Ornate Mirror Makeover
I thought I would change things up today and share how I gave an old ornate mirror a makeover. All I needed was a little bit of paint to complete my foyer transformation.
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I found this metallic gold, beautifully detailed mirror at a yard sale and have loved it just like that for years.
You know I love gold, but we recently painted the house’s interior walls to a soft gray, and the metallic gold just didn’t fit in with the decor style I want. Since I love the mirror so much, I decided it needed to take on a new look, and I love the way it turned out!
You can find old mirrors and frames with all the intricate details at yard sales, flea markets, or thrift stores all the time. They are beautiful as is, but if that’s not your style, you can do this easy DIY painting technique and make a statement with a fresh look.
Materials Mentioned:
- Dixie Belle Paint in Stormy Seas and Fluff
- Painters tape
- 2″ Paintbrush
- Sharp edge or small hook tool
- Paper towels
I am using Dixie Belle paint in Stormy Seas and Fluff that I have had sitting around. The mineral chalk paint is perfect for projects like this because it covers so well. You can find similar chalk paints on the market that would work too.
Standard latex paint from your hardware store can also be used. You really don’t need much to paint a frame and can pick up a sample of any color you like for just a few dollars.
Chalk paint will have a little bit of a different finish than latex. If you want a matte finish make sure to ask at the paint counter. I think that samples come in semi-gloss only.
Ornate Mirror Makeover Prep
I didn’t do any prep work to my mirror frame. I just made sure there was no dust on it, but I didn’t sand it or anything. Using a good chalk paint can reduce the prep work because they are pigmented and adhere well.
If your mirror has a high sheen finish and you are worried about your paint chipping off, you can lightly scuff the surface with a sanding sponge or spray with a paint primer. I didn’t want to prime mine, though, because I wanted the gold color to pop through in my distressed, dry brush finish.
It’s been a few months since I completed this project and everything is holding up perfectly.
Use painter’s tape to protect your mirror. I tried my hardest to get as close to the frame as possible, but I still had some cleaning up to do in the end around the corners.
As an extra measure, you can cover your whole mirror with an old paper bag to make sure no drips land on the surface.
Paint the Base Layer
I wanted to cover most of the gold mirror frame color and picked a darker base color so I could do it one coat. Lighter shades may need more layers for desired coverage. I chose a dark gray paint color to compliment my new home decor.
I didn’t totally cover all the gold but achieved the coverage I was going for in one coat. You can see in the video below just how much of the gold I left to peek through.
However many coats you decide to do, paint in thin layers, so all of the frame’s details stay beautiful and don’t get gloppy.
Allowing the base coat to dry completely is crucial to the dry brushing technique of the second coat.
Dry Brush to Make the Ornate Details Stand Out
Once the base color is complete, the next step is to dry brush your next color of choice. This is your highlight color that will graze all those ornate details and make them pop.
Dry brushing is when you take a dry paintbrush with a minimal amount of paint to lightly stroke the surface resulting in a textured distressed look.
I just barely dip the tip of my brush into the white paint and dab off the access onto a paper towel.
If you try this quick DIY ornate mirror makeover, start with just the smallest amount of your highlight color. You can always add more.
I like to use a quick coat everywhere and then decide where I want more and go back to it. The corners have the most detail, so I make sure they are extra defined with another layer of white dry brushed just over the tips.
Watch How I Dry Brush In This Ornate Mirror Makeover Video
Once you have the frame looking just the way you like it, remove the painter’s tape.
Then, clean-up any paint residue on your mirror. I was able to scratch it away with my metal hook tool pretty easily.
This ornate mirror makeover was so simple, inexpensive, and the perfect update to fit my modern farmhouse home decor.
The white pops in contrast to the dark gray making all the details stand out even more than when it was solid metallic gold.
But wait… What is that in the mirror?! 😍 I am excited to say that my Spring Chapel painting tutorial is now available!
This painting has only ever been available during my 2020 spring painting challenge . Learn more about how you can learn how to paint this cheery painting HERE.
We are making progress as we update our home. We accomplished a lot in 2020 but have so many projects planned for the new year, and I can’t wait to take you all on the journey!
