Flipping through the dream homes in the interiors magazines lately, have you thought “Yes, please, I’d like to install clerestory panels above my internal doors — borrowed light from the hallway is just what the living room needs”? Perhaps you have conceived a desire for glazed partition walls in the kitchen, or bifolds that will funnel the daylight from the patio into your basement, transforming a dingy space into a light and airy room.
Have you then totted up the cost and felt downcast? Me too. So I have a suggestion. Mirrors. Add an expanse of reflective glass and the pokiest interior will feel instantly brighter and more inviting. Looking glasses spread light, both natural and artificial, and double as decorative features.
If your house has fireplaces, you probably already own an overmantel mirror. The most traditional member of the looking-glass family, it is particularly at home in a period interior, as the finishing touch to a chimneypiece. It’s a simple way to wrest attention away from the television and focus attention on the hearth.
Unless National Trust chic is your bag, steer clear of the ornate reproduction antiques with elaborate gilded frames that pop up when you search online for overmantels. Go for something plainer, such as Ochre’s glamorous mercury glass mirror with a slim black gesso frame.
For a more contemporary look, try an overscale circular mirror like Umbra’s Hub, with a black rubber trim; or, on a bigger budget (but still not enough for that bifold project), Linley’s large Henley, with a marquetry border. Size isn’t everything. Round convex mini mirrors, positioned in groups of three or more, or arranged in a line like portholes, create a splendid decorative feature.
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Colour
Designed by Haidée Drew, Layer is a range of coloured geometric shapes in mirrored acrylic that can be composed to your taste on the wall. £162 for four; haideedrew.com
Decorated with splashes of pigment like paint hitting water, the Francis wall mirror (60cm diameter) was designed by Constance Guisset for Petite Friture. £400; heals.com
Antiqued
For a warmer, softer look, choose an ”antiqued” mirror, artificially foxed and distressed. Oka’s Airadee (H175cm) has a kite-shaped pattern with iron beading and heavily antiqued glass panels. Just add candlelight. £845; oka.com
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Here’s an oversized overmantel from Ochre. The Crosby’s two mercury glass plates are enclosed within a gesso and burnished bole frame. It comes in three sizes: 70cm x 140cm; 100cm x 175cm; and 137cm x 213cm. £2,592-£5,040; ochre.net
In Beaumont & Fletcher’s Panelled mirror (170cm x 125cm), antiqued glass sections are incorporated into a hand-gilded wooden frame. It’s shown in a tarnished silver finish. £5,725; beaumontandfletcher.com
If you thought Sofa.com only did comfy seats, think again. Its new Highbury wall mirror (113cm x 88cm) features “smoked French glass”. £595; sofa.com
Dressing
Ready for your close-up? The Hollywood Mirror (80cm x 60cm) is a tabletop looking glass in high-gloss pink, studded with LED bulbs. £200; illuminated-mirrors.uk.com
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A classic made contemporary, Pinch’s Iona Cheval mirror (H160cm) has a solid oak frame around the oval looking glass, and a white lacquered drawer. £2,140; conranshop.co.uk
The Utility Rectangular mirror, from Stellar Works, sits on a brass stand. This is the narrow version (W52cm x H202cm), in natural ash. £780; clippings.com
From Skagerak’s space-saving Georg range, designed by Christina Liljenberg Halstrom, this lean-to mirror (190cm x 56cm) would be perfect for a hallway. It has an oak frame. £299; husandhem.co.uk
With a genius for well-priced decorative accessories, Graham and Green is a good place to hunt for a dressing-room mirror. The Marseille ( 188cm x 84cm) has a fancy frame. £395; grahamandgreen.co.uk
Circular
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Just launched at H&M, this 28cm diameter mirror has a bamboo-effect metal frame. £25; hm.com
These convex glass mirrors from Ochre (50cm, 40cm and 30cm diameter) have gesso and burnished bole frames. £5,208 for a set of three; ochre.net
One World has an extensive range of trad-looking mirrors. The Wilton (60cm diameter) has a black painted frame and a distressed gold trim. £225; one.world
The Fiona Zinc round mirror (53cm diameter) is from the stylish soft-industrial style collection of furniture and accessories at Decorum. It comes with a decorative silver hook and chain for hanging. £199; decorum-shop.co.uk
Below is a detail from a set of five round mirrors made by artisans in northern India. The solid hardwood frames are ornamented with bone set into black resin. £350 for the set; oliandgrace.co.uk
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Multifucntional
Designed for tight spaces such as the corner of a bathroom or sitting room, this narrow floor mirror (183cm x 46cm) has rungs for hanging clothes or magazines. The frame is solid wood and the rungs are in a brass finish. £399; westelm.co.uk
Named after its hoop shape, the Hula (70cm diameter) is a mirror with a shelf. The frame is made from reclaimed fir, with a weathered effect. £165; loaf.com
This compact multitasking hallway unit is the Esme (99cm x 51cm). Shown in ash veneer and white, it packs in a mirror, a shelf and a drawer. £149; made.com
Organise your hallway with West Elm’s Mid-Century Entryway mirror (W86cm) — five hooks, a ledge and a looking glass, all in one design. £249; westelm.co.uk