Use mirrors carefully to add a sense of drama to your otherwise bland walls.
A mirror is perhaps the interior designer’s best-kept secret. Apart from using it just to check your face, it can be used in various quirky ways to add a sense of space.
Enhances space
They can be used to enhance something or deflect attention away from it. Awkward spaces, such as rooms with a sloping ceiling or a gap too small to fit a piece of furniture, can be repurposed with a mirror. Did you know that mirrors are a brilliant way to boost the atmosphere in your entertaining space? Placing a large mirror against a wall can create the illusion that there are more guests at a gathering.
Brightens up a room
To let the light in, simply place a mirror opposite or next to a window to increase the amount of natural light cast into the room. A mirror will harness any daylight possible (no matter how gloomy the sky is outside) so bigger the mirror, brighter the space. Mirrors effectively double up your light sources. If you’re challenged with decorating a cavernous space, place your mirrors near a lamp or window.
Make it the focal point
A mirror is a great tool for dictating the centre of the room. And in homes where there does happen to be a fireplace, it only serves to exaggerate the impact of the mirror’s presence. In fact, a mirror with an ornately carved frame works just as well as a painting when it comes to choosing decorative art for your home.
Use it as a window
For windowless rooms, the addition of a mirror makes it feel much brighter and more spacious. Choose designs that feature traditional window frame parts such as separated mirror panes or shutters to help create the illusion. A well-positioned mirror can make a smaller room look more expansive and will play off light emitted from the natural windows in a larger room.
Illuminates dark corners
Maximise the amount of light in a space by placing a mirror behind a switched-on lamp, or pair with mirrored furniture to reflect all sources of light (both natural and artificial) and brighten up your scheme in turn.
Use it outdoors
Use mirrors to introduce more natural light in a North facing terrace, a basement level garden or a shady courtyard. If you live in an urban area, you might want to choose a mirror which will expand the horizon of an enclosed garden. In a country setting, the use of mirrors is a lovely way to catch a glance at the wildlife and fauna residing outdoors and create the illusion of even more greenery.
A decoration tool
Consider using a group of mirrors as decoration to breathe new life into a plain wall. They could all be the same shape, have the same colour frame or be an eclectic mix of lots of mirrors that you love. Alternatively, choose one big, bold statement mirror then build your scheme around it. There is rarely such a thing as a mirror which is too big.
