Increase space in the apartment with mirrors top ideas

In addition to performing the main function of reflection, mirror surfaces are often used as decoration elements. With the help of beautiful mirrors you can decorate the interior, achieve the effect of a visual increase in the room.

Use reflective surfaces in the interior with caution: if installed incorrectly, you can get a negative effect that will affect the perception of the room.

Mirrors in the interior of the living room: expanding the space through the intricacies of installation.

Effects

A visual increase in space is far from the only task that can be dealt with through mirrors. It is important to have an understanding of the processes of refraction and scattering of light. Using mirror surfaces, you can:

Visually make room size larger. So you can solve the problem of insufficient footage.
Make the room brighter. If the mirror surface reflects light sources, the luminous flux can be evenly scattered, creating the effect of having an additional lighting device.

Room fullness. If the living room is not replete with decorative elements, using the mirror you can create the illusion of filled space.
Proportions. Using a reflective surface, you can visually change the height, width and length of the room.
Emphasis on interior. If you need to highlight some decorating element, a mirror is placed opposite it. An additional emphasis is created on the reflected subject.

From the whole variety of mirror products, it is important to choose the most suitable option depending on the style of the interior and the purpose of use. Mirrors differ in form, frame and other characteristics. For the living room, the following mirror paintings are perfect:

In frame

The frame is a separate decorative element that should harmoniously fit into the interior design. The frame of reflective products has many variations: you can purchase a product with a finished frame, order from a master or make it yourself (if you have the appropriate skills).

It is important that the frame blends well with the decorative elements and furniture of the interior.

Framed products are perfect for classic design styles.

Faceted

This type of mirror is obtained by decorative surface treatment: the edge is removed from the edges of the mirror at an angle of 5 to 40 mm. The finished product is distinguished by the elegance of lines and volume.

How to place mirrors

To achieve a positive result, it is important to properly position the mirror. To do this, listen to the following tips:

A narrow room can be expanded if you hang a mirror opposite the window.
The rectangular shape of the room is easy to correct and you can give it a square look if you hang mirrors on long walls.
It is possible to add airiness and lightness if the mirror is placed opposite a bright, voluminous and catchy element of decor.

These are the basic guidelines for using mirrors. It is also worth paying attention to what it is absolutely impossible to do in small rooms:

Put three-dimensional objects next to the mirror - sofas, cabinets, armchairs.
The presence of a large number of small objects will create an effect of chaos and disorder, which will intensify when reflected in a mirror surface.

Important! It is not advisable to use floor models in small rooms. They take away a useful place and can interfere with free passage.

Framing Mirrors

Framing plays an important role in shaping the interior. The general perception and mood of space depends on it.

Note! For small rooms, it is worth giving preference to mirrors without a frame.

A frameless mirror may seem boring, but it is not. It is not necessary to use classic shapes - squares, rectangles or ovals, you can choose more original options. These include silhouettes of female figures, flowers, butterflies, waves.

Mirror Compositions

The composition of several mirrors is ideal for narrow and long corridors. Mirrors are hung along the long wall, from which when the light is turned on, additional rays will be emitted and scattered around the room.

Note! When placing mirrors opposite each other, additional visual corridors will be created that will expand the room.

Such compositions may be symmetric and asymmetric. The main thing is not to overload the interior.

Mirrored Furniture

Today minimalism is in fashion, which tends to use a minimal amount of furniture with a reflective surface. For this, the front facades are finished with mirrors. This option is suitable for kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms. In addition to the modern appearance, the facades will expand the room, and make it easier.

In the small kitchen you can place a table with a mirror surface, in the bedroom it can be a coffee table.

The following items with a mirror surface will help to complement the image and refresh it:

Vases.
Frames of photographs and paintings.
Window slopes.
Skirting boards and cornices.

Mirror mosaic

It is not necessary to use ordinary mirrors, you can replace them with a special mosaic located on one wall - accent.

Note! The honeycomb walls diversify the interior and add a touch of freshness and originality to it. Honeycombs can be large or small, located on a wall or occupy it completely.

Do not forget about the decoration of the ceiling. It occupies most of the room and affects it, so as an option to decorate the ceiling with a mirror. It is not possible to use a whole fragment on it, so one option remains - a mirror mosaic.

In any case, the mirror will refresh the interior, visually expand its boundaries, the main thing is to position it correctly.

Functions of mirrors in the interior

Before choosing mirrors for the living room, you need to carefully consider the room, figuring out where you can install and where not. Do not forget about the functionality of mirrors. Proper placement of mirrors can give effects such as:

Expansion of free space. Often used for small apartments.
Lighting improvement. The mirror can be positioned to reflect bright objects, such as lighting fixtures or windows.
Visual increase in wealth. By installing a mirror opposite any decorative objects, you can visually increase their number.
Change in proportions.
Focusing attention. An installed mirror opposite an important object in the interior will help to focus on it.

But there are certain installation rules that should not be neglected:

It is impossible to prevent the mirrors from reflecting in each other, the constant contemplation of the endless labyrinth can adversely affect mental health.
Mirrors in dark rooms reduce the room, it is best to install in bright rooms.
Do not allow the reflection of more than two large objects in the mirror. A large number of items will look messy.
According to the recommendations of psychologists, do not install mirrors in prominent places. Long observation of your reflection can make people nervous.
If the mirror is used for decorative purposes, then it must be installed at least one and a half meters from the floor.

Mirror placement

Proper placement is perhaps the most important part. After all, a successfully installed mirror critically affects the entire appearance of the room.

A mirror in a dark corner will visually make the room narrow, and in a bright one - exactly the opposite.

Here is a short list of the most successful and common places.

Classic places to install

Mirror over the sofa in the living room. Perhaps the most famous way. While relaxing on the couch, the mirror will not catch your eye and annoy.

Above the fireplace. Usually this space is always empty, and a mirror will help fill the void.

On the wall adjacent to the window. It will illuminate the room.

Between two windows.

Mirror wall

Suitable for visual expansion of the living room space. It is not necessary to make a wall entirely from a mirror. There are many design options, from mosaics to ornaments, which will emphasize your unusual taste.

In fact, you can install mirrors as you like, because the ultimate goal of the designer is the comfort of the owners of the apartment, and if everything is in order, then the designer coped.

If your room adheres to a unique design, then it is worth considering options for the design of mirrors. Properly selected frame (or lack thereof) will allow the mirror to fit well into the interior.

Frame decoration

If you decide to frame the mirror, then this issue should be treated responsibly. The frame should fit the rest of the room in design. For example, if the room is made in the style of "country", then the frame may be made of curving twigs or wood.

If the living room is made in the classical style, then a carved wood or a baroque frame is suitable.

For Art Deco, for example, elaborate ornaments or lace are well suited.

For minimalism or Hi-tech, a thin white frame, or its absence at all, is suitable, as discussed below.

Frameless design

Minimalism has become more and more popular in recent times. Highlights of this style are expressed in its name.

The less detail the better. For example, the design of a living room with mirrors can be done by installing one large mirror wall. The living room will become visually larger and brighter.

High-tech is a bit like minimalism in its simplicity of form. A simple round or rectangular shape of a mirror is suitable here.

Mirrors and Light

In order for the mirror to fully reveal its potential, proper illumination is necessary. First of all, it is necessary to decide what goals we pursue by lighting a particular mirror.

If a mirror is used to create style, then reflection should be perfect. To do this, you can place a backlight around the perimeter of the mirror or two lamps on both sides of the mirror.

If the mirror occupies the entire wall or is mounted on a cabinet, then you can install small lamps in the floor and ceiling, and place a tint in the corners.

Successful placement of mirrors will help illuminate the room. A mirror reflects light, so just set it so that it reflects its source.

In studio apartments you can play with local lighting. It will help to break one space into several smaller ones and focus on the mirror.

Mirrors are an unusual and highly sophisticated decoration tool, allowing you to play with the size of the room and its lighting. But do not forget the laws of physics and use in unsuitable design mirrors in rooms.

After only familiarizing yourself with the many subtleties of the installation, or perhaps after consulting with a specialist, you can begin to install mirrors.

How to install mirrors yourself?

If you are a jack of all trades, then installation and design can be carried out independently, you should only adhere to the main points:

The wall needs to be assembled from separate pieces, for example tiles, but in this case it is necessary to determine what will happen between them.
Large monolithic mirrors are best installed with the help of wizards.
If the mirror is cracked or broken, it is best to buy a new one. Not because of superstitions, but because decorating a room with a broken mirror is ugly and dangerous.

Photo selection of interior living room using mirrors

Question answer

No, modern tempered glass is strong enough and hard to break. But at the same time, it is not necessary to arrange furniture for strength tests, the glass is easily scratched. And scratched glass visually “ages” the furniture.

If you are a fan of an unusual approach to design, then of course you can. A crooked mirror will regularly cheer you and guests up, as well as show that you have a sense of humor. It is advisable to use it in a large living room and not in a prominent place. Most often, such mirrors are used in rooms made in the style of "Hi-tech" or minimalism.

Consider the entire repertoire of roles that a mirror plays in the interior

1. Expansion of space
Perhaps the main role of the mirror in the interior. Narrow spaces, as if by magic, doubled. For such a focus, you should not be shy in size - if possible, install a mirror on the entire wall, from corner to corner, from floor to ceiling.

Tip: Follow the measure! With huge mirrored surfaces in the interior, it's pretty easy to go to extremes. Say, the mirror facades of the cabinets should not fall into the field of view of the person lying on the bed, otherwise you can accidentally be afraid of your own reflection.

Mosaic

This variety will be a great option for the smallest rooms. This type of coating copes with the task of scattering light, making the room visually larger.

The interior with a decorating element will look original. Mirror tiles look great in modern design styles.

Songs

From models of various shapes and sizes, it is possible to compose compositions on the entire wall or part thereof.

If framed mirrors are used, it is advisable to choose products with the same frames.

If you are composing a composition of reflective paintings of various shapes and sizes, it is important that the frames of the products are combined with each other.

Panel

This design option is inappropriate in large rooms, in small living rooms a mirror ceiling will help to increase the space. The mirror surface can be solid or lined with diamonds. Usually this panel is placed on the entire wall.

Floor

Most often, such varieties are large mirrors with a heavy frame. There are two options for placing such a model in a room: by the wall or on a special stand.

In different styles

If you plan to use a mirror canvas in order to increase the living room space, do not forget that such a product is an element of decor. It is important not only to correctly install the reflective surface, but also to choose the right model for the interior design. Let's consider some recommendations for different styles:

Classical. For this style, large mirrors are ideal in a dimensional frame made of wood. The frame can be decorated with carvings. Antique models look great in this style, it is appropriate to use furniture with mirrors.
Baroque. Models with a chic frame are appropriate here. It’s good if the decor of the frame is bronze.

High tech. Strict clear forms and lines will be most welcome. Framed models can be used if the frame is small. Preference should be given to square, round or rectangular shape.
Minimalism. Mirrors without a frame will look great. You can decorate the wall with a mirror panel.

Country. Models of a simple form with a frame of wood will do. Additionally, the product can be decorated with dry branches.
Art Deco. Round models are suitable for this style. An interesting option would be a product in the form of a sun. The mirror frame may include additional decorative elements.

Loft. A good option would be to design large mirrors with a frame made of natural materials. It can be rough wood or even metal. Due to the large weight of the frame, such products are often installed on the floor against the wall.

Provence. For the interior, products of the correct geometric shape (circle or rectangle) with an elegant frame are suitable. It is better if the frame is made in the form of elegant patterns, curls and painted in delicate colors.
Modern. The most suitable type of mirror coatings will be a model with a frame in the natural theme of wood or metal. There are original frames made in the form of branches.

Above the sofa

Mirror surfaces are not recommended to be installed in the most visible places, so that households and guests cannot constantly see their reflection while in the room. A place above the sofa would be a great option.. Such an arrangement will not harm the interior design, create a harmonious composition, and contribute to the visual expansion of space.

Above the fireplace

The wall above the heater is usually left blank. You can fill in the empty space near the fireplace with the help of a mirror.

The presence of a decorating element above the fireplace will make the interior design more attractive. At the edges of the fireplace, you can put two small elegant lamps.

Between the windows

This placement option will achieve the effect of having an additional window. This wall-mounted accommodation is ideal for designing a French-style living room design.

Rules

Improper installation of the mirror can adversely affect the appearance of the room and create an unpleasant effect. To avoid mistakes when installing mirrors in a small living room, it is worth considering some rules and recommendations. Consider the most important:

An empty wall should not be reflected in the mirror surface. This arrangement will visually reduce the area of the room.
No need to install a reflective sheet opposite the window. This will not contribute to increasing the level of illumination of the room.

The furniture wall of large sizes, as well as other large objects should not be reflected in the mirror, otherwise the room will seem overloaded.
Visually increasing the space with a reflective surface in a small narrow room is possible provided that the interior design is made in bright colors.

In a dark room, the mirror surface can visually make the size of the room even smaller.

No need to place mirrors so that they come to the fore in the room and focus on themselves all the attention.

It is not recommended to place a reflective surface on a high ceiling.
If you install the mirrors opposite each other, you get an unpleasant effect through the mirror.
Do not place the reflective surface too close to the light source.
If the mirror will be used only as a decorative element, it must be placed at a distance of one and a half meters from the floor.

Useful Tips

Based on the rules for the selection and placement of reflective surfaces, you can independently install products in such a way as to obtain the desired visual effect. There are a number of ready-made solutions for changing space with the help of mirrors, which can be safely applied in practice:

To visually increase the area and change the shape of a rectangular room, you need to hang a mirror on a long wall. So the size of the room will visually become twice as large, and its shape will appear square.
Mirror paintings throughout the wall will help visually increase the space of a small and narrow room.

If the sofa in the living room is opposite the window, several small rectangular mirrors above the sofa will help to visually double the room.
If you need to create a corridor effect in a long rectangular room, you need to place a reflective product on a narrow wall.

The height of the living room can be increased with a mirrored ceiling.
To increase the level of illumination of the room, you can additionally illuminate the mirror with an LED strip. A large mirror on the entire wall is illuminated by spots that are placed on the floor and ceiling.

Good examples

The round mirror surface above the fireplace harmoniously fits into the interior design. The frame of the mirror is designed in the form of sun rays. Two small lamps are installed next to the product.

A large mirror panel behind the sofa does not overload the room, adds lightness to the room.

A harmonious composition of three mirror surfaces mounted on an adjacent wall window. In addition, lamps are placed next to large reflective canvases. This arrangement allows you to fill the room with light.

A large rectangular mirror in a classic frame above the sofa in the living room. The color of the frame blends perfectly with furniture and decor. To illuminate the mirror used spots.