Mirrors are a standard decorative and functional element in bathrooms and changing rooms, but they rarely find their place in the remaining rooms of a house. And that is a shame, since mirrors have a lot to offer to each space, especially to confined and dark spaces. When placed strategically and chosen well, mirrors can truly make the room look more refined, fresh, brighter and bigger. There is no reason to discriminate against them as bathroom-only items. Here are some great ideas on how to use mirrors as decorative features.

Place It across the Lighting Source

If your room lacks light, you can compensate by placing a mirror across the lighting source and create a reflection that will spread the light throughout the space. You can even play with it and place one smaller mirror across each lamp or bulb. If you put one across the window, you will simultaneously make the room appear bigger and brighter.

Mirrors on Adjacent Walls

What is better than one mirror? Well, two mirrors, of course. If you line adjacent walls with mirrors, they will make the light bounce around the room. It can be a great décor statement, if used in the right places. This project would work best in the dining room where it will create the illusion of a bigger crowd around the table. Keep in mind though, that dining room lighting should be a bit more subtle, so don’t use a too bright bulb.

Make It Double Duty

If you are stuck in a room where all the walls are already decorated with something or there are some walls where it wouldn’t make sense to put a mirror (by the bed), there is a way (or shall we say a door) out, and that is installing sliding mirror wardrobe doors. It will not take an inch of space, and it will look fabulous. Another plus is that the mirror will be big enough for a head-to-toe glance when trying out clothes.

Mirror in the Kitchen? It’s Possible.

It’s no joke; a mirror in the kitchen can look truly amazing if you choose the right style. A vintage looking kitchen with wooden cabinets and countertop would look more appealing with a wood-framed mirror to complement the look and give a homier vibe. Sure, this type of mirror wouldn’t belong in all-steel modernist kitchen, where a minimalistic metal-framed mirror would work much better.

Expanding the Hallway

Entryways always look a bit claustrophobic and narrow. You could easily open up that space by placing a full-size mirror at the end of the entryway, thus making it look more expansive. If you want to make it even more chic, you can put a large floor mirror that will at the same time be a great decorative element, especially if you go with some more extravagant or retro look.

An Accent Wall

Who need framed photos when you can just use a bunch of small mirrors to create an accent wall in your living room? All you need to do is to find mirrors with different shapes, frames and borders, to create an appealing visual texture. Just keep in mind not to go overboard and create a chaotic, cluttered appearance, you want it to look stylish, like a gallery wall and not like a funhouse exhibition. You can also mix in a couple of mirrors into your artwork or photo wall.

Above the Headboard

Another great way to use a mirror as a decorative element is to place it over the bed. There is actually nothing better to put on that big blank space above the headboard. Since most headboards are rectangle-shaped, go with a round mirror (sunburst perhaps) to create a striking contrast.

These were just a few ideas on how you can use mirrors to glam-up and light-up your space. We hope you’ll come up with some of your own.

Guest Post By:

Chloe is an art historian, recreational ballet dancer and a contributor at smoothdecorator.com. She is passionate about photography, dance and music. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world with her husband and take stunning photographs of beautiful places. She also enjoys learning and writing about home design, since she is crazy about aesthetics. You can find Chloe on FB, Twitter, and G+.