The sun in the interior: choosing a mirror with rays for the wall

Mirror sun: history of a decorative element

Many have at least once seen a mirror in the shape of a sun and were at a loss as to how this original accessory came to be. Let us remember the European king Louis XIV, who stayed on the throne longer than other rulers.

The extraordinary ruler was very fond of art, architecture, and unusual decorative elements. It was under Louis XIV that the Baroque era flourished, the trends of which are alive in modern directions.

Every year the king organized court balls, in which he himself took an active part. He chose for himself the role of the sun - he spread rays of warmth and light around himself, bestowing attention on everyone. Since then, accessories and clothing with the image of the celestial body began to appear. And in the royal palace they hung several mirrors in the shape of the sun. This element has also gained popularity in modern interiors - now it decorates the houses and apartments of connoisseurs of the heritage of Louis XIV.

This is just one of the legends of the birth of the accessory. However, it sounds quite plausible.

Portrait of King Louis

Ideas for placing a sun mirror in the bedroom

The most popular places for a sun mirror are above the head of the bed and above the dressing table. It is not necessary to decorate with one large mirror - you can choose a composition of 2-3-4 mirrors and randomly scatter them on the wall. The advantage is that sun mirrors, unlike paintings, do not distract from the design of the walls, which means they can be integrated into any design. This is a universal decor - you can buy a sun-shaped mirror and place it in any living area.

Small and discreet models will become the highlight of even a child’s room, and it doesn’t matter whose bedroom it is – a boy’s or a girl’s. For example, sunny decor perfectly complements walls dominated by pastel shades and natural motifs - animals, birds, clouds, flowers. You can do without pompous mirrors - install small and medium-sized ones with pronounced, but not lush, rays.

Solar frame design: interesting options

Designers have created many options for the accessory. Only two elements remain unchanged - the mirror surface in the center of the composition and the rays emanating from it.

There are products on sale in gold and silver frames, with mirror beams, and with a scattering of miniature decorative elements. The frame can be made of metal, wood, plastic, glass.

Materials and their advantages

The mirror and beams can be made of the same material. The elements visually merge with each other and form a magical, brilliant composition. Do you want a festive atmosphere in your home? Then this option is for you. The product will look great on a dark wall.

Some mirror models look more like a star or a snowflake than the sun. To understand the differences, just look at the photo.

Decorative frame with mirrors on the beams

Decorative frame with mirror beams

Decorative frame with long wooden beams

Decorative frame with long metal beams

Decorative frame imitation metal with mini mirrors

Mirror with rays: a functional element or an art object

Usually mirrors are bought to look at and evaluate your appearance. And this accessory serves as an exquisite decor. Only you can decide how to play with the item in the interior - there are many options, and all of them have the right to be implemented. Let's suggest three ideas that designers often use.

Add light

There is a little trick that designers willingly resort to. Place a mirror in the shape of a sun with rays opposite a chandelier or table lamp. The laws of reflection and dispersion will play into your hands - the room will become much lighter.

Mirror-sun in the bedroom opposite the lamp

Bring magic to your nursery

The symbiosis of thematic prints and the sun mirror will appeal to children of any age. Place the piece above your child's bed or on an accent wall. You can purchase several models of different sizes and hang them in any order.

Mirror-sun in a laconic frame for a children's room

Advice! Do not choose a too pompous version of the accessory for the nursery - it visually “weights down” the interior.

Decorate the room in an original way

You can use the product as an independent interior decoration or combine the mirror with other decorative elements. For example, wall paintings, paintings, plaster animal heads, figurines, stucco moldings. However, the accessory will look great on a plain, empty wall.

Mirror-sun as a living room interior decoration

Decorative sun in different interior styles

Unique decorations in “radiant” frames are most often used in the Art Deco direction. The main features of the style: luxury, abundance of decor, pomp and even some pretentiousness. When decorating rooms, feel free to follow the principle - the more details, the better. You can place mirrors in the bedroom, living room, nursery, kitchen, hallway and even in the bathroom. In the Art Deco style, this design will go well with dark wallpaper and floor tiles.

Such a mirror also has a place in the classic style. One copy in the bedroom, living room or hallway is enough. The item will harmonize well with wooden furniture and paintings in wide frames.

A sun-shaped mirror will also fit into other interior styles: country, eclectic, glamor, modern, neoclassical. Models with long golden rays look especially elegant in these directions.

If you haven’t found a suitable copy for a modern interior, make a frame yourself. See how to create your own budget design masterpiece. This product deserves to take pride of place in your home.

Sun mirror in a modern living room interior

Mirror-sun in the interior with fusion elements

Mirror-sun in the interior of an Art Deco living room

A little history

The time of the appearance of the first round mirrors with rays is not known for certain. We can find a convex mirror with a solar motif in the painting “Portrait of the Arnolfini Couple” by artist Jan Van Eyck. It was written in the first half of the 15th century.

In the Middle Ages, sun-shaped mirrors were found in churches. They symbolized the face of God facing the parishioners.

Mirrors with rays acquired particular importance in the era of Louis XIV. There is an opinion that it was Louis who came up with this design, but this is not entirely true. It’s just that solar motifs gained the greatest popularity under him. And for good reason, because Louis XIV is known to the world as the “Sun King”.

Legend has it that a sun-shaped mirror hung in the royal chambers. Louis looked at it every morning. Since the mirror disk was very small, only the face from which the rays emanated was reflected in it. It looked as if Louis was the sun.

About two centuries after Louis, sunburst mirrors came back into fashion. This was due to the cheaper production of mirrors - in the 19th century they became available to the masses. Manufacturers began to experiment with size and shape, inspired, among other things, by the image of heavenly bodies.

In the first half of the 20th century, the Art Deco style was born. One of its key features was its appeal to the image of the sun's rays. The oblong elements were arranged in a circle or semicircle. This figure was used both in architecture and in interiors. There was also some decoration with “solar” mirrors. Sometimes products with rays are called Art Deco mirrors. They became so close.

At the beginning of the second half of the century, the world became fascinated with space. Everything that could be associated with it became extremely fashionable. The sun mirrors turned into star mirrors and again became the center of attention.

Nowadays, sunburst mirrors are again a trend, although interest in them, by and large, has not dried up for two centuries.

Where to place the solar mirror

When using a bright decorative element, it is important to think through the composition in advance. The goal is to position sun mirrors so that they attract attention and at the same time harmonize with other interior items.

Variations:

1. If you have one mirror, place it on a solid-colored accent wall. Is the surface covered with wallpaper with fancy patterns? Appreciate how organically the decor fits into this ensemble. There are such compositions in design projects, and they look quite attractive.
2. Create a composition of round mirrors with rays. Arrange the products in random order relative to each other. The principles are not important here - the main thing is to avoid stylistic dissonance. To realize the idea, models of different sizes, but similar shapes and types are suitable.
3. Place mirrors on one wall symmetrically. For example, in the bedroom above two bedside tables standing on opposite sides of the bed.
4. Hang a mirror opposite the window opening. This technique will help create a light “portal” in the room and visually increase the area of ​​the room.
5. Secure the product above the head of the bed. In this case, models with long thin rays will look great.

“Solar” products go well with regular wall mirrors. If the original copy is already hanging on the wall, try combining it in tandem with the main character of the article. You can play with several objects in an interesting way - imagine them in the form of planets and celestial bodies.

Mirror-sun in the bedroom interior above the bed

Mirror-sun in the interior of the hallway on an accent wall

Advice! Try not to place the mirror in front of a cluster of things or bulky objects.
These things will be reflected in the mirror surface and spoil the aesthetic picture.

Solar Mirrors - Best Design Finds

A mirror with a sun frame is not just a mirror.
This is a unique item that is not only a practical thing, but also a stunningly beautiful decorative element, an art object that can decorate and ennoble absolutely any, even the most boring, room, filling it with style and flavor. That is why the sun mirror is the most popular mirror widely used in interior design, and a trend that has safely passed from the 20th century to the 21st. A sun mirror would look great above a sofa, above a fireplace or at the head of a bed. The sun mirror can be hung either independently or in a group of other mirrors of different shapes and sizes. A very effective and rather unusual technique is to hang a sun mirror on top of another mirror or on a mirrored wall.

The solar mirror will look equally beautiful both in a small apartment with the most unpretentious interior, and in an elite penthouse next to an expensive work of art, in both a small bedroom and a huge living room. Decorators claim that no matter what the sun mirror is: old or new, expensive or cheap, high quality or low, no matter what its shape and color, it will always be popular.

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How to choose a wall mirror-sun

There are several parameters that you should consider when choosing a product. The first factor is size. If you have a small room, a massive mirror will look out of place. The opposite effect will be caused by placing miniature “sun” decorations on a long wall in a spacious room - the details will simply be lost in the interior composition.

The second parameter is the frame material. This element is the key one in the design. At the peak of popularity are sun mirrors with wooden beams coated with special paints and a composition for artificial aging.

Do you want a sun-shaped mirror in a metal frame, but are you afraid it will look too bulky? Again, products in a wooden frame painted to resemble metal will help out. You will not immediately understand that this is a “copy” - the shine, solid appearance and clarity of shape will be like the original. Such models are good for spacious rooms in the Art Deco style - they will add freshness and sophistication to the interior.

Advice! If your home is decorated in a modern style, pay attention to round sun mirrors in a narrow plastic frame. They look somewhat simpler than other model variations. But the products are more versatile, so they are worthy of complementing the laconic design in Scandinavian and American styles.

When choosing decorative mirrors in the shape of the sun, you should listen to the voice of fantasy. Perhaps you have long dreamed of some model, but put off the purchase. Now is the time to let an original design miracle into your home.