Bigger On the Inside Than the Outside? It’s All Done With Mirrors, Obviously!
By Never teh BrideAlmost all home owners and apartment dwellers could use a little more space, not necessarily for stuff, but rather for the breathing room. Many houses simply don’t have enough windows to let the outside in, and apartment windows frequently open on views encompassing the sides of other buildings, trashy courtyards, and metropolitan sprawl of the least aesthetically pleasing sort. Knocking down entire walls costs big money. Putting in new windows costs less money, but isn’t by most people’s measure inexpensive. So short of giving away one’s earthly possessions, how can one open up a space on the cheap?
Wall mirrors. You read that right, simple wall mirrors. They bring light into a room, especially when placed opposite an existing window, and can even mimic windows when hung like panes and decorated with window treatments. A large wall mirror becomes a focal point, reflecting back the entire room resulting in a depth of space that makes a living room or bedroom feel expansive.
This doubling serves a second purpose in feng shui, where a wall mirror that reflects something good or lucky — think a treasured family portrait or beautiful objet d’art picked up on your travels — that positive energy will be doubled, too.
When you’re hanging wall mirrors, play around with the shapes and sizes and styles you choose. A classic wall mirror can beautify and open up a small space like a foyer or stairway landing, while a modern wall mirror will look great hanging above a couch or mantel. Try mixing traditional wall mirrors with mirrors like Jason Nipp’s Umbra Movamira mirror, which is evocative of a large small-paned window.
Whatever you do, make sure your wall mirror or wall mirrors aren’t reflecting clutter, lest that negative energy come back to haunt you in the form of even more mess!
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:50 am
I can say from personal experience that this can go too far though; when we moved into our house the previous owner went mirror crazy. Each bedroom had mirrored closet doors and the back splash kitchen was mirror. Just imagine what this looks like after a cooking a meal, not to mention the four toaster ovens (!) created by placing that appliance in a corner.
He also installed a floor to ceiling mirror in the hallway and one bedroom still has a mirror wall, which is unfortunately glued to the sheetrock and cannot be removed without breaking the glass.
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:49 am
There is DEFINITELY such a thing as too many mirrors, Phyllis! Too many and a house ends up looking like a throwback to the 80s… like you’re going to find a floral couch and a dusty rose carpet in every room, whew. Not a look we like!