Up on the blog this week, it's all about the mirror and how to use it with any interior design style. Everyone knows I love a good mirror! A mirror makes a room appear bigger than it really is, but when it comes to actually hanging one in your home, it can be tough to make the right mounting moves. Yes, they’re the cheapest way to brighten up a dark room or give the sense of more square footage, but you really have to know how to use them if you’re trying to achieve these goals. Keep reading for my tips on adding a mirror or mirrors to your space.
Think big, but go small with the frame
An over-sized mirror, in my opinion, the larger, the better, is a cure-all for cramped quarters since it expands the sense of visual space—so long as you stick with a fairly simple frame. An ornate one can hamper your goal of making the place feel bigger. Anything from the Infinity Mirror collection at CB2 may work for your space. They’re super-affordable and come in both round and rectangular shapes.
Photo Cred: Pinterest
Get the height right
Unless you’re hanging a mirror over a headboard or a mantle, the sweet spot for placement is at the average person’s eye level: roughly 60 inches from the floor to the center of the mirror. This goes for artwork, too; a common hanging height can become a thread of continuity that will tie your space together. In other words, when your wall art and mirrors are hung at a fairly uniform height, your whole place will feel roomier. Leave a little breathing room on the wall, too. A mirror looks best if you have a minimum of a 2-inch border from edge of frame to edge of wall or ceiling.
Photo Cred: Pinterest
Pair a mirror with a light source
This reflection trick boosts brightness in a room and adds atmosphere and dimension. A favorite combo is Anthropologie’s Instagram famous Primrose wall mirror in front of a table lamp. The ornate surround serves as a visual frame to the lamp itself. It’s not just lighting fixtures that go well with mirrors; candles and mirrors are an ideal combo, too.
Photo Cred: Pinterest
Take it outside
Leaning a big mirror on your patio or balcony can make your outdoor space appear larger in the same way it would indoors. Just choose a mirror that’s rustic enough to withstand the elements. Interior design tip: You want one that will still look good with a little water damage because it definitely won’t stay perfect.
Photo Cred: Pinterest
Find a design that does double duty
A mirror with a shelf attached is an interior designer's secret weapon for a small space. Not only can it make a space feel loftier, but it also acts as a shelf for display or utility.
Photo Cred: Pinterest
Another trick is to set a mirror up directly opposite of a window. You can go bolder and moodier with your wall color when you have enough light bouncing around your space, and this placement tip will certainly enhance that brightening effect.
Photo Cred: Pinterest
Mirror a wall. Yes, the whole wall!
Got a tiny hallway? Combat “the tunnel effect” by mirroring the wall on one side. The side you don’t typically see first when approaching your hall should be the one that gets mirrored. If you’re not into the fully mirrored look, an oversize wall mirror works in any interior, too.
Photo Cred: Pinterest
Pair one or more with a painting
Wall art that’s too small can make your whole space feel puny, so adding mirrors is an easy fix. Round mirrors work brilliantly for this, a visually proportionate setup and more light bouncing around the room. Sun and starburst mirrors can also stand in for art themselves, if they’re sizable enough.
Photo Cred: Pinterest
Hey Philadelphia, let's get social. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and connect on LinkedIn! Each day I will post follow up interior design thoughts from the latest blog post to give you more inspiration. AND, please leave me a comment below and let me know what you thought of this post!
In addition to being a Philadelphia Multifamily Interior Designer, I also design boutique hotels, fitness centers, office spaces, residential development projects, other commercial spaces such as office and retail spaces, and the senior living community throughout the tri state area. We work here in Philadelphia, the main line, and even Nationally!
About the Interior Designer
Tina Delia, a native of Ocean County, NJ, current resident of Philadelphia, is the Founder and Principal Interior Designer of Delia Designs. For the past eleven years, Tina has been steadfast in her vision and continues to develop herself personally and professionally. She is dedicated to excellence and insistence on forward thinking design. At the forefront of her designs is the idea that our spaces have the ability to transform our lives. She is looking to move us, inspire us to see, think and create freely. After all, it's not only about creating beautiful spaces.
Leave a comment
0 Comments