The importance of mirrors in interior design

Author: Sophia Perry |

a modern living room with a mirror

Using mirrors effectively can do wonders for your living space. Whether you are inclined toward minimalist, modern design or homely, cozy vibes, you cannot ignore the importance of mirrors in interior design. Mirrors are universal elements of any household or office space mostly because they are simultaneously stylish and practical. So, for this reason, we will discuss why you should consider remodeling your living space to incorporate more mirrors.

Mirrors are a home’s best friend

Mirrors are an often-ignored element in interior planning and design, and that is a shame. A right mirror can liven up your living space and contribute to the overall impression you are left with after spending some time in that room. A good mirror can also add a sense of airiness and comfort subtly and effectively.

Sometimes even interior designers overlook the benefits of having a well-thought-out mirror placement. This might be because mirrors are generally neutral and 'unassuming' pieces of furniture. However, you can use this quality to your advantage. With the help of a mirror, you can organize your living space to be as cozy or chic as you want it to be, without buying new and expensive furniture and making any elaborate changes in your home.

multiple small mirrors on a wall

No matter how small, a mirror is an interior designer’s best friend

The function of mirrors in interior design

People usually confine mirrors to bathrooms and hallways, which is an unfortunate waste of this elegant, mesmerizingly beautiful and practical piece of furniture. Although this way of thinking is slowly becoming outdated in the world of interior decor, sometimes more extensive and more important renovations such as choosing the right paint color for your home might overshadow thinking about these smaller, but essential aesthetic factors.

Having a reflective surface does not just serve a practical function of checking your appearance before leaving your home. Its potential is vast because it can visually change the entire architectural and decorative constellation of the space. So, let's take a look at what mirrors can accomplish.

Mirrors can visually enlarge the room

First of all, a reflective surface placed in a small, cramped space can make the room feel larger. So, a mirror can correct the volume of the space by bringing in another dimension and an impression that the room has more objects that it can actually fit.

Mirrors can enhance the sources of light in the room

Furthermore, mirrors catch and reflecting rays and specs of light, which is also a useful function they play in places that are not that well lit in the first place. This makes them the loyal ally of narrow hallways, corridors, bathrooms, small rooms, etc. What's more, mirrors enhance your lighting significantly - you can align them with your chandelier or lamp to amplify the light that comes out of the light bulb.

Mirrors correct the little flaws in your interior design

Mirrors can create an optic illusion that the room is larger and brighter than it might be in reality. Mirrors are also good distractors - your guests might not even notice the tiny flaws in the room if you have a big, beautiful, and clean mirror in the room.

So, if you have any architectural elements that are unsightly or irritating, you can place a mirror in the room to distract the eye away from the given part. And so, you have bought yourself some time until you can plan for a comprehensive remodel of your home.

However, if you are already making plans to do a major home renovation, you should research how to avoid damage or accidents when you are storing or moving your bulky furniture. This is especially important for the mirror collection you already have - the basic rule of thumb is to take care of breakable furniture such as mirrors before dealing with your fragile items.

a circular mirror in a well-lit room

A mirror can change the visual impression of the room completely.

The importance of adequate mirror placement in interior design

Although any mirror in any place is better than having no mirrors at all, there are some practical considerations you might want to take into account when you are planning the architectural structure and placement of your furniture.

a room with a beautiful circular mirror

Mirror placement is an important factor

Avoid placing your mirror to face sunlight

A common mistake people make is placing the mirror on the opposite side of their windows. Firstly, you will notice that you can only see your outline when it faces the windows in your room. Secondly, direct sunlight can damage the surface of the mirror by making it dull over time. The same logic applies to having two mirrors facing each other. Unless you want to make an interesting optical illusion, it is usually impractical and redundant to place them in this way.

Avoid placing furniture in front of the mirror

Try to disperse other pieces of your furniture in the room - it does not make sense to place bulky sofas and chairs in one place and in front of the mirror because you will not reap the benefits of having a mirror. Also, this kind of furniture placement will visually add weight to your living space.

One mirror is usually not enough

It is often better to have a single large mirror and fewer smaller mirrors in a single room. Of course, use common sense when deciding how many mirrors you need for the space - typically 2 or 3 mirrors in the bedroom do the trick, whereas you might want to have a maximum of 2 in smaller rooms such as bathrooms and hallways.

The importance of mirrors in interior design explained

All in all, we hope we have managed to clarify what the importance of mirrors in interior design is. These are all general guidelines that follow the time-tested aesthetic principles used in contemporary interior design. If you feel as if some of the listed advice does not apply to your living space, be sure to modify them accordingly.

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