We Hung a Mirror on That Awkward Wall and Stopped Bickering in the Hallway
A couple's constant arguing in their narrow entryway stopped after they installed a large mirror on the side wall that felt too close.
Location
Portland, United States
Property Type
Apartment
Room
Entryway
Direction
West
The Problem
My partner and I moved into a new apartment six months ago. The entryway is long and narrow — maybe four feet wide, ten feet long. Every time one of us came home, the other would be standing there, and within two minutes we'd be snapping at each other over something stupid: keys left on the counter, a wet umbrella, whose turn it was to take out the trash. It felt like the hallway itself was making us tense. Like there wasn't enough space to breathe.
What They Tried
A friend who's an interior designer came over. She stood in the entryway, looked left and right, and said, 'Your brain is getting two completely different signals when you walk in. That side wall is too close, but the rest of the room opens up. It's disorienting.' She suggested hanging a big mirror on the close wall — at least big enough to reflect a whole person. We bought a simple framed mirror, 36 by 24 inches, and hung it right where the wall felt pushy.
What Happened
Within a week, the bickering stopped. I'm not saying the mirror fixed our relationship — but it changed how we entered the space. Instead of feeling crowded and defensive, we'd see ourselves and each other in the mirror. It opened up the hallway visually, and somehow we stopped snapping. Maybe we just needed to see our own faces before we spoke. The mirror cost forty dollars and took ten minutes to hang. Best thing we did for the apartment.
Spatial Orientation
| Bagua Sector | 兑 ☱ · Dui |
|---|---|
| Direction | West |
| Element | metal |
What works best here
Dui (7) · Metal. West should be lower and more open than East for left-right equilibrium.
Place: low cabinets, metal decor (brass, copper, steel), round shapes, white and grey tones.
Recommended crystal
Clear Quartz or Selenite — placed on a low console or side table in the west
Round shapes and metallic finishes feel especially at home on this side of the room
Source Analysis
1. The Original Principle
Original Text
Las paredes que se ven en parte al entrar en una habitación son igualmente abrumadoras. La sensación es la de tener una pared demasiado cerca por un lado del campo visual y una amplia visión del interior de la estancia por el otro. Esta disposición es más habitual en vestíbulos y en dormitorios, y puede resultar desconcertante para el cerebro y el sistema nervioso. Para solventar este problema, aplique la misma solución que ya hemos propuesto para los casos en que las paredes estén demasiado cerca unas de otras: un espejo (lo bastante grande como para reflejar por lo menos su cabeza entera), o una pintura realista.
English Translation
When entering a room, if one side wall is too close while the other offers a wide view, the brain and nervous system can feel confused and uneasy. This layout is common in entryways and bedrooms. The fix is simple: place a mirror large enough to reflect at least your full head, or a realistic painting, on the close wall.
2. About the Source
Feng shui para Occidente by Terah Kathryn Collins · United States · 1995
Feng Shui for the West is a practical guide that adapts classical Chinese spatial principles for modern Western homes and lifestyles. Written by one of the first American authors to bring Feng Shui to a mainstream English-speaking audience, the book translates ancient Bagua concepts into actionable room-by-room advice using familiar Western design language and contemporary case examples.
3. How This Principle Applies to This Case
This case illustrates a spatial principle about visual asymmetry at the entry point. When one wall is visually oppressive and the other is open, the brain struggles to reconcile the two signals, creating low-grade stress. The mirror solves this by expanding the tight side visually, restoring balance. Modern environmental psychology confirms that our peripheral vision affects mood and arousal levels — a cramped entryway can trigger fight-or-flight responses. The mirror acts as a visual trick, reducing the perceived threat of the close wall and allowing the nervous system to relax upon entering.
Bring the Purest Energy Into Your Home
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Sacred Spaces Design
Independent sacred space design studio. Integrates psychology, herbal plant energy purification, decluttering, and Feng Shui orientation. Large young-entrepreneur following in NYC and online.