Decorating Tips: Mirror Placement

Decorators use several common mirror placement tips when enhancing homes' decors. To help homes appear upscale and fresh, consider the following helpful mirror placement and decorating tips.

Place large mirrors in small rooms - Creating the illusion of depth, mirrors look especially good in dining areas, reflecting light from chandeliers. Mirrors can also reflect artwork. Many people believe that wall-to-wall mirrors are outdated, but by installing scones and distressing mirrors, homes reflect a modern, bright appearance.

Don't randomly place mirrors - Mirrors should never be used to simply cover empty spaces. They should reflect something worthwhile. This means not reflecting unattractive furniture or clutter. Mirrors should be placed in areas where they reflect light, making rooms appear larger.

Embrace focal points - Mirrors can easily become the focal points in rooms, setting the entire tone for room's decor. Mirrors can be placed on the floor, rested on consoles against the walls or placed in dressing room corners. One bold mirror can set the inspiration for an entire room's decor.

Don't place too many mirrors in bedrooms or kitchens - Mirrored backsplashes are high maintenance, as they require constant upkeep to avoid unsightly watermarks. Mirrors in the bedroom are acceptable, but are not considered good luck. It's best to place them in locations where reflections are not visible when waking up. For example, above the headboard would be acceptable, but reflecting the bed is not.

Obey feng shui - Placing mirrors over fireplaces helps to bring positive energy flow into rooms. Mirrors are thought to attract water elements, bringing balance to certain areas of the home.

Never place mirrors on the ceiling - Reminiscent of tacky motel rooms, homes should never have mirrors on the ceiling.

Use mirrors in narrow spaces - Small, horizontal mirrors help brighten and widen spaces in hallways or staircases. By brightening small spaces, rooms tend to have more positive flow.

Embrace mirrored furniture - Mirrored coffee tables and mirrored chests of drawers help to enhance homes. Mirrors trick the mind into believing that furniture doesn't exist, helping to expand small spaces. If an oversized piece of furniture is distracting, consider installing mirrors on the furniture to help camouflage the size. Mirrored desks or drawers in small rooms give the illusion that areas have extra floor space. Avoid using mirrored furniture in busy rooms, as this can easily overwhelm spaces.

The Oval and Round Mirror Store offers a wide selection of oval mirrors, round mirrors and rectangle mirrors. With thousands of shapes, colors and styles to choose from, decorators can select wood grain frames, vintage, ornate, decorative, contemporary and antique designs.