Cover a Mirror in Your Bedroom: Drapes, Film and Layers

The simplest way to cover a mirror in your bedroom is floor-to-ceiling drapery, because you can open it whenever you need the mirror. If you want something flatter, frosted film works on glass, and layered art or a bookshelf breaks up a reflection without touching the mirror at all.

Mirrors are usually sold as a trick for small rooms, but a bedroom is for resting, and a big reflection facing the bed can feel restless. If yours does, covering it is a reasonable fix, and it's very common in rentals with mirrored closet doors. Here is how to do it in five steps, plus two finishing touches.

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What is a good layout for a bedroom with a mirror?

Start by looking at what the mirror actually reflects. Lie in bed in your usual sleeping position and note what you see: yourself, the doorway, a pile of laundry, a window. Anything you don't want to see twice is your target.

Then check three things:

• Sightlines from the pillow and from the doorway.
• Light, since mirrors throw hallway and street light deeper into the room.
• Sound, because large glass surfaces are hard and reflect noise, from traffic hum to a dog's nails on the floor.

Sometimes moving the bed or the mirror solves it. If you are working on a small bedroom layout and arrangement and the bed has only one possible wall, covering the mirror is the easier change. For more on how to layout a bedroom for optimal rest, begin with those sightlines before you buy anything.

Step 1: Hang floor-to-ceiling drapery

Drapery is the most flexible option for mirrored closet doors or a wall-mounted mirror. It adds a soft wall, deadens some echo, and pulls back when you want to check your outfit.

• Skip tension rods. They look temporary and can fall if a cat climbs the fabric. Use a ceiling-mounted track or sturdy wall brackets.
• Mount the rod or track a few inches above the mirror frame, or right at the ceiling, so the hardware disappears and the eye goes up.
• Buy fabric about 2 to 2.5 times the width of the wall. A 100-inch wall needs roughly 200 to 250 inches of fabric, or the curtain will look like a flat sheet.

With pets, hem the panels to hover about 1/4 inch above the floor. Puddled fabric collects dog hair and invites cats to play. If you want more on styling the panels themselves, see this guide to decorating curtains.

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Step 2: Apply frosted or textured film

Film suits you if you want a sleek look without fabric bulk. A matte or frosted film removes the reflection and keeps the light bouncing softly. Some films are sold as safety film that holds glass together if it breaks, so check the product label if that matters in a home with kids or pets.

1. Clean the glass thoroughly. Every speck of dust will show as a bump.
2. Spray the surface with water and a drop or two of baby shampoo so you can slide the film into position.
3. Squeegee from the center outward.
4. Trim, leaving a small gap at the frame so the edge doesn't lift.

Avoid shelf-lining contact paper. It tends to leave sticky residue. Static-cling film attaches with water and removes cleanly, which is what renters need.

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Step 3: Layer art or furniture in front

You don't always have to hide the whole mirror. A large canvas leaned on a dresser, or an open-back bookshelf placed against a mirrored wall, breaks the reflection and turns the glass into a backdrop. If the back of a frame will show in the mirror, a piece of black felt on the back keeps it tidy.

Anything leaned must be secured. A slammed door or a jumping cat can send a heavy frame sliding, so use museum wax or putty at the bottom corners.

Step 4: Replace or overlay mirrored sliders

If you own the home, replacing mirrored closet slabs with solid or louvered doors changes the room the most. Check that the new doors weigh about the same as the old ones so the existing track copes. Have a licensed contractor look at it if you're unsure about the track or the wall.

If you can't remove the doors, lightweight lattice or fretwork panels can be mounted over the glass with adhesive suited to the material. Renters can use heavy-duty mounting tape, but test a small area first. Vertical fluting or slats make low ceilings read taller; horizontal lines tend to make a small room feel squat.

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Step 5: Rebalance the lighting

Without the mirror, the room will be darker. Add a warm floor lamp in the corner opposite the covered wall, and use 2700K to 3000K bulbs for a softer evening glow. As an architect, I'd put the lamp on a dimmer if you can, since bedrooms need both a bright morning setting and a very low one at night.

Finishing touches: rug and bedding

With the glass gone, the floor becomes more visible. Let the rug extend about 18 to 24 inches beyond each side of the bed. If curtains now cover the mirror, choose bedding that sits comfortably beside them without matching exactly, such as linen drapes with a cotton duvet.

What mood do you want when you walk in at night? Let that decide how soft and warm the final layer gets. I recommend living with the new setup for a week before adding anything else.

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Frequently asked questions