Mirrors are versatile decorative elements that can give instant polish to any room with surprisingly little effort. They are an interior design favourite, creating the illusion of space while adding a touch of elegance and drama to an area.  However, as the professionals focus on the design aesthetics and issues, not every designer will be aware of the Feng Shui impacts of their decisions.

In Feng Shui, mirrors have the ability to direct the flow of energy in a space. Because of their reflective abilities, mirrors can be used to ‘push and pull’ energy in desired directions.

For example, when we need to enhance the positive energy in a room, a mirror can serve as the perfect multiplier to amplify the positive forces and deliver the best results. It’s important to use mirrors correctly and effectively to solve not only your interior design issues but to also create the optimal energy flow within a space.

Having had some interior design experience myself, I love to incorporate design aspects into my Feng Shui remedies and solutions – to enhance the energy flow of the space subtly yet effectively, so they blend in seamlessly with any style.

Below are some basic Feng Shui Mirror Do’s and Don’ts to provide you with some key guidelines.

DO reflect beautiful views. If your home has a lovely natural view of nature, such as trees, grass, blue skies, bodies of water or anything that is beautiful, position a mirror to reflect it. By bringing the beauty of the outdoors inside, you are inviting and activating Mother Nature’s positive energy into your home.

DO reflect dining and living areas. The dining room is the perfect location for mirrors especially when it can reflect the food on the table. In Chinese tradition, the dining table (including how much the food and drink make up the spread) represents a family’s wealth.  Therefore, magnifying and doubling this energy aspect of the room is equivalent to ‘doubling your wealth’.

Living rooms where families hold parties and gatherings are also great locations to hang mirrors as the reflection of people and loved ones is a way of enhancing their prosperous energy.

DO place mirrors where they can open up space. This technique is very much in line with fundamental interior design principles. If you have a rather small room or a long hallway, mirrors are the perfect way to create an illusion of space. Placing a mirror along the wall of a hallway will slow down Qi and add visual interest. The only thing to avoid is placing a mirror in the bedroom that directly reflects the bed. I will explain why in a following section (read on!).

DO place mirrors against the wall to define missing corners or energy sectors within the home. When your home is missing certain important sectors, such as a north sector (which represents career) or southwest sector (representing romance or relationships), you’re more likely to encounter problems in these areas of your life. Using mirrors is a great way to rectify these Feng Shui issues within your home. Place a mirror to expand the space so that the reflection will symbolically ‘fill in’ the missing areas so that they can be fulfilled and completed. Usually, the shifts in these relevant areas your life are immediately noticed or felt once a remedy is in place – I’ve had great results with my clients in the past.

DON’T place a mirror directly opposite a front door.  They block auspicious Qi from entering the premises, as a mirror’s reflective ability pushes that energy right back out the door.

This is particularly important for small businesses or retail shops.  Mirrors placed opposite the front door are a way of saying ‘please don’t come in’ and can have disastrous results for a business.

If for design aesthetics, you want a mirror to open up your foyer, try placing the mirror along the side wall rather than facing the front door.

DON’T place mirrors in the bedroom. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, a mirror in the bedroom can create arguments and disputes in the relationship, especially if it reflects the bed. Mirrors reflecting the bed bounce a couple’s energy back and forth so conflicts cannot be resolved. Furthermore, mirrors reflecting the bed are said to bring an unwanted third party into the marriage or romantic relationship.

Secondly, mirrors in the bedroom don’t allow for a restful night’s sleep as they keep the energy in the room too active.  The energy in your bedroom should be inactive yin without mirrors or any electronic devices to stimulate it.

Modern homes often have full-length mirrors or built-ins within the bedroom, this can present a problem especially if they reflect the bed (that is, you can see yourself in the mirror while lying down). Try covering them with decorative papers or other removable materials to adapt your surroundings without ruining the overall look.

DON’T reflect negative views. If we use mirrors to amplify auspicious energies, we should avoid mirrors reflecting anything negative or sharp or mirrors that distort their subjects. Avoid placing mirrors where they reflect the toilet seats, rubbish bins, shoe cabinets or clutter. Seeing ’unpleasant’ reflections in a mirror can magnify negative energy.

DON’T use broken mirrors. This is a big no-no in Feng Shui. Just like you should never ever eat from a cracked bowl or plate, you shouldn’t use cracked mirrors as they contain very negative energy. Replace them or remove them altogether.

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