Decorating
9 Times European Designers Used Mirrors Ingeniously
Mirrors can work all sorts of magic in an interior, from stretching space and hiding rooms to improving the view
There are so many ways a mirror can be used to enhance a space – and even to change it dramatically. Yet it takes experience and skill to come up with many of the ideas you’ll see here. Prepare to be inspired by these clever tricks from nine European architects and designers.
2. Add garden views
It’s a familiar layout for kitchen extensions in Victorian homes: one or two doors lead back into the main house, and a kitchen island is usually placed in this spot. And a familiar dilemma? Which zone gets the garden views: the back of the kitchen or the island bench?
This London kitchen, sensitively designed by Magentapink Interiors, removes the views debate from the decision-making process, thanks to a well-placed mirror behind the sink that reflects the garden, becoming almost like another window.
It’s a familiar layout for kitchen extensions in Victorian homes: one or two doors lead back into the main house, and a kitchen island is usually placed in this spot. And a familiar dilemma? Which zone gets the garden views: the back of the kitchen or the island bench?
This London kitchen, sensitively designed by Magentapink Interiors, removes the views debate from the decision-making process, thanks to a well-placed mirror behind the sink that reflects the garden, becoming almost like another window.
3. Make a mirrored ‘doorway’
This impressive, antique-style mirror, sourced by Honey Bee Interiors, plays tricks on the eye thanks to its size, but also thanks to its frame.
The white-painted edging hints at the idea of a doorway or opening into another space. So not only does it bounce lots of light around this beautifully bright room, it also gives you the sense of more breathing space than you really have.
This impressive, antique-style mirror, sourced by Honey Bee Interiors, plays tricks on the eye thanks to its size, but also thanks to its frame.
The white-painted edging hints at the idea of a doorway or opening into another space. So not only does it bounce lots of light around this beautifully bright room, it also gives you the sense of more breathing space than you really have.
4. Enlarge an entrance hall
It’s an incredibly simple detail, but one that shows the skill of designers Brown + Brown Architects in coming up with it. A wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling mirror creates a feeling that you’re walking into a much bigger hallway than you really are in this Scandi-style Scottish cottage. You almost want to walk through the mirror into the reflected space.
It’s also perfectly positioned for one last glance at your appearance before heading out the door.
27 Times a Mirror Was the Making of a Room
It’s an incredibly simple detail, but one that shows the skill of designers Brown + Brown Architects in coming up with it. A wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling mirror creates a feeling that you’re walking into a much bigger hallway than you really are in this Scandi-style Scottish cottage. You almost want to walk through the mirror into the reflected space.
It’s also perfectly positioned for one last glance at your appearance before heading out the door.
27 Times a Mirror Was the Making of a Room
5. Make a feature ‘vanish’
If you have something big in a room that you don’t especially want to see, consider covering it in mirrored glazing. The decorative cladding here boosts light and the sense of space in this large room. What’s even cleverer, though, is the way Ivar London designed it to almost erase what is, in fact, an imposing structure in the centre of the room.
The mirrored wall, which conceals a dining area, forms one side of this room within a room. The alcove at the far end, by the windows and on the right of the fireplace, is another eye-confusing ruse, especially with the plant reflected in it.
If you have something big in a room that you don’t especially want to see, consider covering it in mirrored glazing. The decorative cladding here boosts light and the sense of space in this large room. What’s even cleverer, though, is the way Ivar London designed it to almost erase what is, in fact, an imposing structure in the centre of the room.
The mirrored wall, which conceals a dining area, forms one side of this room within a room. The alcove at the far end, by the windows and on the right of the fireplace, is another eye-confusing ruse, especially with the plant reflected in it.
6. Boost a cupboard
Mirrors have been used cleverly all over this space-maxing London house, designed by Reuben Spiring at JLB Property Developments, to boost light and trick the eye into seeing more space.
Here, one is tucked inside the cupboard hiding the tea and coffee station, bringing extra light and garden views into the tiny space.
Mirrors have been used cleverly all over this space-maxing London house, designed by Reuben Spiring at JLB Property Developments, to boost light and trick the eye into seeing more space.
Here, one is tucked inside the cupboard hiding the tea and coffee station, bringing extra light and garden views into the tiny space.
7. Detract from size in a tiny room
When you look at this ingenious dressing room in Barcelona, Spain, designed by The Room & Co, chances are you don’t immediately see a tiny space. You likely see something mind-bending and clever going on with the lights and drawers, thanks to those mirrored wardrobe doors.
When something is so symmetrical and reaches right up to the edge of a mirror like this, the reflection becomes seamless and the lines appear to continue.
When you look at this ingenious dressing room in Barcelona, Spain, designed by The Room & Co, chances are you don’t immediately see a tiny space. You likely see something mind-bending and clever going on with the lights and drawers, thanks to those mirrored wardrobe doors.
When something is so symmetrical and reaches right up to the edge of a mirror like this, the reflection becomes seamless and the lines appear to continue.
8. ‘Big up’ a boxy room
Placing a bed against a chimney breast throws up challenges and options. Do you fill in the alcoves with storage and built-in bedside shelving? Extend the chimney breast to reflect the size of the bed? Remove the chimney breast entirely?
If bedroom storage isn’t essential, this idea from Penman Interiors makes rather luxurious use of the space in a very little bedroom. Floor-to-ceiling alcove mirrors instantly create a sense of depth and help the room feel bigger.
Placing a bed against a chimney breast throws up challenges and options. Do you fill in the alcoves with storage and built-in bedside shelving? Extend the chimney breast to reflect the size of the bed? Remove the chimney breast entirely?
If bedroom storage isn’t essential, this idea from Penman Interiors makes rather luxurious use of the space in a very little bedroom. Floor-to-ceiling alcove mirrors instantly create a sense of depth and help the room feel bigger.
9. Enhance an original feature
The use of mirrors in this London sitting room works on a couple of levels. The ceiling mouldings and cornices seem to go on forever, and the alcoves remain practical while also teasing the eye into seeing depth where there is just a wall.
The designers at Intarya, which was behind this impressive project, explain the thinking behind the mirrors here: “It was important to maximise the apartment’s distinctive architectural details, such as the impressive double-height ceiling of the reception room. Floor-to-ceiling joinery either side of the fireplace does this to excellent effect, using grey-stained sycamore in a high-gloss finish with antique mirroring to add to the glamorous feel of the interior.”
Your turn
Have you used mirrors to your advantage at home? Tell us how in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to tap into more design secrets? Discover new trends with The 8 Top Architecture and Interior Directions to Influence 2020
The use of mirrors in this London sitting room works on a couple of levels. The ceiling mouldings and cornices seem to go on forever, and the alcoves remain practical while also teasing the eye into seeing depth where there is just a wall.
The designers at Intarya, which was behind this impressive project, explain the thinking behind the mirrors here: “It was important to maximise the apartment’s distinctive architectural details, such as the impressive double-height ceiling of the reception room. Floor-to-ceiling joinery either side of the fireplace does this to excellent effect, using grey-stained sycamore in a high-gloss finish with antique mirroring to add to the glamorous feel of the interior.”
Your turn
Have you used mirrors to your advantage at home? Tell us how in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to tap into more design secrets? Discover new trends with The 8 Top Architecture and Interior Directions to Influence 2020
So clever is the use of mirror here, that it might take a few seconds of looking at the image of this small living room in London, UK, designed by Black and Milk, to figure out what’s going on.
Got it? Yes, that full wall mirror, directly behind the sofa, gives the impression there’s a whole room behind the furniture. It opens up the space magically, and manages to be both incredibly stylish but also playful.
Ready to tap into the possibilities of using a professional to enhance your home? Find an interior designer or decorator near you on Houzz to make it happen