Did you know? Mirrors in elevators have a real use! And if they are installed, it is not (only) so that we can get a makeover…
Have you ever wondered why almost every elevator has a mirror? This is obviously not so that budding influencers can take selfies or so that those on a date can put on their makeup first. There are several reasons why these mirrors are installed…
Looking in the mirror helps pass the time during an elevator ride which can sometimes drag on, depending on the number of floors in a building. This is also why we often hear what is commonly called “elevator music”, in order to make the experience more pleasant. But mirrors installed in elevators aren’t just for passing time!
Any decorating connoisseur knows that adding a mirror to a room gives the impression of significantly increasing its size. It can therefore provide some relief to claustrophobics, who often quickly feel cramped in an elevator.
But it is mainly for safety reasons that we find ice in these machines! Thus, a malicious individual will think twice before trying to steal something from you in an elevator, if he knows that the mirror can unmask him more easily. Moreover, in the event of an attack, the victim could see the face of their attacker and thus identify him more easily if the question arises. Furthermore, according to the theory known as the “Hawthorne effect”, a sociological experiment carried out in the 1920s, people act differently when they feel they are being observed, even if they are alone and a simple mirror is in front of them. They would therefore be less likely to vandalize the place!
Finally, mirrors have a completely different use for disabled people: they allow those who use wheelchairs to maneuver more easily and position themselves in the elevator without worry by being able to check their movements in the mirror. Mirrors therefore have several functions in an elevator… and if they allow you to pass the time by getting a makeover on the journey, that’s a bonus!
