Tired of feeling cooped up in your tiny big city apartment? Or maybe your home office feels so small that you may as well be in a sealed cubicle? Mirrors are the secret weapon you can use to combat that shrinking feeling. But it’s not just about hanging a few mirrors on the wall and that’s that. If you want the full effect, here are 6 ways mirrors can make pretty much any room look bigger. And don’t worry, you won’t have to spend a fortune to make it happen.
Multiply Your Mirror Game
While large mirrors will definitely make your room look larger, they can be a little pricey. The affordable alternative is to group smaller mirrors together, thereby creating a similar effect. Assorted sizes can give an eclectic and enlarging effect without breaking the bank.
Smaller mirrors can be found at reasonable prices at thrift stores or even eBay. The advantage of doing it this way is that you can get pieces that are truly unique; rather than a cookie-cutter clone of an IKEA living room, you can add a wee bit of a character to your space.
Single Mirror = Job Done
If a bunch of small mirrors dotted on your wall is a little too ‘out there’ for you, then the statement mirror is what you need to go for. This option is a single wall mirror that will do all of the heavy lifting, giving your room an open, contemporary, and stylish ambiance.
Wall mirrors need to be placed in the right location to do them justice. You also need to think about whether you want to go big, either by option for wall to wall or floor to ceiling mirrors. They’re not on the cheap side of the scale, but they will definitely enlarge your space.
Mirrorize Your Hallway
The hallway of your average city dwelling is dark, narrow, and often a little dingy. It’s a passageway, nothing more. Mirrors can help turn your hallway from a dark tunnel to a welcoming connector between entrance and living space.
Standard mirrors can work very well in hallways; combine a large rectangular mirror with a small table (if it fits!) or stand and it’ll suddenly feel like you’re standing in part of the living space, rather than ‘just’ the hallway. Alternatively, use hexagonal mirrors to add a little bit of a funkier effect!
Create Windows
Another effective strategy is to use mirrors to create additional windows. This works particularly well in smaller box rooms that have no real windows. By this I mean using a mirror that’s been specifically framed to look like a window. But instead of clear glass to view the outdoors (which you don’t have access to!), you have a mirror to create a similar effect.
For rooms that do have a window, you can use this trick: place the mirror across from the window. This multiplies the natural light coming in, and also allows you to view the outdoors from several different angles.
Mirror + Light Source = Perfect 1-2 Punch
Using mirrors and light is perhaps the best way to create the optical illusion you’re looking for. Light is reflective, which means that when you combine it with a mirror, you can amplify the enlarging effect.
What you want to do is place the mirror behind your source of light. For example, use a candle or small dimmed lamp to create serious mood lighting. It not only gives the illusion of a larger space, but it’s also gives you that welcoming ambiance.
Multifunctional for the Win!
If you live in a small apartment, I recommend going for multifunctional mirrors whenever you can. For example, you can install them on storage cabinets, doors, closets, you get the idea. It means you can enlarge your living space without encroaching on your space.
Going multifunctional works particularly well in bathrooms and kitchens. For example, placing a mirror behind a freestanding bath can really add to that sense of luxury and space. And you get that functional bonus of being able to use the mirror to get ready in the morning!
I hope these ideas give you that creative jump-start you were looking for. Remember, you don’t need to spend a fortune to make it work. Thrift shops, eBay, or even a mirror from your local Walmart can really help give your space a much-needed spatial boost.