A sunburst mirror is bought for its rays as much as its glass. The centre is often small, sometimes no wider than a dinner plate, while the spokes of metal, rattan or carved wood spread across the wall. It suits a mantelpiece, the wall above a bed or the end of a hallway that needs a focal point.
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Buying guide
The shape has a long history. The sun motif was a favourite of Louis XIV at Versailles, came back in the 1950s and 1960s with gilt and brass mid-century designs, and returned again with rattan and seagrass versions. Each era has a different feel, so decide which one belongs in your room before you look at sizes.
Measure the overall diameter, rays included, not just the glass. Over a mantelpiece, the piece should be narrower than the shelf, usually around two thirds of its width. Above a double bed, 80 to 100 cm overall sits well between two bedside lamps. In a hallway or on a landing, 50 to 70 cm is often enough, because the rays make it look bigger than it is.
A circle with rays shows every tilt, so take your time at this stage. Most designs hang from a single central hook or a D-ring on the back. Mark the hook position from the top of the frame rather than from the tip of a ray, and check with a spirit level once it is up. Heavier metal or wooden versions are safer on two fixings, with plugs rated for the weight in brick and cavity fixings in plasterboard.
Because the glass is small, a sunburst mirror is not the piece to brighten a dark room; a large rectangle does that better. Its job is decorative. Give it space: 20 to 30 cm of clear wall around the tips of the rays lets the outline read clearly. It looks particularly good above a fireplace, at the top of a staircase or at the centre of a gallery wall with frames arranged around it. In a bedroom, it can take the place of a picture above the headboard and catches the glow of bedside lamps in the evening.
A group of three small sunbursts, of 30 to 50 cm each, fills a wide wall above a sideboard without the weight of one oversized piece. Hang them at slightly different heights, keep the gaps between the ray tips even, around 10 to 15 cm, and use the same finish for all three. A single piece of 100 cm or more is the stronger choice above a fireplace, where symmetry suits the room.
Gold rays pair well with other warm metals in the room, such as a brass lamp base or a picture light. Rattan looks best near other natural textures: linen, jute rugs, light oak. Avoid hanging it next to another busy piece; one strong shape per wall is usually enough.
Dust the rays with a soft dry brush or a microfibre cloth. Glass cleaner can mark gilt and painted finishes, so spray the cloth, never the frame, and wipe only the glass. Rattan prefers a dry room away from steam, which can make the fibres swell or sag.
At a glance
| Where | Overall diameter |
|---|---|
| Hallway or landing | 50 to 70 cm |
| Mantelpiece | 60 to 90 cm |
| Above a double bed | 80 to 100 cm |
| Large living room wall | 100 cm and over |
A round mirror surrounded by rays in metal, rattan or wood, inspired by the sun. The glass is usually small and the rays make up most of the width.
Above a fireplace, over a bed or at the top of a staircase, with clear wall space around the rays so the outline stands out.
They have come back several times since the 1950s. Gilt metal suits a classic or mid-century room, rattan a lighter and more relaxed one.
Mark the hook from the top of the frame rather than a ray tip, then check with a spirit level. Heavier pieces are steadier on two fixings.