If any of you have seen my work, particularly my contemporary and modern looks, you’ll know I love mirrors. I love working with mirror and reflective surfaces to create a completely different visual effect in a space. They are one of the few things that can help you create visual “tricks” to transform a room, no matter what you’re working with. I wanted to go through a few of my favorite ways to use mirrors to make a room look bigger and more luxurious. I love using these tricks with clients homes and in my own space.
Mirror obstacles to open up your space:
Have you ever tried to design around a difficult obstruction in a space? I recently designed my condo in Las Vegas from a complete gray shell. The one thing I couldn’t customize was these big columns in the middle of my bar/living room area. I racked my brain over what to do with them for a bit. I wanted to make them disappear but, structurally, that wasn’t going to work. So, instead, I played a visual trick to make them “disappear” with mirrors. I covered them with a full mirror “brick” tile and they blend in while contrasting my concrete floors in a really interesting way.
Mirror a wall or part of a wall for a whole new room:
I have a difficult time working with very narrow spaces and making them look roomy and welcoming. One of my go-to tricks is to cover one of the walls on the narrowest side with as much mirror as possible or using a large floor mirror. It makes the room visually look wider and more open. It feels less claustrophobic and reflects like really well to keep it from looking too dark. Hanging light fixtures mixed with mirror have an awesome effect as well! They look doubled up and more grand.
Mirror ceilings for extra height you don’t have to pay for:
From: arhomes.usThe usual response for ceilings is to just go ahead and paint them white to avoid making a room look “too dark” or clash with the color palette for the room. One of the biggest complaints or selling points for homeowners is ceiling height, as well. You can do so much more with ceilings to satisfy all needs! I love a ceiling with some mirror accents to make the room look much bigger. It’s something unexpected and draws the eyes up for a grander room.
Mirror tiles for something glamorous:
I love mirrors so much, I even designed them into my own tile line. Everyone loves an impactful backsplash and I couldn’t think of a better way. The mirrored pieces in my tile reflect light so well off of whatever lighting fixtures you’ve chosen. They also fit into nearly any style. That’s the thing about mirror, it’s not a certain style or color, it’s versatile. I’ve seen it used in traditional looks as well as modern. It doesn’t matter; it creates the same effect of luxury.
There you have it: my favorite ways to use mirrors to “cheat” your design a bit. Next time you’re stuck in a rut with your space or a client’s, remember some of these and rethink the way you’re looking at it!
Best of luck,
Kelli
