IN the first part of our article on mirrors in the kitchen we touched upon the main places for their placement: walls, floor, ceiling, kitchen set. Moreover, the number of mirrors depends on the individual desire of the owner of the apartment or house.
To avoid the feeling of being inside a crystal room, it is not recommended to install too many reflective surfaces. For the beauty of the interior, as well as to increase the amount of light in the kitchen, consider other options for placing mirrors.
Content
- Mirror apron
- Mirror Mosaic Apron
- Mirror tile apron
- Mirror panel apron
- Apron of their mirrored plastic panels
- Mirror refrigerator
- Mirror TV
- Mirrored door
- Mirror in the kitchen
- Mirror table
- Mirrored table top
- Mirror cabinet
- Illuminated mirrors in the kitchen
- How to hang mirrors in the kitchen in Feng Shui?
- How to Use Mirrors in Interior 48 beautiful ideas. Video
Mirror apron
A mirrored apron will very well increase the space by filling the kitchen with light. If the distance between the wall cabinets of the headset and the countertop is too large, you should think about the fact that there are not too many mirrors. A distance of up to 50 cm is the most acceptable. But they don't argue with tastes. Someone, on the contrary, wants to fill the kitchen with a maximum of mirrors for various reasons. For the durability of the mirror
apron for kitchen do not worry, because the material is created from tempered glass.Of the shortcomings, we note that with the frequent presence of family members in the kitchen, as well as with frequent cooking, the apron from the mirror will have to be washed daily. In addition, dishes, appliances, vases, household appliances that are on the countertop will be twice as large due to mirror reflection. But this also applies to flowers, the bouquet of which will be twice as magnificent, which cannot be considered a disadvantage. Therefore, it is not worth piling up the tables with anything - leave only the essentials.
A good solution is to use not a monolithic mirror, but, for example, a mirror mosaic. Then much more items can be placed on the countertop. In the photos below, we will show the types of use of mirror surfaces, including mosaic apron.
Mirror Mosaic Apron
Do you want to get a play of light in your kitchen? Then your choice is a mirror mosaic. The most common place for mosaics in a kitchen is the backsplash, walls, and even some surfaces (like a table). In the classical sense, mosaic is possible when creating compositions and complex patterns, when the elements are of different colors. In the case of mirror mosaics, everything is much simpler - it will be just a couple of shades: silver (from white to dark gray tones) or gold. Despite this, if there is a mirror mosaic in the kitchen, be it an apron or part of a wall, the room will look very impressive and rich. The sheen of metal has always been associated with luxury. But the main thing here is not to overdo it.
When choosing a mosaic mirror, don't forget about shades. If the mosaic has darker, tinted colors, it is better to consider the headset or walls in light colors. Very suitable for gold-colored mosaics facade set for natural wood.
Mosaic is produced by the manufacturer almost completely assembled. In this case, the size of the elements can be either fixed or different in shape, length, etc. The individual pieces, assembled into the composition, are glued to a soft or denser plastic substrate. Therefore, mosaics can be used to cover both flat and curved surfaces.
Mirror tile apron
Another type of mirror apron is tile. The size and shape of the mirror tiles can be different: brick-like, broken glass, mosaic, squares, honeycombs... Most often, tiles are selected with a facet, which creates a special look in the kitchen, aesthetics and charm. Square mirror tiles can be laid out both horizontally and with a diamond.
Unlike a monolithic mirror, a mirror tile backsplash will be more difficult to maintain. It is necessary to wash not only each tile, but also the seams, because dust gradually accumulates there.
Mirror panel apron
The apron made of mirror panels (skinali) is very durable, because the material is based on tempered glass. It is very difficult to break glass material. Therefore, safety is guaranteed.
The panel comes in various sizes, most often 3 meters long. The thickness of the mirror panel is 4 - 6 mm. For use as an apron, it is recommended to take the maximum thickness.
The mirror can be positioned along the entire length of the apron, as if it were monolithic. The main advantage of skinning is the absence of seams, so taking care of them will be easier.
Mirror panels can be of several types:
- with matte pattern, while the drawing on the panel can repeat, for example, figures, lines on wallpaper, curtains, furniture, etc.
- tinted - tinted mirror,
- without inserts, drawing and other additional decor.
Classic mirror panel - no decor, pictures. To “liven up” the interior, you can order a mirror with sandblasting (this is a method of treating the surface of a mirror using abrasive particles, as a result of which any pattern is applied).
To dilute the classic look of a monolithic mirror, add photo prints or decorative patterns. You can also order an artificially aged mirror, with a matting effect, etc. To create a cozier and slightly mysterious environment, consider the different types LED backlight.
Apron of their mirrored plastic panels
As the name implies, these mirrored panels are based not on glass, but on plastic. The material is much lighter, therefore installation is easier, but the installation of such an apron near the stove is not recommended. The material is flammable, and when melted, it will release toxic substances.
Plastic mirror panels withstand high temperatures well (except for open fire on the stove), they are resistant to moisture, scratches, and impacts. Another advantage is the flexibility of the material, which allows them to be installed on an imperfect wall. Panels, as well as on the basis of glass, can be patterned - the print is applied by the customer in production.
Mirror refrigerator
Nowadays, you will hardly surprise anyone with mirror household appliances. There was a time when one model was produced in strictly white color. Now manufacturers strive to “listen” to their customers, offering something fresh, convenient, new.
A refrigerator with a mirrored door in its characteristics is no different from its "brothers", as expensive, so cheaper: freezes, stores food, has a touch screen and many additional functions.
Now, briefly about the advantages of this kitchen technique:
- full-length mirror, which cannot but please the hostess,
- inconspicuous location - due to the reflection, it will seem that there is no refrigerator at all in the room,
- reflection of light - the kitchen will become brighter and more spacious,
But:
- you will have to forget about magnets, because you cannot hang them on a non-magnetic mirror.
Among the disadvantages are the most obvious:
- fingerprints remain on the surface, as well as any dirt, dust, drops of water - daily cleaning is guaranteed, because we use the refrigerator very often,
- high cost due to the mirror, because it itself costs more,
- heavy weight - again because of the mirror, which is based on heavy glass,
- large amount of equipment - more space will be required to install the refrigerator, and, accordingly, electricity consumption will increase, as will cash costs.
Refrigerators with mirrored doors are available from several manufacturers. The main ones are LG, Samsung, Beko, Hitachi. Samsung offers its customers two-compartment mirror refrigerators (with a lower location of the freezer), as well as two-door Side-by-Side (with a side freezer) or Door-in-Door - “door-to-door” technology, where the main refrigerating chamber is located behind the second door, and behind the first there is a small refrigerating space with shelves for frequently used products. Read more about them in the article “Behind glass and with double convenience: Door-in-Door refrigerators“.
In addition to the classic mirror, some mirror models of refrigerators are made in different colors, for example, black, red.
Mirror TV
Not every housewife shares the desire to see TV in my kitchen. And the reasons for each person are different. Model of TV equipment offered by manufacturers (TVs Mirror Media), built into the mirror frame, will hide it from prying eyes. At the same time, the frame can be made in any color and shape - according to individual orders and preferences.
The size of a mirror TV can be anything from small to huge. At the same time, due to the QLED matrix and high-tech mirror, the image quality does not differ from the classical TV technology. The thickness of the TV with a mirror frame will not be more than 6 cm. Therefore, you should not worry about “seizing” extra kitchen space, but you can install them in niches - the choice is yours.
Additional speaker systems of the TV will allow the sound to be of high quality, because the mirror will naturally muffle it. The main disadvantage is also the high cost of the equipment.
To protect the screen of the TV itself from fragments (in the event of a broken mirror), a special protective film is applied to it. In order for the TV-mirror not to glare, it is recommended not to hang it in front of the window. When placing TV equipment by the window, it is recommended to use blackout curtains. Moisture protection will allow you to install a mirror TV even at the kitchen sink - in an apron. But this is already a matter of taste.
Mirrored door
The mirror can be inserted anywhere in the kitchen - we found that out. And the door is no exception. To make the room "closed" and isolated, you can make the door "invisible" - completely mirrored. As a result, with the help of a mirror, the space of the room will increase, there will be only a feeling of being in the kitchen, from which there is no way out.
Whether to make a pattern on a mirrored kitchen door or artificially aged is an individual matter. Much depends on the interior of the kitchen.
Mirror in the kitchen
How much you need a mirror (in the classical sense) in the kitchen - everyone determines for himself. Nevertheless, we will discuss this option.
If you hang the mirror in front of the window, then there will be more light in the kitchen. When the kitchen is located on the sunny side, the room will be drowned in light so much that shading in the form of dense curtains on the windows or blinds.
The mirror can be installed in front of the dining table. Then you need to take into account its size in width and length. If the guests, sitting at the table, will see only part of each other's head in the reflection of the mirror, this will not be comfortable and aesthetic.
The mirror can be framed with a frame to match the wall, merging and becoming a single whole. This technique is good for small kitchens. For spacious kitchens, you can consider a dark frame, while a massive noble wood will fit well into the interior.
Often, mirrors are framed with mosaics, as well as mirror stickers, which were described in detail in the 1st part of the article on mirrors in the kitchen.
Mirror table
For small kitchens, it is recommended to keep the amount of furniture to a minimum. How to do it? Remove all tables and chairs? The solution is simple - to purchase glass or mirror furniture. In both cases, it will not be so noticeable, “absorb” light. As a result, the space of the room will increase.
There is no need to worry about the safety of a mirrored table in the kitchen. It is durable and reliable. On the other hand, scratching the surface can be very difficult to fix. Let's continue on the disadvantages:
- A significant drawback of a dining mirror table is its high cost.
- Do not forget about the weight of the table, because mirrors based on glass are a heavy thing. It is unlikely that it will be possible to rearrange the kitchen on your own.
- With a mirrored surface, frequent table care will increase. Especially if small children live in the house. After all, on the mirror surface, handprints will be very visible. Settled dust will need to be wiped off daily. But this is not a problem for those who have breakfast, lunch or dinner at home every day.
- Let's finish with the disadvantages. To reduce the noise of the placed dishes (plates, forks), it is recommended to use any kind of stand: fabric, bamboo... One can only imagine what the ringing will be if a child accidentally drops his spoon on mirror table!
Mirror kitchen tables are produced by manufacturers of different shapes: round, oval, square... Types of tables as much as glass dining table. Its surface can be decorated with individual patterns, geometric shapes, designs, etc. You can also add LED lighting for romantic candlelit dinners. The feeling of an island floating in the air is guaranteed.
The mirror table is suitable for almost any interior, as well as any style (modern, high tech, classic). A beautiful vase of flowers will be reflected by the table surface, making the bouquet even larger.
But not only the dining table can be mirrored. Let's move on to kitchen countertops.
Mirrored table top
O glass countertops we have told a lot. The mirror surface is a kind of it. Such a tabletop is safe, durable, environmentally friendly, does not affect high temperatures, humidity, fats, steam, etc. These are not all of her advantages. The edges processed using special technology will not pose a threat to your health - the manufacturer has taken care of everything.
If the kitchen is located on the sunny side, glare may appear. This applies not only to countertops, but to any mirror surfaces in the room.
Mirror cabinet
Any furniture can be made “invisible” by covering it with a mirror. The purpose of this technique in most cases is to expand the space. There will be more light, less furniture in the room. This is a great choice for a small kitchen. At the same time, the cabinet (as well as closet) can be either the entire height / width of the kitchen or narrow pencil case.
Illuminated mirrors in the kitchen
Backlightas well as additional kitchen lighting, has become a necessity for many. Additional light can be installed in the working area of the kitchen, frame the apron with LED strip and even the front of the headset. The play of light will help create coziness, as well as some mystery to the room.
LED backlighting can have different types of switches - according to individual requirements. For convenience, manufacturers have created for their client touch control lightthat reacts to movement. In this case, even with dirty hands, you will not have to touch anything.
Also popular pushbutton switches, which are often backlit by an LED. Using dimmers (switches with a regulator) in the kitchen, you can independently control the power of the lighting, saving energy. The main disadvantage of such a switch is its high cost.
Diode mirror illumination is presented in different colors: classic, as well as bronze, gray shades. It is carried out both outside the perimeter and under the mirror. You can go further by making the interior illumination of the mirror surface. In the case of a sandblasting pattern on the mirror, the light will penetrate from the inside. This will create an additional noble, impressive effect.
How to hang mirrors in the kitchen in Feng Shui?
Fashion called "feng shui" dictates its own rules. Someone believes in the right arrangement of furniture in the house, others are confident in the power of symbolic development of space. Therefore, we will also touch on this issue.
What does Feng Shui say about the location and shape of the mirrors in the kitchen? Let's consider the main aspects:
- It is recommended that the mirror reflects the dining table at which all family members gather. It is believed that this is how the family attracts well-being, material wealth and an abundance of food.
- The shape of a Feng Shui mirror should not have sharp corners, sharp curved lines. It is believed to cause anger, irritability and even aggression in people.
- A mirror that reflects family members at full height is believed to bring health and well-being.
- It is not recommended to make the front door completely mirrored. Placing a mirror opposite the kitchen door is also not fesh shui. The explanation for this is this: good energy entering the door should remain in the kitchen, and not be reflected and go back. It is believed that there is no place for a mirror opposite the window for the same reasons. The positive energy of light should not leave the house reflected by mirrors.
- Placing mirrors opposite each other is a dangerous undertaking. It is believed that evil spirits and other evil spirits come out through the received “corridor”. You can also recall folk fortune-telling at Christmas, when the betrothed was summoned with the help of two mirrors.