Home Style: Mirror, mirror on the wall

Even though my bathroom mirror has become an unforgiving critic as I've grown older, I am an ardent admirer of mirrors. These twinkling treasures became especially dear to me when I moved into my historic home. I discovered that, years ago, when houses were built to withstand the weather, people decorated with lots of mirrors in order to bring more light into their dark homes. Since then, I've been calling on the power of mirrors to add sparkle to my home.

You don't have to live in an old or dark home to be wowed by mirrors. Here are just a few ways you can use mirrors to add brilliance, sparkle and a bit of luxury to your home's interior.

JAZZ UP YOUR WALLS: Mirrors are ideal artwork because they are available in every style and price range. You can find funky modern ones at discount stores, irreplaceable antiques at high-end boutiques and everything in between. Or you can make your own unique work of art. Hunt for a picture frame at a tag sale, then have it fit with a mirror. Or purchase 12 to 16 inexpensive square frames, fit them with mirrors, and hang them in a grid to jazz up a boring wall. If you like a more romantic feel, create a grouping of different-sized oval mirrors, all hung from satin ribbon.

SHOW OFF A COLLECTION: Years ago, I collected mirrored vanity trays, so when I was redoing our daughter's bedroom, I decided to give these vintage jewels a place in the spotlight. I hung a grouping on the wall above the headboard for an eye-catching display. Similarly, I have a friend who has covered the walls of her tiny powder room with her collection of old hand mirrors. Each one is a work of art, but gathered together, they are breathtaking.

INVITE MIRRORS TO DINNER: If you want to add loads of drama to your dinner table, mirrors will do the trick. I've used mirrors as chargers for formal dinner parties and have used framed mirrors as trays. For added opulence, top a mirrored tray with accents that catch the light, like votives, silver serving pieces and crystal vases.

REGAL DRAMA: If you want to bring a sophisticated air to your foyer, bedroom or living room, invest in a large regency mirror. These oversized mirrors look amazing just leaning against the wall. Or you can bump up the look by pairing regency mirrors with other pieces of furniture. Not long ago, I was commissioned to decorate a Georgian town home for a home's tour. I knew I wanted a memorable presentation in the foyer, so I placed a large sofa table against the wall and topped it with a regency mirror. To finish the look, I placed a 3-foot-tall olive receptacle filled with fallen limbs on top of the table. The display was clean and simple, yet dramatic.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX: While mirrors look great in all the usual places, like above the mantel or over the sofa, you can also tuck them into unusual spots for added panache. When our daughter was married at our home, I hung a gorgeous antique mirror from the molding between the windows in my foyer, where the ceremony took place. I was so taken by how the mirror looked in this unexpected spot that I've kept it there. For a variation, hang a set of small mirrors down the wood molding between two windows.

BRIGHTEN A DARK CORNER: I frequently use floor screens to brighten dark corners in my home, so what could be better than a screen made of mirrors? I found a wonderful floor screen made of distressed mirrors, which add all the luster of a mirror without the clear reflection. It's been the perfect addition to my stairwell landing.

(Mary Carol Garrity is the proprietor of three successful home-furnishings stores and is the author of several best-selling books on home decorating. Write her at nellhills(at)lvnworth.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com.)