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27 Mirror Decor Ideas - How to Use Mirrors in Your Home

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Living Room

by Danielle Blundell

updated May 27, 2022

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Mirrors are an essential decor item in any home, no matter your style, as their designs and functions run the gamut. Some mirrors are purely for checking your appearance while others are used strategically to manipulate light, serve as an organizational piece, or make a room look larger. 

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Of course, mirrors can also be used as decorative pieces, and many are made with unique materials (such as rattan), shapes, and finishes. Whether you opt for a floor mirror or mount it on a wall, mirrors can elevate a room’s decor in so many ways.. Needless to say, mirror ideas are endless, but we’ve rounded up 29 ways to utilize these looking glasses to your decorating advantage.  

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1. Use a mirror to make your space appear larger.

A mirror can be a small home’s best friend, especially when you’re only working with 370 square feet. Ashleii Rabelo’s Miami studio features mirrors in both the bedroom and living area, which can trick the brain into thinking a room is grander than it is—perfect for those of us with big taste on a small budget.

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2. Use them in place of art.

We love a pop of art on the walls as much as the next person, but this Oakland house is proof that a mirror can have just as much visual impact. Artists and woodworkers Aleksandra Zee and Antrom Kury brought some texture and shape to the walls of their living room with two gorgeous mirrors that serve several purposes in the space and feel right at home with the neutral color palette.

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3.

Incorporate them into a mural.

Rich O’Gorman took to the walls during the pandemic and transformed his Birmingham, U.K. home into a colorful work of art through murals and collected pops of color. We love how he incorporated multiple decorative mirrors into his mural design for a more layered scene that perfectly reflects the home’s natural light. 

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4. Curate a quirky collection.

This stylish Memphis rental is full of delightful design details around every corner, and artist Frances Berry Mereno really made the most of every square foot. Her stairwell is lined with collections of trinkets and mirrors that lend a quirky, well-collected sensibility to this often-neglected part of a home. 

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5. Replace the TV to shift the focal point.

A TV isn’t the only item to hang above the fireplace. Actress Hayley Orrantia’s Los Angeles living room features a mirror instead that allows the focus to turn to the stunning nature-inspired features on either side, along with some good old-fashioned conversation.  

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6.  Use a mirror to make a statement.

A statement mirror is just the thing to make a room sing—especially when it’s a unique find. This Detroit dining room features a covet-worthy Ultrafragola mirror by Ettore Sottsass that the owners found on 1st Dibs which brings a mod touch to this retro-inspired space. 

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7. Surround a mirror with plants.

You may not assume that mirrors and plants go hand-in-hand, but this Portuguese apartment has proven otherwise. Embellishing a mirror with trailing vines or air plants and surrounding it with planters is a style choice worth trying.

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8. Embrace soft edges.

Round mirrors are definitely on the upswing. These circles are calming, eye-pleasing shapes, but they can also balance out a composition full of other geometric elements. Take this living room, for example. There’s a rectangular painting, square storage bins, and angular forms for days in the Southwestern-inspired textiles. The circular mirror brings softness to all that edge.

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9. Find the light.

Round mirrors aren’t just for looks. Mount one in an advantageous spot on your wall, and it’ll throw natural light around a space unlike anything else.

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10. Use it to add a touch of glam.

Found a round style that has a mirrored frame? That’s about as glam as you can get. If it’s as ornate and large as this one, use it in lieu of art to fill a stretch of blank wall space.

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11. Create a bright backsplash.

Framed or frameless, rectangular and square mirrors are true design chameleons. Just look at how this unframed mirror makes this tiny apartment kitchen look a tad more expansive.

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12. Add one to a gallery wall.

Artwork and photos aren’t the only items worthy of being placed in a gallery wall—mirrors can look pretty sleek in these arrangements, too. Find a mirror with a unique frame to serve as the focal point and decorate around it, as seen in this Colorado Springs home.

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13. Go all out.

If you have high ceilings, try an old school rectangular pier mirror. Back in the Victorian era, these guys used to be stand-ins for windows to make rooms brighter. The proportions are generally large, and sometimes they even have built-in shelving or seats.

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14. Look to the Gilded Age.

If your room needs a little touch of fancy, paint or spray paint any mirror gold. It will instantly elevate the design of your room and make it feel more sophisticated.

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15. Instill a bedside attraction.

Larger rectangular mirrors aren’t just for living rooms. This bedside application is the perfect place to shoot your #OOTD—or just check out what you’re wearing.

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16. Lean with it.

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17. Treat a mirror as an accessory.

If you don’t have the room to go big, something smaller, like this tiny square, also works. It’s just large enough for a last-minute lipstick check!

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18. Turn your door into a statement.

Want a true space-saver? Instead of leaning your full-length mirror against a wall near the door, try putting it on a door. You can always hang it on the reverse side, or you can use it decoratively, as shown here.

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19.

Let your mirror be multipurpose.

Find a deep enough rectangular frame for your mirror, and you can use it as a shelf or minimalist medicine cabinet. This kind of setup also works great near a door or in lieu of a makeup vanity in a bedroom.

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20. Bring a pop of the unexpected with matte metal.

This matte black rounded corner style is a real beauty. These kinds of metal framed mirrors are popping up more and more in bathrooms over traditional vanity mirrors and medicine cabinets, especially in small spaces. The overall look is more modern, even when installed over subway tile. Plus, it’s way lighter and more airy than something bulky and wooden. And again, that little shelf at the base of the piece is a nice little bonus feature

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21. Make it pop atop wallpaper.

Whether you wallpaper an accent wall or an entire room, a mirror can make a perfect accent piece to further layer the space. We love how this brass mirror looks on this turquoise and white paper at a vanity space. 

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22. Go oversized.

You could also get a big (and I mean HUGE) old mirror, put it behind your sofa, and call it a day. It’s the kind of thing you’d see in a swanky hotel—a real one and done. Plus, it’s a great way to anchor the sofa with minimal effort.

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23. Turn it into mantel decor.

Sometimes a mirror is the missing puzzle piece to your styling setup. Picture this Berlin home without its mantel mirror, and it’s nothing more than a faux fireplace with a little too much white space. With the mirror though, this mix becomes a fresh juxtaposition of color, texture, and light. 

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24. Opt for a one-of-a-kind headboard

Find two arched mirrors, hang them side by side and—voila!—an artsy, one-of-a-kind headboard. Pile on the pillows so you’re not totally sacrificing the comfort of an upholstered headboard.

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25. It’s all in the accents.

Don’t discount the whimsy the ever-popular sunburst mirror can bring to a room. Put one of these any place you might mount a clock—above a doorway, in a dining nook, wherever. Something this size works well in a gallery arrangement, too.

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26. Go bold.

If you want to give an old mirror new punch, paint its frame a fun color like this fanciful red vanity. Look for something that can be spray painted, otherwise you’ll have a lot of cutting in to do.

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27. Layer up.

Don’t be afraid to double up on mirrors. This is a nice a way to fill up a bedroom wall, particularly if you don’t have enough space in your bathroom for larger pieces.

ideas for how to use mirrors |

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti/Jody Stewart/Natalia Miyar)

Decorating with mirrors has more benefits than just giving you a place to check your outfit. A wonderfully versatile design feature, they add instant glamor and interest while also increasing natural light and maximizing the sense of space in your home.

One of the easiest decorating ideas, adding a mirror to any room in your home can have a significant impact on the appearance of the space. However, this is only true if you know the tricks of the trade to position them correctly and choose the right weight of frame and frame design.

'In terms of functionality, a mirror can be used to spread natural light and to create the illusion of space.If you have a small living room, consider mounting a large mirror above a fireplace, or style leaning against a focal wall. To maximize light, position mirrors in areas where natural light shines to reflect the light to more dimly lit areas - making the overall space feel brighter throughout the day,’ says Anna Franklin, interior designer and founder of Stone House Collective .

For some rooms, decorating with mirrors will seem straightforward with the design and placement seeming natural. For example, a large, decorative mirror will always look great above fireplace ideas. And there is more to this than its aesthetic. If you're wondering why you should hang mirrors over your fireplace, then Feng Shui teaching may have the answer. This good-looking trick fills a space with good energy, especially when reflecting your garden, as this will fulfill the 'Creative Cycle'. 

However, in other spaces, such as the kitchen or even bedrooms it might be more of a challenge. ‘The opportunities are endless with mirrors because of the number of styles they come in. Because of their ability to reflect light, a mirror is an amazing focal point at the end of a narrow space. Pair it with a table and a plant and you have a beautiful vignette,’ says Esther Dormer, founder and interior designer at Esther Dormer .

Mirrors are also a must for small rooms. ‘Adding large mirrors or a mirrored wall can create the perception of depth, making even the smallest room feel larger than it is,’ recommends Ally Maloney Winzer, principal at Maloney Interiors .

1. Places mirrors opposite windows to maxmize light

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti)

Position is key when it comes to decorating with mirrors. It is especially useful for small living room ideas or small dining room ideas where you are trying to increase natural light in the room.

‘Placing mirrors where the light naturally falls is one of the oldest but best tricks in the book, it enhances the natural light and makes the room appear much larger and brighter. A carefully placed mirror that is opposite a window will echo the natural light and greenery into a smaller room, helping to bring the outdoors in,’ says  Jen & Mar, Co-Founders of Interior Fox .

2. Consider the glass-style as well as the frame 

(Image credit: Polly Eltes)

When decorating with mirrors, there are lots of elements to consider. As well as thinking of the style of the frame and its placement, also think about the appearance of the glass. 

‘Mirrors are a viable alternative to expensive pictures, and function as works of art in their own right,’ explains Antiques Roadshow expert Marc Allum. ‘What most people would call ‘worn out’ is a joy to others. Where the silvering on a period mirror is very poor and degraded, making it rather redundant as a mirror, it is actually a decorators dream and even adds value.’

3. Add mirrored tiles to the kitchen

(Image credit: Hulya Kolabas)

Incorporating mirrors into your kitchen ideas can brighten the space, adding a glamorous touch to what can be cold and clinical. This is particularly true for small kitchen ideas where space and light is often at a premium. 

There are several different options for decorating with mirrors in your kitchen, from mirrors placed on the walls through to mirrored kitchen cabinet ideas. However, your backsplash offers the perfect opportunity to add a reflective surface into your kitchen ideas. A minimalist and flawless mirror is a great addition to modern kitchen ideas, alternatively patinated and antique backsplash ideas are perfect for traditional kitchen ideas. However, both of these options can be complicated to install and will require regular cleaning. For a less demanding option consider creating a decorative backsplash with mirrored tile backsplash ideas.

'This mirrored backsplash is so special. I wanted to create many points of unique interest in this kitchen, and using mirrors was a perfect way to do that. Mirrors add an element of high-gloss glamour to any space without it feeling overdone. I also decided to keep the mirror backsplash focused to the coffee bar area because a little bit of mirror here goes a long way,' says Malka Helft, designer at Think Chic Interiors .

4. Opt for accent mirrored furniture

(Image credit: Jody Stewart)

Decorating with mirrors is not just reserved for oval designs hung on the walls. Mirrors can be integrated into all styles of furniture from sideboards to bed frames
– each design gives their reflective qualities a new dimension and increases the benefit.

Of course, it is important to select your mirrored furniture carefully or else your look can quickly go from sophisticated to tacky. Keep mirrored furniture to a minimum, it should be an accent piece that is positioned in a prime location. 

Another consideration is its maintenance. While there are many methods for how to clean mirrors, you don't want to be having to wipe your furniture multiple times a day. Therefore, when considering a piece of mirrored furniture, opt for something that doesn't see a lot of traffic – an occasionally open set of drawers will fair much better than a desk.  Also consider a design that features fretwork or overlays, which breaks up the appearance of the mirror, making it seem more sophisticated while also disguising streaks and marks.

5. Decorate your bedroom with a mirrored headboard

(Image credit: Future)

Occupying a large proportion of the wall space in your bedroom, your headboard offers the opportunity to add color, print and texture to your bedroom ideas. Acting as a focal point, your headboard also offers the perfect opportunity for decorating with mirrors.

When adding bedroom mirror ideas into your scheme, you must be cognisant of reflections, especially during the night – a wrongly placed mirror can reflect light towards where you are sleeping, disrupting your rest, or can quickly feel unsettling once the lights are turned out. By opting for a mirrored headboard, you have all the space and light increasing benefits by day, but it is practically invisible once you are in bed. Mirrored headboard ideas are also a great option for attic bedroom ideas, where wall space is limited.

Selecting a mirrored headboard with overlaid detailing also means that you don't have to worry about keeping the glass flawless as small marks and streaks will not be instantly obvious. 

6. Consider mirrored accessories for a touch of glamor

(Image credit: Interior Impressions)

When considering ways of decorating with mirrors, don't get too hung up on large scale additions – even the smallest mirrored accessories can make a difference to your space.  

'I love to use mirrors in more unexpected ways, such as here with a mirrored tray. It adds so much light and dimension to the coffee table, and creates some contrast. It's a low risk way to incorporate mirrors into your decor,' says Amy Leferink, designer at Interior Impressions .

7. Treat mirrors like artwork

(Image credit: Interior Impressions)

Consider decorating with mirrors in the same way you would add art to your walls. Opt for pretty frames and consider a layout inspired by gallery wall ideas.

'Mirrors can be treated like artwork, especially if you find ones that have some architectural details and bold design,' says Amy Leferink, designer at Interior Impressions. 'Here, using three very sculptural mirrors adds more than just light and reflection into the dining room. It's an easy, low-cost way to create a focal point on a wall and add visual intrigue.' 

8. Use mirrors to achieve a Regencycore aesthetic

(Image credit: Perlmutter & Freiwald)

With shows such as the Bridgerton and The Crown as popular as ever, Regencycore is very of the moment with homeowners all wanted to add a little bit of elegance to their interiors. Decorating with mirrors is an easy and cost-effect way to embrace the trend. 

'To help create a Regencycore-inspired design statement, select a large-scale mirror with gilded, intricate framing details. You can lean this on a main wall in a living room or entryway to make it a focal design element and give it a moment of its own within your home,' says Anna.

9. Ensure the mirror's reflection is worthy

(Image credit: Future/Paul Raeside)

‘When decorating with mirrors, we always recommend going for the largest mirror you can afford to make the most of every ray of light from your mirror’s reflection,' says Lucy St George of Rockett St George . 'Traditionally mirrors are often hung from the walls or placed on a mantlepiece to reflect your ceiling and opposite walls. So, make sure you consider what will be shown in the reflection and opt for a show-stopping chandelier or fabulous gallery wall of artwork to extend the wow factor. The clever trick of the reflection means you’ll now have two of these features, so the bolder and more beautiful, the better. '

10. Invest in bespoke glass panels for alcoves

(Image credit: Henry Prideaux)

Alcoves are an extremely useful architectural space in a living room, they can be used for bookcases, displaying artwork, or, use them to brighten and reflect instead by decorating with mirrors.

‘Adding custom antiqued mirror wall panels in the recesses either side of the fireplace in a large living room creates a subtle reflective surface and a gentle, diffused light within the space,’ shares London-based interior designer, Henry Prideaux . ‘Using this verre églomisé technique is a lovely way of distracting the eye beyond the main elements and emphasising all the unexpected little vignettes within the room instead.’

11. Install a mirrored wall for impact

(Image credit: VSP Interiors)

While a large picture might overpower a room – and particularly a small room – a large mirror will do the opposite. As long as the frame isn't too bulky (more on that below), decorating with mirrors on a larger scale will only serve to make a room feel bigger and brighter, so dare to pick a design that's on the larger side rather than one with more modest proportions.  

And if there's little wall space to hang a mirror, a floor-standing mirror is a great way of decorating with mirror. However, if a dramatic impact is your goal, you can ask a specialist to fit an entire mirrored wall to double the size of your living room – visually, anyway. This clever design by VSP Interiors fits around the fire surround and the painting has been hung as if it's a normal wall, and the result is striking. 

Also note the symmetry created by the two chandeliers and sofas, this gives a structure to the scheme, you don’t want it to be too busy as it will reflect back in the mirrored wall.

12. Create a gallery wall of mirrors to create a vignette

(Image credit: Graham & Green)

Not only is decorating with mirrors great for reflecting light, it can also give you the opportunity to create a vignette, especially when hung as a gallery, creating a light-reflecting, space-enhancing focal point. 

Round mirrors can also soften a space that's furnished with hard materials – and will be a better fit than square or rectangular pieces on an awkward-shaped wall.

13. Get the proportions of an overmantel mirror just right

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

Getting the size of your mirror right is vital when decorating with mirrors – and going too small will be more of a design issue than choosing one that's too large for the space. 

So, when it comes to choosing a mirror for a mantelpiece, ensure that it is the same width as the mantel or just a few inches smaller on each side. To make a ceiling feel higher, be generous with the height of your mirror, too – note how the perfectly proportioned mirror in this living room designed by Katie McCrum Interior Design reaches just above the top shelves of the alcoves.

14. Ensure mirror placement is maximized

(Image credit: Interior Fox)

Decorating with mirrors is a great way to enhance natural light and make the room appear larger and brighter. ‘A carefully placed mirror that is across from a window will echo the natural light and greenery into a smaller room, helping to bring the outdoors in,’ explains Jenna Choate, Co-Founder of interior design studio, Interior Fox.  

It’s also worth noting how a mirror can fit into a scheme – taking this image as an example, the slim black frame is followed through in the coffee table, window frames and artwork, creating a cohesive look that’s stylish to boot. 

15. Add a decorative touch between two windows

(Image credit: Future/Matthew Williams)

The beauty of decorating with mirrors is that they come in all shapes and sizes, minimalist and maximalist. We mention placement above, and it’s not always about popping up a mirror in the obvious places like above the mantel, they can work fabulously well when placed in more obscure spots too.

This stunning vintage mirror with its ornate detailing perfectly reflects the rest of this living room scheme by interior designer Athena Calderone , tricking the eye into believing the space is larger than it is. 

(Image credit: Graham & Green)

The larger the mirror, the more light you can bounce about and reflect back – which is the perfect antidote to a space that’s on the small side and lacking in light.  

We don’t just mean picking one that’s a basic rectangle either, be inventive and choose a design that has a decorative appeal – a beautiful curved top that mimics an old Victorian window pane will totally enhance your space from both a practical and style point of view. 

17. Pick a frame style to suit your scheme

(Image credit: Future / Alexander James)

Frame weight is important when it comes to decorating with mirrors. Grand, sculpted, dense or dark-colored mirror frames are best suited to big mirrors in large, traditionally-styled rooms or to small mirrors that you've chosen to be a focal point (again, more on that below). 

In more contemporary spaces, mirrors with more subtle framing are a better choice. If your room is particularly small, frameless mirrors will enhance the space without impinging on it. 

18. Choose mirrors as a decorative element

(Image credit: Natalia Miyar)

Consider approaching decorating with mirrors the same way you would pictures or painting – they should be a feature in themselves. They look particularly great in small bedroom ideas. So, if you have a space to fill in a room and have found a mirror with a beautiful frame, ensure it's displayed and positioned just like a picture would be – to be shown off.

19. Use a mirror to reflect light with clever positioning

(Image credit: Future/Brent Darby)

If a mirror's main function is to reflect light, its best position is adjacent to a window rather than opposite it – that way it can boost the maximum amount of light.

Decorating with mirrors is a great solution for light-starved rooms. Placing a lamp or wall light adjacent to or in front of a mirror can double its light-boosting effect. 

20. Get the mirror's height right

(Image credit: Future/Davide Lovatti)

Height is a key component for decorating with mirrors. When you hang a picture, you would usually place the mid-point of the art at eye-height – or around 5ft off the ground. Decorating with mirrors is subtly different: it needs to be positioned to provide the best reflection. In a hallway, this might mean at eye-height so that you can check your reflection before you leave the house; in a living space, it may hang higher to show off that wonderful light fitting. 

Having a piece of furniture below where a mirror hangs will affect its height too. Ideally, hang the mirror so that the bottom of the frame is nearer to the furniture below it than to the ceiling above, so that the connection between the furniture and the mirror is clear. Hang a mirror too high and it will feel disconnected from the rest of the room.

21. Set the tone of your scheme with a mirror

(Image credit: Future/Mark Bolton)

The overmantel mirror has long been favored as a way to create a focal point when decorating with mirrors. It is a wonderful way to reflect the items on the mantlepiece and other items in the room, such as a beautiful light fitting. 

If you are choosing a mirror for a mantlepiece, its proportions are important – too small and it will look misplaced, so ensure it fills out at least two-thirds of the width of the mantelpiece.  

'By reflecting all the beautiful design details around you, mirrors work perfectly with lighting to set the tone in your scheme. From the subtle ambiance of side lights to the shadows that bounce off the walls, a show-stopping mirror enhances natural light and projects glowing reflections all around the room.

'With so many styles and sizes available, there are myriad of options for introducing the magic of mirrors to your home,' says Lucy St George of Rockett St George.

22. Use mirrors to make a small space feel bigger and brighter

(Image credit: Future/Nick Smith)

Alcove mirrors are less traditional way of decorating with mirrors but they have a distinct advantage – or two. First, they offer double the wall space for mirrors, so a small, dark living room will feel twice as bright as with a single mirror – and particularly the corner furthest from the window. 

Secondly, they offer the opportunity for table lamps to sit in front the mirrors on console tables, which means that when lit, artificial light has more of a brightening, space-enhancing effect, too.

23. Layer an ornate mirror over mirrored panelling

(Image credit: Future/Mark Bolton)

Doubling up is a great and unusual way for decorating with mirrors. Artwork or even an ornate mirror looks fantastic hung on a mirrored wall. When creating a mirror for the backdrop of your wall decor ideas, it is important to consider the weight of the piece – contacting your glazier for advice or help on drilling through glass is a wise option.

24. Make a low ceiling feel higher and a small room larger

(Image credit: Future/Mel Yates)

A mirrored finish the front of fitted wardrobe is a fabulous idea when decorating with mirrors as it minimizes its impact of this large piece on the look and feel of a scheme. Decorating with mirrors also helps to create the illusion of spaciousness and is a great way to cheat the narrowing effect.

When used across a wall, it is vital to get the right mirror glass style for your space. Plain mirror glass is the practical choice, but if you want to create a vintage feel to a room, adding antiqued glass in panels or within a frame, such as in the kitchen above, will create more of a decorative effect, adding texture to a plain space.

25. Make a tiny bathroom feel larger with mirrored walls

(Image credit: Future/Davide Lovatti)

Decorating with mirrors is essential when designing small bathroom ideas. Designed in accordance with your small bathroom lighting ideas, they offer the perfect way to brighten and accentuate your space. 

This room is a superb example of how antiqued mirror glass can bring drama and atmosphere to a scheme, with panels featuring lightly foxed edges for further authenticity. 

The wall also makes this relatively small, low-ceilinged room feel much more spacious. 'Heavily antiqued mirror is currently on trend. It will utterly transform a room and bring real drama to any space,' says Rupert Bevan, managing director, Rupert Bevan .

(Image credit: Future/Malcolm Menzies)

Of course, decorating with mirrors isn't reserved just for items you can hang – mirror panels can adhere to walls just like tiles do, and it's this mirror type that can be used really successfully in spaces you might not normally consider, such as for kitchen backsplashes, for floor-to-ceiling treatments in bathrooms, and even on doors.

27. Use mirrors in the garden to cheat a small space

(Image credit: Future/Paul Raeside)

Decorating with mirrors in your garden is also a wonderful way to embrace the beauty of nature. Through the reflection of your outdoor mirror, you can essentially double up your plants to create a gorgeous, outdoor oasis with a tropical feel that will whisk you far away. It is a must for small garden ideas but will look great in larger garden designs. 

'Vintage and Crittall-style mirrors are personal favourite for me,' says Lucy St George of Rockett St George. 'These beautiful designs add structure and character to any setting and blend in beautifully amongst the other textures of the garden. Whether nestled amongst foliage or displayed against a rustic brick wall, a fabulous mirror helps to create your very own secret garden for enjoying the long, lazy days of summer.’

‘Mirrors are one of a few brilliant design tricks that we can steal from our interiors and introduce into the garden,' says Jane Rockett. 'In the same way as in the home, mirrors are perfect for creating additional space in smaller courtyards and patios by reflecting natural sunlight back into the garden.'

How do you decorate a room with a mirror?

To decorate a room with a mirror, you should treat it like you would a piece of art, choosing a position for it that really shows it off to best effect. Unlike a picture, though, a mirror's reflection needs to be carefully considered – that reflection will, in effect become a piece of art in itself. So, if you can position your mirror to reflect a beautiful view, fabulous architecture or a wonderful light fitting, you have got it just right.

Are mirrors on walls outdated?

No mirrors on wall are not outdated. In fact, quite the opposite is true – mirrors on walls are timeless pieces and important interior design elements that make small rooms in particular feel bigger and rooms starved of natural light feel brighter. We'd go so far as to say that no room should really be without a mirror. Pick on with an attractive frame and you have a decorative piece, too. 

How do you style a mirror in a living room?

There are many opportunities to style a mirror in a living room. The most natural way for decorating with mirrors in a living room is to position it over a fireplace or mantelpiece as doing so will instantly elevate a space that is already the focal point of the room.

‘Consider using mirrors in unexpected places and ways too. Try using a collection of decorative mirror to create a reflective and interesting reflective art wall. Try layering plants in front of corner wall mirror, the reflection makes your plants looking twice as lush, and since plants are often nearby windows, natural light reflections add openness to that space that can be both peaceful and beautiful,’ recommends Kara O'Connor, owner and lead designer of Kara O'Connor Interiors .

What is a good size for a floor mirror?

At least 36 inches is a good size for a floor mirror, this will enable you to be able to see a complete outfit in one glance.  

‘When decorating with mirrors, I always take scale into consideration first. If a mirror is intended to serve as a functional piece, such as a floor length mirror, make sure it's set at the right height and that you'd have proper room to step back and see feet to head. If it's hung too high, you're seeing knees to head!’ advises Kara O'Connor.

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

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Want to see the world in pink or any other light? Use colored mirrors. You can buy ready-made (dyed in mass), but their color palette is limited, the most common colors are green, bronze, blue, gray, gold. Another option is to stick a tint film on the mirror.

Light version

Give your fireplace an original look by lining the chimney with a mirror sheet. Door frames and skirting boards can also be mirrored. For greater effect, hang a mirror imitating a semicircular window above the front door. With these details, the space will instantly gain lightness and transparency. And its owners - the reputation of aesthetes and originals.

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The dead space under the stairs is known as the “dead zone”. We propose to revive it. Place a built-in wardrobe here. By making its doors mirrored, you will immediately kill two birds with one stone. Firstly, visually enlarge the space, and secondly, make it easier for yourself to choose and try on clothes. A better adviser than a mirror cannot be found in this matter.

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Redefine your minimalist white kitchen. Make an apron from a mirror mosaic, and each color spot will increase and be reflected in it, as if broken into huge pixels.

Gold Fund

With the help of mirrors, you can turn your house into a kind of luxurious club or a golden palace. In this project, mirror tiles fixed at a slight angle are repeatedly reflected in a smooth, mirror-lined wall. These reflections in reflections most of all resemble a children's kaleidoscope. Gold-tinted mirrors are used here, which creates the illusion of a sun-drenched space. The effect works in any weather and at any time of the day.

Add shine!

These mirrors are inconvenient to look at, they were used exclusively as a finishing material. And they lined not only smooth surfaces, but also protruding elements: pilasters, window slopes ... The mirror is also present in the design of the ceiling (if you want to repeat - keep in mind that for safety reasons, a special lightweight mirror as thick as foil is used for decorating the ceiling).

Photo
Simon Upton

Everything is ghostly…

Replace traditional solid cabinet doors under the sink with mirrored ones. This will visually enlarge the space and give the room a trendy look. Make sure that cleanliness always reigns in the bathroom and unnecessary things do not accumulate, otherwise mirrors will only emphasize clutter.

Photo
Simon Upton

In China, it is believed that the mirror casts out evil, because the evil that looks into the mirror and sees its ugliness is terrified.

Hidden door

A mirrored door is an excellent choice for narrow spaces. When it is closed, the length of the corridor visually doubles, and when it is open, it seems that there are even more books. One “but”: standing at such a door and admiring your full-length reflection, it’s somehow stupid to ask: “Who is there?”

Additional window

Are there few windows in the room? It's not a problem. An arch-shaped floor mirror will play the role of an additional window, increase the illumination and size of the space (for greater effect, it should be placed opposite a real window). If there are children or animals in the house, it is better to prudently fix the arch on the wall.

Mirror furniture

Paradox: mirror furniture is the most inconspicuous, but it never goes unnoticed. Objects lined with a mirror dissolve in space, reflecting and multiplying it. These magical qualities help them stay in fashion for years.

Louis XIV was literally obsessed with mirrors. It was during his reign in France that the secret of the production of the Venetian mirror was revealed. After that, the prices of these mirrors fell sharply. In the 18th century, two-thirds of Parisians already acquired them. In addition, ladies began to wear small mirrors on chains on their belts.

Loose

A very simple and very effective way to transform a staircase is to stick several round mirrors on the wall, evoking associations with porthole windows and sunbeams at the same time. The feeling of closed space is gone!

Photo
ch.rouffio

"Devil's Corridor"

If one mirror is hung opposite the other, the so-called "devil's corridor" is formed. This technique with a dissonant name was widely used in decorating the enfilade halls of ancient estates and palaces to create the illusion of an endless perspective. You can solve the problem of glass fogging, typical for bathrooms, by purchasing heated mirrors (there are some).

Easy-going

Dress up your bathtub in a luxurious Art Deco style with bevelled mirror tiles on the base. It not only reflects light, but also refracts it, playing with blue, green and white highlights. In the same way, you can decorate not only the bathroom, but also any other premises.

Photo
Mark Luscombe-Whyte

In ancient Greece, only wealthy people could buy a mirror made of polished bronze. It was no larger than a palm. In addition, the metal quickly oxidized, and it had to be constantly cleaned.

And they are all so different

Mirrors are hung in the interior not only to look good in them or to expand the space with their help, but also just for beauty — just like, say, paintings or family photos in different frames.

Flight of fancy

Do you want to impress your guests? Place a huge mirror table in the main hall, after taking care of the ceiling decor. It should be no less extravagant. And be sure: the guests will remember your party for a long time. The main thing is to make sure that after several glasses of wine, someone does not mistakenly poke a fork at the reflection of a bird hovering under the ceiling instead of the game on the plate.

If many people are skeptical about the advice of feng shui masters, then the recommendation of psychologists - to look in the mirror with a smile - should be heeded by everyone.

Do not peep!

When designing combined bathrooms, designers try to arrange the toilet and bidet in such a way that they are not conspicuous. To do this, they are hidden behind partitions or cabinets. An excellent solution is a wall with perforations in the form of round windows. The whole secret is that the windows in the upper part of the structure are real, and below (where the toilet is located) there are fakes created using mirrors glued to the surface.

Photo
CÙtÈ Sud/BERNARD TOUILLON

Morning exercises

In the bathroom, you can not do without a mirror, as well as without cabinets (if, of course, space allows). So why not combine them? Moreover, full-wall mirror canvases - like in a ballet school - are an excellent incentive for morning exercises. Door handles can be used as hooks for towels or bathrobes.

Photo
East News

Double

This bedroom has a very interesting history. First, its size was reduced (part of the room went to the arrangement of the bathroom located behind the bed), and then increased again. Thanks to the headboard, lined with mirrored panels, the room has almost doubled in size. You should not be afraid to sleep next to a fragile mirror. Experts assure that a correctly glued mirror cannot be broken. It does not split even with a direct elbow strike.

Photo
Mark Luscombe-Whyte

Invisible kitchen

Mirrored doors make kitchen furniture almost disappear - a great solution for a kitchen combined with a living room. Doors that open by pressing will not work in this case - fingerprints will be visible on them, so it is better to choose small discreet handles.

Photo
Real Living

Mirror Mosaic

Mirror fragments can give rise to an amazingly beautiful play of reflections. When light hits the walls, sunbeams scatter around the room, like from a disco ball. Giving a curved shower wall such an unusual look is relatively simple - you just need to stick a lot of different pieces of mirrors on it. To enhance the effect, make a window in the ceiling or install a lamp.

Photo
Tim Beddow

A different angle

Take a fresh look at the traditional mirror above the sink! In this case, it consists of nine mirrored tiles fixed at different angles on a black metal frame. Such a design performs two functions at once: it gives the owner the opportunity to look at himself from different angles and at the same time decorates the interior.

Let there be light!

A similar method of hanging mirrors - tilted against the wall - is often used in stores. It allows the guards to monitor what is happening in the hall: whether someone is stealing sausage from the counters behind their backs. At home, such control is not necessary, but tilting here can also be useful. With it, you will increase the amount of light and change your point of view on the interior.

Photo
Conrad White

Panel of mirrors

You will hardly ever get bored with such a panel of many mirrors fixed at different angles. Not only is this a real trap for light, it also constantly changes depending on which point you look at it from, and reflects one or another fragment of the room.

Photo
Reto Guntli/zapaimages.com

Mirror in the interior: ideas and tips

TipsInterior items

A mirror is one of those interior items that combine functionality and decorativeness. It's not just for fixing your hair or checking for lipstick smudges: mirrors make a space look larger and make small, dark rooms appear brighter. But before that happens, you need to hang them properly! The advice of ELLE DECORATION experts will help you with this.

Pierre Hardy's apartment in Paris.

BEFORE YOU START:

“Not all mirrors are meant to be hung on the wall. There are floor models and table models that lean against the wall,” says Robert A. Downs of iLevelArt.com, an art gallery based in Los Angeles, which has helped decorate the homes of Hollywood stars Heidi Klum and Ginnifer Goodwin ( Ginnifer Goodwin. — Such models have a special mark on the reverse side. If you hang them on the wall, they may break and the manufacturer will not accept any responsibility for breakage. Therefore, carefully study the mirror before buying and installing it.

Designed by Anna Clark in Moscow. Floor "growth" mirror in the hallway visually increases the area.

A mirror is a rather heavy thing, so you need to hang it wisely. One flimsy nail and twine is not an option. “Each D-loop on the back of the mirror requires its own hook on the wall,” Downes explains. “The thing is obvious, but, as experience shows, many do not observe this.”

And a few words about height and slope: experts recommend hanging mirrors on the wall higher with a slight downward slope so that they reflect the room as much as possible.

Apartment in Voronezh. Project Molbo Buro.

photo
Sergey Krasyuk

How to hang a mirror .

..

in the hallway:

 The entryway is the first thing your guests see when they enter your home, and the first impression is usually the most lasting. And the mirror in the hallway is a 100% must have: it makes a small space bigger and brighter, and a beautiful mirror above the console adds coziness, soulfulness and “hospitality” to the interior right from the doorstep. In addition, it gives you the opportunity to take one last, "control" look at yourself when you leave the house.

Designed by Anna Muravina.

In the living room and bedroom:

In a south-facing living room, you will want to make the most of the cozy midday light, so experts recommend hanging mirrors in front of the window in such rooms. In the bedroom, on the contrary, it is better not to do this and install a mirror next to the window, or above the head of the bed.

Palazzo in Milan. Project by Vincenzo de Cotis.

Above the fireplace:

Another classic mirror location is above the fireplace. Hang it at least 10-12 cm above the mantelpiece. “But if the frame is too thick and massive, you can install the mirror even higher so that the frame does not cast an ugly dark shadow on the decor standing on the shelf,” says Robert Downes.

House in the suburbs. Project by Peter Yushin.

Photo
Giorgio Possenti

In the bathroom:

Most manufacturers of bathroom furniture and accessories usually offer models without a frame (or with a minimal, almost imperceptible frame). The more spectacular and unexpected the mirror in an unusual frame will look on the wall! It is best to make such a frame to order for the size and design of your bathroom.

Designed by Olga Maleva. The mirrors are made of artificial stone according to the designer's sketches.

In the Dining Room:

The dining and dining area is the perfect place for some spectacular "dramatic" mirrors, especially if you have a beautiful chandelier to reflect in. But be careful! “When it comes to a chandelier with open light sources (light bulbs), the reflection can be too bright and hit the eyes,” warns interior designer Jen Going. “In this case, try an antique mirror with a patina to make the reflected light diffuse.”

Designed by Marina Poklontseva.

On the door:

Choose a full-length vertical mirror and hang it so that it covers the maximum surface of the door. Mirror glue, double-sided tape or liquid nails are not suitable here, since the doors are constantly opened and closed, and sometimes they slam quite noticeably, so the fasteners must be reliable. It is best to use a mechanical fastening for mirrors, for example, special metal brackets or furniture fasteners with decorative overlays.

An asymmetric solution, where part of the mirror is mounted on the wall and part on the door, can become an effective option for small spaces.

Design project by Nadezhda Polyakova in Krasnodar. A round mirror is partially placed on the bathroom door, creating an unexpected effect.

Photo
Mikhail Chekalov

On difficult surfaces:

this particular material) - this will save you from cracks and other troubles. For example, when working with tiles, make sure that the tiles and drills do not overheat (otherwise a split may occur!) And regularly spray the work surface with water.

Diesel Open Workshop Collection, Scavolini.

TECHNIQUES AND HACKS:

Designed by Olesya Fedorenko. Mirrors, Alexey Tiskin.

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