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How to use mirrors to widen your entryway

Julie Scagell
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Mirrors can be a great way to make your entryway pop. You can use them to enlarge the space if you have a narrow entryway or use them to bounce light off the area if there is a lot of natural light available. Strategically placed mirrors in the entryway are the easiest and cheapest way to enlarge a small space visually. Plus, there are so many options of accent mirrors for an entryway, you’ll have plenty to choose from depending on your budget and aesthetic.

Mirrors bring in light and can be used on their own above a cabinet or small table, or you can place a large wall mirror or leaning mirror if space allows. Not only can mirrors breathe new life into a closed-off room, but you can also check yourself out before you leave the house. Here are a few ways to use them.

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Create a mirror wall

The entryway is a perfect space to create a wall of art using mirrors of different sizes, shapes, and colors. Not only is it visually appealing, but it also helps transform a space that is often cramped and small. You can find a lot of options on websites like Wayfair, Ballard Design, and AllModern. You can also find old mirrors at estate sales and antique shops and repaint them to give them new life. Don’t be shy about using every part of the wall to hang mirrors—there are no rules here. It will draw the eye up and down, giving the appearance of a larger room.

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wall mirrorPut a mirror near the window

If you have any natural light coming into your entryway, hang a mirror near it to bounce that light across your space. This will brighten the area and offer a warm, inviting way to greet your guests when they arrive. If you have a small entryway without windows, find a mirror that’s cut and framed to look like a window. This will open up the space and give the room the feeling of being much larger and brighter than it actually is. Again, if you can find one that large (even floor-to-ceiling), it will enlarge the space even further.

Create multiple dimensions

If you have a larger entryway, you can use various parts to draw the eye in many directions. Use a small entryway mirror and hang it over a desk or writing area. Find another, larger mirror and put it on the wall opposite with a narrow table filled with picture frames or candles. Flank either side of your door with tall, narrow mirrors to offer balance and design. The mirrors will play off each other, bouncing light and creating dimension. You don’t just have to use mirrors on one wall; feel free to use them liberally throughout.

mirrored furniture entrywayUse mirrors in furniture

If your entryway doesn’t have much useable wall space, consider buying furniture that has mirrored doors or tops to offer the same benefits as a wall mirror. There are many cabinets with mirrored drawers and doors that will bounce light off the floor or windows. Often, these units come with mirrors that are antiqued or beveled, giving them even more character. Plus, they’re the perfect place to hide any items lying around the house.

As the saying goes, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, and nowhere is that more evident than when someone walks into your home for the first time. Having a small entryway isn’t a bad thing, and it gives you the chance to highlight it playfully using mirrors. It can provide first-time guests a window into your personality and a glimpse of what’s to come in the rest of your home.

In addition to mirrors, you can also use paint, tile, and decor to spruce up your entryway and make a statement, so it’s not just a room you pass through quickly to get inside. The only rule here is that there aren’t any! The entryway should be an extension of your home. Be playful, get creative, and look for inspiration before landing on a design.

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Julie Scagell
Julie Scagell
Contributor
I am a freelance writer based in Minneapolis, MN. My passions include my dogs, talking about my dogs, and taking pictures of…
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