Daily Times

Apart from telling you that you look beautiful every day, mirrors can be used creatively at strategic points in the house to enhance the decor.

Here are some ways to use them in a creative manner. Add sparkle to your cooking – mirrors in the kitchen can attract grease and grime, so use them in a smart way. One way of doing this is by using an antique mirror with a smoky effect. Place them in such a way that they don’t attract unnecessary soot. Mirrors for outdoor areas – if you have an outdoor area, terrace or a big balcony you can use a clear mirror to make the space look much larger. Use mirrors with appropriate frames as per the theme of the outdoor area.

Smart use of mirrors in the bedroom – according to vaastu and feng shui experts, mirrors placed in front of your sleeping area are a strict no, but with proper advice and creativity you can place them in areas other than these. Place them in such a way that they reflect light from the lampshade.

Make the bathroom look elegant – use lean mirrors instead of bulky ones for the bathroom area with shades like bronze, cinnamon and dark chocolate. You can also buy modern mirrors with chrome finish.

Try mirrored furniture – you can buy mirrored furniture like a chest of drawers or coffee table with mirrors on it. If you have a small roon, you can place them next to a wall and it will give an illusion of the floor extending beyond the wall.

Use them creatively in your hall – take mirrors of different shapes and sizes and frame them. The frames can be ornate, antique, funky or anything that you like. Create a collection of these frames on the wall and they will look like artwork. Mirrors can also be used to lighten the look of your seating area if you have used vibrant paint on the wall.

Do’s and Don’ts while using mirrors – do use big mirrors in small rooms. This creates an illusion of adding more depth to the room, so go ahead and use a big mirror.

Try having wall-to-wall mirrors.

Do use mirrors even in small spaces.

Use a horizontal mirror in a narrow hallway or staircase, to widen the space.

Don’t just use mirrors anywhere.

Don’t hang a mirror to cover any empty wall space.

Make sure the mirror reflects something good to look at and not a pile of unused things in the hall or a laundry basket in the bathroom.

Don’t have too many mirrors in the kitchen since they need constant maintenance.