Recently I shared my vanity makeover on Apartment Therapy, where I purchased a vintage-style vanity table on Facebook Marketplace and gave it new life with some black paint to better fit my bedroom’s color palette. My project wasn’t done there, though: I wanted to source the perfect mirror to accompany my new “old” vanity, and I knew I wanted this piece to bring the drama. After all, what’s the point of setting up a vanity in your space if you can’t go all out by making it look nice and glam? 

When I began searching for a mirror, I ran into a few issues. First of all, most of the styles I came across just weren’t large enough for what I had in mind. Additionally, when I did find something sizable, it was generally gold or bronze in finish, whereas I was thinking of something black in this spot for a more cohesive look. Don’t get me wrong — I’m a major fan of brass in other areas of my home (and I’ve had other gilded styles in my bedroom before, which you can see above), but switching things up a bit felt like the right move. I also like that matte black is a bit off-the-beaten-path; I’ve seen so many iterations of ornate gold mirrors pop up over the past few years that a darker hue, in my opinion, felt a little less overdone. 

Finally, I came upon a beautiful option: the Aged Evelyn Mirror from Shades of Light. The aged black finish spoke to me right away, and the mirror’s 56-inch height was ideal for my setup — the product description even mentions hanging it in a vanity area! Needless to say, I was instantly sold. I love that the mirror resembles a vintage piece; I aim to include storied (or storied-looking) pieces in my home as much as possible, but I’ve found in the past this size of mirror can be difficult to source secondhand, especially on a budget.

At $459, this mirror isn’t exactly inexpensive, but it’s a reasonable price in comparison to other similar styles. It has a very detailed scroll design at its top and ridged motif around the rest of its wooden frame, which makes it look super-luxe. Plus, it can be used in so many ways to lighten and brighten up a room with its ample reflective surface. If I eventually move to a home with taller ceilings, I’d love to place the mirror on top of a mantel or even hang it in the entryway to make a sophisticated statement. One thing to keep in mind: It does weigh about 35 pounds, so you’ll want to make sure it’s very secure, whether you lean it against the wall or choose to mount it like I did. 

Now that I have this baby up on the wall, getting ready at my vanity is a full-on experience. I feel like I’m sitting in a fancy dressing room, even though I’m really just in my NYC walk-up apartment. If you’re looking to add a luxe touch to your space, this mirror is an excellent place to start.