Mirror, mirror on the wall - oh my, that doesn't look good there at all! Well, I narrowly averted a minor mistake but it reminded me of an important interior decorating tip.
I recently bought a console table for my condo and I was thinking that having a nice long mirror, hung horizontally, with a black wrought iron decorative frame would look really good over the table. I've even gone shopping for the perfect mirror. And then I realized what it would be reflecting. The stairs to the basement. Now wait a minute. All of a sudden this isn't a great idea. Now, I know I am right, a mirror like that would look really good over that table but if it reflects the basement stairs so the entire living room can see, well that's not really a great idea anymore.
And this is the key decorating tip I'd like to focus on in this article. Decorating with mirrors. The most important thing to keep in mind is what you will be reflecting. You'll want to take advantage of the mirror and add light to your room, create depth or highlight an interesting focal point. But please don't go overboard!
Use large mirrors, maybe even floor to ceiling mirrors to make a small room seem larger. This can be very tricky. My last home had two huge mirrors in a corner of the room, mirrors on both walls, so if you stood in the middle you were cut in half and with proper positioning you could go on forever. It was horrible but it did seem to make the room a little bigger. If you decide to use large mirrors make sure they are reflecting something interesting, turn a large beautiful plant into two or reflect some artwork or a sculpture.
Smaller mirrors can be used to specifically enhance dark areas. I have a mirror tucked into the back of my fireplace. Although I have a functional wood-burning fireplace I really don't plan on ever using it, I'm a little fire-prone. Instead I've place several candles of different sizes and shapes but the same color into the fireplace. With the mirror behind the candles I've got a great reflection and when they're lit there is so much depth and beautiful flicker.
You can also use mirrors in the dining room to enhance your table décor. Instead of place mats consider using mirrors for each place setting. They will light and draw attention to your table and by using bright and decorative dishes you'll create a stunning display.
Mirrors in the kitchen can brighten dark corners and create an illusion of depth and space. I think a small kitchen is a problem for a lot of older homes and apartments. A few creative touches with mirrors can really open things up. Consider getting small, mirrored tiles for a backsplash. It's easy to clean and adds sparkle. Larger mirrors on the wall in a kitchen can also add depth and since so many kitchens have windows you can really bring your green space inside.
So don't shy away from mirrors but make sure you're using them in the most effective ways possible. I've decided that I'm going to use pictures over my console table instead and I'm considering putting in a small tile backsplash in the kitchen.
