Whether you are lighting up your bar or just trying to make your man cave look bigger, a mirror can be a sound investment. But with so many on the market, what type should you buy? What’s it’s purpose? Where should you hang it?
Once you hang a mirror, it’s pretty much a permanent fixture, so there are a few things to keep in mind before buying one. Let’s start with the obvious one…
Why do you need a mirror in your man cave?
From checking out your immaculate beard before your friends arrive to adding masculine finishes or give the illusion of space in a small and dark man cave, a mirror is an essential accessory. Aside from its usefulness, it offers you the opportunity to add a fun factor, humor and showcase your love for sports too. Like cushions or bean bags, mirrors are usually one of those items that ends up near the bottom of a man cave “to buy” list. They may not be the center of attention in your cave, but a wall can look unsightly if it’s bare.
It’s what’s behind the mirror that counts!
No, I’m not saying buy a semi-transparent mirror, but what does matter is the type of wall that’s around your mirror. Is it brick, painted wall or bar shelves? Think about how your mirror will look against these surfaces before buying. A mirror of course, will cover up everything behind it, but the wall around it will either blend in or stand out around it.
It’s all in the frame
Frame or frameless? That’s the first decision you need to make. In most man caves, a frameless mirror will be more modern but there are a lot of mirrors available that can enhance a wall with the right sort of frame.
Many man cave owners will have an exposed brick wall so either frameless or wood frame will suit. Putting a frameless mirror on a painted wall will blend the mirror into the wall… if that’s the effect you want. My preference against a brick wall is to use a timber frame. I’ve found brick and timber go really well together.
How to decide on the type of mirror?
It all starts with that blank space on your wall…
Bar Mirrors
Simply put, bar mirrors exist to add some depth and interest behind a bar in your man cave. It’s important to decide on buying a mirror to cover the entire back of your bar or just one to cover up a blank space. Many bars require space to store your glassware and liquor so plan this out before buying one.
Team Mirrors
Nothing shows your team’s support than a sport themed mirror in your man cave. The bar is often the place where your friends will gather for a quiet beer so it’s the perfect place to remind them of your team. Sport mirrors exist for pretty much every team out there so just be sure you like the look of the mirror before purchasing. This will be a permanent fixture in your cave so it’s important to get it right before buying.
Modern Mirrors
Because a mirror is so prominent in a man cave, you want to be sure it keeps with the modern theme. Once you hang that bad boy on the wall, you want to be sure it blends in with the rest of your decor. Some traditional mirror designs will look awful in a modern man cave.
Custom Mirrors
Often there is an exact space in your man cave that you need to fill. For that, you need the right size mirror. There are many businesses around today that will manufacture a mirror to your exact measurements. Of course these are more expensive, but it’ll be a purchase that will last for a very long time.
How to use mirrors in a man cave
When you want to distribute light, mirrors are an excellent and economical option. You will be able to brighten a space by more than double without additional lighting when you place mirrors at key points throughout the space.
You would not want an overly bright man cave even though natural light is amazing, but when you have specific uses and occasions in mind, you will be able to reflect light with clever mirror placements.
Mirror Ideas For Your Man Cave
Nothing depicts a bar better than Guinness. Even if it’s not your beer of choice, you can’t deny that it’ll look good behind any bar. This mirror is well constructed and is heavy so be sure to use the right fixtures on your wall to handle the weight.
- Black Stain Solid Wood Frame
- Dimensions: 62-in w x 10-in D x 35. 5-In H
- Crafted from solid Birch hardwood and Birch hardwood veneers
- Detail sculptured wood frame design. Multi-step, furniture-grade, rich Mahogany finish
- Officially Licensed Full Color Artwork
- Mirrored Glass Accents Team Logo
- 1.25 Inch Black Wrapped Wood Frame
- BATCAVE MUST HAVE: Whether for Bruce Wayne’s billionaire mansion or something a little more cozy, this stylish Batman Logo mirror will become the center piece that leaves everything else in its shadow.
- COLLECTOR'S ITEM: Perfect for any DC Comics enthusiast or Batman Collector, this Batman Logo Mirror will become their new favorite collector’s item. Brighten up any collection with this mirror.
- PERFECT GIFT: Whether for an adults office or a child’s bedroom, this Batman Logo Mirror will transform any room into their very own batcave. Perfect for the caped crusader in your house.
Conclusion
A mirror in a man cave might have been overlooked as an unnecessary piece of décor. However, aside from adding the illusion of space and additional light, it is a perfect way to add character and emphasize your style.