Mirrors are a decorative item that never gets enough fanfare. Efficiently placed mirrors can transform a room from small to roomy in an instant, can represent any décor style, work in any room, and can also channel energy in a Feng shui design! What other design element gives you such versatility? Try these tips in your home, and reflect on the results in our comments section below!
Create additional “faux” square footage:
In small rooms and especially apartments, mirrors offer an inexpensive way to give the illusion of space. Place mirrors on a wall opposite of a window to create an illusion of expansive space. You can also use a mirror in a small kitchen as a backsplash and suddenly you will enjoy cooking and spending more time in your kitchen!
Enhance existing decor:
For most homes, the fireplace is already the focal point of the room in which it resides. By adding a reflective surface above the mantle with a beautifully framed mirror, the candlesticks, seasonal décor, photos and anything else on your mantle take on a whole new grandeur.
Add interest to a long hallway:
Long hallways are an opportunity to place mirror vignettes or ‘puzzle’ piece mirrors on the side walls. This distracts the eye when walking down the hallway and offsets the darkness of the long corridor, as well. Feng shui tip: Don’t place mirrors at the end of a hallway– it will create a place for energy to stop flowing.
Give guests a bright welcome:
Mirrors placed in a foyer or entryway are a welcomed sight for guests. In addition to adding light in a dark entry mirrors give a place for guests to ‘check’ themselves while entering your home. In a larger foyer, place a small table, flower arrangement, lamp and mirror on the wall to expand the area into this welcoming space. Try adding a mirrored table to an adjacent room to encourage a seamless flow into the rest of the home.
Class it up:
In addition to adding light to a traditionally darker room and enhancing the existing decor, mirrored buffets or dining tables lend a sophisticated feel to any dining room. Feng shui tip: Mirrors placed next to your dining table are believed to bring fortune and wealth.
Make a statement:
Full length mirrors can be a simple framed piece on a wall, or a bold statement as a piece of furniture. Oversized (7′ or taller) mirrors sitting on the floor are a beautiful way to add emphasis to an empty corner of a bedroom. For a practical yet unique dressing room effect, use multiple frameless mirrors on a wall for instant visual interest.
Feel free to try using mirrors in varying sizes and colored frames to give this versatile decor several different aesthetic uses throughout your home. Gallows has a handful of existing framed mirrors, but our custom framing materials can really capture your style. Come see us today and let us help you transform a mirror into a piece of art!
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