Using mirrors to enlarge your room and brighten your space

“Mirrors create the illusion of space by reflecting both light and the surrounding environment,” says Arash Rezghi, director at Omid Glass Ltd. in Coquitlam, which custom crafts glass and mirrors for businesses and residences. “When placed strategically, such as across from a window or at the end of a room, they visually ‘double’ the space, making areas feel larger and more open.”

He says large, frameless mirrors tend to be the most effective at expanding a space visually because they create a seamless reflection. “Minimal or thin frames also help maintain a clean, open look. Vertical mirrors help emphasize height, making ceilings feel taller, while wide, horizontal mirrors can make a room appear broader.”

He says tall mirrors are ideal for entryways, small bedrooms and narrow spaces where you want to create a sense of height by drawing the eye upward. “Full wall mirrors are especially effective in smaller rooms, gyms, or basements, for maximizing the sense of openness.”

Lucila Diaz, founder and creative director at Harmony Sense Interiors in North Vancouver, agrees a well-placed mirror can open up a room through reflection, but she advises being careful about what you’re reflecting. “It will extend sightlines but if it’s extending to something not worth looking at, such as clutter, messy countertops, etc., then you’ll just double the problem. But if you’re reflecting (a clean, interesting space), then you’re doubling the clean space and distracting from clutter.”