Decorating
Now You See It: 11 Illusory Uses for Mirrors
If you're working with a space that's somewhat lacking in space – or light, glamour or a point of interest – a mirror could be the way to go
Mirrors are standbys in bathrooms and bedrooms, and they’re often found over the fireplace, but their role in a home can be far greater and more dramatic than that. Though essential for checking your appearance, they can also radically boost the sense of space in a room. Used creatively, mirrors can create fascinating optical illusions, seeming to expand a cramped nook or endow an already generous space with the ultimate wow factor.
2. Prop and go
A huge free-standing mirror propped against a wall will brilliantly boost the sense of space in a room. Plus, you can reposition it to refresh the look and take it with you if you move. Placing some furniture in front softens any glare and adds to the reflection interest.
A huge free-standing mirror propped against a wall will brilliantly boost the sense of space in a room. Plus, you can reposition it to refresh the look and take it with you if you move. Placing some furniture in front softens any glare and adds to the reflection interest.
3. Fill the alcoves
Mirror tiles fitted into the alcoves on either side of this fireplace give a compact living space a gloss of elegance and a roomier feel. A further genius touch is the symmetrical arrangement of the seating, so that it’s perfectly aligned to create long reflections in each alcove.
These mirror tiles have a soft, antiqued finish, providing a gentler, warmer feel than a single piece of super-shiny mirrored glass.
Mirror tiles fitted into the alcoves on either side of this fireplace give a compact living space a gloss of elegance and a roomier feel. A further genius touch is the symmetrical arrangement of the seating, so that it’s perfectly aligned to create long reflections in each alcove.
These mirror tiles have a soft, antiqued finish, providing a gentler, warmer feel than a single piece of super-shiny mirrored glass.
4. Expand your wardrobe
In a compact bedroom, mirrored wardrobe doors are incredibly useful. They make the space feel generous and are, of course, handy for checking how you look. Mirrors have been used to great effect in this bedroom, which is decorated in a simple white scheme, helping it to feel as big and bright as possible.
In a compact bedroom, mirrored wardrobe doors are incredibly useful. They make the space feel generous and are, of course, handy for checking how you look. Mirrors have been used to great effect in this bedroom, which is decorated in a simple white scheme, helping it to feel as big and bright as possible.
5. Improve a tiny office
This clever office in a cupboard, with a small bar alongside, is transformed by the mirrors on the interior. They give the small spaces depth and, when anyone is working at the desk, provide a sense of the room opening up behind them, helping to keep claustrophobia at bay.
This clever office in a cupboard, with a small bar alongside, is transformed by the mirrors on the interior. They give the small spaces depth and, when anyone is working at the desk, provide a sense of the room opening up behind them, helping to keep claustrophobia at bay.
6. Reach to the top
This narrow bedroom has a swath of mellow, antiqued mirror stretching high above the bed. It gives the room a feeling of depth (notice how the upper part of the window is reflected in it) without disturbing the warm, cosy feel with too many sparkly surfaces.
This narrow bedroom has a swath of mellow, antiqued mirror stretching high above the bed. It gives the room a feeling of depth (notice how the upper part of the window is reflected in it) without disturbing the warm, cosy feel with too many sparkly surfaces.
7. Boost a hallway
Add depth and brightness to a hallway by attaching a made-to-measure mirror on one wall. Halls often feel gloomy or cramped, but a simple floor-to-ceiling mirror will bounce the light around and brighten the space.
Add depth and brightness to a hallway by attaching a made-to-measure mirror on one wall. Halls often feel gloomy or cramped, but a simple floor-to-ceiling mirror will bounce the light around and brighten the space.
8. Try a strip or two
The problem with using mirrors across a whole wall is that it can feel confusing. Where does the real room stop and the reflected one start? While such optical illusion may work in some rooms, if it feels like too much for your space, consider this alternative. These mirror strips do the work of expanding the room without reflecting every last detail or baffling the eye.
See mini mirrors on the wall
The problem with using mirrors across a whole wall is that it can feel confusing. Where does the real room stop and the reflected one start? While such optical illusion may work in some rooms, if it feels like too much for your space, consider this alternative. These mirror strips do the work of expanding the room without reflecting every last detail or baffling the eye.
See mini mirrors on the wall
9. Take it higher
Mirrors are useful when space is short, but they can also bring a wow factor to a well-proportioned room, lending a sense of drama while maximising the feeling of size.
This fabulous space with its soaring ceiling is instantly doubled by adding a wall of framed mirrors, with mirrored doors too. The pitched roof is reflected back, creating a lovely sense of symmetry, and the showstopper chandelier looks twice as fabulous.
Mirrors are useful when space is short, but they can also bring a wow factor to a well-proportioned room, lending a sense of drama while maximising the feeling of size.
This fabulous space with its soaring ceiling is instantly doubled by adding a wall of framed mirrors, with mirrored doors too. The pitched roof is reflected back, creating a lovely sense of symmetry, and the showstopper chandelier looks twice as fabulous.
10. Cover two walls
To radically increase the feeling of space but also play around with the potential of exciting, multiple reflections, try using mirrors on two adjoining walls. This creates an abundance of reflection and perspectives, giving the room an expansive and glamorous feel.
To radically increase the feeling of space but also play around with the potential of exciting, multiple reflections, try using mirrors on two adjoining walls. This creates an abundance of reflection and perspectives, giving the room an expansive and glamorous feel.
11. Enlarge even the smallest room
Prevent a petite powder room from feeling too pint-sized by installing mirrors on one wall. The antiqued glass used here turns the mirrors into a decorative feature rather than a purely practical one, but they still perform the same proportion-boosting service as a standard mirror.
Add big style to itty bitty bathrooms
TELL US
Have you used mirrors to increase the sense of space in your home? Tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
Why Architects and Interior Designers Love Using Mirrors
How to Create the Illusion of Extra Space and Light When Selling a Home
Bring Light and Breathing Space Into Small Interiors
Prevent a petite powder room from feeling too pint-sized by installing mirrors on one wall. The antiqued glass used here turns the mirrors into a decorative feature rather than a purely practical one, but they still perform the same proportion-boosting service as a standard mirror.
Add big style to itty bitty bathrooms
TELL US
Have you used mirrors to increase the sense of space in your home? Tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
Why Architects and Interior Designers Love Using Mirrors
How to Create the Illusion of Extra Space and Light When Selling a Home
Bring Light and Breathing Space Into Small Interiors
If your narrow galley kitchen is giving you cabin fever, beef up its sense of space by installing a mirror along one wall. Suddenly, those long, lean dimensions fill out – and you’ve got a handy splashback.
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