Know how to decorate and reflect your space
BY SUMMER STAIR
They’re used on a daily basis, but have you ever considered decorating a room with mirrors? Decorating a room with mirrors is a great way to open up a small space, and if done correctly, mirrors can create the illusion that the room is much larger than it actually is. So whether you are thinking practically or artistically, mirrors can be a great alternative when decorating.
Understanding Mirrors
When decorating with mirrors, it is important to know there are two different kinds of mirrors available. According to Cynthia Erickson, of The Interior Defined in Longmont, there are architectural and accessory mirrors.
Architectural mirrors are installed and permanent, such as a full wall that is a mirror. Accessory mirrors are more common and are purchased and hung. Erickson says these mirrors can be hung or placed on something like a vanity and are quite affordable. These pieces can be plain or artistic depending on what you are looking for.
Using a Mirror in Décor
More often than not, mirrors are used in decorating to correct difficult dimensions in a room. Erickson says they are helpful in long narrow rooms to help increase width. “Mirrors help to rearrange an awkward space; it redefines the dimensions,” she says.
Linda Morrell, of Linda Morrell Interiors in Longmont, agrees. “The first thing anyone would need to know is mirrors increase light and space because of their reflective qualities.”
Because mirrors reflect what is already in the room, it is important to make sure you are reflecting something that you want to reflect. “If you don’t have anything interesting to reflect think about it,” Erickson says. “You are reflecting and enlarging the uninteresting.”
If the room is small, Erickson suggests placing the mirror opposite or angled toward a window so the light can be reflected into the space. Other things to keep in mind include:
• A mirror should always be hung at picture height or eye level.
• If you are using a large mirror line it up with the top of the doors in the space.
• Never hang a mirror opposite an entryway, bedroom or hallway because it will reflect the energy outside of the house. Morrell says this is not proper use of feng shui.
• Be careful not to hang the mirror somewhere like right around a corner, because you might scare yourself.
• Keep the frame of the mirror consistent with the design of the room. For instance, try not to mix contemporary with antique.
• If hanging a grouping of mirrors, keep spaces between frames consistent and metals within the same family. Groupings need to have something in common to look “put together.”
So give it a try and turn to mirrors if you are looking for something fresh and reflective. Mirrors can be just as beautiful as art work and can also serve a purpose. “The basic caveat is to make sure wherever the mirror is that it is reflecting something you love and enjoy,” Morrell says. “Use it as an art piece and enjoy it.”
