Design Ideas: Mirrors
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Mirrors Reflect Your Sense of Style!
These wonderful reflective surfaces come in so many shapes, sizes, styles and finishes that every home should have more than just one of these beauties. Like a lamp, a mirror can help make a space brighter and lighter in feeling. I guess it is no wonder why these two items are the most popular selling accessories for the consumers trying to create great environments that people want to be in and enjoy.
One of the main reasons why mirrored surfaces are so successful is because they absorb the colors in the room’s décor and help bounce it around the entire setting to create movement. Another reason to use them is, because depending on where you place a mirror, it can help reflect a beautiful view into a spot where there was none. But beware, it can also reflect a “bad or unflattering view” if you use it in the wrong spot! Like the neighbors garbage cans, a dirty brick wall or a view of the powder room water closet. Of course the most common use is to make a space feel larger, lighter and to create open-like portholes on solid dense surfaces.
Some of the tricks of the design trade are:
1. If you combine lamps with mirrors in one location it will produce twice the “sparkle magic”.
2. Say you have a mirror that does not fill the wall space quite well, then you can visually extend it vertically by adding a thick nice rope, ribbon or chain to the top of it in an inverted “v” shape. With a decorative finial or large button on the top center point, this will help extend the look. If you want to extend the look horizontally, then you can add wall brackets, candelabras, light sconces or picture frames (in the same finish as the mirror frame) on either side.
3. To make smaller mirrors feel more important, group a few of them together that have a similar theme in a cluster format that will create a great conversation piece.
4. You can achieve a world traveled layered effect by placing a small mirror on a console, chest or side piece off to one side in front of another mirror, painting, print or tapestry that is hanging on the wall.
The most elegant and impressive way of doing a mirror is “The Big Way”! Floor Mirrors of course. The most dramatic and effective ones are between 6’ to 8” tall and 42” to 60” wide. You can just rest them on the floor at a slight angle with a solid piece, like a small chair, bench, chaise, floral or sculpture on pedestal off to one side of it. These objects help soften the edges and prevent people from walking through it thinking it is a pass-thru opening. The sister to the floor mirror is the Mirrored Panel Screen which works great in dressing up a boring corner, but place a potted floral with an up-light between them and you will really get “drama”! No walls left to hang a mirror, then place one on a floor easel. Swivel and Cheval Floor mirrors are not just functional but they are back in fashion. Some of them look like wrought iron gates or windows with shutters that are wonderful in entry foyers or powder rooms. What Fun!
Oh yeah, one last idea….have you tried a mirror as a serving tray? Place flickering candles or a great centerpiece on it for lots more dimension, but always remember to place protective felt pads on the back to prevent scratching your surfaces. Don’t forget: they will always help you reflect your sense of style anywhere.
By:
Henri Yunes
Creative Director of Huffman Koos
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Have a question about interior design?
Looking for new ways to brighten up your home?
Our Creative Designer Henri Yunes is full of great home design ideas and he is ready to answer your questions! If you have a question about interior design, or are looking for new ideas for a specific room, you should email your questions to Henri and you may just see the answer published on this website!
Please send your interior design and furniture related questions (you may attach photos if necessary) to:
questions@huffmankoos.com
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