We’re all aware that mirrors can have an ability to change how we see a room and the space within it. Oddly though, it seems that a lot of people are missing the trick. Mirrors are seen as purely functional items. They help with making us look presentable before we leave the house, certainly. However, with a little thought behind the shape of the mirror, and where they’re placed, the difference can be incredible.

One of the oldest tricks in the book is placing a mirror directly opposite a door or window. Naturally reflecting the light creates this wonderful illusion of broader spaces. It seems obvious when you think about it; it makes perfect sense, and is fairly easy to achieve.

What of the odd shapes of room? The awkward walls and elongated spaces?

Sometimes it’s those peculiar nooks and crannies that attract us to a house. But those very individualities can be a headache when we try to get creative. Surprisingly, it’s not such a pain to enhance those difficult rooms. Long corridors and thin rooms lend themselves to this very well. By placing a mirror on the longest wall, the impression of depth is added, and the shorter walls are balanced out.

When we take away the purely functional aspect of the mirror, a new world opens up to us, and our homes unfold in beautiful and interesting new ways.