Mirrors have the ability to add light, spaciousness, style and personality to a bedroom. Available in endless styles and finishes, simple squares to curvaceous shapes, elegant or basic frames and unframed, beveled or flat edged, a mirror serves practical purposes and has the ability to add a creative dose of individuality to a room. Here are some considerations that you should keep in mind when choosing a mirror to enhance any bedroom space.

Purpose and Function:

• Decorative Purpose: Mirrors add traditional elegance, contemporary panache, whimsy, cottage attitude or Venetian intricacy. A mirror can be used as a focal point or simply leaned against the wall atop a dresser or high boy. It can be used as wall art alone or in conjunction with other decorative elements such as candle wall sconces or metal wall art.
• Adding Space and Light: Mirrors can be used to open up a space and reflect light. Placing a mirror where it will reflect natural light from a window, for instance, will capture the light and reflecting it around the room, making the whole room brighter. Place a mirror on the wall opposite the bedroom entry door, and the bedroom will feel larger and deeper. Place two mirrors on opposite walls so that they can reflect each other, and the space will feel limitless.
• Enhancing Art and Accessories: A well-placed mirror can help you accentuate every beautiful detail of a favorite oil painting or contemporary metal art by presenting the artwork from a different point of view. A mirror can also be used to reflect and draw attention to a great architectural feature or it may be placed behind a vase of flowers to display the delicacy of each bloom from every perspective.
• Personal Grooming: Every bedroom, even a guest bedroom, should have a mirror so that personal appearance can be checked. A small table mirror, wall mirror or full-length floor mirror may be chosen based on the amount of available space.

Choosing your Style:

• Traditional: Traditional styles run a wide gamut, from Mediterranean and Old World styles to classic American Colonial, timeless elegant styles, to French, English or American Country. Your perfect mirror may be an antique gilded wall mirror, a simple framed mirror in deep cherry, a free-standing curvaceous floor mirror or framed in Tuscan wrought iron. You can coordinate a mirror with your furniture or let it serve as a foil that complements other furnishings in the room.
• Contemporary: Contemporary mirrors can feature simple frames in glossy ebony woods, distressed leather, or shiny or natural metal; they can be frameless ovals or squares or have overlapping geometric layouts, such as overlapping squares or circles. Asian-inspired mirrors add Zen-like grace and simple full length beveled mirrors can turn an entire wall into a bold reflection of light and modern style.
• Eclectic: Your style is all about what speaks to your heart: A grouping of unframed beveled mirrors in various shapes may combine as a focal point or an antique frame can be spray painted in a bold color to accent a one-of-a-kind space.
• A Child’s Room: Add a whimsical accent to a child’s bedroom a mirror in a playful shape. Specialty mirrors in the shape of a frog, boat, fish, car, soccer ball, elephant, cat or any favorite theme can be found through online stores and retail stores. Or personalize a plain mirror with beads, feathers, shells, glitter, buttons, wooden ornaments and glue or purchase laser-cut appliqués to turn any mirror into a work of art or thematic focal point.

All text copyright Relica. Photo from Flikr - "Geek in the mirror!" courtesy of Mike Miley.