Mirror

Mirror is a really versatile material in furniture and has been used for centuries, ranging from very traditional and ornate applications to clean and contemporary ones.

Historically, mirror was a luxury material and showed up in highly decorative contexts.  Ornate framed mirrors, mirrored cabinet doors, vanities, and dressing tables. A lot of that traditional use was about status as much as function, and you still see that influence in formal and glam style interiors today.

In contemporary furniture mirror is used in a few distinct ways. Mirrored cabinet fronts, drawer faces, and tabletops are common on pieces aimed at glam, art deco, or Hollywood Regency style interiors. Antiqued or smoked mirror has become particularly popular because it has more depth and warmth than standard clear mirror and feels less flashy while still being visually interesting.

Mirrors are also used structurally as tabletops and shelf surfaces, though it requires adequate support and edge finishing to look right and hold up. Beveled edges are a classic detail that adds refinement to a mirror used this way.

From a practical standpoint mirror is fragile compared to most furniture materials, shows fingerprints and smudges readily, and can be tricky to work with during fabrication.