How to Hang a Mirror Over a Console Table

A broken mirror means seven years of bad luck and a terrific mess to clean up. Having the mirror stay where you hang it--rather than crashing to the floor for lack of a proper hanger, or correct installation--is, therefore, a very good idea. If you can use hangers that are nailed directly into wall studs, go for it. More often, however, the studs are not placed conveniently for the location you've picked for the mirror. Fortunately, there is more than one way to accomplish this task. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Screw eyehooks into the back of the mirror's frame about one-fourth of the way down the two sides. The eyehooks should be large enough to hold the mirror's weight. Use a drill to start the holes for the eyehooks so you don't crack the frame. Run picture wire back and forth between the eyehooks several times, twisting the strands together as you go. Fasten off the picture wire by twisting the two ends together.

2

Stand the mirror up on the floor and pull the wire cable upward as if the mirror were hanging from the wall. Measure the distance between the top of the frame and the highest point the wire reaches when it's stretched. Measure and mark the center of the frame on the back with a pencil.

3

Measure to find the center of the console table. Hang a plumb bob from a string and hold the string up against the wall. When the plumb bob settles at the center of the console table, mark the wall using the string as your guide. Using a level, draw a short vertical line at that point on the wall.

4

Hold the mirror up to the wall at the installation point. Ask a helper to evaluate whether you have the mirror high enough on the wall. Mark that spot on the wall along the vertical line you made in Step 3. From this mark, measure downward and mark the distance between the top of the frame and the picture wire hanger you installed. This is the distance you measured in Step 1.

5

Select a triple nail hanger that will hold the mirror's weight. Place the triple nail hanger so the hook over which the wire will go is on the mark you just made. Pound in the three nails with a hammer. Because of the hanger's design, the nails will go into the wall at an angle. Triple nail hangers are available at home improvement stores, arts and crafts stores, and picture-framing shops.

6

Place the picture wire over the hook and adjust the mirror so it's level. Do this by eye or with the help of a bubble level.