Console table beneath the mirror: matching the widths
The combination of console table and wall mirror is one of the standard solutions for hallways, reception areas and hotel corridors. It only looks calm, however, when the two pieces suit each other in width. If the mirror is wider than the furniture below, the group appears top-heavy; if it is much too narrow, it gets lost on the wall. Anyone planning console tables and mirrors together should therefore compare widths, spacing and wall area before buying. The following guide values serve as orientation and do not replace a look at the actual wall, but they help to avoid obvious mistakes when ordering.
The width ratio as a starting point
A common guide value is for the mirror to take up roughly two thirds to three quarters of the console's width. For a console of around 120 centimetres, that would mean a mirror of about 80 to 90 centimetres including the frame. This leaves a visible margin of the top on the left and right, and the furniture visually carries the mirror. Pieces of equal width are possible, but look strict and require exact alignment. Always measure the outer dimension of the frame, not the glass, and on the console the top, not the base.
Frame, crest and proportions
A wide, sculpturally worked frame takes up considerably more space than the bare measurement suggests. Baroque furniture and the mirrors that go with it often carry crests, lateral ornaments or projecting corners that extend beyond the basic shape. The widest point is then decisive. Shape also plays a part: a portrait-format mirror stretches the wall and suits narrow consoles, while a landscape-format one emphasises the horizontal and calls for a correspondingly long piece. Round or oval mirrors look lighter and may be somewhat narrower in proportion without appearing lost.
Gap and hanging height
As a rule, about 10 to 20 centimetres remain between the console top and the lower edge of the mirror. If the gap is larger, the group falls apart into two separate items; if the mirror sits directly on the top, there is no room for lamps, vases or bowls. Ideally the centre of the mirror is roughly at the eye level of a standing person, that is at about 150 to 160 centimetres. With tall consoles and large mirrors this cannot always be achieved; in that case an even gap above the top takes priority. Decoration on the console should cover the mirror surface only partially.
Checking wall space and mounting
The group needs space at the sides. If the console reaches from door frame to door frame, the wall looks overloaded; a gap of about a hand's width up to 20 centimetres from adjoining elements is a workable reference. Before ordering, check for sockets, light switches and wall lights in the area of the mirror. Heavy mirrors with wooden frames require a fixing suited to the wall construction, and reinforcement where necessary on lightweight partition walls. For contract projects it is advisable to order console and mirror as a pair, so that colour and finish match and the dimensions can be repeated across several rooms.
Related: Mirrors, Decoration, Benches. The full range: Baroque furniture.
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