How to bring more light into your home – without investing in new lamps
Guide

How to bring more light into your home – without investing in new lamps

Pia Seidel
12/12/2024
Translation: Megan Cornish

There are some simple tricks to make rooms look bigger and brighter. Here’s one of them.

Mirrors and reflective furniture make a room appear larger and bring in more light – without the need for additional lamps. By placing them cleverly, you can create depth and dimension. And different sizes, shapes and colour-coordinated mirror frames can create a harmonious look.

1. A gallery wall with a mirror

Mirrors can be incorporated into a gallery wall design, reflecting light and adding visual interest. Simply combine them with some artwork or photographs in different frames.

Position mirrors strategically to maximise natural light.
Position mirrors strategically to maximise natural light.
Source: Pia Seidel

2. A wall mirror opposite light sources

Even a small mirror’s often enough to reflect daylight from neighbouring rooms or the artificial light from lamps. Position it opposite a window or another source of light for best results.

Whether opposite bright areas or a lamp…
Whether opposite bright areas or a lamp…
Source: Aytm
…positioning your mirror at the right angle will maximise brightness.
…positioning your mirror at the right angle will maximise brightness.
Source: Aytm
A mirror directly opposite a window or light fixture improves lighting.
A mirror directly opposite a window or light fixture improves lighting.
Source: Aytm
Aytm Mirror Angui - Rosé - 78 cm
Mirrors

Aytm Mirror Angui - Rosé - 78 cm

Ferm Living Pond (40 x 72.5 cm)
Mirrors

Ferm Living Pond

40 x 72.5 cm

Kave Home Nerina (80 x 180 cm)
Mirrors

Kave Home Nerina

80 x 180 cm

Aytm Mirror Angui - Rosé - 78 cm

Aytm Mirror Angui - Rosé - 78 cm

Ferm Living Pond (40 x 72.5 cm)

Ferm Living Pond

40 x 72.5 cm

Kave Home Nerina (80 x 180 cm)

Kave Home Nerina

80 x 180 cm

Simple mirrored furniture and home accessories

Reflective home accessories and furniture – a glass-topped coffee table or a cabinet with mirrored doors – can enhance the light in a room.

These reflective surfaces capture the available light.
These reflective surfaces capture the available light.
Source: Aytm
Furniture like this makes for a more welcoming feel.
Furniture like this makes for a more welcoming feel.
Source: Broste Copenhagen
Ferm Living Pond Bookends (16 x 9.5 x 20 cm)
Bookends

Ferm Living Pond Bookends

16 x 9.5 x 20 cm

Ferm Living Pond Bookends (16 x 9.5 x 20 cm)

Ferm Living Pond Bookends

16 x 9.5 x 20 cm

4. A wall mirror near the window

A wall mirror next to a window not only makes the room appear brighter; it also creates the feeling of more depth.

 Mirrors can also create interesting perspectives.
Mirrors can also create interesting perspectives.
Source: Aytm
They help to bring the outside in.
They help to bring the outside in.
Source: Ferm Living
A decorative frame can also add style to your space.
A decorative frame can also add style to your space.
Source: Aytm

5. A standing mirror next to a bright area

To brighten your space room without adding lamps, you can place a standing mirror at the door to a particularly bright room. This strategy is particularly effective in small or windowless rooms, as it makes the most of the available light.

The mirror reflects the light from the brighter room into the darker space.
The mirror reflects the light from the brighter room into the darker space.
Source: Aytm
Ferm Living Shard Free Standing Mirror (58 x 165 cm)
Mirrors

Ferm Living Shard Free Standing Mirror

58 x 165 cm

Aytm Angui standing mirror with shelf and marble base 180 cm
Mirrors

Aytm Angui standing mirror with shelf and marble base 180 cm

Ferm Living Shard Free Standing Mirror (58 x 165 cm)

Ferm Living Shard Free Standing Mirror

58 x 165 cm

Aytm Angui standing mirror with shelf and marble base 180 cm

Aytm Angui standing mirror with shelf and marble base 180 cm

Header image: Aytm

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Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.


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