It had been a long time since we last touched the guest room. We hurried to finish it up for my mom’s visit more than two years ago, and since then that space has sat mostly unchanged. The small round mirror we grabbed in a panic at Target back then always felt a little lost above the bed. Its darker tone blended into the wall, and the tiny reflected circle looked undersized for such a large bed and wall, even with trim or decorative accents.
Over the past two years we’ve been casually (and sometimes actively) on the lookout for a larger mirror that would better suit the space. We didn’t want to rush into another temporary fix, so we took our time. Then we found a white bamboo-framed mirror that checked every box: bright white to tie in with the curtains, a bamboo-style frame that relates to the bamboo side table, and a generous size—about three feet wide—that finally felt proportional to the bed and wall.
At first we hesitated because of the price. It cost $169 with free shipping, which felt like a lot compared to the $60-or-less mirrors we’re used to finding at thrift stores, HomeGoods, or Hobby Lobby. We debated whether we should wait and keep searching. After two years of looking, though, we realized this mirror was exactly what we had been hoping to find. Paying a little more suddenly felt justified if it meant avoiding another extended search and finally getting the look we wanted.
The new mirror fills out the wall and balances the bright window on the left. Before, the small dark mirror made the wall feel heavy and unbalanced next to all that natural light. In person the old mirror emphasized the window rather than reflecting and spreading that light back into the room. The larger white frame gives the wall more presence and creates a nicer visual balance between the bed and the window.
As people who usually save money by shopping secondhand, DIYing, and prioritizing practical expenses, deciding when to splurge can be tough. We get questions about that, so here’s how we approach it. Most of the time we prefer thrifty solutions—buying used, fixing or making things ourselves, and cutting everyday costs—but sometimes splurging makes sense. In this case, comparable mirrors of the same size were far pricier elsewhere, and we simply weren’t finding a suitable alternative after months of searching.
When we’re considering a more expensive purchase, we ask ourselves a few practical questions:
- Can we pay for it outright with cash? We don’t charge things we can’t afford—we pay our credit card in full each month, so if we don’t have the money on hand the purchase is a no-go.
- Is there a comparable, lower-cost option available? After two years of looking, we felt confident the answer was no.
- Have we thoroughly checked used and local options like Craigslist, thrift stores, and swap groups? We searched regularly and came up empty for a while.
- Could we build it ourselves for less? For this mirror, finding a large round mirror with a rim suitable for a DIY frame was difficult, and a reliable DIY solution would have required significant time and skill.
- Is it still a fair value compared to other retailers? Seeing similar mirrors listed for much more made this price feel reasonable.
- Have we been responsible with other spending so this purchase won’t cause buyer’s remorse? If we had just splurged elsewhere, we would have held off.
Once we convinced ourselves it was the right choice, we ordered the mirror and waited for delivery. When it arrived, we were surprised to find there was no hanging hardware on the back. That was an easy fix: the frame had a solid wood backing, so we used heavy-duty metal hanging hooks that screw in with two screws each. We positioned two hooks at equal heights on either side to ensure it would hang straight, then used sturdy anchors and screws in the wall to hold it securely.
Hanging the mirror took a little choreography. John held it up while I checked the alignment with the headboard and pillows in place, then we marked the wall for the anchors and temporarily removed the headboard to install the hardware. After hanging it and reinstalling the headboard and pillows, the room felt finished in a way it hadn’t for years.
So that’s the update: a new mirror that finally feels right for the guest room. When it comes to splurging, we try to balance practicality with patience: save where it makes sense, but don’t be afraid to invest in something you’ll love and that genuinely improves the space. How do you decide when to splurge? Do you go with your gut or run through a checklist first?