decorative mirrors in my house.

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ManicPixiRiotGrrrl@reddit

our third big mirror is above the hallway table but it’s a similar idea I guess

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EvilTaffyapple@reddit

No? I’ve never had a mirror anywhere other than bedroom or bathroom.

Why would you need one in your living room?

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GeggingIn@reddit

It looks nice and reflects light.

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Trash_Panda_Leaves@reddit

Older generations did. I feel like wall mounted TVs probably replaced them.

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Bennjoon@reddit

I’ve never understood this decoration choice I hate mirrors

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Autumn_Falls0131@reddit

It's possible that it was for light. Mirrors reflect light. Don't they often have candlesticks on them as well. Before there was electric lighting I imagine a mirror with candles would have been helpful. And even just on dark winter days or evenings to add additional light to the room.

(I don't know this, it's just speculation.)

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Appropriate_Tax2602@reddit

I do to bounce light into a dark space in the room so its serving a purpose

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jelly10001@reddit

Never have done, nor have any of my immediate relatives (all in the UK).

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niteninja1@reddit

i know nobody with a mirror in their living room.

in my house the only mirror is in the bathroom.

in my parents house there was also one in the hallway by the door

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nfurnoh@reddit

Nope, original artwork prints.

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rebelallianxe@reddit

We do but we have lots of mirrors. Helps make our sometimes gloomy terraced house seem lighter and more open.

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tiny-brit@reddit

Yes, but my flat is rented furnished so it was just there when I moved in. It's not something I would do myself. I think the purpose is to make the room feel bigger. My flat is tiny, so that's understandable.

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Dimac99@reddit

My brother has one and it's decorative as you say. But he also has to cover it up when he's on his playstation, something to do with the controllers!

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luckeratron@reddit

No we have insect bunting for some reason.

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HMS_Hexapuma@reddit

I think it's a holdover from the 80s or 90sz

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ClevelandWomble@reddit

Double fronted house with two living rooms. We have a mirror in the hall and the smaller room. It makes them lighter and my wife uses them, one with a convenient power outlet for her hair dryer and the other for her makeup.

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OK_LK@reddit

Nope

I have a painting over the fireplace

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vampyreegg@reddit

It's definitely a thing, been in more houses with one above than the fireplace than the without. I used to have one above mine but we had to mount the TV there because toddler

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GeggingIn@reddit

We have four mirrors in the living room.

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Particular-Bid-1640@reddit

In my head your lounge is the tomb from The Mummy (the good one)

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GeggingIn@reddit

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GeggingIn@reddit

Bit like that.

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Sexy-Dumbledore@reddit (OP)

Wow the concept alone of this would probably give my father in law an aneurism. I personally appreciate the extra-ness.

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GeggingIn@reddit

He’s welcome over for his personal hell anytime.

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Jacktheforkie@reddit

I’ve got a big one in my living toom

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Xenozip3371Alpha@reddit

I've got one, makes the place feel more lived in, even if you live alone.

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evenifihateit@reddit

No There are mirrors in the bathroom and bedrooms but nowhere else

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Ok-Exam6702@reddit

Yes. We have a big gold framed bevelled mirror on the wall above our fireplace. It’s a big space and needed something to fill it, but we were worried a picture would get damaged by heat from the fire. It looks great.

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januarynights@reddit

No, would rather use the wall space for art or shelving.

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Suspicious_Neck_5156@reddit

My mum did, but we don’t. It is very common, I think it’s like giving a budgie one in a cage.

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Normal-Height-8577@reddit

Historically, mirrors were useful in the living room to make the room look bigger and lighter.

We have better lighting nowadays, but still some pretty small rooms! So yeah, some people still use mirrors the same way, to make the room feel more open.

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breakwater99@reddit

For the Orgies?

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Beginning_Ant8580@reddit

Screams grey and live laugh love.

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GeggingIn@reddit

No it doesn’t.

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PerLin107@reddit

Yes above the mantelpiece.

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Agitated_Camera_6198@reddit

I don't

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DenieD83@reddit

I assume this started because UK houses can be a little smaller than other countries houses and a way to make a room feel more spacious is with a big mirror on the wall. (Yeh I have one 😃)

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Sexy-Dumbledore@reddit (OP)

I think after some time it becomes habit because I live in a big house now with over sized windows and I still went out and subconsciously bought a new big mirror to match the new decor without thinking about it 😅

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DenieD83@reddit

Yeh I think it started out like I say and then just evolved into a thing you do.

Only other thing I can think of is I imagine originally when mirrors were all silver lined (hence why vampires don't show in them lol) that they were massively expensive and a show of wealth, that slowly trickled down as mirrors became cheaper, not sure.

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Grotbagsthewonderful@reddit

It's an old fashioned way to give the illusion of space, not really to my taste.

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hereinerror@reddit

This made me giggle. I don't but I'm wondering if I should get one cos it definitely unlocks some unwritten rule I'd forgotten about

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acryliq@reddit

Yes. My parents had a big mirror in the living room and I’ve had a big mirror in the living room of every flat and house I’ve lived in since. No, I don’t understand why either, but what else are you going to stick above a mantlepiece? A TV? Ugh!

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Mission-Sound9493@reddit

Yep, big mirrors above the fireplaces in the living and dining rooms, and one in the hallway. Can't imagine the rooms without them tbh. They help reflect light and are always useful for touching up makeup, fixing hair etc before going out.

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bumsaplenty@reddit

Yes, giant mirror over the mantle piece.

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Coconutpieplates@reddit

It's about 50/50 for people I know. I do, my parents did, grandparents did too. Aunt and all her offspring etc don't. For me, it's practical, you check yourself in the living room mirror before you go out because that's probably the place I'm gathering my stuff together.

I do know in the 2000s it was trendy because designers would tell people it makes rooms look bigger.

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NJellybean@reddit

We have a great one from west elm it is massive asymmetrical and we love it. It cost a bomb and was our fancy first house purchase. Reflects lights from the window and is behind sofa on the wall ❤️

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OkFinding8093@reddit

I have one above mantelpiece, full length one in bedroom, one in upstairs hallway (is internal), one above bathroom sink & one in there on windowsill ... good for plucking chin hairs :)

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PsychologicalDish430@reddit

It makes a room brighter and lighter.

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No_Fig_8782@reddit

Some people don’t have a living room

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Solsimian@reddit

I would but I also have two small children so it would last all of 5 minutes. My parents have a big mirror, everyone I know has a big mirror, it's standard living room garb. Did the House Doctor recommend it or something?

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CelesteJA@reddit

Yes! Most people I know do aswell.

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SocieteRoyale@reddit

I don't, my parents don't and my sister doesn't.... though it is something you see fairly commonly in people's houses

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crispycat40@reddit

Yes. It’s decorative.

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amboandy@reddit

How else am I supposed to summon Bloody Mary at midnight? I'm not going all the way to the bathroom for my infernal conjuring acts!

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MojoMomma76@reddit

No. Mirror in bathroom for hygiene - a big sideways one across the sink - and one in the bedroom (floor length to check the look of outfits, but tucked out of the way). My husband and I are in our late forties, we know what we look like and don’t need to regularly gaze at ourselves. Appreciate other people have them to bounce the light around though.

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DistinctViolinist92@reddit

Yes. And the dining room ha Thanks for poi ting it out..yeezus.

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blue_rizla@reddit

We did growing up but I don’t currently. That one with the gold leaves frame that everyone has.

Just running a quick census of the living rooms I can think of, it’s probably around 50/50?

Your father-in-law is weird to be so perplexed about a mirror. It’s not a UK thing.

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CreativeAdeptness477@reddit

No. I don't, so that ruins the 'everyone' notion. 🤷

The last thing I want is to see my ugly fat ass any more than is strictly necessary. I'd ditch the bathroom one except it's glued to the wall and my landlord might get pissy over it if he finds out.

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hallerz87@reddit

They're not meant to be for looking at yourself, like in a bathroom. They reflect light around the room and can make a space feel larger. Its about interior design, not doing your hair in the morning.

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ActionBirbie@reddit

I remember it being a popular thing to have in the 80's,not so much in recent years probably.

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Fred776@reddit

No, I'm into my sixth decade of living in the UK and I have never lived anywhere with a mirror in the lounge.

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srm79@reddit

I have a mirror over the fireplace in each living room. It was just the done thing in my family. I also have a big mirror in the bathroom.

I think it was Ruby Wax who said people get fat when they don't see themselves every day in the mirror. I've always been fat, so tried to have mirrors wherever I needed them

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SnooDonuts6494@reddit

Nope. Never had a big mirror, in any of the ten+ houses I've lived in.

I've got a very small mirror in the bathroom, and that's all.

Mirrors can make a room seem larger though. That's why they're fairly common in narrow hallways.

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Public-Temperature-1@reddit

We have a huge gold framed mirror on the wall in the dining room. So yes, we do - at least in the dining room not living room. New house it will be in the living room though. It's really really big but we inherited it so it's with us until the end.

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ZookeepergameOk2759@reddit

It gives the impression of more space and reflects light.

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Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit

I think the only houses i've ever been in without a mirror in the living room were student houses

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thermalcat@reddit

A good quality mirror was a status symbol in times gone by. It was common to have the good mirror in the parlour, many parlours turned into sitting rooms and the tv rooms.

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Mammoth-Turnip-3058@reddit

My parents did. My in-laws did until recently. They've just moved so don't atm. Idk whether they're going to put one up?

I don't, and don't plan to.

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mojnjaro@reddit

No i don't

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doegrey@reddit

No, but we have a big one in the hallway near the front door so we can see how disheveled we look when we come into the house at night.

(Maybe I have the purpose mixed up).

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vanmutt@reddit

My big mirror is in the hall so I don't have to see what a big fucking mess I am. Until I go to leave the house of course.

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Froglito@reddit

I think in the UK we have those big mirrors to try and reflect as much light as possible, as it’s so cold and gloomy here so often compared to eg Mediterranean countries

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dreamponies@reddit

No, and I can’t think of anyone in my circle of close friends and family who does. We have a full length mirror in our bedroom, kids have large vanity mirrors in their bedrooms and have mirrors in each bathroom.

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CaptainParkingspace@reddit

Yes, we have a big mirror over the fireplace. What else would anyone put there?

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idekkanymoree_@reddit

My mum put one up in our living room a few years ago and I love it tbh. It’s above the fireplace so you can’t see yourself unless you stand on your tip toes or on the settee but the frame glimmers in the sun and it’s quite helpful for putting face cream or sun cream on or whatever. Perfectly angled so we can’t see ourselves scoffing chocolate or watching tv in our pjs too

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Adorable_Past9114@reddit

I have 2 on opposing walls in my living room. My house is north facing so they help to bounce light around

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qbnaith@reddit

Idk I hate mirrors in general. One above the bathroom sink for shaving and that’s that.

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Sexy-Dumbledore@reddit (OP)

I'm not a huge fan of them either because I find them indirectly creepy but i've somehow succumbed to social expectations and my house has more than probably necessary.

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qbnaith@reddit

If you don’t like them you could just get rid of them, charity shop, give them to someone who might like them etc.

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WillingApplication10@reddit

I don't currently have one. My parents did and my in laws do - both above mantlepieces. We don't have a fire or where a fire used to be. Putting a tv above looks ridiculous, so I guess it's big mirror or big painting?

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Winston_Carbuncle@reddit

Unexpected r/tvtoohigh

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Sexy-Dumbledore@reddit (OP)

This is my husbands favourite reddit. He (not british) has never questioned the big mirror but has always questioned a tvtoohigh

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Steamrolled777@reddit

I have one in the hallway to check I don't have "shit on my head" on my way out the front door.

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RelativeShoulder370@reddit

I have one in the hallway, just to make sure I am dressed properly before I leave the house. I don't have any other large mirrors, especially in the living room as I am not that fond of looking at myself. 😂😂

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Etheria_system@reddit

No. Always thought it was weird tbh.

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Pogipete@reddit

We have an overmantle mirror, largish.

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DogfaceZed@reddit

I always have

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chrislomax83@reddit

We have two.

One behind the settee and one stood on the floor in the corner of the room

The one in the corner is a new addition and the only stipulation I had was that I didn’t want to see myself eating or watching telly.

They make the room look bigger. We don’t use them for any other purpose

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Happy_Connection5509@reddit

We have

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Baaaaaah-baaaaaah@reddit

We do actually! Maybe it’s a terrace house thing, anything to try get in even a little bit of extra daylight. Also helps with one last check before leaving the house

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layaboutscout@reddit

I sure do. Gotta bounce that light around!

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Tinkle84@reddit

Yes, mirrors in most rooms to reflect light and make rooms look bigger. Also for jacking off.

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Think-End7893@reddit

No we don't have mirrors in the living room or lounge. My grandma did back in the 1950s. We do have 4 full length mirror doors in the bedroom and bathroom which does add space and give more light. Prefer artwork and photos on the downstairs walls.

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Kudosnotkang@reddit

Probably symptomatic of our small houses , they make spaces look bigger.

I agree they’re common, but I’ve personally not had one in any of my British houses .

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Moppo_@reddit

We did, but we move the TV to that wall for a better viewing angle, so now the mirror is in the downstairs landing.

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RBisoldandtired@reddit

Above my radiator. Easy for having a quick check of yourself before heading out. My hallways too dark to have one 🤷🏻‍♂️

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Timely_Egg_6827@reddit

It was common in 80s interior design to have one over the mantlepiece to make the room look bigger.

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Perfect_Ending7@reddit

Yes! We have always had a big mirror in the living room in every home.

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PM-me-your-knees-pls@reddit

Probably cocaine users.

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rictay44@reddit

A mirror makes the room look bigger.

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Crafty_Pollution2799@reddit

A lot of people have them because it can make a room feel bigger than it is

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Clokkers@reddit

I have a series of small circular mirrors in like a bubble shape above my fireplace but it’s purely decorative.

My big mirror is on our upstairs landing so you can check your full body before you go downstairs

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WorldAncient7852@reddit

American houses are generally bigger. Houses in the UK need that light and reflection to give the illusion of more space.

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Realistic_Let3239@reddit

People have mirrors in the living room? Bedroom and bathroom only for all the houses I've lived in.

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InitiativeConscious7@reddit

quite often its just to make the room feel bigger

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Dismal-Rush7613@reddit

We used to have one but never replaced it after moving house

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Infamous-Bite-1246@reddit

Yep mine is that big it just stands against the wall. Big frame gorgeous 😍

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Dodgely@reddit

Used to but now it's been moved to be hallway. Serves the same purpose of "making the space feel bigger" but the hallway is more practical to actually look at, rather than being behind where I'm sat 90% of the time.

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tobotic@reddit

I do at my current house, but I didn't at my previous two. Did at the one before that. Didn't at any time before then.

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Juxtxn@reddit

Yes. Big. Horizontally placed.

Mostly for decoration but it's used daily.

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IdioticMutterings@reddit

It seems to be a 60's or 70's aesthetic. My mother, a 60's generation person, ALWAYS had to have a big mirror in the living room, but she had a sort of logic to it. Not only was it decorative, it also reflected the natural light from the relatively small window, deeper into the room.

"It helps brighten up the room" she always said, and having tried removing it, shes right. The room gets rather gloomy without it.

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