A New Kitchen

Tips For Using Mirrors To Amplify The Natural Light In Your Home

8 August 2016

Elizabeth Mendoza

If your home is looking dark and dreary, but you aren't sure what to do to brighten it up, you may want to consider strategically-placed mirrors throughout your home. Mirrors can open up and brighten an area, allowing you to amplify the natural light the room receives. Consider these options for adding mirrors to your home to create a lighter atmosphere.

Kitchens and Dining Rooms

Take the lead from commercial kitchens and dining areas and create a crisp clean look to your kitchen or dining room area by adding a wall of mirrors. This expands the space and reflects light into all areas of the room. But, you aren't limited to traditional wall mirrors. Try a backsplash of mirrors or cover the cabinet doors with mirrors to lighten up your kitchen. Mirroring a wall opposite a window in the dining room will reflect the view from outside and is a great way to bring a bit of nature inside. If your view is less than desirable, hang plants in front of the mirrored wall to create the illusion of lush foliage in the background.

Living Rooms and Family Rooms

Living rooms and family rooms are often tucked away in the center of the house where natural light is limited. If your living room is dark or has limited light, mirrors may be just the thing to brighten it up.  Try mirroring the wall opposite an open area or opposite a window. If those aren't options, mirror the wall behind lamps so it will reflect a soft glow in the evening. You can even mirror two adjacent walls to further bounce light throughout the room.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are well suited for floor to ceiling mirrors and they serve several functions. They can be used for surveying your makeup and attire before you head out for the day, but they also make the room look clean and tidy. Mirrored bathrooms work well for small areas or bathrooms with high windows, because they help disperse the natural light from outside.

Work Spaces

If you have home office tucked into a nook or modified closet, you already know that lighting can be a problem. If your desk faces the wall, you can use mirrors to ease the closed-in feeling. Place the mirrors so they reflect the entrance to your work space so you can see if anyone approaches you from behind. According to the ancient practice of Feng Shui, this will prevent others from "stabbing you in the back" and will improve your comfort level, too.

Considerations When Decorating with Mirrors

Using mirrors to reflect light and open up areas of your home can change the entire look and feel of your home, but there are some drawbacks.

• Mirrors must be cleaned frequently. Mirrors have a way of collecting dust and showing fingerprints and other debris. If you have small children or pets, be prepared to wash the mirrors frequently. Likewise, mirrors used as back splashes in the kitchen will collect dust and grease quickly.
• Mirrors may create glare. Direct sunlight on the mirror may create an uncomfortable or harsh glare in the room. Likewise, mirroring a wall that catches the flash of headlights from vehicles passing your home at night may be annoying. Think about the angle of the sun and any outside sources of light that may reflect in your mirrors.
• Mirrors reflect everything. Tucking that pair of shoes behind the chair or storing seldom-used items in the corner may seem like a great idea, but if you have mirrored walls, they will be reflected back into the room. Without care, mirrors can make your room look cluttered instead of sleek and clean. Just remember that your mirrors will reflect everything in the room. If you are a clutter bug, or live with someone who is, mirrors may not be the best solution for brightening and lightening your home.

Whether you choose to mirror an entire wall, or be more conservative with small mirrors, you can use mirrors to enhance the beauty of your home and take advantage of natural light. For more information, contact a business such as Ridge Glass & Mirror.

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