Let’s face it, standing inside a metal box being hauled up or lowered down inside a building isn’t exactly the most exciting way to pass the time. In most elevators, you will find mirrors, and maybe you’ve even wondered why. It turns out there are several reasons for them. In the absence of any glass or windows, placing mirrors inside the elevator at least gives passengers the chance to check their hair or outfit as the elevator moves. From a psychological perspective, elevators can trigger anxiety and claustrophobia, so the addition of mirrors gives the illusion of more space, making people feel less confined, thereby alleviating some of that panicky sensation. Then there’s the serious side of adding mirrors to elevators. Reflective surfaces not only let you see yourself, they allow you to keep an eye on anyone else in the elevator with you. As a result, they have been credited with everything from spotting thieves and pickpockets to preventing assaults. There’s also the issue of access. Because elevators are rather small, passengers who use wheelchairs often don’t have sufficient room inside them to turn themselves around. Without being able to turn around, they would have to wheel themselves backwards out of the elevator, which is not an easy thing to do. Placing mirrors on the inside of the elevator ultimately solves this access problem. Having wheeled themselves into the elevator facing forward, wheelchair-using passengers can then use the mirror on the back wall of the elevator to gain a view of the floor they’re exiting onto, similar to a using a rear-view mirror in a car. So, the next time you’re in an elevator that has mirrors, you’ll know exactly why they’re there.
