Mirrors make the space visually wider, add space and light to the room, which is why they are a must-have item in any home. It’s hard to imagine a hallway that doesn’t have a mirror, because it’s so convenient to look at yourself before going out, and you have the opportunity to evaluate your appearance.
People rarely think about how to properly hang this item in the hallway and whether it is permissible to place it opposite the front door. The answer to this question can be given by Feng Shui experts who are aware of all the subtleties and nuances of this teaching. After all, a mirror is a difficult object, it has special magic and can cause both benefit and harm to a person. Therefore, in this article we will talk about the main features of placing mirrors in the hallway according to Feng Shui.
The magic of mirrors according to feng shui
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The science of Feng Shui arose a long, long time ago; it is based on the harmonious interaction of nature and man. Feng Shui says that spiritual balance can only be achieved when there is more positive energy than negative energy.
Using various household items, you can both attract and repel flows of positive and negative energy in your home. This rule applies, first of all, to the hallway, which is the beginning of the living space for each of us. When arranging a hallway, it is very important that the furniture is arranged correctly and with maximum comfort. Also, mirrors are almost always placed in the hallway.
Since ancient times, reflective surfaces have been considered something mystical; various signs and superstitions have been made about them. The science of Feng Shui devotes an entire chapter to this object and the energy that it circulates in the home. Based on the placement of the mirror in different parts of the house, it will have a different effect on the people living in it and create the overall atmosphere of the home.
If we talk specifically about the hallway, then it has a connection with the energy of the front door; it is through it that all energy flows are directed into the home and back. It is not surprising that the front door in China is called the “mouth of the house”; it is responsible for activating and directing energy.
Rectangular shape
Large rectangular mirrors can be part of a closet doorway. If the mirror is built into the wardrobe door and occupies the entire distance from floor to ceiling, then there are no questions about the installation height. It already covers the required height segment. Mirrors that are hung separately must meet certain parameters. So, for a person of average height, you will need a mirror of at least 140 cm. At the same time, it is hung so that the lower edge is at a height of 30 cm from the floor. Another condition is the presence of a free distance from the mirror to the place where the person is standing. It must be at least 1 m. If the walls of the corridor do not allow this condition to be met, you can install a mirror on the front door.
Is it acceptable to place a mirror opposite the front door?
Mirrors have the property of reflecting and attracting energy flows, and they are also capable of changing their direction. The area in which the mirror is located determines whether positive energy will linger in the home and where negative energy will go.
Feng Shui experts say that it is unacceptable to place a mirror opposite the front door, because in this case the reflective surface will allow a flow of positive energy to pass through, but will not retain it in the home, and the latter will leave the house very soon. In addition, residents of the house will feel bad due to the constant accumulation of negative energy. Also, mirrors placed opposite the front door provoke financial expenses, they interfere with savings, contribute to various troubles and deteriorate the well-being of members of the house.
It is considered correct to place mirrors in the hallway on the same side as the door to the home. At the same time, it is important that the mirror is large enough so that each family member can easily see his full-length reflection in it.
Inappropriate areas
As already noted, the mirror should not hang in front of the front door or windows. Eastern teachings also remind us of the power of mirrors to accumulate and multiply energies, so they should not reflect negative objects. For example, the toilet door, trash cans, mezzanine.
It would not be a good idea to hang a fragile object on mobile surfaces - closet doors, the back of the front door. In addition to being unreliable, it can bring anxiety and chaos to the energy flow.
Do not hang mirrors opposite each other. Such placement is considered a magical technique and can cause discomfort among the residents of the house.
Tips for placing mirrors in the hallway
Listen to the following recommendations if you want the mirror to bring only positivity into your life, and for negativity to bypass you the tenth way:
- A good place to place a mirror is on the side wall of a door, but don't hang it too close or the mirror risks breaking. Large mirrors accumulate a large amount of energy, for this reason, choose a fairly large object, for example, a mirror on the entire wall or a mirrored wardrobe.
- Floor mirrors are an ideal option when there is no direct contact with the front door; Feng Shui fully approves of this arrangement.
- Mirrors are capable of storing negative events, so if this happens, the best thing to do would be to remove the object that has become “dirty” and replace it with a new one.
- You can also place a mirror on the front wall, but only so that it does not face the front door. Place the mirror at an angle, in this case the directed energy flows will be refracted, they will not leave the room, but will be attracted inside.
- Feng Shui experts advise placing mirrors in frames, which provide additional protection.
- Make sure your mirrors are perfectly clean and wipe them as often as possible. It is also worth placing flowers near the mirror or hanging a picture opposite the reflective surface (in this case, it will accumulate positive energy and distribute it throughout the room).
How are they attached to the wall?
Models weighing up to 10 kg can be glued to any surface; heavier products require the selection of fasteners and accessories.
Gluing
The simplest option is gluing it to a flat wall with liquid nails. This mount is suitable for products weighing no more than 10 kg. To securely attach to the wall, before starting work, all surfaces are cleaned and degreased. After that, glue is applied to them and distributed over the entire surface.
The mirror is pressed against the wall for 1 minute, then removed and set aside. The glue is dried for 7 minutes. Press it firmly against the wall again and leave it to dry for 24 hours. If you decide to attach the mirror to the wallpaper using glue, you need to make and glue an intermediate screen to the back of the mirror.
Double-sided construction tape is also used for gluing.
With the fashion for huge mirrors, the issue of securely fastening them has become relevant.
Fastening with dowels and screws
Some models are equipped with fittings for hanging on the wall. If not, then the accessories are purchased separately: clamps, metal strips, brackets.
To attach the product to drywall and wood, you will need dowels, and for a concrete wall, anchor bolts. When choosing the type of fastening, take into account the pull-out load and weight. To drill a concrete wall you will need a hammer drill, for drywall and wood - a drill. You also need a screwdriver, a ruler and a pencil.
This mounting option is difficult to do independently.
Stages of work:
- Make markings at the fastening points.
- Drill a hole and clear it of dust.
- The spacer sleeve of the anchor or dowel is inserted into the hole on the wall.
- A threaded pin or self-tapping screw is screwed into the hole of the dowel (anchor).
- When hanging from an anchor, the mirror's mounting loop is placed on the outer end of the part. In the case of dowels, after opening it, the screw is unscrewed. Then screw it back through the mounting loop, using fasteners with a wide head.
At the time of purchase, it is better to immediately purchase fittings and fasteners. Sales consultants will help you choose the necessary kit for the selected product.
Mirror design features
The design of reflective surfaces also plays a very important role in the hallway design process. It is ideal when, thanks to the sufficiently spacious areas, you can use mirrors of any size. Difficulties arise in small apartments in which the hallway is very small. But for this, Feng Shui came up with special rules:
- The doctrine says that even if there is a shortage of space, a mirror can be hung on the front door. But be sure to securely fix the object so that it does not accidentally fall. For this purpose, use special decorative inserts.
- Reflection of trash cans and dirty shoes in the mirror is not allowed, because mirrors are capable of not only reflecting objects, but also tend to collect and double their strength.
- Place the mirror in a beautiful frame that will accumulate energy and distribute it throughout the room.
Classification
Today, a mirror in the hallway has become a must-have item, without which it is difficult to imagine a modern interior. When leaving the house, you must take a look at yourself to be sure of the neatness of your appearance. Without the opportunity to look at yourself from the outside, a feeling of uncertainty arises, which often leaves an imprint on your mood and performance. It’s not for nothing that, according to popular belief, when you return home to get a forgotten item, you need to look at yourself in the mirror. The dimensions and shape are not as important as the fact that it is located next to the entrance.
By installation method
The method of installing a mirror in the hallway can be different. It is not necessary to resort to the labor-intensive drilling process or look for other ways to hang the product on the wall; you can simply install the mirror on the floor. An additional advantage of this solution is the ability to see your reflection in full height. It is advisable to choose a floor structure when the hallway area allows, since in a small room it will not look very appropriate. Among the advantages of this product:
- stylish appearance;
- good review;
- the ability to easily move around the apartment.
Floor-standing options, due to their large size, can make the room visually larger and lighter. To make the structure stable, it is fixed to a frame, which is tilted and leans against a special stand. The baguette can be selected to match the color and stylistic scheme of the interior.
If there is free space on the wall and the area of the room is limited, you can hang a mirror. The sizes of wall reflective surfaces can be different - from small to large, and their location can be either horizontal or vertical. Based on your preferences and needs, you can choose a floor-length mirror or a small composition of several elements of different shapes. They are located either separately or together with pieces of furniture: a shoe rack or a bench.
The wall mirror must be carefully secured. To install it, it is not enough to simply drive in nails, which may fall out over time, causing the product to fall. It is recommended to use a screwdriver, screws and dowels.
If the hallway area is very small, you can mount a mirror into the furniture structure using liquid nails. Options for arranging products on folding cabinets of tall shoe racks are common, which also helps save space by connecting two functionally important items. An interesting design technique is the use of mirror finishes, for example, in the form of tiles. The product acts as both a decorative element and a reflective surface, solving several important problems at once.
Floor
Wall mounted
Piece of furniture
Mirror finish
By shape
Modern hallway mirrors differ not only in the installation method. Designers suggest using different product shapes to enhance the stylistic effect. In this simple way, you can organically fit a mirror into any interior design.
The rectangular shape is considered traditional. It looks laconic, helps structure the lines of the room, and creates a sense of geometric order. Often this form is provided with large wall or floor options. They are stable and give you the opportunity to look at yourself in full height. They can also be used to visually change the perception of space:
- extend a room with a low ceiling in a vertical position;
- expand the boundaries of tight spaces when hung horizontally.
The square mirror looks less familiar, despite its usual shape. It is often decorated with designer elements and complements interiors made in modern or ethno-style. Without decoration, it looks rustic because all sides are the same length.
If you need to smooth out the clarity of the lines and give the room softness, you should pay attention to shapes that do not have corners. The oval mirror in the hallway looks especially elegant and sophisticated, organically fits into classic, Scandinavian and art deco styles. Can be hung on a wall or installed as a floor stand. For this form it is not necessary to use flashy decor.
Another option could be a round mirror. It looks more concise and is smaller in size. Placing a circle of large diameter requires a lot of space even on an empty wall, so designers suggest using small round mirrors connected by a collage.
When attaching several mirrors to the wall using liquid nails, it will not be possible to change the location of the composition elements without damaging the finishing material. Therefore, before final fixation, you need to carefully consider their location.
Non-standard forms can be chosen for compositions. If the interior allows, and you want to make it more original, you can order a mirror in the shape of an animal or a star. Another option is wavy lines on one or more sides. An unusual option would be a full-wall mirror, decorated with bevel. This technique allows you to:
- visually expand the boundaries of the room;
- provide the opportunity to view a large area;
- decorate the interior.
More often, a rhombus is chosen as the shape of the distribution of lines, since its elongated configuration allows you to see the face from a distance, but at the same time it looks structured and lively. If such a structure is placed in a frame, you will get a real panel that can be used not only for a functional purpose, but also as a decoration. For this type of decor, various forms of external structure and internal bevel pattern can be used, and the design of the mirror can also be different.
Rectangular
Square
Round
Oval
With facet
Non-standard shape
To size
The sizes of mirrors in hallway interiors are also different. For large rooms, you don’t have to hesitate in choosing. Here it is worth placing a voluminous round mirror or hanging a beveled panel in a massive baguette on the wall. For a small hallway, small compositions are recommended, for example, a collage of geometric shapes on the wall or a product of compact dimensions suspended above the console.
When choosing a suitable option for the corridor, you need to decide what degree of reflection it is desirable to obtain. The size of the mirrors in the hallway and the dimensions of other interior items directly depend on this. If you need to see yourself in full height, and there is an opportunity to leave the wall free, you can decorate it with a solid or prefabricated product from floor to ceiling. In this version, the design of hallways with a mirror allows you to expand the space, since the reflection is perceived as a continuation of the corridor. It is also worth considering a long oval or rectangular product. Long mirrors can be:
- included in the factory design of hallway furniture;
- hung separately on the wall;
- placed on the floor.
If there is not enough space to place a large mirror, you should give preference to the option with a waist-high reflection, which will make it possible to get a fairly complete picture of the appearance. In addition, such a model will not take up a large area in the corridor. Most often, these mirrors are oval or rectangular in shape. Even less space will be needed for a product where you can only see yourself up to your chest. These are small round mirrors that are placed on the wall. The minimum comfortable size can be considered a diameter of 30 cm.
Big
Average
Small
Variety of sizes
By frame
Mirror design options are offered both with factory-cut edges and with a frame in which the most daring design ideas can be embodied. They help to decorate the hallway in accordance with a certain style or give it a bright color accent. You need to select the thickness according to your taste preferences, as well as being guided by the general stylistic direction. Most often frames are:
- baguette - gold, copper or silver color, with or without patina;
- wooden – imitating the texture of different wood species;
- leather - made from natural or artificial raw materials of different colors and textures;
- forged - made to look like dark gold with patina, bronze or copper.
Modern interiors often feature bright or contrasting colors such as white, black or wenge. They help to emphasize the overall color scheme, blending harmoniously into the space, or vice versa, to form an accent spot. Colors familiar to metal products are also popular - gold, silver, copper and bronze. Such frames, depending on the shade, give the room a brutal, modern, or, on the contrary, a classic, sophisticated look.
Baguette frame
Wooden
Leather
Forged
Preferred subjects
Pictures say a lot about a person's character. It is not recommended to hang pictures in the corridor with the following subjects:
- scenes of violence, killing of animals or people;
- disaster images;
- drawings of broken things;
- war scenes;
- paintings with dark shades, etc.
According to Feng Shui, you can hang paintings with a still life or landscape in the hallway. They need to be selected based on information about the element and type of human energy.
People with the element of Water are better off choosing beautiful paintings depicting calm seas and rural landscapes. Owners of the Yang Fire element can hang pictures in orange tones. It is desirable that flowers be depicted. Remember, flowers in a vase can attract good luck, money, career growth, children, love, wisdom, and fame.
Feng Shui rules state that another auspicious subject is images of people. They must be happy and joyful. This will attract the same cheerful, cheerful individuals to the house.
An excellent solution would be to place family photos in the hallway. Some Feng Shui experts recommend making a whole collage and decorating it beautifully. This will attract family well-being and prosperity to the house.
Design options
It is not necessary to decorate the mirror with a frame or using unusual shapes. Alternatively, you can apply a design directly to its surface. Execution techniques can be as follows:
- sandblasting - the surface of the mirror will be matte and rough;
- photo printing - the drawing will be colored, but the mirror surface will remain smooth.
Additionally, decor can be applied using the decoupage technique, which will give the mirror a stylistic direction. The advantage of this solution is the possibility of bringing the idea to life with your own hands. If you show your imagination, you can decorate the frame or mirror surface with multi-colored decorative stones, a beautiful oriental-style mosaic of broken tiles, or stucco elements.
The decor can also be themed. For example, on New Year's Eve, coniferous tree branches decorated with Christmas tree decorations and shiny ribbons will look spectacular at the top of the mirror. If there is any holiday taking place at home, you can further emphasize the event by placing a colorful inscription made from tinted toothpaste on a smooth surface. This technique will create a good mood immediately upon entering home.
Sandblasting
Photo printing
Decoupage
Mosaic Thematic design
Drawings and dimensions
Before starting work, it is necessary to draw up drawings. Unfortunately, it is impossible to do without them in this matter. Drawings can be taken from the Internet, but to make an unusual design it is preferable to use your own imagination:
- first you need to think through the design of the structure, taking into account the required number of places and the method of transformation;
- the parameters of the shop must correspond to the allocated territory;
- the diagram indicates all structural elements and their dimensions;
- All moving elements should also be presented there.
In general, the diagram of the transforming bench allows you to understand the principle of operation and sequence of actions
To calculate the required material, it is important to take into account the length and cross-section of the structure. With a beam thickness of 8 cm, at least 5 pieces are required to create the 1st leg
If the seat of the bench is made of boards 4 cm thick and 9 cm wide, the work will require 5 boards of 150 cm each.
