A mirror is more than a reflective surface in which to check your hair before you go out. In interior design, it can even play a key role in transforming a home’s ambiance.
When cleverly used, mirrors can create the illusion of a larger and brighter space as well as highlight architectural features. However, one must know how and where to position them.
1. Expand the Space Without Moving Walls
A well-positioned mirror can give the impression that the room is larger than it actually is. What an interesting ability!
- In a small living room, a big wall mirror can visually double the size of the room.
- In a narrow hallway, it can counteract the “tunnel” effect.
- In a modest bedroom, it can lift and lighten the ambiance.
- In the entryway, it can lessen the confined feel.
2. Add Brightness
While the mirror itself doesn’t act as a light source, it can certainly maximize what light there is!
Placed directly opposite a window, it reflects the sun’s rays and illuminates the space. Hung near a lamp, it amplifies the artificial light.
The result: a home that feels warmer and more welcoming. And when selling, a brighter property always attracts more buyers.
3. Enhance and Elevate the Decor
Beyond brightness and spaciousness, a mirror can also play an entirely aesthetic role:
- A traditional model with a sculpted wood frame is perfect in an ancestral home.
- A minimalist, modern mirror is ideal in a city condo.
- Try something completely different with a mirror in a geometric or serpentine shape if you want to give the space more personality.
- An antique-style mirror can create an interesting contrast in a more pared-down contemporary decor.
- An imposing mirror (over two metres high, for example) will bring a touch of elegance and luxury to the room.
- A collection of mirrors hung together on a wall—either all identical or with similar-looking frames or, conversely, a completely eclectic arrangement—forms an eye-catching accent wall.
Simply put, there’s a mirror out there for every style of home. A carefully selected mirror not only reflects the space: it tells a story.
Advice on Where to Place Your Mirrors
A poorly positioned mirror can produce a jarring effect (no one enjoys watching themselves slurp spaghetti from the living room mirror).
Here are a few basic tips:
- Ideally, mirrors should be hung directly opposite a window to maximize natural light (as mentioned earlier, it’s one of Mirrors’ 3 Interior Decor Superpowers.)
- Don’t put them across from the main entrance door: this can make the space feel cold and uninviting.
- In the dining or living room, a large mirror can showcase a beautiful architectural feature: a fireplace, exposed beams, a library. It can also be a decorative object in its own right, such as above a piece of furniture like a sofa.
- Opt for a standing mirror or a mirrored door in the bedroom but avoid placing it facing the bed (some people find it disrupts their sleep).
Why Mirrors Are Important in Home Staging When Selling
Are you considering putting your home on the market, but think it lacks character?
In addition to being affordable, mirrors can serve as an understated yet effective home staging tool. By creating a greater sense of space and optimizing natural light, they contribute to the famous “wow factor” during viewings. A detail that can charm potential buyers and give an overall positive impression of the property.
In a word, if you let them, your mirrors will show you what powerful decor allies they can be!