Ent. & Lifestyle
Where should a mirror be placed within the room?
The most important aspect is to consider what the mirror will reflect. A mirror should ideally reflect something beautiful, useful or visually interesting—not clutter or an unattractive feature like a bland wall.
A mirror should ideally reflect something beautiful, useful or visually interesting—not clutter or an unattractive feature like a bland wall. (File)
By: Jackie Nalubwama, Journalist @New Vision
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Like most things in life, it is not about whether or not you have attained something so much as how you have applied it.
The same applies to interior design, especially in our favourite space of all time: home. If one chooses to have mirrors to feature in the home as a decorative piece or for its functionality, one has to be intentional about its position to have the greatest effect.
Karim Kyaligonza of Kings Décor is of the view that a mirror strategically placed in a room makes a space seem larger than it is. And ultimately, it opens up small spaces.
Catherine Kwizera, an interior designer, says the most important aspect is to consider what the mirror will reflect.
“A mirror should ideally reflect something beautiful, useful or visually interesting—not clutter or an unattractive feature like a bland wall.
She suggests that for maximum impact, position mirrors where they can capture natural light from windows and reflect it back into the room.
“Opposite or adjacent to a window can work particularly well, depending on the room’s layout and the view outside,” she says, inferring that if it is opposite the window that opens into a garden, the mirror will reflect the beauty of flowers and other plants.
Besides reflecting light, Kwizera says the size of a mirror is also important when considering where to place it.
“Scale is also important. A tiny mirror on a large wall can look lost, while an oversized mirror can overwhelm a small space. The mirror should relate proportionally to the furniture and wall it occupies,” says Kwizera.
Lastly, Kwizera says mirrors should not simply be placed on an empty wall.
She suggests that for maximum impact, position mirrors where they can capture natural light from windows and reflect it back into the room.
“Opposite or adjacent to a window can work particularly well, depending on the room’s layout and the view outside,” she says, inferring that if it is opposite the window that opens into a garden, the mirror will reflect the beauty of flowers and other plants.
Besides reflecting light, Kwizera says the size of a mirror is also important when considering where to place it.
“Scale is also important. A tiny mirror on a large wall can look lost, while an oversized mirror can overwhelm a small space. The mirror should relate proportionally to the furniture and wall it occupies,” says Kwizera.
Lastly, Kwizera says mirrors should not simply be placed on an empty wall.
Tips for placing mirrors in a space
-Good mirror placement is intentional.
-It should enhance light
-It should improve the perception of space
-Serve as a practical function or act as a focal point.
-When these considerations are combined, a mirror becomes more than a reflective surface it becomes an important design tool.
-Good mirror placement is intentional.
-It should enhance light
-It should improve the perception of space
-Serve as a practical function or act as a focal point.
-When these considerations are combined, a mirror becomes more than a reflective surface it becomes an important design tool.