Mirrors have been a strong design element ever since they were first invented. Consider the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, for example, or the huge mirrors hung in the palaces of Florentine princes. See them once and you'll remember them always!



More recently, the great American decorator Billy Baldwin created stunning rooms using mirrors to bounce light off of already shiny, dark brown lacquered walls ? an interior both dramatic and comfortable at the same time.

The fact is that beautiful mirrors can be used creatively to make a small room seem larger, to make a space more light filled by reflecting sunlight around a room. Beyond these functional purposes, mirrors also add beauty and elegance to home d'cor.

Mirrors can make any room appear larger, and placing them judiciously not only increases visual space but can make them an integral part of your d'cor as well. Baldwin, for example, always hung mirrors so they would bring wonderful exterior views into a room whenever possible. When outdoor views weren't worth bringing inside, Baldwin positioned mirrors to reflect art on other interior walls.

Hanging mirrors is an important part of the Chinese design system known as Feng Shui, too. For example, many Feng Shui consultants advise affixing a strip of mirror above the working level of the sink and stove to avoid being taken by surprise when people enter the room behind you.

Regardless of whether the space you call home is a small apartment or a huge loft, you can use mirrors effectively to increase visual space, bring light and desirable views inside and visually correct architectural design flaws. Here are a few ways of using mirrors you might want to consider:

? To make a hallway or stairway appear wider than it is, hang mirrors in a staggered sequence on both sides of the walls;

? To make the same hallway appear longer, hang mirrors at its ends instead of on its sides;

? Place a mirror across from a source of light such as a window or under a skylight to bring more light into the room;

? Multiply the decorative value of accessories such as candles, flowers and plants by hanging a gorgeous wall mirror to reflect them;

? Hanging a mirror on the wall adjacent to a great piece of artwork will both reflect the image of the art and increase the feeling of space;

? Painting one wall of a room in a dark color and hanging a decorative mirror on the dark wall will increase the visual depth of the room;

? Top a large wall mirror with a floral swag in your foyer. The floral swag will lend a charming note when checking your appearance on your way in or out of the front door;

? Create a grouping of different sized mirrors for an interesting wall arrangement. They will bounce light off the opposite walls as well!

Mirrors were originally intended for cosmetic and vanity purposes to allow us to see ourselves, fix our makeup and back up a car. Now you know that mirrors in your home are one of the best kept secrets used by interior designers to add impact, illusion and light into a home. Try it and see!