Benefits of Mirrors in the Home

Posted by Jenni Barnett on Friday, January 7th, 2022 at 11:48am.

While mirrors are functional necessities in every home, they need not merely languish above the bathroom sink. Instead, mirrors can—and perhaps should—be used in home decorating. Irrespective of your home’s style, there are certainly mirrors that will suit it perfectly.

Today, we’re sharing 7 benefits of mirrors in the home. First, though, we must cover one very important caveat.


Mirrors Must Be Placed Strategically

Before you install the robust hardware that is involved with hanging a large mirror, be sure that it reflects elements of your home that you wish to emphasize or duplicate. Beneficial placement may involve placing a mirror across from a window, piece of artwork, or particularly charming aspect of your home’s architecture.

Less beneficial placement might reflect a closet, cabinet, dimly-lit hallway, or cluttered surface.

There’s more to hanging a mirror than choosing available wall space. However, provided that you think strategically before you decide on placement, you’re likely to be pleased with the result.


1.) Mirrors Mimic Expansive Space

Perhaps the most common reason for using a mirror within a room is to create the illusion of more space than there actually is. Cramped entryways, shallow (yet wide) rooms, and small guest rooms are all great candidates for mirrors.


2.) Mirrors Maximize a Room’s Available Light

Lighting is one of the most important elements in interior design. To effectively double the light within a room, place a mirror across from a window or artificial lighting source.

This approach is commonly used in a home’s common areas. Living rooms, great rooms, and dining rooms can all benefit from this strategy.

For example, if you have installed a gorgeous chandelier in your home, hanging a complementary mirror will emphasize this design element and double the light emanating from it.


3.) Mirrors are Natural Focal Points

The focal point is fundamental to great interior design. This element is the showstopper, sure to grab attention when anyone enters your home. The rest of the room should seem to surround a focal point gracefully.

Thanks to their glimmering surfaces and dramatic light-enhancing properties, mirrors are naturally ideal focal points. Consider the size, frame choice, placement, and hanging height as you envision the best mirror for your mantle, great room, or dining room.


4.) Mirrors Can Lend Instant Style

Mirrors suit absolutely every type of interior design. Whether your interior leans toward classic, traditional, antique, cottage, shabby-chic, post-modern, edgy, or understated, there’s a mirror for you!

In addition to considering a mirror’s frame, consider the style of the mirror itself. Antique, smoky mirrors with visible imperfections might not be ideal for a vanity mirror but will evoke a specific mood in a living room or reading room—especially in concert with thoughtful furniture choices.


5.) Mirrors Can Create Contrasting Geometry

Rather than mimicking a room’s existing geometry with your mirror choice, consider choosing a contrasting shape. In a room that’s currently decorated with furniture that’s soft or overstuffed, a crisp mirror with sharp angles (perhaps with additional beveling) can provide a satisfying counterpoint.

On the other hand, in a mid-century modern or art deco room, a round or oval mirror serves the same function.

Be aware that installing a large mirror that follows the lines already established within a room may detract from the overall impact, instead creating an oppressive or cluttered feeling.


6.) Mirrors Are a Great Way to Experiment with Scale

If you want to create contrasting geometry, establish a focal point, and maximize a room’s available light, scaling up at least one size is a surefire technique. By doing so, you’ll add drama and elegance in a way that feels natural and effortless.

Be cautious when adding width instead of height, however. A mirror that’s a great deal wider than any furniture or design elements around it can harken back to the days of cheap wall-to-wall mirrors that started at chest height and extended all the way up to a low ceiling. This effect is frequently more oppressive than expansive and should be avoided in most cases.

You may also wish to create a gallery wall of smaller mirrors. This can be effective, but it must be executed skillfully. Think about the gallery wall as one cohesive installation rather than a collection of disparate parts: the frames, shapes, sizes, and styles must work in concert.

This approach works best in large rooms. Cramming twenty mirrors onto one wall of a smaller room—especially one that has any amount of clutter—is likely going to be a design disaster.


7.) Mirrors Can Contribute to Your Home’s Security

Mirrors are no substitute for a home security system, but they can be a helpful addition to one. Hang smaller mirrors throughout your home, then use them to keep an eye on doorways and blind spots.

We do hope that you never have to use your mirrors to detect an intruder. Still, if having this extra security measure installed enhances your peace of mind and wellbeing within your home, it’s certainly worth doing.


Have you been toying with the idea of hanging a statement mirror within your home, or installing a creative gallery wall? Please, consider this our co-signing the idea!

Do you have mirrors already installed as part of your interior design scheme? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Tell us what you’ve learned, whether there are pros and cons, and if you plan to continue using mirrors in the future.

From all of us at Parks, thank you for stopping by today!

Please contact us at Parks Realty if we may be of any assistance with your real estate needs. We are proud to be the preeminent Tennessee real estate company, specializing in urban, suburban, and rural homes alike.

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