Most of us will look into a mirror of some description during the course of our day. In fact, we probably do so multiple times - more so than we actually realize. Whether in our bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, or even the restrooms at the office or when out and about. They are there, mainly, for us to check our appearance. We stare into them as we clean our teeth, brush our hair, whilst shaving or when applying makeup. Or possibly to make sure we don't have spinach in our teeth. They're a pretty handy thing to have around. But are mirrors considered furniture?
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Mirrors are available in all kinds of designs. Some are plain, with simple frames. These are created with function in mind - which is great, but they won't look good on your living room wall. They don't add anything to the decor, aside from perhaps making the room seem lighter and bigger. There's no real style to them. You perhaps wouldn't consider these mirrors as furniture, you simply use them. You might even keep them hidden away in rooms that few others might visit. And that's because you want your home to look good, for others to admire it.
The word comes from the French fourniture, meaning 'equipment', so even the plainest of mirrors could fit this description. Strictly speaking, though, mirrors are usually considered 'accessories', adding a finishing touch to the room, along with objects like clocks, occasional tables, tapestries, and suchlike.
These things should complement the overall scheme and, though possibly offering some function, they will most definitely not be utilitarian. They will be well-designed and stylish, something to be proud of. Something to enjoy and to show off. And you would be happy to call them 'furniture'.
Here you get the best of both worlds and there can be no argument - this is definitely furniture! The range of mirrored furniture is huge. There are styles to suit most tastes, each providing a taste of
class and sophistication to your home. Some people have maximized the effects by introducing this type of furniture to a room that has a beautiful mirror on the wall. The two objects will immediately make a difference, reflecting the natural and artificial light, making the room appear to double in size. They will form a connection that ties them into the room, making them work. Textiles that surround them will take on the effect of being layered, adding to the color and texture of the room.
Mirrored furniture works just as well by itself - though you probably won't use it much to check your reflection while combing your hair.
The first mirrors were thought to have been made as far back as 2900 BC in Egypt. Since then, various cultures have used mirrors in some form, but it wasn't until about 200 years ago that they were manufactured as we know them today. They are an essential part of our lives now and we would struggle without them. At certain times throughout history, they were seriously expensive items, reserved for the nobles and aristocracy. Henry VIII was just one famous collector of mirrors. They even attracted their own folklore, with Russian priests banning them in 1666. Soldiers often wore mirrors as talismans in battle. And of course, everyone knows that breaking a mirror brings 7 years of bad luck...if you are unfortunate enough to do this, simply apologize, gather the pieces and give it a decent burial to avoid the repercussions.
The simple fact is, in the end, is that the right mirror in your home just looks great, whether you gaze into it daily or not. It may have a wooden frame, a glass frame, a metal frame, or no frame at all. It could be round, square, rectangular, or the oddest shape imaginable. Whatever the style, it performs a function while adding to the look and feel you want to achieve. It adds an extra dimension of space, magically increasing the size of the room without actually doing so. We've grown used to mirrors and we love them. They've really become part of the furniture.
