The ornate mirror, considered

A 54 cm mirror above a 90 cm console leaves 18 cm of wall on either side when centred. A 72 cm mirror leaves just 9 cm. Both can work. The smaller frame leaves room for a lamp to have a silhouette of its own. The wider frame makes the mirror the first thing you see.

Tape out two sizes before you buy

Mark the centre of the console on a paper template. Cut or tape a 54 × 70 cm outline first, then a 72 × 88 cm outline in the same position. Stand where you normally enter the room, then sit where you normally read. Which outline still looks balanced from both places? Use removable tape suitable for your wall, or hold the templates in place.

Compare the glass as well as the frame

Our smaller example has a 4 cm border all round. Subtract it twice from each dimension and the visible glass is 46 × 62 cm. The larger example has an 8 cm border, leaving 56 × 72 cm of glass. The frame grew 18 cm wider but you gained only 10 cm of reflection. A carved arch will change that shape again. Ask for the visible glass dimensions when the listing only gives an outer size.

Try the reflection from the doorway

Hold a small mirror inside the paper outline. From the hall it might pick up a doorway or a lamp; from your chair it might show the top of a bookcase instead. Move the template before deciding on the height. The clearance in the drawing is a styling example. The mirror’s weight, hanging points, wall construction and the maker’s instructions determine the fixings.

Choose a finish and check the listing

Muted brass softens a dark frame against cream paint. A black carved frame gives a quieter outline on a dark wall and a much sharper one on a pale wall. Put a finish sample beside the actual console if one is available. Daylight and lamplight bring out different undertones.

The ornate arch mirror (Amazon UK affiliate link) in our edit is listed as 76 × 48 cm. It is a separate product from the two illustrated examples. Check the current listing for orientation, glass size, weight and fixings before buying.

Product notes are selection guidance, not claims of hands-on testing. Room and story images illustrate a mood; product cards show the selected item and link straight to its Amazon UK listing.