Decorating Guides
8 Ways to a Makeover With Mirrors
Brighten and expand your interiors with a touch of imagination -- and a mirror or two
Give your interiors an instant makeover without having to knock down walls. There’s a much easier way to enhance your space and make it look larger while adding tonnes of personality to it. Simply add a mirror! No longer just restricted to your vanity table, a mirror can be creatively placed to upgrade every room from your hallway to your kitchen. We show you how.
2. Make a mirror wall
A large mirror might certainly look fabulous but you needn’t do what everyone else does. To give your room a quirky touch, ignore the ‘being cursed for seven years’ superstition and use pieces of mirrors instead of one enormous one in your décor. A frame of mirror fragments can go a long way in taking the chic factor of your room up a notch. What’s more, it looks more arty than just functional although it serves to maximise the effect of natural light. Win-win!
A large mirror might certainly look fabulous but you needn’t do what everyone else does. To give your room a quirky touch, ignore the ‘being cursed for seven years’ superstition and use pieces of mirrors instead of one enormous one in your décor. A frame of mirror fragments can go a long way in taking the chic factor of your room up a notch. What’s more, it looks more arty than just functional although it serves to maximise the effect of natural light. Win-win!
3. Decorate your kitchen
Add an unexpected accent to your kitchen by placing a mirror over your sink or your stove. Alter all, this is the room that you want to look the airiest and the brightest. This is neededespecially in city homes, where kitchens are usually the first to suffer in the competition for space.
You can also use a mirror as a backsplash! We guarantee it will get noticed but let us add a disclaimer here. You want it to grab eyeballs for being unusual and not messy. Let’s face it, this area will get a hit of oil, dust and other vapours. All you need to do is give it a quick wipe-down with a solution of water and vinegar – ingredients that you’re sure to have at hand in this room.
Here’s a bonus point: there are studies that say people make healthier eating choices when they look at their reflection before opening the fridge. While I am not sure about the veracity of this claim, I am not against catching a glimpse of myself when I least expect it.
Add an unexpected accent to your kitchen by placing a mirror over your sink or your stove. Alter all, this is the room that you want to look the airiest and the brightest. This is neededespecially in city homes, where kitchens are usually the first to suffer in the competition for space.
You can also use a mirror as a backsplash! We guarantee it will get noticed but let us add a disclaimer here. You want it to grab eyeballs for being unusual and not messy. Let’s face it, this area will get a hit of oil, dust and other vapours. All you need to do is give it a quick wipe-down with a solution of water and vinegar – ingredients that you’re sure to have at hand in this room.
Here’s a bonus point: there are studies that say people make healthier eating choices when they look at their reflection before opening the fridge. While I am not sure about the veracity of this claim, I am not against catching a glimpse of myself when I least expect it.
4. Light up your hallway
A small passage or hallway, such as the entry to a home, often lacks windows and needs a light-enhancing solution. Also, this area is normally one of the most neglected in any hoose, which it shouldn’t be, given that this is the first thing guests see as they enter your home. Make a lasting impression by accentuating this area with a wall mirror that not only looks aesthetic but also reflects light into the space. And who doesn’t like the idea of a final ‘once over’ before you head out the door?
Tip: If you really want to make any space look magical, place a light source in front of your mirror. This will maximise the light’s reach and change the look of the entire space.
A small passage or hallway, such as the entry to a home, often lacks windows and needs a light-enhancing solution. Also, this area is normally one of the most neglected in any hoose, which it shouldn’t be, given that this is the first thing guests see as they enter your home. Make a lasting impression by accentuating this area with a wall mirror that not only looks aesthetic but also reflects light into the space. And who doesn’t like the idea of a final ‘once over’ before you head out the door?
Tip: If you really want to make any space look magical, place a light source in front of your mirror. This will maximise the light’s reach and change the look of the entire space.
5. Give your dining area an update
You cannot overestimate the benefits a well-placed mirror can offer here. It can make the space look expansive and if placed near a window, it will reflect natural light into the room. Plus, dining tables usually look festive during special occasions – when you add a mirror, there is double the sparkle.
Tip: Don’t stick to just clear mirrors. Experiment with tinted, frosted or distressed mirrors.
You cannot overestimate the benefits a well-placed mirror can offer here. It can make the space look expansive and if placed near a window, it will reflect natural light into the room. Plus, dining tables usually look festive during special occasions – when you add a mirror, there is double the sparkle.
Tip: Don’t stick to just clear mirrors. Experiment with tinted, frosted or distressed mirrors.
7. Try paired mirrors
Yes, we know that a large mirror when strategically placed can immediately make even a tiny bathroom look that much larger but you can go a step further to really amp up the size of this room. Forget a single mirror, instead multiple to add depth and volume to the space. Multiple mirrors, when properly placed side-by-side can open up your space and make it look never-ending. Try it and see.
Check out ideas for a dream bathroom
Yes, we know that a large mirror when strategically placed can immediately make even a tiny bathroom look that much larger but you can go a step further to really amp up the size of this room. Forget a single mirror, instead multiple to add depth and volume to the space. Multiple mirrors, when properly placed side-by-side can open up your space and make it look never-ending. Try it and see.
Check out ideas for a dream bathroom
8. Make it a centrepiece
A large mirror bordered by intricately carved wood is more than enough to make a bold statement in any room. As in this space, it becomes the focal point too. Consider juxtaposing a traditional mirror with a contemporary decor – the tension and the contrast will be electric.
Tip: Mirrors expand and double what they reflect, so take note and ensure that you keep all clutter away from its eye.
A large mirror bordered by intricately carved wood is more than enough to make a bold statement in any room. As in this space, it becomes the focal point too. Consider juxtaposing a traditional mirror with a contemporary decor – the tension and the contrast will be electric.
Tip: Mirrors expand and double what they reflect, so take note and ensure that you keep all clutter away from its eye.
If you’re a fan of Vastu Shastra, you would know that placing a mirror facing your bed is believed to cause disagreements with your partner. But don’t worry, were not telling you to place it in front of the bed, but behind it. Or place it in a spot where you won’t see your reflection when you lie down to sleep. Instead of a traditional headboard, why not experiment with mirrors there? It will not only reflect loads of light but will also add a luxurious look to your bedroom.
Read More:
Clever Ways to Make Your Home Look More Spacious
10 Ways to Make Your Home Vastu Friendly
Tell Us:
How have you used mirrors in your home? Share your pictures in the Comments section below.
Read More:
Clever Ways to Make Your Home Look More Spacious
10 Ways to Make Your Home Vastu Friendly
Tell Us:
How have you used mirrors in your home? Share your pictures in the Comments section below.
A mirror can be a conversation starter on its own as one stunning piece can set the tone for the entire room. Go one step further and toss away an old door and replace it with an elaborate mirror or mirrored door instead. A floor-to-ceiling full-length mirror automatically lends a sense of height to the space by drawing your eye up and around the room.
Tip: Why just your doorway, consider adding mirrored furniture to any room, especially your living room. A chest of drawers clad in mirrors placed next to a wall in a tiny room can trick your eye into thinking that the floor extends beyond the wall. Avoid doing this in an already busy room full of furniture and bric-a-brac, though.