Clever tricks to use mirrors to make small spaces look visually larger

Mirrors, when thoughtfully placed in small home rooms, can visually enlarge small spaces and make them brighter and more inviting, as mirrors increase the size and depth of each room, enhance natural light, or even act as a decorative element.

Here’s a detailed guide to mirrors; how to choose their designs, what are the right places to place them in home rooms, as well as some cases where mirrors solve some design flaws, attract the attention of your guests, or even beautify the interior decor.

Mirrors in a modestly sized apartment

A corner in the house, with a round mirror on the wall (image from unsplash)

What if your apartment is modest in size?

To make the most of small spaces, here’s a collection of home decor tips on my favorite ways to use wall mirrors.

Focus on Size

Small wall-mounted mirrors in a hallway, bathroom, or bedroom can theoretically make the space look bigger. Other times, however, looking for large mirrors is more rewarding. Large mirrors reflect enough space in a room to make it feel more open. A great way to achieve this is to focus on the size of the mirror, as well as its shape, as a rectangular mirror will reflect a larger area of the room, making it feel more spacious.

Key visual points

A dining room with a table in the center with a mirror surface and a second mirror

Another important factor to think about is the visual point of the mirror, which means where your guest sees the mirror. Therefore, keep mirrors at eye level so that guests can always see them. Decorate some bedroom ceilings with mirrors or place them above the beds. On the other hand, avoid placing mirrors on the floor, unless they are large enough to reach eye level.

Bedroom, with a mirror behind the bed (image from unsplash)

Pairing with light sources

My favorite way to overcome poor lighting is to pair a mirror with a light source, when you can. Doing so will transform the room into bright, luminous, and effective in making a small space more open.

Natural lighting

Another effect you can take advantage of is using mirrors to optimize the natural light in rooms. To do this, place the mirror in a place where natural light often reaches. The sun’s rays will bounce around the room, and natural light will fill your home. However, be careful; in some cases, placing a mirror in direct sunlight can cause an unpleasant glare.

Cases where mirrors play a starring role in decor

Mirror decorated with plant veins (photo from unsplash)

Strategically distributing mirrors in the home, with the right choice of design elements, can visually enlarge small spaces. As with any design element, moderation is key, and the opposite can create a sense of disjointedness. Here are cases where mirrors play a starring role in interior design.

Using mirrors to create the illusion of a window

If you’re lucky enough to have a view from one of your small home’s windows, place the mirror in a way that reflects this view and creates the illusion of a second window, strengthening the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Hide awkward columns

There may be cases where mirrors can hide certain design flaws, such as: Cladding a prominent column in the center of the lounge, to make it disappear into the space. Mirrors also allow the area to feel larger, brighter, and visually lengthen the height. This technique expands the sense of space in a room, while reflecting light

Cleverly hiding pieces of furniture

It’s becoming increasingly common in modern design to incorporate mirrors into pieces of furniture, especially cabinet fronts, allowing the function to blend in with the style.

Using mirrors as hidden doorways

Mirrored doors hide doorways from view, providing a practical benefit while visually enlarging spaces.

Uses of a long wall mirror in the home

In some cases, it is right to choose a long mirror to occupy most of the wall, extending from the floor to the ceiling or very close to the latter.

Here are four keys to success when choosing where to hang a full-length mirror in tight home spaces.

Home Room Function

A long mirror has a role in making the person standing in front of it see themselves from head to toe. Therefore, there are two places that are candidates for this mirror:

1. Near where you get dressed, such as in a bedroom, bathroom, or freestanding closet in a room.
2. At the entrance, so you can check your clothes before leaving the house.

If you don’t have enough wall space for this type of mirror, consider hanging it behind the door (on the wall) or on the back of the door.

Lighting in the space where the long mirror is

It’s important to consider the amount of light where you hang your tall mirror; if the light is from behind, you won’t be able to see the details of your clothes, and if the ceiling light is directly above your head, it will create shadows that will increase the appearance of bags under your eyes and add years to your face. So, choose a place where the light comes from in front of you, day and night, to get the most out of your full-length mirror. For example: Place two candlesticks around the mirror, which will give the viewer the best and most flattering light! On the other hand, a mirror with built-in LED lighting can be used.

Observance of safety

When considering where to place a tall mirror, it’s important to pay attention to the safety factor, as this type of tall mirror is heavy and must remain firmly in place, not slipping or tipping over.

Choosing the right mirror design

In addition to being functional, a long mirror should be designed with attention to its design, especially when it sits at the front and center of the room and adds to the overall look. In this context, there are designs for tall mirrors with edges, or others with frames made of brass, which adds a decorative touch to the interior decoration, similar to a table lamp or a well-chosen rug.