Completely agree about mirrors amplifying clutter—been there myself. A few things I've noticed over the years:
- Mirrors work best when reflecting something visually appealing or simple, like plants or artwork.
- Hallways are tough because they're narrow and often lack natural focal points. Sometimes a smaller mirror or even framed art can feel less overwhelming.
- Lighting matters too; harsh overhead lighting reflected in mirrors can make spaces feel chaotic.
Small tweaks really do help, but yeah... trial and error is pretty much unavoidable.
"Hallways are tough because they're narrow and often lack natural focal points."
True, but I've actually found that a larger mirror in my narrow hallway made it feel way less cramped. Might depend on the layout and lighting though—I swapped out the harsh overhead bulb for a softer, warmer LED strip and suddenly the mirror wasn't reflecting chaos anymore. Definitely agree it's trial and error, but sometimes going bigger (counterintuitively) can help open up tight spaces... at least it did for me.
Interesting point about mirrors—I tried a big one in my hallway once, but it just ended up reflecting the mess of shoes and jackets, making it feel even more cluttered. Maybe it's about positioning or something? I do like your idea about lighting though, hadn't thought much about how softer lights might change what the mirror picks up. Did you have to experiment with placement to get it right, or was it obvious from the start?
Totally agree about positioning—mirrors can be tricky. I had a similar issue in my entryway, just reflecting clutter. Ended up shifting mine slightly to reflect a window instead, and it made a huge difference. Softer lighting definitely helps too... I swapped out my harsh overhead bulbs for warmer lamps, and suddenly the whole space felt calmer and less chaotic. Took a bit of trial and error, but worth it in the end.
Mirrors are definitely tricky—been there myself. A couple quick thoughts from my own experience:
- Angle matters a ton. I once had mine reflecting the kitchen sink area... not exactly inspiring, haha. Shifted it to bounce some natural light from the patio door, and the room instantly felt bigger and brighter.
- Agree on lighting, but sometimes warmer bulbs aren't enough if the fixture itself is harsh. I ended up adding a dimmer switch—game changer for mood lighting without replacing the whole fixture.
Little tweaks, big results... DIY life!
