Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Designers have used strategically placed mirrors to improve rooms and make home interiors larger and brighter for decades. I have discovered some secrets for using mirrors to our full advantage. Keep reading to discover how you can use mirrors to make a room look larger and brighter.
Mirror Size Matters
Size matters with mirrors. The greater the surface area, the larger the reflection cast. To add light and make a space look larger, use larger mirrors. I prefer mirrors without a frame. They can be mounted just about anywhere with clear plastic mirror clips and screws like these. Taking away the frame is like removing a border. Your mind doesn’t notice the area where the mirror stops quite as much. I find this minimalist, seamless look works with almost every decorating style.
Increasing the Impact of mirrors
I like to double the light reflected from a mirror by placing it near or across from a window. It is like adding another light fixture to the room. Natural light can’t be replicated by artificial means. This is one way to harness those solar rays. You can even triple the advantage by placing mirrors around the room. For years, we have had three very large, strategically placed mirrors in our living room. These mirrors help create a much longer, lighter, welcoming space.
How I Place Mirrors in my Living room to make it Appear larger and Brighter
The first big rectangular mirror in our living room is centered above our mantle, near our entry door, and diagonally across from a picture window. The other two identical frameless mirrors hang on the opposite end of the room. Another window separates these twin reflectors. When the sun comes in the picture window it bounces off the mantle mirror. It gets bounced around the room until it reaches the mirrors on the far wall. They return the favor by bathing the surrounding walls with beautiful sunlight.
Placing Mirrors with Purpose
This mirror arrangement has another benefit. The mirrors reflect the ends of the room onto each other. The room appears to open up and stretch out longer than it is in reality. We can use this to our advantage in small or narrow rooms. By hanging mirrors directly across from each other, you can even simulate an endless room effect. This method is especially effective in hallways with a wall at each end.
Using Mirrors in Rooms with a Single Window
Mirrors can be helpful tools in rooms where there is a single window or multiple windows that are out of balance. Where there is one window, some choose to hang a mirror of the same proportions directly across from it. The window and mirror can be dressed to match creating the illusion of two windows from one. The ways of using mirrors to our advantage are limitless. How will you use mirrors to make a room look larger and brighter? This is a simple, inexpensive way to make the home we have into the home we want.
Be sure to bookmark this page for more helpful tips for improving your home. Until next time, let YOUR reflection show who you are inside.
~Lora Lea
