Does a mirror make a room look bigger?

A mirror is only is good as the image it reflects.

I wanted to share this image with you of a room designed by Barry Dixon, hung with a beautiful mirror, as seen in the September 2011 issue of House Beautiful.  Three of the things that make this vignette so successful are that 1) the mirror is hung at a natural height for a person to look in to its center, 2) the mirror itself is a lovely piece of art due to its oval shape and ornate frame, and 3) that it is reflecting a beautiful piece of art and a well chosen hanging lamp and medallion.

Room by Barry Dixon as seen in House Beautiful Sep 2011

In my work I have encountered dozens of mirrors that were meant to 'open up a room', often hung over a fireplace.  But if you hang a mirror over your fireplace and all it reflects is your white, bare or (gasp) popcorn ceiling, then all you've done is add more unsightly space to the room.  It may seem bigger, but is that the 'more' that you want?  That was the case for the client with the living room in the photo below - when I first came to their home to redesign this living room with their existing furnishings they had just that, a large, unadorned mirror reflecting a lot of white ceiling:

They wanted a new tv so we removed the mirror and hung the tv over the fireplace, and also rearranged the furniture and replaced the too-small rug with the larger rug from the dining room along with new paint and updated lighting and window treatments.  While I would have loved to put a piece of art over the fireplace, function for the family is always a first priority!

When choosing to hang a mirror consider what it will reflect when you look at it from all parts of the room.  If it reflects a beautiful view or piece of art that you love, go for it!  If it's hung so high that it just reflects white ceiling you've lost an opportunity to add to your space.  Same goes for reflecting a long dark hallway - who needs more hallway?  In those instances consider, instead, a piece of art, maybe with a natural theme like a forest with dappled light coming through aspen trees or a sunny desert vista. 

And remember, if the room feels 'dark' but a mirror will only reflect more of that dark room, add real light with table and floor lamps.

If you have questions about when to hang a mirror or how high to hang it, don't hesitate to send me an email with a picture of your space and your question, at design@rivalee.com.  Happy decorating!

The right size rug for your room. Go big!

Area rugs are one of the very best tools to use to transform a room, second only to paint in making a big impact.  But that tool is only effective if you size the rug properly.  Often I find that my clients are living with a rug that is much too small for the space, and as a result no matter how many accessories they add the room won't ever feel quite finished.  If in doubt I always recommend going bigger.  Sure, it is more expensive, but a too-small rug only accentuates the unfinished feel of a room and you'd be better off not buying a rug at all until you can get the right size.  Otherwise, you may just be wasting your money.

Before: the rug in this room was much too small to add any interest, softness, or grounding to the space.  In a room that can't be painted (like this rental) the size and impact of the rug is even more important!

After: a much larger rug, even though it is still in a pale color palette, adds much more warmth to the space and, by tying all the furniture together makes the room feel larger, too! 

I'd like to share this fabulous guide from MI Corp. in the Seattle Design Center for sizing a rug for your room.

Staging your home for sale

“You should detail your house like you’d detail your car if it were for sale.  The cost of staging your home is usually less than your first price reduction!” Barb Schwarz

It's hard to stage your own home, and even harder to find the time when you are busy working, raising the kids, and trying to get ready for your next home.  But when you don't stage the house, you're often throwing money away!  

A staging professional can help - they can be objective about your stuff, set clear goals and timeliness, and make the job their number one priority while you go on with your life.  But if you want to tackle staging on your own, here are some tips to help:

1. 

   Before, this unused guest room hadn't been set up properly.

   

   After, the room showed it's potential as a bright, cheerful space.
   (Makeover by Rivalee Design)

   1.Landscaping - This is the first impression of your home.  Some buyers won’t even go inside the house if the grass is dead and the trees and bushes are overgrown and abandoned. There is no need to re-landscape your yard, but do bring in fresh mulch, trim back the trees and bushes blocking views of (or from) your home, and try to plant some long lasting blooming plants near the front door and walkway.  If you have a lawn, mow it once or even twice a week.  You only get one chance to make that first impression! 
2. 2.Painting - Fresh paint can make an old house fresh, clean and inviting for very little money.  In general you want to choose light, neutral colors - you don’t want any buyer making a list of rooms they’d have to paint before they’d move in. Keep color consistent throughout the home (this doesn’t mean all room must be the same, but there should be an easy flow through the house). 
3. 3.Cleaning - The house MUST be clean and smell fresh. All your personal belongings (laundry, dishes, shoes, mail, toys...) must be put away.  (And don’t just stash it in a closet - buyers look in there too!)  Vacuum the carpets, open windows for fresh air.  Clean the bathroom, especially the toilet and shower, so it sparkles!  The kitchen, too, must be sparkling clean and all pots and pans should be put away.  Make the bed, clear off your night stands.
4. 4.Lighting - Turn on the lights and open all drapes so the house looks as bright and airy as possible.  If you can arrange it, make all showings during daylight hours.  
5. 5.Fixing - Get the to-do list DONE, but don’t waste time, because every day your house is on the market costs you MONEY!  So hire a handyman to fix minor items around the house - railings should be secure, sinks should never drip, door handles should turn easily and doors should open and shut without jamming.  These tiny fixes suggest to a buyer whether or not the home has been cared for, and can make or break a sale!
   Your goal is to freshen and update the space enough to show off its assets and get it on the market ASAP.  Spend your time and money wisely and you'll be taking a much bigger check to the bank!