The one decorating item that transforms any room in your home

Mirrors are the ultimate decorating tool. Here’s why you should include them in your interiors arsenal.

Both aesthetically pleasing and functional, mirrors offer a stylish solution to an empty wall or floor space, with the ability to add volume and work in with any colour palette or decorating style.

Mirrors can make a dramatic design statement and give the ultimate illusion of space, making small areas within the home feel more spacious.

Whether hung as a single piece, or a number collected together in a cluster, placed perfectly across from a window mirrors help reflect light and colour around the room to double your decorating efforts.

Here are 10 mirror ideas to elevate almost any space in your home.

Foyer in Victorian home with large curved mirror — This Federation home’s been given a sympathetic modern makeover. In the entry, a Jacobean-era console from an antique store in New Zealand has been paired with an MCM House mirror. *(Credit: Photography: Simon Whitbread)*

1. Mix genres with mirrors

Think outside the bathroom and bedroom; mirrors can completely transform a space to bridge the old and the new. An antique mirror can add character to a new build, while a contemporary piece gives a new life to old walls or a heritage interior.

The one decorating item to transform any room in your home | Home Beautiful Magazine Australia — Through the looking glass: a Lewis Carroll-approved gilded mirror works harmoniously with bold paint colour and a marble fireplace. *(Credit: Photography: Natalie Hunfalvay)*

2. Sub in mirrors for art

Want to invest in art but but can’t decide between abstract or impressionist? Photographic print or sculpture? If you’re stuck on what to do with a certain wall, opt for a mirror with a beautiful frame. A mirror can be art in itself, as per the Regency-style piece above.

Large arched mirrors reflecting the garden — These are not windows (honest!). A series of arched mirrors from One World Collection on the verandah of this 100-year-old cottage literally reflect the home’s sprawling gardens. *(Credit: Photography: Louise Roche / Styling: Jessica Bellef)*

3. Reflect the garden

Expertly placed mirrors can reflect both light and views, including of the garden — which brings the outdoors in and can make you feel like you’re surrounded by lush greenery. What about a mirror in your garden, fixed to a courtyard wall, for example? “This can provide the illusion of an entire other space,” says celeb landscape gardener, Charlie Albone. “A mirror can make a space look larger and provide a point of difference in your garden.”

Tall arched mirror in powder room — The wall paint colour in this powder room might be the moody Dulux Rainmaker, but a tall, frameless, arched mirror reflects so much light from the rest of the home. *(Credit: Photography: Nat Spadavecchia / Styling: Fiona Gould)*

4. Bring light into a powder room

Make a small space, such as a powder room, seem significantly bigger with a tall, wall-mounted mirror. This gives the illusion of height, while reflecting light — making what’s often a darker, windowless room seem brighter. Consider a backlit LED mirror, which provides functional light without the need for bulky wall sconces.

5. Enhance entryways with mirrors

A mirror is a classic addition to a hallway or entrance, which is usually the first room guests will see. Stand an ornate framed mirror on a console table or credenza (a great option if you’re renting) or free up tabletop space for decor by fixing the mirror to the wall. To make a statement, you could group several smaller, wall-mounted mirrors together.

Arched floor mirror in dining room of Mediterranean-style home — This Santorini-inspired home in Noosa is made even more (seemingly) spacious with an oversized arched mirror, which helps delineate the dining area from the open-plan kitchen. *(Credit: Photography: Louise Roche / Styling: Kylie Jackes)*

6. Give the gift of height

A tall floor mirror leaning against a wall tricks your mind into thinking the ceilings are higher. In this space, above, where a mirror’s been placed by the dining table, it also gives guests something to look at in the reflection during a dinner party or lunch — rather than a whole lot of wall.

7. Reflect yourself

Turn a tiny bedroom corner into a ‘dressing room’ or makeup station with the addition of a low-hung mirror. All you need is a small desk or floating shelf, a stool or ottoman and, say, a subscription to bellabox. If you have a family or live with housemates it’ll take the pressure off the bathroom at peak hour, too!

Victorian-style hallway with antique mirror — This Federation-era home in Sydney is a vessel for the owner’s French antiques, such as this table and mirror from Dusty Luxe. The walls are painted in Porter’s Paints Newport Blue. *(Credit: Photography: Alana Landsbury / Styling: Corina Koch)*

8. Double your blooms

Get more value out of your fresh stems. Strategically placing a flower-filled (or leaf-filled) vase in front a mirror can make your arrangement appear to be twice as big. To complete the look, style your console or table with a lamp, a couple of books, an objet d’art and a trinket dish for keys and coins.

Large statement mirror in living room — Hanging a window-pane mirror will create the illusion of, you guessed it, a window. This one offers another view of the garden on this 20-acre property on Sydney’s Central Coast. *(Credit: Photography: Brigid Arnott / Styling: Jessica Bellef)*

9. Double your ‘windows’

Owning a place with walls of glass providing endless views of lush landscaping is the dream, right? If you’re not on acreage, just cheat. Hang window-pane mirrors that reflect the garden outside to make you feel like you have more windows — no demolition necessary. Opt for an iron or timber frame for a rustic, farmhouse or boho vibe.

Hamptons-inspired living room with mirror on the mantel — Mantel pieces are made for mirrors, such as in this Hamptons-inspired home on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. *(Credit: Photography: Simon Whitbread / Styling: Corina Koch)*

10. Add a mirror to your mantel

A mirror is a far more chic addition to a fireplace mantelpiece than a giant TV screen. Whether it’s round or rectangular, choose a mirror that’s at least two-thirds of the width of the mantel but no wider than the mantel. It doesn’t need to stand alone; you can always add a layer by resting a smaller artwork against the mirror or styling with sculptural elements, books or vases towards the side (or, sides) of the mirror.

Writer Hanna Marton

Journalist Hanna Marton has contributed to Australia’s top magazines, including Australian House & Garden, Home Beautiful, Country Style, Body & Soul, marie claire, Vogue and Harper's BAZAAR. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) in Adelaide about a hundred years ago, Hanna worked on staff at Men’s Health and Women’s Health magazines, and later as a digital content producer at Healthdirect Australia followed by Homes To Love. Hanna has renovated two heritage houses (and a little Airbnb) in Sydney’s Inner West, where she lives with her husband, kids and dog. When she’s not writing about homes, health, people and places, you’ll find her on the tennis court or in the hammock with an autobiography.