<p>Our house has a lot of mirrors (from original owner that we never removed). Fortunately they didn’t put any in the dining room, as I wouldn’t like that and can’t remember ever dining in many homes with such a feature. I like artwork or family photos instead. </p>
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<p>Lots of people follow the principles in feng shui are not Chinese.</p>
<p>People often state opinions as facts when in reality, stuff like this is completely subjective. If the OP wants a mirror in her dining room, she should do what makes her happy. I’ve seen mirrors in dining rooms which are quite lovely IMO, particularly if they are done in a way in which the diner is not looking straight at himself while eating. Some mirrors, like the one referenced from Pottery Barn, provide light and shine, but because of the way they are made, aren’t really reflecting images clearly like in a bathroom.</p>
<p>We have a grouping of 3 rectangular mirrors in our family room. It is a very big wall, and needed something large scale. The mirrors are divided by metal sections, almost like a window, and the mirror is antiqued/smoky looking. It reflects the light and the green of the golf course, but you wouldn’t stand in front of them to check your appearance because the reflection would be murky. I love those mirrors and the light/color they bring to the room. I don’t think they make the room bigger, they just provide natural light and color in a room which would have benefited from a skylight. </p>
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<p>I am not Chinese. I have found since adopting the principles of Feng Shui in our home almost 10 years ago, that our home’s energy and general feeling is lighter, more fun loving and just more pleasant. Maybe it is in my head that that is cool, it works for me. I don’t dislike seeing myself, but am not a mirror gazer either. So maybe that is the difference. </p>
<p>We are actually discussing building another home in the next two years and every single plan I look at I take the Feng Shui principles into consideration. Like I said before, it works for me and really that is all that matters.</p>
<p>I don’t believe in feng shui either, but it like anything else, is probably based on instinctive ideas about design that work. The reasons may be bogus (in my mind), but the results may not be. </p>
<p>I did not want a mirror in my dining room, but the art work over my buffet on one wall was just too busy when I went with curtains with a print. I was going to replace the art work anyways but then couldn’t find anything I liked. I picked up a large rectangular mirror on the cheap to put there temporarily…and it opened up the room magically. So it stays. </p>
<p>JoBlue and nrdsb4, I have that Eagan mirror from PB, in the large size! It’s on a wall in our sunroom, and I love it. I wanted it for a long time, and when I saw a sale or special offer that lowered the price to $475, I pounced.</p>
<p>I looked at a Feng Shui decorating book once and loved it. There’s something about all the empty space that is restful. </p>
<p>I love mirrors. We have a large one over the living room mantel, as well as the huge PB mirror.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies and links. Mathmom - loved that mirror you linked to. Also liked the pottery barn mirror.</p>
<p>The original idea was to get a sideboard and a mirror on top of the sideboard to “make the room look larger” since the set we were looking at came with a gorgeous sideboard. But we changed our minds and went with a different table instead. Got a hutch/china cabinet with this table. Still debating whether to get a mirror or go with artwork. One idea we had been thinking of is wall photo tiles - with pictures of the different places we’ve been to. H and I travel a lot and are crazy about pictures, so have tons of gorgeous landscapes. </p>
<p>VeryHappy - our round table came from a teak furniture store in MA. We found most furniture stores had one or two round tables - not that great a selection. Once we decided on a glass top, the selection was minimal (especially since we wanted a wood base, something not too contemporary looking).</p>
<p>When we were looking around, H happened to stay at a hotel with a bathroom that had all mirror walls. He sent me a picture of this saying we shouldn’t bother ripping out the wallpaper and painting the dining room - we just had to cover the walls with mirrors :)</p>
<p>I like smaller mirrors because they not only reflect light, but can expand views, I dont like them so much in rooms without large windows because i get a fun house effect.</p>
<p>OP:</p>
<p>Houzz.com has thousands of photos of mirrors in dining rooms. Some are quite large and might have the effect several of the posters here dislike. But there are many other options which allow mirrors to reflect light or provide a beautiful decorative touch without overwhelming the guest with images of himself.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.houzz.com/dining-room-mirrors/p/8”>http://www.houzz.com/dining-room-mirrors/p/8</a></p>
<p>Mirrors are great for reflecting light. My main suggestion is to get a mirror and see where you would like to hang it depending on what the reflection is. A mirror becomes a bit of artwork. No need reflecting a dirty kitchen, a blank wall, another mirror, your sideboard. If it reflects your chandelier, a pretty centerpiece then your good to go.</p>
<p>The travel pictures sound like nice conversation pieces for the dining room, if you ask me. I am not anti-mirror either, though. I agree with gouf to look at what it would reflect.</p>
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Feng Shui recommends mirrors to reflect something pleasant just as gouf suggests. Mirrors supposedly double the effect of what it is reflecting. So if it is reflecting a nice view, sparkling chandelier or lovely fruit artwork then it doubles the positive feelings. If the mirror is reflecting clutter or a war painting then it will supposedly double the negative “chi” and most likely lead to arguments while dining with guests. </p>
<p>example of a mirror as art piece:</p>
<p><a href=“Noe Valley Residence - Contemporary - Dining Room - San Francisco - by Jeff Schlarb Design Studio | Houzz”>Noe Valley Residence - Contemporary - Dining Room - San Francisco - by Jeff Schlarb Design Studio | Houzz;
<p>Rather than ruining the room, it enhances it, and no one can complain about having to look at themselves during the meal.</p>
<p>That’s a lovely piece, Nrdsb4. I don’t even think of it as a mirror – more like light hanging on the wall.</p>
<p>D2 has a similar piece hanging over her dresser in her bedroom. It makes such a beautiful statement. </p>
<p>Why not take a photo of your dining room, then Photoshop or PowerPoint in some different mirror shapes to preview how it looks. That’s what I do with construction projects.</p>
<p>Photoshop is your friend…</p>
<p>What about a collection of smaller mirrors in decorative frames to make a wall statement rather than just to reflect. I collect a certain manufacturer’s antique metal mirrors, and when I run out of stand-up display space, I will just start hanging them!</p>
<p>I would rather look at a mirror while dining than this! Yikes.</p>
<p><a href=“#1 Bruce Lietzke - Eclectic - Dining Room - Other | Houzz”>#1 Bruce Lietzke - Eclectic - Dining Room - Other | Houzz;
<p>LOL! according to the comments that print is a bee but my first though was “why would anyone want a print of a big bug as a focal point in a dining room?”.</p>
<p>I confess that I also have that PB Eagan mirror in the large size. It’s on a 12’ wall in our family room facing glass doors to the back deck and really brings in so much light and is the perfect size for that space.</p>