Rattan Mirrors, Malawi Mirrors, and Where to Actually Put Them

A mirror does two things — reflects light and finishes a wall. That's it. Get the frame right and you don't have to think about it again.

Rattan and Malawi mirrors are some of the most reliable pieces in a coastal home because the material carries the whole thing. The frame is the texture. The weave is the detail. You don't need to build a gallery wall around them or add anything else. They hold the wall on their own.

Most mirrors come in metal or timber frames, and both are fine. But a rattan or cane frame brings a warmth that metal and timber don't — particularly against a painted wall. The weave catches light differently through the day. Morning sun picks up the blonde tones in the cane.  Afternoon light deepens the shadows between the strands.  It's one of those pieces that shifts with the room instead of just sitting there.

Malawi mirrors — named for the cane-weaving tradition — tend to have a thicker frame with visible binding.  They read bolder than a fine rattan weave, which is why they work well on larger walls or in rooms that need something to anchor them.

Where you hang one matters more than which one you choose.

In an entry 

A round rattan mirror above a console or bench is probably the easiest way to make a hallway feel finished. It gives you a last check on the way out and bounces light from the front door deeper into the house. If the entry is narrow, go round. It softens the corridor.

Above a timber console

This is the pairing that keeps working because the materials talk to each other without matching. A Malawi mirror above a reclaimed elm console, with a ceramic vase and a couple of hand-forged iron candlestands underneath. Three materials, one conversation.

In a bedroom

If you can find one large enough, lean it against the wall. A leaning mirror has a different energy to a wall-mounted one — less formal, more lived-in. If you're mounting it, position it opposite or next to a window so it pulls natural light across the room.

In a living room

It's less about checking your reflection (you're not doing that from the couch) and more about light and proportion. A large mirror on a living room wall opens up a smaller space and makes the room feel deeper than it is.

Whatever you put underneath or around a rattan mirror, keep it natural and keep the shapes organic. A rattan frame next to a sharp black-framed print will make both pieces look like they're in the wrong room. Better: ceramic vessels, linen lampshades, dried native stems, timber with visible grain.

If you're grouping objects on the console below, odd numbers and varied heights. A tall vase, a low bowl, a candle holder. Gives the eye somewhere to move.

Shop mirrors