“Feng shui mirror” can mean two different things. Most often it’s the small octagonal bagua mirror you see hung above doors in Chinese neighbourhoods, a traditional protective charm. But the phrase is also used more loosely for any ordinary mirror placed with feng shui in mind. The two are used very differently, and mixing them up is behind a lot of confused advice.
This guide explains both: what a bagua mirror is and where it belongs, and how everyday mirrors are used in feng shui to bring in light, expand a space and avoid a few well-known placement problems.
Key takeaways
- A bagua mirror is an octagonal frame with the eight trigrams around a small mirror. It’s a protective cure, traditionally hung outside, above the front door.
- Bagua mirrors are not meant for use inside the home, and should not be aimed at a neighbour’s door or windows.
- Ordinary mirrors are used indoors to reflect light, views and plants, to make small rooms feel larger, and to let you see a door behind you.
- Common placements to avoid: facing the bed, directly facing the front door and reflecting clutter or the toilet.
- Keep every mirror clean and intact; cracked or distorting mirrors are considered poor feng shui.
What a bagua mirror is
A traditional bagua mirror has a small round mirror at the centre of an eight-sided wooden frame, usually red, green and yellow. Around the mirror are the eight trigrams of the I Ching, normally in the “Early Heaven” arrangement used for protection. It is a cure, not a decoration: its purpose is to deflect harsh energy, or sha qi, coming at the home from outside.
The sources of that harsh energy are things like a road pointing straight at the door, the sharp corner of a neighbouring building, a lamp post or pylon directly in front of the entrance, or a large structure looming over the house.
Types of bagua mirror
| Type | Traditional purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flat | Reflects harsh energy back where it came from | The mildest and most commonly used |
| Convex (bulging) | Disperses and scatters strong energy | Used for stronger threats such as a road aimed at the house |
| Concave (curved inward) | Absorbs or “captures” energy | The most powerful; many practitioners use it only with expert guidance |
Where to hang a bagua mirror
- Outside, above the front door, facing out toward the source of the problem.
- Outside a window that faces a sharp corner or another source of harsh energy.
- Only when there’s an actual problem to address. A bagua mirror isn’t a general good-luck charm.
Two cautions come up in almost every traditional source. First, don’t hang it inside the home: it’s considered too strong to use on the people living there. Second, don’t aim it at a neighbour’s front door or windows, since it’s a protective device and pointing it at someone else’s home can be taken as hostile. In flats and terraces, a plant, a screen or a frosted window film is often a gentler alternative. If your entrance problem is inside rather than outside, such as stairs facing the door, see my guide to front doors facing stairs, a wall or a back door.
Everyday mirrors in feng shui
Ordinary mirrors are associated with the water element and are among the most useful tools in feng shui decorating. They’re used to:
- Bring in light: a mirror opposite or beside a window bounces daylight into a dark room.
- Expand a small space: a well-placed mirror makes a narrow hall or a small room feel larger.
- “Double” something good: a mirror reflecting a dining table full of food, a healthy plant or a lovely view is said to double its energy.
- Give you a view of the door: if your desk, stove or bed can’t face the door, a small mirror that shows the doorway is the traditional fix for the command position.
- Complete a missing area: in an L-shaped home, a mirror on the wall of the missing corner is sometimes used to “fill” it symbolically.
Where not to put a mirror
| Placement | Traditional concern | Simple fix |
|---|---|---|
| Facing the bed | Active energy that disturbs rest | Move it to a side wall, or cover it at night |
| Directly facing the front door | Bounces incoming energy back out | Hang it on a side wall of the hall instead |
| Reflecting clutter | Doubles the stagnant energy | Clear the area or move the mirror |
| Reflecting the toilet or bathroom door | Spreads draining energy | Keep the bathroom door closed |
| Two mirrors facing each other | Endless reflections, restless energy | Move or angle one of them |
| Cutting off heads | A mirror hung too low or too high “cuts” people | Hang it so the tallest person can see their whole head |
The bedroom and the front door come up most often, and schools disagree on the details, so I’ve gone through them separately in my guide to a mirror facing the bed, door or stove and in bedroom mirror dos and don’ts.
Choosing a mirror
- Shape: round and oval mirrors are associated with metal and are considered soft and harmonious; rectangular mirrors suit wood areas; avoid sharp, jagged designs in rooms where people rest.
- Quality: clear glass that doesn’t distort your reflection. Old, speckled or warped mirrors are best retired.
- Size: in proportion to the wall. A large mirror can transform a small hall; in a bedroom, smaller is calmer.
- Frame: the frame can add an element: wood for growth, metal for clarity, a dark frame for water.
Mirrors room by room
- Hall: on a side wall, to brighten and widen the space.
- Living room: reflecting a window or a pleasant view, not the front door. My guide to arranging a living room covers the rest of the layout.
- Dining room: reflecting the table, a traditional image of abundance.
- Kitchen: a small mirror or reflective splashback so the cook can see the door.
- Bathroom: above the basin is fine; keep it clean and the toilet lid down.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hang a bagua mirror inside my home?
Traditionally, no. Bagua mirrors are protective cures meant for the outside of the home. Indoors, use ordinary mirrors.
Which way should a bagua mirror face?
Outward, toward the source of harsh energy, such as a road or a sharp corner. Avoid aiming it at a neighbour’s home.
Is a broken mirror bad feng shui?
Yes. Cracked, chipped or distorting mirrors are considered to fragment energy and are best replaced.
Where is the best place for a mirror in feng shui?
Where it reflects something you want more of, such as light, a view, a plant or the dining table, and where it doesn’t face the bed or the front door.
Can a mirror fix a missing corner?
Some practitioners use a mirror on the wall of a missing area to complete it symbolically. Others prefer plants or lighting outside the missing corner.