In Feng Shui, we often use mirrors to extend a sense of space. If a corner is “missing” from a room, home, or office, it’s a good idea to place a mirror on the wall where that corner should extend.

The mirror should be tall enough and placed so that when someone looks in the mirror, they don’t feel as if the top of their head is missing in the reflection. Ideally, you would use a tall, slender mirror, and place a potted plant (or a faux plant) in front of it on the floor, to cover where the mirror stops.

Because that corner juts into the room, you would also place a tall plant or wind chimes in front of that corner. This is important to cure the “killing chi” of any corner that points at you when you’re inside a room.

On the protruding wall that faces the doorway, it’s good to place a landscape painting or a photo that has a good sense of depth. (See where the green arrow points, in the illustration above; this is where you should place a picture that viewers would like to “walk into.”) This is an alternative to a mirror, because no mirror should face a doorway.

MULTIPLY YOUR FENG SHUI LUCK WITH MIRRORS

In many cases, people say that a mirror “multiplies” the good luck or chi of whatever it reflects. This is why many people place a mirror in the kitchen to reflect the burners on their stoves: The burners represent energy and may also symbolize wealth. If a window near your “Money corner” has a view of running water–a pond, stream, or the ocean–you can increase your money luck with a mirror placed on a wall that reflects the water view.

AVOID ATTRACTING BAD LUCK

However, a mirror should never reflect the incoming energy of a doorway; in feng shui, many people believe that the good luck (or chi) will be deflected… it will bounce right back outside the door again. So, never place any mirror where it will be directly in front of someone as they enter a room.

OTHER IMPORTANT GUIDELINES

Never place a mirror so that you can see your reflection when you are in bed, or when you sit up in bed. In Feng Shui, some people believe that your spirit steps out of your physical body to embark upon a journey into dreams. However, if your spirit prepares to leave the bed and sees (or perhaps doesn’t see?) its reflection in a mirror, this can give you bad dreams and perhaps restless sleep.

Mirrors must be clean and distortion-free. The reflection should be as pristine and perfect as possible. This includes your bathroom mirror, too; be sure to clean off any toothpaste spatters.

Never place a bagua mirror (the eight-sided mirror with Feng Shui symbols around the outside edge) anywhere inside a home; the energy is too powerful. Use a bagua mirror outside your home to deflect bad incoming energy, but never inside your home.

A QUICK REVIEW OF THE BASICS

Look at what your mirrors reflect. That’s what you’re magnifying in your life. If the room is cluttered, you’re magnifying clutter. If the mirror reflects an unattractive view outside your home, that’s what you’re bringing into your home, too. A mirror can double your luck as well. For example, in addition to doubling the positive energy of your kitchen stove or a water view outside your “Money corner” room, the mirror can double the power of candles in your fame area.

Use mirrors in moderation.  In Feng Shui, everything should be in balance in your home, your office, and within each room.