Using mirrors to create a sense of more space is a trick of interior designing and their use in decorating is making a big comeback. Mirrors help to give a sense of greater space by reflecting light, thus brightening a room and the reflection of the room also fools the eye (trompe - l'oeil) into feeling there is a greater amount of space than in reality. This article provides some of the basic tricks as to how you can use mirrors in your home to make it feel that there is more room.
1Use a mirror to reflect light. Dark rooms often give a sense of less space and crowding in. Such rooms can benefit from good positioning of a mirror or series of mirrors. There are several ways to do this:
- Place a mirror on the wall that is opposite to the window. This will reflect incoming light and help to brighten the room.
- Use a large, full-length mirror in entrance ways. Instantly this gives a person entering a sense of increased space. This works most effectively when the mirror is placed on a wall or walls that the eye looks at first.
- Place mirrors on each side of the window reveal. This is the space between the inside wall and the window itself. The pieces of mirror placed this way should be professionally cut to fit.
2Cover one wall in mirrors. If you have a small space, such as a bedroom or dining room, that feels really squashed, a mirror wall can open it up and create a sense of flow and increased area. A bed or dining/other table placed right next to a mirrored wall instantly appears a lot larger and will feel that the space is, in fact, doubled. Mirrored placemats on a dining table can add additional reflective effect but be careful not to overdo it.
3Place mirrors alongside fireplaces. This will help to give more sense in a part of the room that often can feel cramped and dark. A mirrored screen next to a fireplace can reflect the glow and flames when it works, helping to create a cheerful glow and spaciousness at nighttime.
4Line a ceiling with mirrors. Dark entrance ways, back porch areas and bathroom spaces can be instantly revived by making the entire ceiling mirrored. When the light is turned on, the mirror helps to spread the light further and brighten the otherwise dull room. This is especially useful for windowless toilet rooms and pantries, as it gives the illusion of a skylight.
5Place a bright lamp in front of a mirror to assist the spread of light through a room. In a room lacking a window, this little trick will help to create the illusion of light from a window space. Add a shelf under a mirror hung about eye level on the wall. Place a lamp (electric or fuel-burning) in front of this mirror. Turn the lamp on whenever the room is used and the light will be diffused through the room by the mirror.
6Make a small garden seem larger. Mirrors can also be used to create extra garden space for small gardens and patio areas. For gardens hemmed in by walls, adding mirrors can remove the sense of being squashed in and can enliven the beauty of the plants and ornaments you have placed in your small garden space. Just be sure to use mirror that is weatherproof when using it outdoors.Ad
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- Be creative with your use of mirrors; don't just hang it over the mantelpiece. Choose new places that are not traditionally thought of as areas for a mirror and challenge the onlooker to a new view of the world.
- The larger the mirror, the more light reflected.
- Use a mirror as a coffee table surface. This will reflect light upwards and will reflect elements of the room towards the eye when looking downwards.
- Mirrors can also disguise an unpleasant or boring view by reflecting a more pleasant view in the distance. This might require the intervention of a professional designer if you can't innovate this one yourself.
Things You'll Need
- Mirrors, shape suited to space available.
- Special mirror and glue for outdoor usage.