disclosure: this post is sponsored by Lamps Plus.
When you write a decorating blog sometimes it’s all about talking about decorating and showing what you know and discussing how to pick out paint colors for your entire house and what you learned from a pair of parrot earrings.
And then?
Sometimes?
It’s about learning things that you never really knew or thought about or planned or understood.
It’s all about me….
….learning from you.
Seriously.
In the seven years, I have written this blog you have taught me so much. You’ve taught me there is a secret zipper underneath the couch cushions and that sometimes you need a pop of color in the middle of a sea of white and gray and that every room should have an antique piece and that every room should have a little bit of black somewhere to ground the space.
And that mirrors are your friend.
You are so right my wonderful, creative, amazing, helpful friends.
Here’s why every room needs a mirror.
Last week this mirror showed up at my house from Lamps Plus.
You can see it here.
I almost gasped when I opened it because it was so pretty. It’s called a stopwatch mirror because of the hook and loop at the top. The bottom part of the mirror is 30″x 30″ and the part at the top adds an additional 2″ at the top.
But more importantly than how much I loved it.
More importantly than how pretty it is.
The reason why this mirror is so perfect is because is reason number one why ever room needs a mirror…
Reason #1: it adds life to a room
And that’s what that reader was trying to tell me on that long ago day when she e-mailed me about my house tour.
She told me how pretty the tour was.
She told me how she loves farmhouse decor.
She told me that using pumpkins to decorate a hutch was brilliant.
But had I ever thought about using more mirrors when I decorate.
Reason #2: It bounces life off your surfaces
Mirrors reflect.
It’s what they were born to do.
If you have a room without a lot of light?
Just add a mirror that reflects a light source. For example, in this room you can see that the mirror reflects the light from the front door and redirects it all around the room.
It’s one of the best decorating secrets when it comes to adding light to a dark space.
Reason #3: It adds depth
See what this mirror does?
It introduces parts of the room together.
Hello other side of the room. It’s nice to meet you.
If this was a piece of artwork, it wouldn’t provide as much depth as a mirror reflecting other places in the room.
Reason #4: It makes the room feel larger
I had a wood sign here originally in this space.
It was fine.
It was sufficient.
But it made the wall feel a little flat.
As soon as I added the mirror—that part of the room came to life. It’s amazing what a little reflection can do.
Here are some other examples of mirrors in my home.
They are all unique and special and come in different sizes and shapes and materials.
But together?
They all have one thing in common.
They make the space they live in a little brighter.
Thank you for teaching me.
Thank you for making my rooms better.
Thank you for encouraging and helping and suggesting and laughing.
And for making all of my days….
…a little brighter.
disclosure: This post was written in collaboration with Lamps Plus.
All opinions are my own.
Please see my disclosure page for more information.
That is one gorgeous mirror!!! You are so right....mirrors have a way of really opening up a room. I recently added a gorgeous pair of mirrors to the largest wall in my family room and it feels so much lighter and brighter 🌞 I love your new mirror but I also really love your antique mirror too 💜.
I think I have a mirror or mirrors in every room of our house. Well maybe not in the laundry room or kitchen but everywhere else even out on the outside wall of our barn to reflect the garden. In our past home I did a collection of small different shaped mirrors on a living room wall and got so many complements on it. Your home is so lovely the more reflections of it the better and you always need a place to check your red lipstick😁
Agree with you about mirrors- they bounce the light back into the room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've got vintage mirrors stashed away that I should get out and hang in some rooms. Thanks for the great tips!
Mirrors are wonderful for expanding the perceived space of a room. I am especially find of placing them opposite a window if possible as long as the view is pleasant....mother nature is pleasant. A dumpster? Not so much!
Love this mirror and your ideas. I have a few mirrors tucked away that I should hang. Thanks for the motivation!!
Yes! This is so true! We have a small front room, I hung a mirror on one wall and it instantly felt bigger. I really like that mirror, the shape of it and the top, so unique!
Well, what a cute post and so good too. I actually had to get up and go look and i have one in almost every room, big,small.but they are mirrors. Thanks and have a great evening.
Hello! Can you tell me the source for the large mirror in your living room....the gold one with the exposed bracket hook? So cute! Thank you!
Shelley, It's from Lamps Plus! Here's the link: https://www.lampsplus.com/products/varaluz-casa-eli-gold-30-inch-x-32-inch-round-stopwatch-wall-mirror__34p63.html? Happy day friend! karianne
My Aunt Syl, who was an interior designer from the 40’s through the late 80’s, always said to use something Oriental in each room. I guess it is similar to the mirror theory.
Totally agree with all of this! I've been trying to decide how many gold circle mirrors is too many for one house! Paige http://thehappyflammily.com
I love this! And I believe I have a mirror in every room and hall in my house except for the kitchen!! I might have to find one for in there too! I love mirrors. They bring so much light into what could be dark spaces.
Where did you find the cute brass tabletop mirror? I'm thinking my office needs one. Thanks for the tips.
I found it at Target! It was over in the Opalhouse design section! Happy day friend! karianne
My walls are dark and my big mirror helps it not to feel like a cave!
I have my grandparents' antique mirror. It's super heavy (24"x36") and has been sitting in my closet for the last two years because I can't figure out the best place to hang it. Am I better off putting it in the living room where it will be seen, or in the hallway to bring more light in? Do I put sconces or something around it, or is it enough by itself??
I’d put a picture of your grandparents beside it.
I've been wanting to put a mirror in our living room for a dog's age. Our house is small and I think the living room would benefit from some reflection. However, I am not what one would consider a good housekeeper and we can't afford help yet. So, I'm wondering if I want all that dirt that builds up reflected back at me???
Love the new mirror!! And thank you for making my days a little brighter, too!!! xoxo
Once again- another GREAT post! You and your ideas are so inspiring! I love your cactus- can you tell me where it came from. Such a fun and whimsical way to bring “plants” into a room - especially dark rooms with no or little light. Also great for those of us who are not gifted with green thumbs. Thank you!