Does a room in your home feel somewhat cramped no matter how you arrange your furniture? We may have the solution for you. Mirrors! We don’t mean a magician with mirrors and smoke, though. We mean getting a custom mirror made by Janssen Glass & Door specifically for your problem area. Here are four tips on how you can use custom mirror solutions to make a small room appear larger.
When choosing the style of mirror to use, take the entire room into consideration. You can have a simple, classic and clean mirror with no edging and a simple frame, or you could have an antiqued and muted reflecting mirror with raised edging and a painted frame. Plain and simple to gilded gold – it all depends on the decor in your room.
Propping
Propping a large floor length mirror behind a piece of furniture in small spaces visually creates a larger space.
Whether you prop it behind a regular chair, an overstuffed chair, or an entry table, make sure to use a mirror that is the same width of the furniture and about twice as tall.
This will give the piece prominence and make it feel purposeful rather than like an afterthought.
Entryways are great places to try this as they are the first impression your guests experience and they give you a convenient place to take a quick wardrobe once-over before you walk out the door to face the world.
To be on the safe side, it’s best to attach the mirror to the wall with brackets even if you are resting the mirror on the floor.
Related Read: New Ways to Bring Light Into Your Home Using Glass & Mirrors
Positioning Is Key
When deciding on where to place your oversized mirror for the biggest size-boosting properties, place it on the same wall, or a neighboring wall to a natural light source.
This placement will allow natural light to be reflected back into your home, thereby increasing your perception of light and space in the room.
If you place an oversized mirror on a wall directly across from a natural light source, the light will bounce directly off of the mirror and right back out the same window. This will leave you with the same measly light you had in the room to begin with.
Use the Light
Place a mirror behind a light source. Whether it’s behind a candle, a pendant light, or a bedside lamp, a mirror will help to maximize the light’s reach while creating an almost magical effect.
Duplicate Windows
Create another window by placing a mirror at an angle next to the real deal.The reflection maximizes the effect of natural light and pleasant outdoor views, allowing you to appreciate them from multiple angles.
Make a Mirror Wall
Mirror wall! Now, we’re not talking about covering the entire wall in one big mirror. While that can be a bit too much, using mirrors as a design element can add a fun, interesting feel while expanding the visual space in the room at the same time.
There are three approaches you can use to create this effect. Simply hang a collection of similar small mirrors (in the same way you would use pictures).
When hung in a grid pattern, this creates a fun window effect. You can hang large panels of antiqued mirrors (this breaks up the reflection and reads almost more like art than mirror). Or you can use a single large framed mirror. The trim will give the mirror context rather than leaving your guests to figure out whether that’s really a wall or another room.
Other Tips to Make a Small Space Seem Larger
Skip Window Treatments
Heavy curtains can make the windows seem smaller and also let less light into the room. Let the windows speak for themselves and keep the look light and clean. Streamlined.
Use Lighter Colors
Lighter colors make a small space seem airy and open. Dark shades will close it in.
Paint Walls and Trim Similar Colors
Paint your walls, trim, and detailing in different shades of one color, such as white, off-white, and beige to expand a room. You can also try pairing gallery white walls with a very pale gray on trim and detailing. By not defining the specific parts of the wall, it all blends expanding the visual palette.
Reduce Clutter
Fewer items will make the room seem larger. Keep accessories and smaller pieces of furniture to a minimum.
Float Your Furniture
Sometimes the natural inclination when trying to make a room seem bigger is to push the furniture against the walls creating an open space in the middle. Try angling your bed or “floating” the sofa in the living room. Breathing room around your furniture lends the appearance of more space. Experiment and have fun!