Interior Design - A Perspective On Glass, Mirrors And Reflection

Using glass and mirrors as focal points in a room is
becoming increasingly popular in the world of interior
design. Interior design is so much more than giving your
home a fresh coat of paint and changing the furniture
around, it is more about making the best use of what you
have to produce a room that is not only aesthetically
pleasing and functional, but that also cleverly reflects
you and your own taste.

Obviously decorating comes into the equation, but you also
have to add the right kind of fixtures and fittings that
should fit in harmoniously with the colour, lighting and
theme of your home. Above all any room should be designed
with the safety of its occupants in mind. Fortunately it
is possible to find glass that is both beautiful and
incredibly tough so these days, glass and mirrors can be
used for everything from tables to staircases; we are
limited only by our imagination.

Naturally, the end purpose of the room will dictate whether
or not it is practical to make extensive use of glass and
mirrors but nevertheless, even on a smaller scale they can
add a whole new dimension to your interior design project.

Using glass and mirrors in your home

One of the advantages of both glass and mirrors is that
they can blend in very well with other types of materials
and enhance existing fixtures and fittings and of course
they also help create a bright and airy atmosphere.

Mirrors for example, can be so much more than just
functional accessories; they reflect a lot of light and
create an illusion of space, which is particularly
beneficial if a room is small. You could consider mirrored
surfaces or walls to give an interesting new perspective to
a room or place large ornate mirrors over fireplaces or
sideboards to serve as a main focal point.

Light travels right through glass so a well positioned
glass panelled sideboard or other piece of glass furniture
set off with subtle artificial lighting or placed where
there is a lot of natural sunlight could enhance the
overall appearance and ambience of a room and again, create
an illusion of space. Utilising glass panels in doorways
can increase the amount of natural light entering into a
room in the first place. Glass is versatile too; it can be
etched, frosted or even stained to add decoration and style.

Together, glass and mirrors in the right light can create
an air of elegance and sophistication and rooms can be
transformed from dull and dreary to bright and beautiful.
There are literally countless ways of using glass and
mirrors as furniture pieces or accessories to enhance the
appearance of any room and of course to mirror your own
individual style.

Reflecting your style

In order to get the right look for you, the one that will
reflect your own style, you first have to identify what
your style is. Popular styles include traditional, modern,
country, minimalist, retro or even a contrast of styles.
Regardless of which style you want to go for, glass and
mirrors work well with any of them.
Pay attention to what have other people done with glass and
mirrors that you could imitate or expand on to create your
own effect. Most of all ask yourself how a particular room
or look makes you feel. The idea is to identify what you
are comfortable with and what pleases you.

Imagine what your own focal point might be. Can you make
use of an existing feature in your room such as a window or
a fireplace or will you create a focal point using
furniture, or perhaps a painting, a mirror or even a work
of art?

The finishing touches

Once you have taken into consideration the purpose of the
room that you are designing and any practical issues
associated with it, you have identified your style and the
fixtures and fittings and colour schemes you are going to
use, and you have worked out what your focal point will be,
you can begin to put the finishing touches to your room.

The finishing touches to any room can make or break it but
it is you that will decide. You could make use of drapes,
plants, mirrors, paintings, floral displays, scents,
lighting, cushions, curtains, and even sounds to enhance
the beauty of a room and you can be as creative as your
imagination will allow. If you like the end result and it
makes you feel good and it fits in harmoniously with the
rest of your home then you will have succeeded in creating
a space that beautifully reflects who you are.

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David McEvoy is an expert in interior design. If you are
looking for a leather sofa to give the finishing touches to
a newly decorated room then please come and visit our site
http://www.leathersofa.uk.com