I've definitely seen cases where adapting an approach makes a huge difference, but you're right—there are limits. Some spaces just don't have the right bones for certain things, especially when you're dealing with plants and natural light. But honestly, don't write off that hallway yet. A friend of mine had a similar issue—a narrow, dim corridor that seemed impossible—but after experimenting with mirrors and choosing some really hardy low-light plants (snake plants and pothos did wonders), it became one of her favorite little green corners. It might take a few tries to get it right, but it's usually worth the effort. Keep tinkering, and you might be surprised what your hallway can handle.
"after experimenting with mirrors and choosing some really hardy low-light plants (snake plants and pothos did wonders), it became one of her favorite little green corners."
Mirrors are a great tip—I was skeptical at first, but they've really brightened up some darker corners in my place. How many mirrors did your friend end up using? I'm curious if placement matters much...
Mirrors definitely help bounce light around—I usually tell clients to try one or two first and see how it feels. Placement can make a big difference though... I've noticed mirrors opposite or adjacent to windows usually work best, since they reflect natural light deeper into the space. Did you experiment with positioning yours, or just wing it and get lucky?
Mirrors can definitely help, but honestly, I've found placement to be way trickier than most people think. It's not always as simple as just putting one opposite a window and calling it a day. I tried that at first, and while it did bounce some extra light around, it also created some weird glare spots depending on the time of day. Ended up feeling like I was living in a disco ball at certain hours, haha.
What worked better for me was taking a more methodical approach—basically trial and error. First, I started by placing mirrors temporarily in different spots around the room (just leaning them against walls or furniture) and observing how the light changed throughout the day. Morning sun versus afternoon sun can make a huge difference, so I took notes on what felt comfortable and what didn't. After about a week of experimenting, I settled on two mirrors: one adjacent to my main window to softly reflect natural light deeper into the room without harsh glare, and another smaller one tucked into a darker corner to brighten it up subtly.
I guess my point is, it's worth spending some time experimenting rather than just winging it or relying solely on general advice. Every space is different—window size, orientation, wall colors—all these things matter. Also, don't underestimate how much your furniture arrangement affects mirror placement. Sometimes shifting a couch or bookshelf slightly can completely change how effective your mirrors are.
Curious though... has anyone else noticed issues with glare or reflections causing distractions? Or am I just overly sensitive to this stuff?
"Curious though... has anyone else noticed issues with glare or reflections causing distractions? Or am I just overly sensitive to this stuff?"
You're definitely not alone—I had a similar issue when I first moved into my place. Thought I'd nailed it by placing a big mirror opposite the main window, but around mid-afternoon, the glare bouncing off the TV screen was driving me nuts. It was subtle at first, but once I noticed it, I couldn't unsee it.
Ended up doing something similar to your trial-and-error method, moving mirrors around and even shifting furniture slightly. Eventually found that angling a mirror slightly away from direct sunlight made a huge difference. Also realized that matte frames help reduce those annoying bright edges.
Makes me wonder though... do certain wall colors or finishes amplify glare more than others? My walls are pretty neutral, but maybe that's part of the issue too.
