Using Mirrors to Create Space

You may not be able to add another room to a small apartment, but you can create the appearance of more room with a carefully placed mirror. The reflection of your room can get you thinking that you really have double the square footage than you actually do — it may not be there, but your mental perception of the space seen in a mirror can make a small apartment seem less cramped.

Interior designer Michelle Rohrer-Lauer has 25 years of experience as a designer. During her career, she’s seen mirrors used to good effect in some small spaces.

Michelle suggests, “Using mirrors is a great way to add depth to a space. If you mirror an entire wall, you will double the space because the mirrors reflect your identical space. While this is a great trick, it is important to be careful in adding mirrors to an entire wall. If you have furniture in front of the mirror, it is a great way to get the same effect without having the hazard of a wall of hanging mirrors.”

If you aren’t ready to mirror a whole wall at once, you can start by just hanging one or two mirrors. Larger pieces are typically more effective, but with the concern of trying to hang a large piece of mirrored glass on a wall that doesn’t belong to you, starting out on the smaller end of mirror options may be a practical option. Putting together a collection of smaller framed mirrors can offer some design opportunity as well.

There are many opportunities to use mirrors to create visual interest within a room. Michelle offered up a further suggestion: “Another way to add depth to a room would be to create a pattern of framed mirrors and different shapes to create a pattern. This artistic approach adds an element of design and helps add depth to the room. The reflection of the mirrors is seen in fractional pieces which can add an interesting look to the space.”

It’s not hard to find attractive framed mirrors, whether or not you’re designing on a budget, garage sales and thrift stores can turn up truly unique pieces. Even mirrors that have aged a little can still make a stunning impact when you put them on your wall.