How to Decorate Your Home With Mirrors
An important part of the decorator’s tool kit that’s often overlooked are mirrors which are an instant source of light that can do much to transform a space. Here’s how to have them work some of their magic in your home.
Ace of space.
Mirrors have fantastic properties as space enhancers, because basically, they double the appearance of whatever is in the room. For this reason they’re a great addition to a hallway you might be puzzling over how to decorate.
If your hall (or any room, in fact) is a little dark, they will brighten it up by bouncing around the light. Placing your mirror opposite an artwork is also a great move — it adds instant interest to a plain wall. Standing sentinel at the end of a hall as this one does, they also accentuate the length of the space. And of course, in a hall a mirror comes in handy for last-minute hair, makeup, outfit, or spinach in teeth checks!
Three’s not a crowd.
If you’re going to have a mirror in your bedroom, why not make it into a decorative feature? As this room shows, working with mirrors is somewhat similar to working with art in that mirrors work beautifully in pairs, threes, or fours — you get the picture.
The main decision to make is whether to go for a gallery-style grouping of different mirrors or a neat, symmetrical hang of two or more of the same mirror. The first approach will create a more lively, dynamic effect while the second will make for a room that feels calm and composed.
Make it art.
If you’re not much of an art lover, then the living room or bedroom is where mirrors can come into their own as a centerpiece. If you’re lucky enough have a view, a mirror will bring this into the room as a work of art in itself. If this is the aim, the larger mirror the better.
You can also lean it against a wall to create a gallery feel. Unique mirrors also make great friends with art. For example, a mirror above a mantel could be flanked by two artworks of the same size or the other way around where a grouping of four artworks in matching frames would look great flanked by a pair of matching mirrors. Round mirrors and arched mirrors will also make a statement, and pair perfectly with curvy furniture.
Tip: Mirrors love candles. In any room with a mirror, a candle is pretty much a must as they reflect candlelight so beautifully. Set the mood for dinner parties with loads of candles standing before a mirror on a mantel and set up a luxurious chill-out zone in your bathroom or bedroom with candles placed either in front of or opposite mirrors.
This article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.
