Cover a Mirror in Your Bedroom: the 7 – Step Room Reset

Introduction

We often hear that mirrors are the ultimate design trick for expanding small spaces and bouncing light around a room. However, as an architect and interior designer, I frequently encounter the opposite problem: a bedroom that feels restless because of aggressive reflections. From an Evidence-Based Design perspective, excessive visual noise and movement in your peripheral vision can disrupt your circadian rhythm and prevent deep relaxation.

There is a distinct difference between a well-placed vanity mirror and a wall-to-wall mirrored closet that reflects you while you sleep. If you are struggling with a dated rental unit or simply want to soften the acoustics and visuals of your sanctuary, covering a mirror is a valid and often necessary design intervention. This process is about reclaiming the psychological comfort of your sleeping quarters.

In this guide, I will walk you through a complete room reset centered around neutralizing these reflective surfaces. If you are looking for visual inspiration, scroll to the bottom of the page because the Picture Gallery is at the end of the blog post.

Step 1: Diagnosing the Visual Noise

Before we start covering surfaces, we need to understand the architectural and psychological impact of the mirror in your specific space. In Evidence-Based Design, we look at how environmental stressors affect cortisol levels.

If a mirror faces the bed directly, your brain’s evolutionary instinct detects movement—even just the shifting of sheets—as a potential threat. This “always-on” monitoring prevents the room from feeling like a true sanctuary.

The Assessment Phase:

• Identify the Sightlines: Lie in your bed in your normal sleeping position. What do you see? If you see yourself, the hallway, or a cluttered corner reflected, that is your primary target.
• Check the Light Leaks: Mirrors amplify streetlights or hallway lights that creep in under doors. Covering the mirror often solves mysterious lighting issues that blackout curtains miss.
• Acoustic Check: Large glass surfaces reflect high-frequency sounds (like dog toenails clicking or traffic hum). Covering them with texture will dampen this noise.

Designer’s Note: The Feng Shui Intersection

While I base my work on architecture and cognitive science, the principles often overlap with Feng Shui. Both disciplines agree that a mirror facing the bed depletes energy. In my practice, I don’t see this as “bad luck,” but rather as bad psychology. You deserve a space where your eyes can rest without processing a duplicate image of the room.

Step 2: The Drapery Wall Technique

The most versatile solution for covering large mirrored closet doors or wall-mounted mirrors is a floor-to-ceiling drapery system. This softens the room immediately and adds a layer of luxury hotel comfort.

This is not just about hanging a curtain rod; it is about creating a “soft wall.” This approach is particularly effective in rentals where you cannot remove the doors, but you are allowed to drill small holes for brackets.

How to execute this professionally:

• Hardware selection: Avoid tension rods; they look temporary and will fail if you have cats who like to climb. Use a ceiling-mounted track system or high-mounted wall brackets.
• Spacing rules: Mount the track or rod at least 2 inches above the mirror frame, or ideally, directly against the ceiling cornice. This draws the eye up and hides the mechanics of the mirror.
• Fullness ratio: This is where most DIY attempts fail. You need a fullness ratio of 2.0 to 2.5. If your wall is 100 inches wide, you need 200 to 250 inches of fabric width.

Pet-Friendly Design Tip

If you share your bedroom with pets, avoid fabrics that pool on the floor. Puddled curtains are magnets for dog hair and a tempting toy for cats. Hem the curtains so they “kiss” the floor—hovering just 1/4 inch above the surface. This keeps them clean and allows for easy vacuuming.

Step 3: Semi-Permanent Architectural Films

If you need a sleek, modern look and want to avoid the bulk of heavy curtains, architectural window films are a fantastic intervention. This is Step 3 of our reset, focusing on surface modification.

Matte, frosted, or textured films effectively “delete” the reflection while keeping the light. From a safety standpoint, applying film to old mirrored doors adds a layer of protection. If the glass were to break, the film holds the shards together—a crucial detail for families with children or pets.

Application Best Practices:

• Cleanliness is key: Any speck of dust will show as a bubble. Scrape the glass with a fresh razor blade and soapy water before applying.
• The solution: Use a spray bottle with water and a few drops of baby shampoo. This “slip solution” allows you to slide the film into the perfect position before squeegeeing it down.
• The edge gap: Leave a 1/16-inch gap between the film and the frame. If the film touches the frame, it will eventually peel up.

Common Mistakes + Fixes

Mistake: Using cheap “contact paper” meant for shelf lining.

Fix: Purchase high-quality static cling privacy film or architectural vinyl. Contact paper leaves a sticky residue that is a nightmare to remove, whereas static cling film uses water and atmospheric pressure, making it 100% removable for renters.

Step 4: The Art Layering Method

Sometimes, you do not need to cover the entire mirror to break the visual tension. Step 4 involves layering furniture and art over the mirror to disrupt the reflection and turn a negative into a feature.

This is a technique I often use in pre-war apartments where mirrors are glued to the plaster walls. We treat the mirror as a glossy backdrop rather than a looking glass.

What I’d do in a real project:

• Leaning Art: Place a large, sturdy piece of canvas art on a dresser or console table in front of the mirror. The reflection will show the back of the frame, so you may need to attach black felt to the back of the canvas for a clean look.
• Bookshelves: Place an open-back bookshelf in front of a mirrored wall. The mirror becomes the back of the bookcase, adding depth to your display without the jarring effect of a full reflection.
• Suspension: If you are allowed to drill into the ceiling, suspend a piece of art on gallery cables in front of the mirror. This creates a floating effect that is very high-end and sculptural.

Safety and Constraints

If you are leaning art, you must secure it. A slammed door or a jumping cat can send a heavy frame sliding. Use museum wax or “quake putty” on the bottom corners of the frame where it touches the furniture or floor.

Step 5: Architectural Sliders and Bi-Folds

For a more permanent, ownership-friendly reset (Step 5), we look at building over the existing structure. If you have standard builder-grade mirrored sliders, replacing them or covering them with custom joinery shifts the room from “basic” to “custom.”

As an architect, I love the utility of sliding barn doors or panel tracks, provided you have the wall clearance.

The Structural Approach:

• Bypass Doors: You can remove the mirrored slabs and replace them with solid wood or louvered doors using the existing track sizing, provided the weight load is similar.
• The Overlay: If you cannot remove the doors, lightweight wood lattice or fretwork panels can be adhered directly to the mirror glass using construction adhesive (if you own) or heavy-duty double-sided mounting tape (if renting). This breaks up the reflection into small, decorative shapes.

Designer’s Note: Scale and Proportion

When adding new doors or panels, pay attention to the vertical lines. A room with low ceilings benefits from floor-to-ceiling vertical shiplap or fluting on the doors. This tricks the eye into seeing height. Avoid horizontal stripes on closet doors in small rooms, as they can make the space feel squat and enclosed.

Finish & Styling Checklist

Once you have physically covered or obscured the mirror (Steps 1-5), the final two steps of the “Room Reset” involve reintegrating the rest of the space to match this new calmness. You have removed the visual noise; now you must add visual comfort.

Step 6: Lighting Adjustments
Mirrors bounce light. When you cover them, the room will naturally darken. You need to compensate:

• Add a warm floor lamp in the corner opposite the covered area.
• Switch to 2700K or 3000K LED bulbs. Since you no longer have the harsh glare reflecting off the glass, you can afford slightly warmer, cozier lighting.

Step 7: The Final Textile Layer
Now that the hard glass surface is gone, balance the room with tactile elements:

• Rug Sizing: Ensure your area rug extends at least 18 to 24 inches from the sides of the bed. With the mirror covered, the floor becomes a more focal surface.
• Bedding: If you used curtains to cover the mirror, coordinate your bedding. They shouldn’t match exactly, but they should speak the same language (e.g., linen curtains with a cotton duvet).

FAQs

Does covering a mirror make a small bedroom look smaller?
Technically, you lose the depth illusion, but you gain atmospheric depth. A room that feels “infinity deep” due to mirrors can be stressful. A room that feels enclosed by soft drapes or textured walls feels safer and more intimate, which is preferable for sleeping.

Can I paint directly over a mirror?
Yes, but it requires a specific primer. You must use a bonding primer designed for glass or glossy surfaces. If you skip this, the paint will scratch off with a fingernail. However, painted mirrors often look like… painted mirrors. I usually prefer film or fabric for a higher-quality finish.

Is there a way to cover a mirror but still use it occasionally?
Absolutely. This is where the curtain method shines. If you need the mirror for dressing, simply draw the curtains back. Alternatively, you can use a folding screen (room divider) that can be moved aside when you need to check your outfit.

How do I handle mirror outlets or light switches?
If your mirror has cutouts for outlets (common in bathrooms or vanity areas), measuring for film is tricky. I recommend making a paper template first. Tape paper over the outlet, trace the cut line, and transfer that shape to your film or wallpaper before applying.

Conclusion

Resetting your bedroom by covering a mirror is more than a cosmetic update; it is an intervention in how you experience rest. By controlling the reflections, you lower the visual frequency of the room, dampen the acoustics, and create a space that feels held rather than exposed.

Whether you choose the softness of floor-to-ceiling drapery, the sleekness of matte architectural film, or the structural update of sliding panels, the goal remains the same: prioritizing your peace over the illusion of space. Take the time to measure twice, consider your lighting needs, and layer your textures for a professional result.

Picture Gallery