Decorating
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Cleverest of Them All?
Add a whole new dimension to any living space in your home with the addition of some sneakily placed mirrors
The mirrors used in ancient Greece and the Roman Empire were made from slightly convex disks of polished metal – a far cry from the perfectly flat, highly reflective mirrors made from glass that we enjoy today. We’re all guilty of taking a quick glance at ourselves as we walk past a mirror, but mirrors are not just for self admiration. Have you ever looked around your home and thought, I wish this room felt more spacious, I wish this room were brighter or I wish we could bring more of that beautiful view inside? Clever use of mirrors is a great way to grant all of these wishes; they are a small room’s best friend.
We usually confine the use of mirrors to the bathroom, bedroom, and maybe one or two decorative mirrors in the hallway or living area. But mirrors can be used in lots of different ways, and in pretty much every room in your home. Incorporate a couple of these clever designer tips and tricks to instantly increase the feeling of space around you.
We usually confine the use of mirrors to the bathroom, bedroom, and maybe one or two decorative mirrors in the hallway or living area. But mirrors can be used in lots of different ways, and in pretty much every room in your home. Incorporate a couple of these clever designer tips and tricks to instantly increase the feeling of space around you.
Magic wall
You’re probably looking at this one trying to figure out where the mirror is. It’s positioned at the top of the wall above the bed. This clever trick reflects the ceiling, making it appear to continue much further past the wall. It also looks like the wall doesn’t go all the way to the ceiling. This adds to the feeling of space and openness in this room.
You’re probably looking at this one trying to figure out where the mirror is. It’s positioned at the top of the wall above the bed. This clever trick reflects the ceiling, making it appear to continue much further past the wall. It also looks like the wall doesn’t go all the way to the ceiling. This adds to the feeling of space and openness in this room.
Mirror splashback
The benchspace in this kitchen appears to double thanks to the use of a mirror splashback. The mirror reflects light, making the space brighter, and, most importantly, is easy to clean.
Use a mirror that has a smoky effect – after all, this mirror isn’t for the purpose of doing your hair. A grey or brown smokey effect will tone down the brightness of the mirror, reducing any glare in the kitchen.
Always ensure that any glass splashback used behind the cooktop in your kitchen is made from toughened safety glass so that it won’t crack from the heat.
The benchspace in this kitchen appears to double thanks to the use of a mirror splashback. The mirror reflects light, making the space brighter, and, most importantly, is easy to clean.
Use a mirror that has a smoky effect – after all, this mirror isn’t for the purpose of doing your hair. A grey or brown smokey effect will tone down the brightness of the mirror, reducing any glare in the kitchen.
Always ensure that any glass splashback used behind the cooktop in your kitchen is made from toughened safety glass so that it won’t crack from the heat.
Turn the corner
This is a very simple trick but very effective. When placing mirror on a wall in the bathroom, or using it as a splashback in the kitchen, don’t confine the mirror to the main wall – return it around the corner also.
This small additional piece of mirror will have huge impact and will instantly make the space feel more open.
This is a very simple trick but very effective. When placing mirror on a wall in the bathroom, or using it as a splashback in the kitchen, don’t confine the mirror to the main wall – return it around the corner also.
This small additional piece of mirror will have huge impact and will instantly make the space feel more open.
Alternative glass door
Internal house doors that have glass panes in them are a great way to allow light to pass through from one area to another. They also help to make a space feel bigger because your eye is not confined to the space of the room you are in – you can see through to the next area.
However, having transparent glass in doors in your house isn’t always practical, particularly in a bathroom. Instead, why not opt for a mirrored pane? It will give the same feeling as transparent glass because the room will appear to extend past the door, but will maintain privacy in the room.
Internal house doors that have glass panes in them are a great way to allow light to pass through from one area to another. They also help to make a space feel bigger because your eye is not confined to the space of the room you are in – you can see through to the next area.
However, having transparent glass in doors in your house isn’t always practical, particularly in a bathroom. Instead, why not opt for a mirrored pane? It will give the same feeling as transparent glass because the room will appear to extend past the door, but will maintain privacy in the room.
Never-ending height
Creating the illusion of increased height within a space is a great way to make the area feel bigger. A ceiling-mounted mirror gives the illusion that there is no ceiling above.
Creating the illusion of increased height within a space is a great way to make the area feel bigger. A ceiling-mounted mirror gives the illusion that there is no ceiling above.
Almost invisible rangehood
Having your cooktop in the island in your kitchen is a great way to ensure that the cook can still socialise with guests when preparing dinner.
Suspending a rangehood above the cooktop in the island is usually necessary to extract grease fat and steam from the air, however they can spoil the look of your new kitchen, or the view through the space. The mirrored finish on this rangehood almost makes it disappear.
Having your cooktop in the island in your kitchen is a great way to ensure that the cook can still socialise with guests when preparing dinner.
Suspending a rangehood above the cooktop in the island is usually necessary to extract grease fat and steam from the air, however they can spoil the look of your new kitchen, or the view through the space. The mirrored finish on this rangehood almost makes it disappear.
Mirror furniture
Sometimes large pieces of furniture, particularly when positioned in the centre of a room, can feel heavy and dominate the space. The clever use of mirror on the outside of this piece of furniture makes the piece almost transparent in the space. The reflections give the illusion of more floor space and it’s extra glamorous as a result.
Sometimes large pieces of furniture, particularly when positioned in the centre of a room, can feel heavy and dominate the space. The clever use of mirror on the outside of this piece of furniture makes the piece almost transparent in the space. The reflections give the illusion of more floor space and it’s extra glamorous as a result.
Similarly, this long island doesn’t appear to take up much space in this room due to the fact that the back of the island has a mirror finish that reflects the floor.
The lighting underneath adds another dimension, making it look like this almost invisible island is floating.
The lighting underneath adds another dimension, making it look like this almost invisible island is floating.
Mirror door wardrobes
A full wall of wardrobes is every woman’s dream (and a lot of men’s, too!). We can never have too much storage, especially for all our shoes. However, a wall full of cabinets in a small room can make the space feel even smaller, even if you use a light, bright colour.
Instead of opting for conventional wardrobe doors, why not use mirrored doors instead? The mirror will make the room feel so much bigger and will conceal the fact that there is a wardrobe behind them. The mirror doors on this wardrobe run floor to ceiling, creating the illusion of more height in the space.
A full wall of wardrobes is every woman’s dream (and a lot of men’s, too!). We can never have too much storage, especially for all our shoes. However, a wall full of cabinets in a small room can make the space feel even smaller, even if you use a light, bright colour.
Instead of opting for conventional wardrobe doors, why not use mirrored doors instead? The mirror will make the room feel so much bigger and will conceal the fact that there is a wardrobe behind them. The mirror doors on this wardrobe run floor to ceiling, creating the illusion of more height in the space.
Apply the same principle in the bathroom by using mirrors on the doors of cabinets that store cosmetics and personal care products above your bathroom vanity.
More: Magical Bathroom Mirrors That Reflect the Real You
More: Magical Bathroom Mirrors That Reflect the Real You
Bounce it around
Make a small room like a powder room feel more spacious and add an element of interest with this clever use of mirrors. Placing two mirrors on adjacent walls to each other creates multiple reflections from both mirrors.
The placement of a light fitting in front of these mirrors helps to flood the room with light thanks to the reflections cast in each of the mirrors. A tiny powder room can instantly feel twice as big as it really is.
Make a small room like a powder room feel more spacious and add an element of interest with this clever use of mirrors. Placing two mirrors on adjacent walls to each other creates multiple reflections from both mirrors.
The placement of a light fitting in front of these mirrors helps to flood the room with light thanks to the reflections cast in each of the mirrors. A tiny powder room can instantly feel twice as big as it really is.
Bring the outside in
If you have an amazing view through a window or glass doors, why not bring more of that view into your room using mirrors? They’ll make you feel like you are surrounded by the outdoors.
Consider a mirror that is frameless or has a slim frame so that the main focus remains on the stunning view.
I recently spoke to a homeowner who had done this in his beachfront apartment; he loves how he can sit on his lounge with his back to the window and still see the ocean through the reflection in a large mirror on the wall opposite the window.
If you have an amazing view through a window or glass doors, why not bring more of that view into your room using mirrors? They’ll make you feel like you are surrounded by the outdoors.
Consider a mirror that is frameless or has a slim frame so that the main focus remains on the stunning view.
I recently spoke to a homeowner who had done this in his beachfront apartment; he loves how he can sit on his lounge with his back to the window and still see the ocean through the reflection in a large mirror on the wall opposite the window.
Make the garden bigger
Many of us crave a bigger garden (without the extra work!), especially in urban areas. Strategically placing a mirror in an area of your garden that will reflect the foliage, or maybe at the end of a garden path, will give an increased sense of space without extra lawn to mow. It adds a magical feeling too, almost like a secret garden.
TELL US
Which clever ways have you used mirrors in your home? Share your ideas 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
Mental Tricks to Help You Outsmart Your Small Space
Many of us crave a bigger garden (without the extra work!), especially in urban areas. Strategically placing a mirror in an area of your garden that will reflect the foliage, or maybe at the end of a garden path, will give an increased sense of space without extra lawn to mow. It adds a magical feeling too, almost like a secret garden.
TELL US
Which clever ways have you used mirrors in your home? Share your ideas 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
Mental Tricks to Help You Outsmart Your Small Space
The floor in this kitchen appears to extend right underneath the kitchen, with the cabinets merely standing on a few white legs. It’s a great look but an open space under your cabinets would be a nightmare to keep clean. This kitchen has used mirrors in an extremely clever way, in the form of mirrored kickboards. The cabinets appear to be almost floating as a result.