Mirror, mirror on the wall-------
By Mary Cusack, ASID
What are you reflecting? Is it beautiful, interesting or ugh? There is much more than the reflection of you staring into that shiny, reflective material.
Mirrors are an easy and quite effective way to fill an empty wall space. They add sparkle and a little bit of mystique. But beware; mirrors can also destroy a room by what it is reflecting – what is seen in the mirror--- be it a reflection of the refrigerator which brings that chunk of metal right into the living room or worse yet --a reflection of the bathroom.
Sometimes a mirror will reflect the ceiling. Who wants to look at the ceiling when a much nicer view can be quite lovely? If installed over a mantel, let the top of the mirror hang away from the wall so the reflection is lower into the room. The reflection has the potential to be fabulous.
A painting is actually created by what the mirror is reflecting. So placement is extremely crucial. Let the mirror reflect the patio of plants, that big oak tree outside the glass wall or a beautiful flower arrangement. Even a reflection of a cozy seating area or fireplace is very pretty.
How many reflections do you want in a room? Be careful not to over do. Since mirrors seem so easy, it is tempting to put them everywhere. Variety is the spice of life so create more interest by choosing other types of art for your walls. I’ll save that for another article.
Areas that are great to place mirrors are many. Wall to wall mirrors can greatly expand a room keeping a tiny area from feeling claustrophic while also adding another dimension. Mirrored closet bi fold doors are a great way to lighten a bedroom especially if there is an entire wall of doors. For safety do not put mirrors on regular hinged doors or any door that can easily slam shut.
Bathrooms are where mirrors really shine. For years large unframed mirrors over the vanity were standard. Today we are making these a little smaller and framing them to create a more personalized look. Remember to keep the mirror large enough to do its job. I also like to install a large mirror in the dressing area. It helps prevent possible grooming fatalities.
Framing is so very important. An ornate gold frame is not the only type of frame for mirrors. These are beautiful but may not fit into the scheme. It also does not have to be a dark stained wood. Think of the effect you want to achieve. There are so many choices.
A mirror well placed with a beautiful frame can be a major asset in any décor.