Hanging a mirror requires skills. Not only does it have to be straight, but different types of mirrors have to hang differently. Plus there is the strategy of where to hang it! The following steps will help you have more certainty when hanging a mirror.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Strategic Placement
Step 1. Create depth
The best way to use decorative mirrors is to use them to create depth. Put them in small or cramped rooms to make them look larger.
Step 2. Try to make the light reflect
It's another great way to use mirrors as furniture. Place them in front of a window, especially in rooms that only have one, to double the amount of light in the room.
Step 3. Use different measures
If you need to fill a large space and don't want to spend a fortune on mirrors, you can also use lots of small mirrors. Get mirrors that have the same style and hang them "collage" style.
If the color of the frames doesn't match, you can paint them all the same color to create an overview
Step 4. Also consider the practical side
You should take into account the practical function, when hanging the mirrors. Putting a mirror near the front door is more useful than placing it in a room you use as an office.
Step 5. Don't overdo the mirrors
If you put too many mirrors in your home, you are dangerously close to the decorations of the 70s. A good rule of thumb is a maximum of 2 mirrors per floor in the house (not counting the bathroom).
Method 2 of 4: Find the Upright
Step 1. Find the struts
Posts are wooden beams that serve as structural support for the wall. If you don't attach the mirror to the posts, think again. If you put a nail into something other than a post, even if you use a screw anchor for more support, you run the risk of driving a nail into something you don't want to hit, like a pipe or electrical wire.
Step 2. The post is part of the internal structure of the wall, and is usually used for hanging objects from the heavier side
The easiest way to find an upright, of course, is to use a specially designed electronic tool. You can buy it in practically every hardware store and it costs between 10 and 40 euros.
There are stud finders that use a magnet to locate studs based on nails that may be in the wall, and others that work by controlling the density of the wall. Magnetic ones usually cost less but may not work either
Step 3. Use your ears
If you don't want to use a post finder, you can locate one using your ears. Knock on the wall with your fist: If the wall is made by modern methods (i.e. it was built after 1950), you should hear a hollow, deeper and more lasting echo when you knock on an empty part of the wall, and a shorter sound. and higher in pitch when you hit an upright.
Step 4. Look for post indicators
If the punching method doesn't work, there are other indicators to check where the uprights are.
- Look for sockets. The sockets are inserted inside a box which is fixed to a post. If you find a grip, the edge of the riser is probably a few inches from the edge of the cleat.
- Look for windows. They are built between two posts, so a window can indicate where a post is.
- Look for the lining nails. Trim and molding are usually nailed to the posts, so try looking for them.
Step 5. Measure the distance between the posts
In most modern constructions, the posts are placed 40 cm apart. In older houses (built before 1950, for better or worse) the posts are placed 60 cm apart or less. If you find an upright, it will be much easier to find another one.
The uprights are also put on the corners of the rooms. Another way to find the struts would be to measure from that angle
Step 6. Test with a nail or screw
If you think you have found an upright, try to be sure by driving a nail into the place you found. If it goes like a knife through butter, you are wrong. If, on the other hand, it becomes more and more difficult to plant it, you have found an upright.
Method 3 of 4: Align the Mirror
Step 1. Get help
An extra hand (and eye) can be helpful in this part of the process. Get help from a friend!
Step 2. Look at the material included in the package
Will the mirror need a hook? A bracket? One or two? You will need to know this in order to organize where you will place the anchor points.
Step 3. Use the tracing method
Draw the mirror on a piece of cardboard. Then tape the sides of the cardboard and hang it on the wall, moving it as needed and also trying it out in different places. Use a spirit level to put it straight and then mark the spot on the wall with a pencil.
Step 4. Use the measurement method
Place the mirror on the wall, about the height you would like it to be, then mark the top or bottom point with a pencil. Then, use a level or tape measure to make sure the base is straight. Measure the height of the mirror and then mark the top edge using the measurement as a guide.
Step 5. Measure twice, hang once
The saying is true: it is better to be absolutely certain that everything is measured correctly and prepared, rather than risk dropping the mirror on one foot.
Method 4 of 4: Hang the Mirror
Method 1: Light Mirror
Step 1. Get some suitable glue
There are many adhesive glues that work well for hanging this type of mirror. Command adhesive strips are some of the most used and work well. Make sure that whatever product you buy is suitable for the weight it bears.
Step 2. Put the sticker on the back of the mirror
As written in the instructions, put the sticker behind the mirror. You should have a strip for each corner.
Step 3. Place the mirror
Place it where you want it to go. You only have one try, so that's a good reason to mark the position of the mirror on the wall if possible.
Step 4. If necessary, remove it
With Command Strips and similar products, you can usually take them off without leaving any marks on the wall, so don't worry if you have to remove the mirror in the future. Just be careful to attach and remove them correctly.
Method 2: Heavy Mirror
Step 1. Find a riser
With heavy mirrors, it is a good idea to have at least one contact point in one post. Try to be sure to place the mirror so that it can be hung on at least one post.
Step 2. Measure for space
Put a strip of masking tape on the back of the mirror, just above or below the hook material. Mark on the tape the points from which the mirror will hang. This will give you the distance between the two contact points on the wall.
Most heavy duty mirrors are sold with hooks to hang them on the back. If there aren't any, however, use the steps in method 4 to attach some frame wire
Step 3. Measure and mark the height at which you want to hang
Measure the distance from the top of the mirror to where the hook is to hang it. Then, mark this distance on the wall, following down the line you made to indicate where the top side of the mirror should be.
Step 4. Mark the contact points
Put the paper tape on the wall, so that the marks are level with the height at which to hang the mirror, determined in the previous step. This will tell you where to put the nail or screw. Mark the location with a marker or leave the paper tape. Make sure it's level, and straight.
Step 5. Put the contact points on the wall
The contact points, in this case a nail or a screw, must be fixed well in the wall. You should certainly have at least 2 points, more if the mirror is very large. Put a screw in the post in the place you found or, if you need to put a contact point where there is no post, put an anchor and then the included screw.
Step 6. Hang the mirror
Once the contact points on the wall are in place, hang the mirror, being careful not to let it go until you are sure it is well secured and that the hooks are able to hold it.
Method 3: Frameless Mirror
Step 1. Take weight into account
If the mirror is heavy, you will want the contact points to be anchored to a post. Since the brackets that hold this type of mirror don't have to be anywhere particular under it, it's not as difficult as it might seem.
Step 2. Get some brackets
For the bottom, two U-brackets suit you, which are large enough to accommodate the thickness of the mirror. For the upper part, U-brackets with a coupling mechanism: they have a separate piece in which they fit and lock.
Step 3. Mount the brackets at the bottom
Mount the brackets for the lower part by attaching them to a post, along the line previously decided. They should remain 5-10 cm inside the outer corners of the mirror. If you can't attach them to a post, be sure to use another anchor.
Step 4. Mount the brackets on top
Assemble the part where the high brackets must fit, following the manufacturer's instructions. Make sure you don't put it too high. Just rest the bracket in the hook without letting it snap into a lower position.
Step 5. Slide the mirror into place
Hook the brackets to the hooks on the wall. If it's heavy, get help.
Step 6. Engage the hooks of the upper brackets
Lower the brackets at the top until they snap into the hooks to hold the mirror securely.
Method 4: Unusual Shaped Mirrors
Step 1. Prepare the mirror
Attach D-hooks or rings behind the mirror in two places that are facing where the mirror will hang. A thread running between the rings will be used to hang the mirror.
Step 2. Attach the thread
Buy wire from a hardware store. Thread it through the rings, then twist the ends several times to join them tightly.
Make it long enough to go between the two hooks and reach the place where the mirror should hang. Also leave a little extra to wrap and attach to the rings
Step 3. Arrange the contact points on the wall
If the mirror is light, a hook should be enough. If it's heavy, you'll need two. If you put on two, try to put them about 10-15cm apart (depending on the width of the mirror). They should leave room for the mirror to hang, not too high that you can see the wire once it is mounted, and not too low that it is difficult to adjust the mirror, or that you can't even hang it at all.
- If your contact points are on a post, you can put a nail, screw or hook directly and you won't need anything else.
- If the contact points are not on a post, you will need to use special anchors or screws (anchors are better). Mount the anchors and then hang the mirror using the included screws.
Step 4. Hang the mirror
Once you have the contact points on the wall and put the wire in place, hang the mirror, being careful not to let it go until you are sure it is in place and that the hooks will hold its weight.
