Feng shui, which means “wind-water” in Chinese, is the ancient practice of arranging your surroundings in harmony with the natural world to promote optimal energy flow. Incorporating mirrors into your home’s design is one effective feng shui technique for enhancing certain energies and characteristics within a space.

Strategically placing mirrors can make rooms feel brighter, more spacious, prosperous, and inviting. Mirrors have the capacity to energize, amplify, or calm a space. They also provide the useful functions of allowing you to view your appearance and add decorative flair.

With mindful positioning and selection, mirrors allow you to reflect the attributes and energies you wish to cultivate in your home or workspace. This guide will overview how to effectively use mirrors for feng shui. Read on to learn techniques for mirrors to brighten up a dark room, improve spaces lacking the commanding position, project desired energies through shapes and frames, and avoid common mirror mistakes. Thoughtfully incorporating mirrors can help transform the look and feel of any interior.

Make Rooms Feel Brighter

Using mirrors is one of the easiest ways to make a room feel brighter and more spacious. Strategically placed mirrors reflect natural light and bounce it around the room, helping to illuminate even dark corners and shadows.

Position a mirror across from a window so it can catch the sunlight streaming in and reflect it deeper into the room. You can also place mirrors opposite each other so they create an infinite reflection that gives the illusion of more space. Hang a mirror near a light source such as a lamp or ceiling fixture to maximize and amplify its brightness.

Experiment with the angle of mirrors to direct reflected light where you need it most. A floor mirror propped against the wall can send light upwards to brighten a dark ceiling. Or position a mirror on the wall to target a specific seating area or workspace.

Mirrors don’t actually generate their own light, but their reflective qualities make them a powerful tool for redistributing natural and artificial light in a room. Take advantage of this simple, affordable trick to make any space feel more bright, open and inviting.

Reflect Good Energy

According to feng shui principles, mirrors can be used to reflect the types of energy you want to invite into a space. For example:

Placing a mirror across from your front door allows it to reflect good chi (life force energy) into your home. This brings in positive energy each time you enter.
Hanging a round or oval mirror in the wealth area of your home (the back left corner of a room) can help energize your finances by reflecting an ongoing flow of prosperity.
Positioning a mirror to reflect a beautiful view or an inspiring affirmation invites those uplifting energies to fill your environment.
Mirrors facing a window or doorway enable you to reflect more natural light into your home, filling it with brightness.
Decorating a mirror with symbols of specific intentions, like love or tranquility, focuses its energy on attracting those qualities.

The symbolic meaning you assign to a mirror can be customized to your goals. Think about the types of positivity, affirmations, and aspirations you want reflected in your space. Then intentionally place mirrors to bounce back those good vibes in abundance.

Commanding Position With Mirrors

In feng shui, the commanding position is the farthest diagonal corner from the entryway in a room. This spot allows you to see the entire space while remaining protected. Placing a mirror in the commanding position enhances the commanding energy of this area.

The ideal commanding position mirror placement is to face the entryway. This allows you to symbolically see opportunities and challenges from the best vantage point. Positioning yourself with your back protected as you view the doorway gives a sense of control.

Some tips for placing a commanding position mirror:

Locate the farthest corner from the entryway and place a mirror on that wall facing the door.
For large rooms with multiple doorways, choose the corner diagonal from the main entry point.
The mirror can be any shape but ideally reaches close to the ceiling.
Floor mirrors can also work well for commanding position.
Make sure the mirror is not obscured by furniture or decor.
Light the commanding corner well to energize the space.

Proper commanding position mirror placement asserts your authority, deflects negative energy, and allows you to harness opportunities coming your way. Take control with strategic mirror placement in feng shui design.

Mirror Shapes Evoke Feng Shui Elements

Feng shui uses shapes and their symbolic meanings to invite certain energies into a space. Mirrors provide a distinctive opportunity to bring in these shapes in a subtle yet powerful way.

Circle Mirrors Promote Creativity

The ancient symbol of the circle represents infinity, wholeness, and perfection. It has no beginning or end. In feng shui, the circle is thought to invoke and enhance creativity, inspiration, and new ideas. Hang a circular mirror in spaces where you want to spark creative energy like art studios, music rooms, or home offices. The continuous line will get your creative juices flowing.

Round mirrors also symbolize community and relationships. Place them in living rooms or dining areas to promote bonding and connection with loved ones. The circular shape emits an embracing quality, perfect for strengthening family ties.

Circle mirrors can be used in bedrooms too. Their soothing, meditative nature helps calm the mind before sleep. Position one across from the bed so it’s the last thing you see at night and the first thing you see in the morning. Let it instill a sense of harmony as you drift off and start your day.

Mirror Frames

The color of a mirror’s frame can symbolize and evoke certain moods or elements according to feng shui principles. Selecting the right frame color for a specific room or intention can enhance the mirror’s energy.

Red Frames Evoke Passion

Red mirror frames are a bold choice that infuse fiery passion and intensity into a space. The vibrant hue evokes feelings of excitement, romance, and love. Red frames placed in bedrooms or sitting areas bring an energetic vibe, while red-framed mirrors in entryways welcome guests with vivacity. However, too much red can feel overstimulating, so use this color judiciously. A beautiful red frame on a single mirror makes a powerful statement.

Avoid Distortions

When using mirrors for feng shui purposes, it’s best to stick with flat mirrors and avoid any distortions. Curved, wavy, or otherwise distorted mirrors can negatively impact the feng shui of a space in the following ways:

They distort the reflection and energy flow. Flat mirrors create a clear, accurate reflection which allows energy to flow smoothly. Distorted mirrors scatter the reflection and disrupt the energy.
They create an imbalanced look. The uneven curves or waves of a distorted mirror create a sense of imbalance in a room. Flat mirrors promote harmony through their symmetry.
They seem unstable. Mirrors with a wobbly or warped appearance give the impression that they are unsteady. Flat mirrors look solid and grounded.
They cause visual confusion. The abnormal reflections from curved or wavy mirrors can be visually disorienting. Flat mirrors provide a normal reflection that’s easy on the eyes.
They symbolize instability. In feng shui, uneven shapes represent instability in life. Flat, symmetrical mirrors represent solidity.

So when looking for feng shui mirrors, opt for ones with a flat, smooth surface. Avoid mirrors with any bubbles, curves, waves, or imperfections. The clean reflection from a flat mirror allows for optimal use of mirrors to enhance energy flow and commanding position.

Considerations

When using mirrors for feng shui, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind:

Break Up Reflections – Having one large mirror that reflects the entire room can create an unsettling feeling, so it’s best to break up reflections. You can do this by placing mirrors so they reflect just one part of the room, using multiple smaller mirrors, or framing mirrors so not everything is reflected.
Watch for Glare – Make sure to account for glare when positioning mirrors. You don’t want a mirror that will reflect sunlight and cause uncomfortable glare. Consider the sun’s path and where glare might occur at different times of day. Adjust mirror placement to avoid directing glare at seating areas, work spaces, or high traffic areas.
Mind the Edges – Sharp edges on a mirror can create an abrasive energy, so choose mirrors with smooth rounded edges whenever possible. If the mirror has a more jagged frame, add protection around the edges so no one gets injured.
Clean Regularly – Dust, smudges, spots, and other signs of neglect on a mirror can negatively impact the energy it reflects. Make mirror cleaning and upkeep part of your regular household cleaning routine.

Tips for Placement

Strategically placing mirrors in your home can maximize their benefits. Consider these tips:

Above the sofa – Hang a mirror above your sofa to visually raise the ceiling and make the room feel more spacious. Position it high enough that people don’t hit their heads. An oval or rectangular shape works well here.
Facing a window – Place a mirror opposite a window to reflect natural light and make a dark room brighter. Go for a larger mirror to capture more light. Try hanging it horizontally to give the illusion of a wider space.

Conclusion

It is clear that mirrors can have a powerful impact in a home when used intentionally for feng shui. To recap, mirrors make rooms feel more spacious and bright by reflecting light. They can also reflect positive energies, fix commanding positions, and evoke feng shui elements through their shape and frame color. However, distorted mirrors should be avoided.

When placed properly, mirrors provide numerous benefits. They are an easy and affordable way to improve the flow of energy, enhance specific areas, and promote positivity. Mirrors can completely transform the feel of a room. They create the illusion of more space, allowing us to appreciate what we have. Strategic mirror placement ensures you will see the best reflections and most flattering views. Lastly, mirrors impart a sense of openness, light, and clarity. Just a few simple adjustments with mirrors can take your home’s feng shui to the next level.

How to Use Mirrors for Good Feng Shui