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Mirrors
Mirrors are a great addition to any home and can be used for far more than just as a utility in the bathroom. Now they can be used to add space, create light, and as part of the home décor itself. Read on to learn more about using mirrors.
General Tips for Using Mirrors
Mirrors are a low maintenance way to add to the overall décor of your home. No longer are they the boring mirrors that you may have seen stuck to a wardrobe door, or gaudy and over-the-top. Mirrors are now available with frames or frameless, and can create any feel in the home, from traditional right through to ultra modern.
The main thing that you have to remember when using mirrors is to check their placement before hanging them up. Otherwise you may find that you are reflecting something unwanted, such as the top of your lounge, a section of blank wall, or even an air conditioner. If you find that you are reflecting something unwanted, try angling the mirror to show something more pleasing before you move it.
You should always make sure that the mirror is reflecting on something that enhances the décor of the entire room. This may be artwork, a flower arrangement, a centerpiece, or some beautiful ornaments.
Using Mirrors to Create Space
Do you have an area within your home that feels small, or closed in? Then use a mirror to combat this. There are several tricks that you can use such as:
- In a small, dark room, hang a mirror near the window for an easy way to introduce light and effectively double the space.
- Always place mirrors opposite of something interesting – you will improve the vista and the reflected image will make an area feel larger.
- If you have a narrow kitchen bench, consider using a mirrored backsplash. It is easy to maintain and will give the impression that the bench is twice as wide as it really is.
- If you want to make a room appear to have more depth, paint one wall in a deep, standout colour and hang a mirror on this wall. You will make the whole room feel deeper.
- To make a hallway feel less narrow, hang mirrors on either side of the hall in a staggered pattern. To make it feel longer, hang a mirror at the end.
- Rather than a wall full of mirrors, the trend now is to increase the feeling of space by using long, tall mirrors that have been spaced out over the entire length of the wall.
Using Mirrors to Create Light
Mirrors are an excellent, and energy free, way to introduce more light into the house if they are used correctly. Just be careful placing mirrors near windows that have a western or southern aspect as you may end up with unwanted glare.
Mirrors can also be used to enhance the lighting scheme within your home. It really is up to your imagination, what you do, but some ideas include:
- placing lit candles in front of a mirror for soft, reflected light
- using a mirror to reflect a beautiful light feature such as a chandelier or pendant
- using a mirror to throw light into a dark corner of the room
- use mirrors to reflect overhead or lamp light so that you don’t need as many to light the room.
Mirrors and light also marry together for practicality in the bathroom. When grooming, you need a light that is even, free of shadows, and as close to natural daylight as possible. To this end, bathroom lights should be placed to the side of the mirror at eye level, or there should be a long row of lights at the top of the mirror. So that you don’t see the bulb, the lights should be shielded in some form. The latest trend in bathroom mirrors is the illuminated mirror, in which the lighting is built directly into the mirror itself.
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Related Categories
Bathroom
Feng Shui
Interior Decorating