How can you turn your living room, bedroom, or other home space into an artistic gallery-inspired area? Along with painting, photos, and other imaginative art, take a look at how you can use mirrors to create this type of salon-inspired display.

Choose a Theme

Create a cohesive look and design a wall that has visual unity with a central theme. This doesn't mean every piece of art or mirror has to look the same - or even similar. Instead, pick one idea and go from there.

These can include anything from the great outdoors and animal life to geometrical shapes and architecture. Even though mirrors are blank (but shiny) slates, you can still add to the theme with a custom-cut design. To include mirrors in your themed gallery wall display:

• Select frames wisely . Unlike paintings, drawings, and photos, mirrors won't have a themed image inside. But you can add to the cohesiveness of the wall's aesthetic with a themed frame. Use colors, materials, shapes, or prints to match the theme.
• Use a different shape . Mirrors aren't all squares and rectangles. Choose a custom-cut shape that matches the theme.
• Create a centerpiece . If you're still not sure how to incorporate a mirror into your themed salon-style display, use the cut glass as a centerpiece to anchor everything else.

Instead of a store-bought or off the rack mirror, choose a custom design from an expert glass contractor. The glass professional can help you to design a mirror (or mirrors) that compliment every aspect of the themed wall.

Use Levels and Lines

Whether you choose one cohesive theme or not, you can use mirrors and other art to create visual interest with different lines and levels. Forget about perfectly matched lines and put the level away. Instead of a single string or a vertical stack of wall art:

• Stagger the display . Stagger mirror, art, photos, and anything else you hang in your gallery display - creating different levels.
• Use different sizes . Mix smaller and larger sizes to create a staggered effect.
• Mix a variety of different shapes . Shaped mirrors don't only work with themed walls. Use different shapes in your gallery display to create interesting lines and a staggered look.

A multi-level approach can work on a variety of types of walls. Whether you only have half a wall above a mantel or a full-length wall to work with, you can rearrange lines, size, and shapes to create a layered look.

Select a Centerpiece

Even though a centerpiece mirror can help you to build a themed wall, you don't have to use custom-cut glass as this type of anchor. If you don't like the themed idea or your artwork just doesn't fit into a cohesive category-like approach, use a mirror to pull together an eclectic décor strategy.

To use a mirror as a centerpiece:

• Choose a larger shape . A small mirror may get lost in a crowd of other art - especially when you hang it gallery-style on the wall. Create a centerpiece with a custom-cut mirror that outsizes every other piece.
• Design a standout cut . Work with your glass design contractor to create a standout cut. This may include a different or visually interesting look that's far from the typical four-sided squares and rectangles.
• Add an ornate frame . Extend the elegance of the mirror and its custom-cut shape with an artistic frame. The frame physically and visually separates the mirror from the rest of the art.

As the name implies, the centerpiece should go in the center. Hang the mirror first and work outwards as you add to your gallery-style wall display.

Do you need a custom-cut mirror? Contact Monterey Glass Specialists Inc. for more information.