What better time is there than now to make some quick and easy changes to your home? Interior designers like myself are constantly taking a new look at our own spaces, and tweaking them to keep them looking fresh. And you should be doing this, too!

So today I’m going to share with you my tips for decorating with mirrors! “Mirror, mirror on the wall……..who’s the fairest of them all?”

Mirrors reflect light, bring in the outdoors with their reflections, and always make rooms appear larger.

My Favorite Tips for Using Mirrors

• What reflection is provided from that mirror on your wall? If you have a view, a great trick is to place a large mirror opposite your window. Now you have the illusion of a window on a windowless wall, and you’ve added brilliance to a room that is begging for more light.
• Placement of mirrors is key. You want your mirror (or the center mirror in a grouping) to be at eye level for an average person. 
• Size up your mirrors. Don’t be afraid of using very large mirrors. These work well over a sofa, in a tall entryway, or standing on the floor to reflect the best features of your living room, bedroom, or in a dining room, as I did for a client.

• Place a mirror in your entryway for last-minute check-ups before leaving your home. Hang a large one across from your dining room table, stand an oversized mirror on the floor of your living room, place one on a mantel, or group some mirrors on one wall of a hallway for interest. And adding a large mirror behind a bathtub (antiqued mirror is a nice touch) lends your bath an air of class.

• If you are lucky enough to possess several small and medium-sized antique mirrors, stand them on a bedroom or entryway chest., or line them up on a shelf or mantel.

• Consider shapes: geometric shapes or round shapes are very interesting. If you have several small or medium-sized mirrors in your home, think about putting them together on a wall as an arrangement, adding in some art work to keep it interesting. Hang mirrors in a grouping just a few inches apart to form a cohesive whole.

• You can place small mirrors on the back of a bookshelf (and later, when it’s practical, call a glass person to line the backs of your shelves with mirror). Yet another favorite designer trick is to hang a piece of art over a wall mirror.

So have fun with your mirrors, for spaces that will be the best reflection of you!

I’d love to hear from you! Send your comments, and your before and after photos, to me at marleneoliphant@gmail.com.

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