In interior decorating, mirrors are usually used to "open up" a small and narrow interior. It is a decorative element used as a way to reflect light, visually enlarge a space, and fill a space that needs interest.
But when the subject of Feng Shui comes into consideration, the most common misconception about mirrors is that it is used to reflect Qi. Mirrors, like all paintings and art, holds no Feng Shui significance to a home interior other than a psychological one.
So where did all this talk about the mirror reflecting Qi come from, you wonder? Back in the old days, mirrors were not made of glass, but of brass. Ancient texts refer to it as using the mirror to steal water or bring in Water (Qi) into the house via the mirror. The real explanation to this is a little more scientific. As olden day mirrors were made of brass, this was a Metal element object. Metal, in the study of the Five Elements, produces or attracts the Water Element. Hence, it is common to find the mirror placed at the front door of houses. But what if the mirror is in front of the Main Door? There's nothing wrong with a Main Door that opens to a mirror in the hallway. As mentioned earlier, it may likely cause some psychological impact as people may be caught by surprised or shocked when they open the door to see themselves reflected in the mirror. Therefore, it has no real Qi effect at all in the context of Feng Shui.
Putting a mirror in the dining area doesn't create 'abundance' in a home either. Just because it reflects the food served on the table does not mean it can 'double the food' so to speak. That's an old housewives' tale!
Simple common sense can clarify this whole misguided affair. If you want to double the food on your dining table, cook more! A reflection in a mirror is merely an illusion. When you finish your food in the real world, you'll find that it's not there in the mirrored world either.
Classical Feng Shui is not concerned with interior decoration. It is to do with the placement and alignment of key features like pathways, walkways, halls, rooms and working areas within your home that allow you to manipulate Qi to your own benefit. Also, the dining room is not regarded as one of the important factors of internal Feng Shui. This is because residents normally do not spend a considerable amount of time in the dining room to benefit or be harmed by the Qi in that area.
With all that said, you are probably wondering about the Ba Gua mirror used in Feng Shui. Though it is not uncommon to see Ba Gua mirrors used for spiritual purposes, especially those of the Taoist faith where Ba Gua mirrors are believed to be able to ward off evil spirits under certain circumstances. However, this has nothing to do with Feng Shui, as Feng Shui is not a religion.
Rest assured, in Feng Shui, the Ba Gua - without the mirror - is only used as a diagram for calculations and to derive formulas; a mathematical model of the universe where it is laid out based on the polarities of Yin (Negative) and Yang (Positive). Ba Gua, by itself, has no special powers.
If you want to use mirrors are a decorative element in your home, go ahead. Just don't place it where you are likely to scare yourself by your own reflection!
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