Mirrors are a beautiful accessory to any wall, however, be careful where you hang this "reflective" surface.  Be very mindful of what that mirror is reflecting!  Here are some do's and don'ts that I hope will be helpful.

HANG A MIRROR TO REFLECT A LOVELY LIGHT FIXTURE

Mirrors can really add extra light and "bling" to any room that features a fabulous light fixture - especially if it is crystal!

HANG A MIRROR TO REFLECT A VIEW:

If you have a manicured backyard, or a mountain/lake view or enjoy at beautiful flowering tree outside - place a mirror on the wall to reflect that view from every angle in that room.

MIRROR REFLECTS PIECE OF ART:
A piece of art can be reflected to all guests to enjoy at a dining room table or from any chair in the house.

MAKE A ROOM LOOK LARGER:

Floor to ceiling mirrors are really great at creating space and light in a room.  If you have a small, closed-in room that needs to look larger or brighter try leaning a mirror against a wall.

NEVER HANG A MIRROR TO REFLECT YOUR DIRTY KITCHEN
 - I was eating supper once at a friends and had the unfortunate view of a dirty kitchen in the mirror above their fireplace. 

IT IS A WASTE TO HANG A MIRROR THAT REFLECTS A BARE WALL:
- A mirror that faces a bare wall and reflects back just that "a bare wall" is very uninteresting. 

BE CAREFUL NOT TO HANG A MIRROR ACROSS FROM A WINDOW WHERE A LOT OF SUNLIGHT COMES THROUGH:
- You can blind anyone who comes into a room where sunlight is pouring in and reflecting against a mirror :)

 

If you would like to give your dated kitchen a new look, but cannot afford to completely gut it - here are a few ideas to inspire you!

CHANGE YOUR KITCHEN CABINET HARDWARE:

A quick and inexpensive way to update any kitchen cabinet is to change the handles/hardware.
Try darker knobs on lighter wood cabinetry (Honey oak, bleached oak, natural maple, birch). 
Examples: Oiled Bronze, black, or antique gold.

Look for lighter hardware for darker cabinets and white cabinets. 
Examples: Stainless steel, white or brushed nickel.

ADD OR CHANGE YOUR BACKSPLASH:

Most backsplash areas are not very large - from your countertop to bottom of cabinetry.  This is a great space to splurge a little and get a dazzling effect.  Believe me when I say that this small space can really create that "wow" factor in any kitchen.

PAINT THE INSIDE OF ANY CABINETS WITH GLASS DOORS:

Give your kitchen some personality by painting the inside (or back panel) of any display cabinet.  Go with neutral grays to play it safe or live on the edge with some bright primary colours!  If you are having trouble deciding - look at the dishes you are going to display here and pick out a colour that will favour them.  (see one of my first blogs on mixing colours if you are not sure).

CHANGE SINK AND FAUCET:

Sinks are more expensive than you think - I learned this the hard way!
However, a new deep, shiny, square kitchen sink can really give your kitchen a piece of jewelry to be proud of.
If you are on a really tight budget - add a brand new shiny faucet and walla!