I recently came in possession of an antique Goodwill mirror in dire need of a spruce up. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it, so I hung it on the wall to ponder for, oh . . six months or so. (It’s important not to rush these decisions.) It looked like it had been primed and then left as-is. As is often the case, my painting decision was influenced by what kind of paint I could get for free, and it turned out that my mother was the proud owner of an almost full can of Krylon metallic “Brass Mettalic” spray paint.
I chose to think of it as gold.
Here’s what I did:
I took a piece of sandpaper and lightly sanded the wooden frame.
Don’t you love the detail at the top of the mirror?
I took newspaper and covered all the glass up. This took awhile, and I kept thinking that there must be a better and easier way to do this.
I lay down a drop cloth in the back yard to spray the wooden frame. I made sure to start and end the spray before hitting the wood. This, I learned watching HGTV’s “Design Star.” (See? All the cable TV I watched last summer finally came in handy!) Needless to say, I waited until the weather was warm and dry, which perhaps explains why this Oregonian waited so long to complete her project.
The final product. It’s awfully shiny, but I’ve decided that I like it this way. Perhaps a little more “Disney Princess” than my normal decor style, but I love it!
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Your mirror looks beautiful!
I like it, too. I recently painted a mirror frame, too, with newspaper covering the mirror, then my husband removed the mirror, repainted the frame front and back, and put it back together, for a much better result (no more reflections of the old color around the edges). You live and learn.
Mirror looks great. Have a tip. Wet the newspaper and apply to the mirror or glass, use a craft knife to trim. It stays exactly where you want it to. Came from a fellow who refinishes furniture.
I kind of remembered hearing this tip after I was finished. I’ll try to remember it for next time.
Katy
If you love it, then it is perfect!
I love the mirror!!! I love finding old and making something special for my home.
My husband came home from work and mentioned that he had some kind of bronze powder in the basement leftover from when he was an artist. I might use some of that to tone down the brightness and feature the detail a bit more.
You know, in six months or so. 😉
Katy
You wouldn’t want to do that while the paint is fresh, of course. 😉
Just did the same with my new nightstand lamp. It had an antique look but was white. I spraypainted it gold and added a shade and itsGORGEOUS. btw, i pulled it out of someones trash on trash day. I love free treasures!
Free treasures are my favorite, too. I have a nice big wicker chair on my patio that I found in the alley. I gave it a couple of coats of spray paint, sewed up some covers and made cushions from two big pillows we already had laying around and now ….fights have been known to break out over that cozy chair!
I have a wicker chair I found curbside, too, and I love it! I spray-painted it antique white (it was a chipped white already) and added a cushion, and my sister recently gave me a big, flat, square cushion that’s perfect for the back, in an old-fashioned floral print. Someone she works with was giving it away. NOW the chair is comfortable!
So cute! I bought a similar mirror — painted lavendar — at a yard sale last year and was going to paint it creamy for my little girl’s bedroom. Now I’m thinking gold might be the way to go. Thanks!
Go for it, and I highly recommend the “Krylon” spray paint. This project was so quick and over in a jiffy. Do the wet newspaper method that “Bellen” mentioned.
Katy
As they say on Firefly, “Shiny.”
I already thought of that. And when I had to touch up a few spots, I swore in Chinese. 😉
Katy
Trés chic! Looks nice with the purple wall.
A word to the wise: It’s not Krylon’s regular spray paint Katy used, it’s their FUSION line. You don’t have to prepare the surface ahead of time, and it works on ANYTHING — wood, metal, plastic — and dries immediately, ready for recoating in something like three minutes! It doesn’t come in enough colors for my taste (where, pray tell, is the PURPLE??), but I highly, highly recommend it. Found out about it from an interior designer friend in Nebraska, who told me: “I am about to change your life!” So far, I’ve bought at least 20 cans of their Red Pepper/Safety Red, festooning everything from pictures frames to wicker to metal chairs! Side note: In our county, you’re required to REGISTER to buy spray paint, putting down your driver’s license #, and signing your name, in an effort to thwart graffiti artistes!
Actually, I’m looking at the can, and nowhere does it say “Fusion.”
Katy
Um, alrighty then.
I really DO recommend the Fusion, tho!
The Krylon Gold Metallic is one of my favorite paints of all times. I use it on really enormous pine cones, and anything else I can think of. It mak things look like they are dipped in gold. Those mirrors were very popular early last century. I have a couple from my grandmother. I love them. Good job, Katy. Let’s see more of your house. Ann
It’s beautiful, Katy!
Beautiful!
And it’s against that wonderful, rich, matt aubergine colour, so it can be as shiny as it likes! (swearing in Chinese… snork!)
If you want to tone it down and “antique” it I would suggest using some leftover coffee and brushing it on, especially in those crevasses, let it set a few minutes and then wipe the extra off. It will give it a nice look of patina, make the details pop due to contrast, all natural, free, and if you hate it, a good scrub will get it off.
Great makeover on the mirror! I have an old mirror that came out of our bathroom that I couldn’t stand but haven’t given it away. I think I’ll paint it and see if I like it better!
I love the idea of spray painting your mirror a new color. I tried it with a gold antique mirror that I painted white and hate it. The white is too bright. Might have to find another color to try. I have heard of folks using Rub ‘n Buff polish to get a gold finish that is less shiny gold. Maybe your Buy Nothing group has that.
I’ve never used Rub ‘n Buff, but have seen people do interesting projects with it.