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Fun Decorating Trick: Upside Down & Reversed

August 16, 2013 · By Diane Henkler · 20 Comments

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Decorating trick using a mirror

I have a fun home decorating trick to share with you today. One that will help you gain a new perspective on any or all of the items and rooms in your home.  Updated: 03/05/2020

Decorating-with-color

This decorating idea came to me when I was standing at my kitchen sink and looked towards the banquette – inspiration struck.  Always happens when you least expect it.   I know now what I am going to do to my kitchen chairs by viewing them with a different perspective. 

After inspiration struck  – I remembered something I learned when I worked in retail display that I have not done in a while.  Something so simple, but that will change the way you see your house.  It is a fun decorating trick.

Try This Fun Decorating Trick Using a Mirror

This decorating trick will have you looking at your rooms upside down and reversed to gain a new perspective.

I am serious – really! It is a trick for the visual side of your brain and ends up as a treat for you, too.

So how do you look at your rooms upside down and in reverse?  With a mirror. Any mirror will do.

Mirror-Trick-for-Decorating

I went to my basement and grabbed one from my daughters’ apartment contents that are being stored there.  I took this photo looking into the mirror.  The reflection shows my kitchen layout in reverse.

How to Use a Mirror To Gain a New Perspective On Your Home’s Decor

Decorating-Tricks-with-mirrors

  1. Hold the mirror up in front of you. Then look into it and turn around the room (slowly or you may get dizzy).
  • What do you see?  The room in the reflection is reversed.

It looks better, newer, fresher – but it is exactly the same room.  How can that be?

Budget-decorating-tips

Your brain is so used to seeing things in a certain order that we don’t really “see” after a while.

When you suddenly see that your refrigerator is now on the left wall and the sink on the right, it wakes up your brain, which then will help you figure out a new way to do something. In this case, take away or add decorative items to make your décor better, more organized, balanced, etc.

Decorating-Fun-with-Mirrors

Getting a new view of your home can inspire you with new decorating ideas or just let you see that your home is either looking just fine or that something may need changing!

I saw this missed spot when when I laid the mirror on my kitchen counter to clean it.

A New View of Your Home’s Interior Decor

Here are a few more examples of how using a mirror allows you to get a new view or perspective of any room in your home.

Decorating-with-mirrors

Here is my kitchen.

The long wall that spans my kitchen and family room looks really long when viewed in reverse. That is the door to my studioffice on the far left.  Wait it should be on the other side, it is hard to wrap my brain around it, but allows me to really see all the elements I have placed in the room in a different way. I see some things I like and others I don’t.

Decorating-Tips-and-Tricks

It looks funny to see my house in this perspective.  Even with all the painting going on, I can still see things that I could change that my brain was just not observing before.

Decorating-Trick-for-your-home

My family room now looks like it faces south.  My brain is getting rewired – opening up to see the possibilities.

Using Wall Mounted Wall Mirrors to Get a New View

Bathroom-mirror-ideas

Even if you don’t have a mirror to hold in front of you to gain a new perspective of your rooms,  look at the reflection in the mirrors that you have hanging on the walls in your house. Stand at different side angles in front of them to see what is reflected in reverse.  You may like what you see.

Viewing-your-house-bacwards-through-a-mirror

When I looked a mirror hanging on a wall in my living room from this angle, I now see something that I like that my eyes were not seeing for so long. Repetition of white crown molding.  See it on along the top of the mirror, on the column and the doorway?

Before looking at this space reversed in the mirror, my eyes were not seeing this repetitive decorative element of the white crown molding in this room.  I liked seeing it.

Another Decorating Trick – No Mirror Needed

Another way to see a space or room differently is to bend at your waist and look at your room upside down through your legs.

I know it sounds silly, but it will change your perspective and allows your brain to refresh itself.

Mirror-Reflection

Your house and decor will never look better when you look at it upside down & reversed. It will give you a whole new perspective of what is right in front of you.

Free-Decorating-Ideas

Try this decorating trick with a mirror! It is fun and easy to do and won’t cost you a dime.

Your rooms will thank you for looking at them with new eyes.

Home Decorating trick using a mirror.

Decorating-Trick

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pretty white and turquoise dining roomBudget Decorating: Adding An Accent Wall

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Comments

  1. Carole says

    09/28/2018 at 8:52 am

    I have always used this method of seeing things differently by looking in a mirror. At Christmas it is really handy because we tend to put our holiday decor in the same places year after year – just habit.

    Whenever I change things up – move things around using a mirror really helps me decide if I really like it. It is definitely “A brain thing”.

    Thanks, Diane, for all of your insight and ideas. I have used them in my decorating ever since finding your blog so many years ago.

    Reply
  2. Linda L Weeks says

    05/06/2018 at 11:02 am

    Yep, I’m going to try this too. I’ve gotten so that I don’t really see what is in my living room, where I have the most choices to make little changes, but I know there are places that need attention! Thank you, Ms. Diane!

    Reply
  3. Linda Weeks says

    04/07/2017 at 10:47 am

    Ha! upside down and backwards… I’d never get up! I’ll be stuck like this…
    love the post!

    Reply
    • Diane Henkler says

      04/07/2017 at 3:00 pm

      :-) Enjoy your weekend, unstuck

      Reply
  4. cynthia says

    08/19/2013 at 11:30 am

    that’s how i feel when i see pictures of myself. i have to remind myself that i only see myself as a mirror image! love your blog.
    a new follower, cynthia

    Reply
  5. Kim @ Sand & Sisal says

    08/19/2013 at 10:21 am

    Oooo, I’m so curious now. I’ll be trying this out today!

    Reply
  6. Liz Marie @ Liz Marie Blog says

    08/19/2013 at 10:18 am

    Wow! Such a simple and great idea!! Thanks for sharing.. I will be looking like a crazy person today and looking at my house through my legs lol… xx Liz Marie

    Reply
  7. Catherine says

    08/19/2013 at 10:03 am

    Okay, I have been doing this for years, and when I tell people about it, they look at me like I’m crazy! Thank you for validating what has always worked for me! When you look at your own house through a mirror, it always looks better, in my opinion. :)

    Reply
  8. Jessica Christian says

    08/19/2013 at 9:29 am

    This mirror trick is very smart I must say ;)

    Lovely work!!

    Jessica xx

    Reply
  9. neve hennessey says

    08/18/2013 at 2:16 pm

    I want to look at my house alright with a new set of eyes….but not my eyes ~ but yours…..you see things I never see… You amaze me. I enjoy seeing through your eyes:) Tea soon???

    Reply
  10. GinaE says

    08/17/2013 at 1:13 pm

    That mirror trick totally works! I’ve always used it for floral arranging, and looking at bookshelves I’ve just decorated. My sympathies on the new HVAC. We had to get a new one too this year. Cha-ching $$$$

    Reply
  11. RhoniAnn says

    08/17/2013 at 9:30 am

    When we listed our house for sale the realtor asked if I could send her a few pictures. Boy was that an eye opener! It made see where things were cluttered, and just out off place. I like the mirror trick, when we ever get through the remodel of our new house I will have to give that a try!!

    Reply
  12. Donnamae says

    08/17/2013 at 9:17 am

    This trick does seem intriguing…guess I’ll have to give it a try! Now, I’m curious to see your kitchen chairs! ;)

    Reply
  13. Jen C. says

    08/17/2013 at 9:00 am

    Sounds weird but kinda fun. I’m gonna try it!

    Reply
  14. Sue says

    08/17/2013 at 8:59 am

    Excellent idea! Your decorating style is very nice. Love the colors too.

    Reply
  15. Kathy says

    08/17/2013 at 7:10 am

    Diane – even your mess looks pretty!
    Thanks for another great idea.

    Reply
  16. Laurie says

    08/16/2013 at 7:25 pm

    Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply
  17. Jackie says

    08/16/2013 at 7:12 pm

    Diane, You are a super genius! I always live the glimpses I get of my home when walking by a mirror, but I never thought of dragging a mirror around to get a fresh look. I love this!!!!

    Reply
  18. Nana Diana says

    08/16/2013 at 4:31 pm

    I haven’t done this in years and years and years. Truth is, I kind of forgot about that “trick”. I am going to do that yet today- xo Diana

    Reply
  19. Linda says

    08/16/2013 at 2:31 pm

    Very cool idea! I’ve done that before, accidently, and it really does give you a new perspective!

    Reply
Diane Henkler Blogger In My Own Style
I love all things creative, colorful, and DIY. It is just the way my brain is wired. I can't add 2+2 to save my life, but I can help you decorate your home in a style that you will love...YOURS! LEARN MORE
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