Quick answer: To brighten a basement with mirrors, hang the largest mirror the wall allows on a wall next to (perpendicular to) the basement window, or directly opposite your brightest lamp, so it throws light deeper into the room. In a basement with a 7 to 8 ft (213 to 244 cm) ceiling, choose a tall, slender mirror hung in portrait, such as a 48 x 28 in (122 x 71 cm) arch, and leave 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) of bare wall above it so the ceiling feels higher. Pair it with warm white bulbs (2700 to 3000 K), light walls with an eggshell finish and a lamp the mirror can reflect, and fix it to studs or with anchors suited to drywall or concrete.
In most Canadian homes the basement is the room that works hardest in winter. It is the family room, the home gym, the playroom, the guest space for the holidays and, in many cities, a rented basement suite. It is also the darkest room in the house. Basement windows are small and set high in the wall, often in a window well that fills with snow from December to March, and by the time Remembrance Day comes around the sun sets before 5 p.m. in much of southern Canada. Paint and lighting do most of the work in a dark basement, but a well-placed mirror is the cheapest way to multiply the light you already have. This guide covers where to put a mirror in a basement, what size suits a low ceiling, how to hang one on basement walls, and how to pair mirrors with lighting for the long months ahead.
Why Mirrors Work So Well in Basements
A mirror does not create light, but it redirects it. In a basement, light comes from two weak sources: a small window high on one wall and the ceiling fixtures. Both leave dark zones, usually the far end of the room and the lower half of every wall. A large mirror catches light that would otherwise stop at a wall and sends it back into the room, so corners feel less gloomy and the room reads as deeper. A tall mirror also adds a strong vertical line, which helps a low ceiling feel higher. Arched windowpane mirrors go one step further: the grid looks like a window, so a windowless wall gains the suggestion of one.
Where to Put a Mirror in a Basement
Next to the basement window, not always opposite it
The usual advice is to hang a mirror opposite a window. In a basement that often reflects the inside of a snowy window well. Hanging the mirror on a wall perpendicular to the window, close to the window wall, usually catches more of the daylight and spreads it across the room. Try both spots with the mirror held in place before you drill, and pick the one that brightens the far end of the room.
Opposite your brightest lamp or wall sconce
After dark, which in a Canadian winter is most of the time you spend downstairs, the mirror's job is to double your lamps. Put a floor lamp or sconce on the wall facing the mirror, or beside it, so the reflection shows a warm glow instead of a dark wall.
At the bottom of the stairs
The landing at the foot of basement stairs is often the darkest spot in the house. A mirror on the facing wall makes the walk down feel brighter and more welcoming, and gives the space a clear focal point. Keep it clear of the stair path and the door swing.
At the far end of a long room
Many basements are long and narrow. A tall mirror on the far short wall reflects the length of the room back, so it feels wider and the end of the room no longer looks like a dead end.
Not facing the TV
In a basement family room, keep mirrors off the wall opposite the television. A mirror that reflects the screen adds glare to movie nights and hockey games.
Basement Mirror Size Guide by Ceiling Height
Sizes are Salkala arched windowpane mirrors, measured as outer frame height x width. Basement ceilings in Canadian homes are commonly around 7 to 8 ft; measure from the finished floor to the lowest part of the ceiling (a bulkhead or duct often sits lower than the rest).
| Ceiling height | Suggested mirror (H x W) | How to hang it | Bare wall above the arch | Best spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 7 ft (213 cm) | 32 x 20 in (81 x 51 cm) | Portrait, above a bench or console | At least 20 cm (8 in) | Stair landing, basement suite entry, beside a small window |
| 7 to 7.5 ft (213 to 229 cm) | 48 x 28 in (122 x 71 cm) | Portrait, bottom of the frame 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 in) above furniture | 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) | Family room wall next to the window |
| 7.5 to 8 ft (229 to 244 cm) | 48 x 28 in, or a pair side by side | Portrait, above a sofa, sideboard or bench | 25 to 35 cm (10 to 14 in) | Long wall of a rec room |
| 8 ft (244 cm) or more | 64 x 30 in (163 x 76 cm) | Hung low with the bottom 10 to 20 cm above the floor, or leaned and strapped | At least 30 cm (12 in) | Far end of a long room, home gym |
| Home gym, any height over 7.5 ft | 64 x 30 in, or two 48 x 28 in side by side | Hung on the wall, not leaned, near the workout area | At least 20 cm (8 in) | Wall facing where you exercise |
As a rule, leave at least 20 cm of bare wall above the top of the arch. A mirror that touches the ceiling makes a low room feel shorter, not taller.
How to Hang a Mirror on Basement Walls
Basement walls are not all the same, so check what is behind the drywall before you choose hardware.
- Drywall on wood or steel studs. This is the most common finished basement wall. Use a stud finder and fix at least one screw into a stud, or use anchors rated well above the mirror's weight.
- Drywall on furring strips over concrete. Many older finished basements have drywall fixed to thin wood strips on the foundation wall. Screw into a strip where you can; ordinary hollow-wall anchors may not open fully in the shallow cavity.
- Painted concrete or block. Use a hammer drill, a masonry bit and masonry anchors. Drill slowly and keep the dust down with a vacuum held under the hole.
- Basement suites and rentals. Check your lease or ask your landlord before drilling. If you cannot drill, lean a tall mirror and secure the top with a removable strap, or rest a smaller mirror on a sturdy console.
Whatever the wall, fix the mirror at two points so it hangs level and cannot swing. Every Salkala mirror comes with two screws and two wall anchors; swap in masonry anchors for concrete. A basement should be dry and finished before you decorate it, so deal with any damp spots on the walls first.
Pair Your Mirror With the Right Lighting
- Layer the light. Flush pot lights give general light, but they leave the walls in shadow. Add a floor lamp, table lamp or plug-in sconce near the mirror so it reflects a pool of warm light.
- Choose warm white for living spaces. Bulbs around 2700 to 3000 K feel cozy in a family room. Brighter, cooler bulbs around 4000 K suit a home gym or a workspace.
- Aim light at the walls. Adjustable pot lights or wall-wash fixtures pointed toward the mirror wall bounce more light into the room than lights pointed straight down.
- Use a timer. Set lamps to switch on in late afternoon in December and January, so the basement never feels like a cave when you head downstairs.
Other Ways to Make a Basement Feel Bigger and Brighter
- Paint walls a light warm white or pale greige in an eggshell finish, and paint the ceiling flat white or a shade lighter than the walls.
- Keep the window clear. Use sheer panels or nothing at all on basement windows, and clear snow from the window well after a storm to let in what daylight there is.
- Choose light floors and rugs. Pale oak-look vinyl plank and a cream or light grey rug reflect light up into the room.
- Use furniture on legs. Sofas, benches and consoles raised on legs show more floor and make the room feel more open.
- Repeat black accents. A black mirror frame looks intentional when it is echoed by a black lamp base, picture frames or cabinet pulls.
For more on paint, lamps and placement in any dim room, see our guide on how to brighten a dark room with mirrors.
Basement Mirror Ideas by Room
Family room or rec room
Hang a 48 x 28 inch black arched windowpane mirror above a bench or low sideboard on the wall beside the window, with a lamp nearby. On a long wall, a matching pair of 48 x 28 mirrors side by side with a gap of 10 to 15 cm between them adds width and symmetry.
Home gym
A tall mirror helps you check your form and makes a small workout corner feel larger. Hang it securely on the wall rather than leaning it, keep it at least a metre from where you swing weights, and use a 64 x 30 inch black arched windowpane mirror if the ceiling is 8 ft or higher.
Basement suite or guest space
If family are staying downstairs over the holidays, a mirror by the entry or above a dresser gives guests somewhere to get ready and makes a compact suite feel more like home. In a tight space, a 32 x 20 inch black arched windowpane mirror fits beside a door or above a small console.
Stair landing
A 32 x 20 or 48 x 28 arch at the bottom of the stairs, hung with its centre at about 145 to 152 cm (57 to 60 in) from the floor, turns a dark corner into a welcoming one.
Buying a Basement Mirror Before the Holidays
Measure the wall, the ceiling height (including any bulkhead) and the furniture below before you shop, and mark the mirror's outline on the wall with painter's tape. Choose black or a dark frame if you want the mirror to stand out against light walls. With Black Friday and Boxing Day ahead and guests coming for the holidays, it is worth ordering early. Salkala arched windowpane mirrors use 3 mm tempered safety glass in a powder-coated metal frame, ship free across Canada and come with a 1-year frame warranty. You can compare sizes and details on the 48 x 28 arched mirror product page.
The Short Version
To brighten a basement with a mirror, hang a tall, slender mirror on the wall next to the basement window or facing your brightest lamp, keep it off the TV wall, and leave at least 20 cm of bare wall above it. A 48 x 28 in (122 x 71 cm) arch suits most 7 to 8 ft basement ceilings; use a 32 x 20 in mirror for tight spots and a 64 x 30 in mirror for taller rooms or a home gym. Add warm lamps, light walls and a clear window, and fix the mirror at two points into studs, furring strips or masonry anchors.
About this guide: written by the Salkala Decor team using widely used interior design and lighting guidelines and the published dimensions of our own mirrors. Measurements are rounded for planning; always check your own walls, fixings and building or rental rules before installing.
