A couple of tricks for hanging the perfect mirror gallery wall plus ideas for a traditional meets modern eclectic dining room.
This has been one of those projects that I was so intimidated to attempt it just sat in storage until I could muster up the gumption to make it happen.
If you peeked at my messy house tour in my Instagram Stories oh… two months ago, you might have seen my big collection of antique mirrors I’d been hoarding since September.
Aren’t they beauts?!
(Some affiliate links are provided in this post.)
A couple came from eBay, a few came from the thrift store, and a couple were brand new just because I discovered they fit in perfectly with the old ones. (These pictured above are just some of the old ones though.)
I pulled this one out just in time for Trash to Treasure Transformation Tuesday. (You can see my thrifty blogger friends’ before and afters at the end of this post.)
After I gave our secondhand dining table a makeover in the fall, the rest of this room sat with nothing on the walls until now. I envisioned a big beautiful gallery wall of ornate antique mirrors, but I couldn’t really wrap my head around this one for the longest time to figure out the best way to hang them up.
Eclectic gallery walls are fickle things. They have to be symmetrical but not look too intentional. They have to look collected but not too polished. They have to have lots of pieces without looking too chaotic.
So I pulled out my usual gallery wall creating trick. Even though it’s always kind of a pain, cutting out all of the frames on shipping paper and taping them to the wall is totally worth it. I always mark exactly where the nail holes are on the paper too so I can just drive a nail or screw right through the paper to eliminate any accidental holes in the wall.
My mom came over for a girls’ hang out day for this one and we pondered over this thing for a couple of hours before getting it right, untaping and moving around all of those paper pieces in different positions. And she reminded me of a trick that I totally forgot about.
Whenever you feel stumped, take a picture of your space and look at the photo. Whatever seems “off” in the room always jumps right out at you when you look at it in the photo. Never fails.
Now, our dining room looks much more polished, but in an eclectic sort of way.
It’s soooo dramatic against those charcoal walls.
(I never would have thought my style would transform into this based on the farmhousey vibe of our last house. It’s just further proof to me that letting our homes “speak” to us is always a chance to discover more about ourselves.)
Right now, I have a console table underneath the mirrors that I found in a consignment shop a couple of years ago and painted to look like wood. I can’t decide if I need a longer table there or not.
And even though the chandelier looks nice in photos, in person, the beads are dirty and a bit cheap looking. It just doesn’t make my heart sing. So next step will be the chandelier.
We might eventually add molding below the chair rail too.
As for the other side of the room, I found the perfect piece of abstract landscape art that ties together all of the shades in the room. (I shared some of my favorite abstract acrylic art the other day, if you’ve been on the hunt.)
It reminds me of summertime with that soft blue sky, which I am just desperate for right now. This Carolina girl can only take so much cold, gray winter weather.
This dining room has come SUCH a long way since last spring.
Here is the budget breakdown so far along with sources:
- Wall paint: Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal – $48
- Trim paint: Benjamin Moore Simply White – $48
- Dining Table – $100 (Facebook marketplace find)
- Slipcovered Dining Chairs – $284.80 for 4 (bought on sale for 20% off)
- Rattan Dining Chairs – $276 for 2 (bought on sale for 40% off)
- Bleached Jute Rug 6×9 – $136 (bought on sale)
- Abstract Landscape Painting – $179
- Console Table – $160 (Consignment shop find)
- Curtains – $50 for 2 pairs
- Curtain Rods– $52 for 2
- Wide antique mirror – $115 (eBay)
- Tall rectangular mirror- $75 (thrift store)
- Large oval mirror – $98
- Medium antique oval mirror – $60 (eBay)
- Small iron oval mirror – $150
- Extra small scroll oval mirror – $16 (thrift store)
- Etched rectangular vintage mirror – $40 (thrift store)
- Small rectangular mirror – $10 (thrift store)
Total: $1,613
Considering that accounts for all of the furniture, that’s not too shabby.
I’m SO excited that we actually get to have Easter dinner in here in another month-ish and that it’s no longer an empty room where we just dumped all of our moving boxes.
Progress makes perfect. Scratch that. This house will never really be perfect. But I don’t really want it to be. That’s what makes the journey so fun.
You can check out the rest of this month’s Trash to Treasure Tuesday blogger projects below:
(Clockwise from top left):
Prodigal Pieces | Artsy Chicks Rule | Confessions of a Serial DIYer | Girl in the Garage
Brittany Wise says
February 13, 2018 at 5:40 amI love that wall Lauren! It looks so good filled in with the mirrors. You guys always have a great knack for making it work– all the time!:)
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
February 13, 2018 at 6:29 amYou are speaking to my heart. This gal has a thing for mirrors and so love what you did, Lauren.
Kristine says
February 13, 2018 at 8:00 amI so love that top rectangle mirror! I’m a less is more kinda gal, so gallery walls aren’t my thing, but yours looks very nice. Love the tip of taping up paper first. We do that with painters tape for large artwork on walls, so paper would work just as well too. You didn’t say, and I’m thinking you left all the frames as is? Or did you paint them or buy them matching?
Pamla Joy says
February 13, 2018 at 8:41 amI totally agree with you…. those mirrors on the charcoal wall is beautiful and molding would be a perfect add!!! It’s beautiful and I know y’all will enjoy it for many family occasions ?
Joy
Christy says
February 13, 2018 at 8:52 amYour wall turned out beautifully, Lauren! I have been hoarding several mirrors myself, but they are mostly oval. You found some beauties! XO
Kelly Howard says
February 13, 2018 at 9:07 amJust STUNNING! I am in love with them on the rich wall color!
Ronda says
February 13, 2018 at 9:16 amYour dinning room turned out beautifully. I love the picture. The mirror wall looks amazing. Keep letting it speak to you, you might decide you need a bigger console table. I’m looking forwarding to seeing your next project. 🙂
Julie says
February 13, 2018 at 10:17 amI love the wall, Lauren! I’ve been waiting to see what you would do with a mirror gallery wall and you did NOT disappoint! Sooo pretty! And I love that picture!! Win win!! Have a wonderful Easter Dinner!!
Pamela Barnes says
February 13, 2018 at 10:19 amI love this mirror look! Did it take you a long time to find your older mirrors? I really love the top long one. I would love to find one like that.
I thought if you were to use the metallic rub in brass/gold on your chandi and just buy new crystals, it would look awesome!
Susan Williams says
February 13, 2018 at 10:20 amI love your mirror wall ! Thank you for the tip on using the paper to figure out placement. I have a gallery wall that I need to change up and I will definitely use your trick. When you mentioned using a photo it reminded me of a trick I learned in art class on how to check for symmetry. We would turn the canvas upside down and immediately spot the error. I would think the same could be done with the photo.
I am anxious to see what you will be doing with your chandelier as I have been trying to decide how to change mine up too! Thank you for sharing. I love Trash To Treasure Tuesday!
Mirtha Alvarez says
February 13, 2018 at 10:22 amThe wall looks stunning! I love the character antique pieces give to a space and you and your mom nailed the placement. Love the idea of making patterns of the mirrors. Thank you for the tip! 🙂
Brooke Berry Kroeger says
February 13, 2018 at 10:42 amLove! So pretty!
Sue says
February 13, 2018 at 11:19 amLOve the vintage mirrors and they look great on the dark wall.
Norma Rolader says
February 13, 2018 at 11:26 amBeautiful mirror gallery wall and thank you for sharing
Gabby says
February 13, 2018 at 12:29 pmThis looks so awesome! I love those mirrors. They really add a huge pop to the room.
Debra Wise says
February 13, 2018 at 12:47 pmI love the mirror wall! I have a ginormous antique mirror hanging in my dining room but the rest of the wall is bare. You’ve given me the idea to look for other mirrors to surround it with. Thanks for the tip on using paper to figure out how to place the pieces. Your dining room looks great and even though I love the farmhouse style look, I’m glad to see someone step out of the box and decorate with a different style!
Tracy Smith says
February 13, 2018 at 1:29 pmYou really found some wonderful mirrors!! It came together beautifully!
Gwen says
February 13, 2018 at 2:23 pmJust beautiful. I saw the Instagram peek and it was so stunning. Your home is truly becoming a “showpiece “. How exciting to host Easter dinner!
Congratulations on getting the gallery wall perfect!!
HeatherB says
February 13, 2018 at 2:39 pmI really, really love this. Beautiful!
[email protected] says
February 13, 2018 at 4:09 pmAs soon as I read the title and saw the mirrors, I asked myself – Hmm, wonder if she’s painting those with her new classic styled house? Well, I was wonderfully surprised that you didn’t! I love them. Would have loved them no matter what you chose to do but they look beautiful up there just like that. Seriously so pretty.
Kimmylouwho says
February 13, 2018 at 4:19 pmI think you do need a longer table to finish it off completely! Really nice arrangement!
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
February 13, 2018 at 4:38 pmYou’ve done a beautiful job with your home Lauren!! Love the new wall and mirrors! xo
Carol Prygo says
February 13, 2018 at 5:02 pmLauren, your mirror wall looks lovely. I prefer the farmhouse look, but really love what you are doing in your new home. You definitely do NOT need a longer table under the mirrors – it would be out of proportion to the mirrors. It is perfect right now. Again, take a photo and take a look! I also love the picture on the other wall – the colors are perfect for the room! Great job!
SW says
February 13, 2018 at 5:29 pmI was on the look out for a piece of art and your post led me to purchase that same piece! Thank you. We love it! We live in Illinois, but we think it reminds us of the Carolina lowlands. It’s very soothing.
Vivian says
February 13, 2018 at 7:22 pmLauren, I love how the mirror wall tuned out! I believe this is one of the best things you’ve done….well, along with all of the other “best things”! I’d love to find a place to do something like this some day.
Jayne McLeod says
February 13, 2018 at 7:27 pmyou’ve done a lovely job !
Jayne
Gloria says
February 13, 2018 at 8:01 pmLauren that looks great! If you’re like me and start to question something ( length of table) It’s better to just go ahead and change it. I think for the visual weight of that wall the table does need to be longer. Still looks great as is.
Thanna says
February 13, 2018 at 8:46 pmI really love the mirror gallery wall! I SO want to try this in my house but I don’t have the square footage that you do :). Wonder if it would be too much in a shortish hallway that’s crying out for decor?
Lauren says
February 14, 2018 at 10:22 amI think you can do a gallery wall almost anywhere. It is all about proportion. Take a look at this blog post for some inspiration and help https://www.blesserhouse.com/2017/11/how-to-hang-the-perfect-gallery-wall.html.
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
February 13, 2018 at 11:02 pmIt turned out so pretty, Lauren! I have been hoarding mirrors for years for a big gallery wall someday. Some frames are gold though and some have a silvery finish to them, and they don’t look great together. I was debating whether I should paint them all a similar shade. Maybe I’ll just stay on the hunt for more so they’re all a consistent finish….. hmm, decisions!
Dianne Gingrich says
February 14, 2018 at 8:32 amLove your dinning room. Those mirrors are gorgeous!
sherry elston says
February 14, 2018 at 10:30 amIt’s amazing how you can make beautiful things from items at a thrift shop. The mirror wall looks great!!!!
Lauren says
February 14, 2018 at 12:26 pmThanks, Sherry!
DIY Home Sweet Home says
February 14, 2018 at 10:16 pmIt looks beautiful! love the variety.
Laurel says
February 14, 2018 at 11:18 pmLove your gallery wall!
Jennifer Pisani says
February 18, 2018 at 6:50 amI LoVE this room! The link for the landscape picture does not work. Do you have another link? Also please tell me where you got your chandelier? I love it! Thank you ?
Lauren says
February 18, 2018 at 10:14 pmHi Jennifer,
Here’s the link for the art.
https://www.blesserhouse.com/2018/02/designer-look-alike-abstract-acrylic-art.html
Unfortunately, I don’t know a thing about the chandelier, it came with the house.
Louise Adkins says
February 18, 2018 at 9:41 amLove that table, especially if it came that way!
Michelle Green says
March 9, 2018 at 7:56 pmJust gorgeous! I am I’m the middle of re-decorating my dining room and this was my inspo! I found a mirror almost exactly like the top one for $50 (offer up). The painting from Pier 1 is on sale right now. Might grab that for my living room. You’re my favorite blogger by far Lauren! I just love your vision!
Lauren says
March 12, 2018 at 2:24 amWow! I’ve heard great things about Offer Up. I need to check it out! Thank you SO much for the love, Michelle! That means so much. 🙂
Chris Broyer says
April 15, 2019 at 9:58 pmLove your dining room and the mirrors do make it special. I have thrift store mirrors of various sizes on either side of the front stairwell of my house, all have some shade of gold frames and they look so good. They reflect the little bit of natural light during the day and the overhead light in the evening. I just love the results! Looks like we had similar thoughts on this decorating trick with awesome results.
Lauren says
April 16, 2019 at 8:45 pmI am sure your wall is beautiful!! 🙂
mcgypsy says
April 30, 2019 at 5:33 pmYou know if you add mounding below the chair rail that it is going to make it even more Victorian looking. I’m totally in love with your mirror gallery!! I have been collecting for a while now and have quite a few vintage mirrors and I think I’m going to follow your lead! I’m not from the Carolinas but I’ve lived here for almost 30 years and I feel very southern and love the southern decor, so I guess I’m kinda southern…lol. I have always loved every piece of decor I’ve ever found here and the older the better! Your dining room is just lovely in a new southern way!