Shine with Mirrors: Decorating Ideas That Reflect Your Decorating Expertise

Mirrors can prove to be a great addition to your interior decorating toolkit. Mirrors are about light and reflections, energy and vibrancy, movement and “echoes”. Mirrors can be used to instantly brighten up and add size and dimension to a room. They can also provide a welcoming warmth, as well as a dash of personality and artistry to the overall ambiance.

Here are some tips and interior decorating considerations when using mirrors:

• Play with the many ways you can use mirrors. You can place mirrors in the entryway, the stairway or facing the window (to multiply a particularly picturesque scene outside, such as your garden). You can also place mirrors over the living room sofa or as the focal point in the dining room. You can also lean framed mirrors on the console, the mantle or the bedroom side tables. You can mix up mirrors with pictures or artwork. See, mirrors are versatile and you have a lot of opportunities to play around with mirrors in any interior decorating project.
• Mirrors may need a frame to stabilize it. Of course, you can use mirrors on their own, but you need to remember to install them securely so that they don’t easily break. When using frames, the picture frame that goes with the mirror should be in proportion with the size and weight of the mirror. Mirrors are heavy, as these are made with thick glass to that it does not easily get flexed or distorted. As such, your frame should be durable enough to carry the weight of the mirror.
• Do not be afraid to go bold with picture frames that hold the mirrors. Frames add to the visual impact of the mirror. Experiment with patterns, textures and unique finishes that draw the eyes to the mirror. The good thing with mirrors is that the frames that may overpower a photo or a piece of artwork can actually serve as an effective accent for the mirror.
• Use the frame to complement the overall interior design style. What look are you going for? You can use the frame so that the mirror provides a sense of balance. For instance, a mirror in an antique picture frame with a gold-leaf finish may look awkward in a modernistic interior design style but will be the perfect complement to an ornate Louis XVI sofa. Meanwhile, a mirror in a plain black frame with simple lines matches a no-nonsense, minimalist look. The same mirror, placed in a bright red frame, can serve to tie up elements to achieve an atmosphere of over-the-top Hollywood glamour.
• Play with shapes. Mirrors can come in a variety of shapes! Use a series of mirrors on round picture frames to complete your nautical-inspired décor. Pair mirrors in oval frames with a number of portraits in oval picture frames to add a sense of the old (existing portraits) and the “new” (the “portrait” created by the viewer’s reflection). Mirrors in rounded shapes can also work to soften sharp lines created by corners. You can also put together four mirrors in square picture frames to mimic the look of a window.
• Consider the placement of the mirrors. To maximize the decorative effect of mirrors, place them in areas where they reflect something attractive such as the garden outside of the opposite window or a treasured artwork. Avoid placing them in areas that can reflect things you would rather have hidden (such as a messy work table or storage area).