I once put a mirror across from a window, and it was great until mid-afternoon when it turned my couch into a blinding hotspot...had to rearrange the whole room, haha. Still, when placed right, mir...
Mirrors can indeed be tricky. In older homes, I've found that sheer or lightweight curtains help diffuse harsh sunlight nicely without sacrificing brightness. Another traditional method is using lighter-colored paints or wallpapers—historically, pale shades were favored precisely because they reflected natural daylight better. Also, strategically placing furniture away from windows rather than directly opposite can prevent glare issues like the one you described. It's all about balancing reflection and diffusion.
"sheer or lightweight curtains help diffuse harsh sunlight nicely without sacrificing brightness."
Definitely agree with this. I've also found that plants near windows can soften harsh sunlight surprisingly well...plus, they add a nice vibe. Just gotta pick ones that actually like direct sun, learned that the hard way.
"Just gotta pick ones that actually like direct sun, learned that the hard way."
Haha, same here... RIP my poor fern. I've been thinking about mirrors lately—heard they can bounce natural light around pretty effectively. Has anyone tried placing mirrors strategically to brighten up darker corners? Curious if it's worth the effort or if it ends up looking kinda weird.
I tried the mirror trick in my living room last winter when everything felt super gloomy. Honestly, it made a noticeable difference—especially with a larger mirror placed opposite the window. It bounced around enough daylight to make the whole space feel brighter and bigger. One caution though... placement matters! I initially had it angled weirdly, and it created annoying glare spots. But once adjusted, totally worth the effort. Plus, mirrors can look pretty stylish anyway, so it's a win-win.
Totally agree on the mirror placement thing—learned that lesson the hard way myself. A few years back, I set up a big decorative mirror opposite my patio doors thinking it'd brighten things up. It did, but at certain times of day it turned my living room into a blinding spotlight zone... had to shuffle furniture around to avoid glare headaches. Once I got the angle right though, it really opened up the space and made it feel way less gloomy. Worth the hassle for sure.
