Tricks With Mirrors

Interior Design

• A convex mirror provides a special effect in a room. It will alter the perception and enhance the style of your interior design. Intriguing choices include mirrors situated at an angle to face each other. This breaks up the reflections and provides a mosaic effect, each mirror feeding off the other's projection. Long mirrors, placed vertically on one wall, will elongate the appearance of the space. The reflections will capture fragments of the interior, creating an optical illusion of length. The same mirrors, organized horizontally, will effectively widen an area. Decorating with mirrors in a room that lacks adequate lighting will expand the space and help illuminate dark areas.

Artistic Backgrounds

• Using a mirror as a canvas can add an interesting effect to artwork. Many designs create silhouettes to reflect on a mirrored surface. Mirrors added onto other media formats break up a piece of art and provide symmetry. For example, an outside door accent with metal borders will reflect the exterior and create the illusion of your yard on the door. The border adds an artistic touch to the piece. Wall designs frequently add a slice of mirror surface to change the texture of the canvas. The reflection from the mirror expands the art by adding images that are not painted. Adding a mirror to a piece of art may be what makes the work a masterpiece.

Old Mirrors

• Building a stylish piece of furniture can take an old mirror out of the garage and put it into service. Mirrors can be table surfaces, backgrounds for shelving units or even create an architectural piece, such as a vase or fancy step-like shelf. Painted or etched mirrors make fun additions to the sides of any surface, such as a small end table. Use the basic design concepts for mirrors but add them to furniture. Elongate a room, spread out the lighting and give the space the illusion of expansion. Most pieces of trash furniture will look fresh with a new finish and a mirror addition.