Follow the reflected view
A lamp may be pleasant to look at directly yet appear as a glaring bulb in a mirror. The mirror gives you another angle on the fitting, sometimes from below its shade. Walk around the room after dark and notice where the reflected source becomes visible.
Start from the places where people spend time. Sit on the sofa, pull out a dining chair and stand at the entrance. A reflection that flashes briefly while you cross the room may be less troublesome than one directly opposite your usual seat. Decide which viewpoints deserve priority.
Move the lamp slightly sideways on its surface, keeping it stable. Watch how the reflection shifts. A small movement can move the bright source behind the reflected edge of the shade. This is often easier than changing the mirror, especially when it is already securely installed.
Reflect something worth seeing
The mirror may double the appearance of a busy tabletop as well as its light. Loose cables, packaging and the back of a picture frame become more visible from some angles. Look at the whole reflected composition before adding further decoration beside the lamp.
If the lamp position is fixed, compare a suitable shade that better screens the bulb or consider another lamp design. Follow the fitting's requirements and avoid inserting makeshift diffusers. Simply dimming the lamp may soften the reflection but leave the surface below it too dark for its purpose.
Remember that an angled or leaning mirror needs safe support according to its design. Do not balance a heavy mirror differently just to improve a reflection. For a wall-mounted mirror, moving or tilting it involves appropriate fixings and, in a rented home, any necessary permission.
A mirrored pair of lamps may look symmetrical from the front while only one produces a troublesome reflection from the chair. You do not have to move both by the same amount. Keep the broader arrangement balanced, but let the actual reflected view decide the final positions. A small asymmetry can be almost invisible from the doorway and far more comfortable in use.
Check again with the room's other lights switched on. A new floor lamp across the room can introduce a reflection you did not see during the first test. Mirrors are part of the lighting arrangement even though they do not produce light themselves; allowing for that extra view makes the final room easier to settle into.
