Hey guys! So I am finally getting around to sharing with you all about how I took my $15 mirror frame I found while out antique hunting in Pigeon Forge, and transformed it into something that fit my home esthetic better by using a little fusion mineral paint and some antiquing glaze. So I thought it would be fun to show you how to paint and distress a mirror frame just like I did here.
This was such a fun project to do and I am so happy with how it turned out. I will give you all the tips and details on just how I painted and distressed this mirror frame and I will show you just how easy it was!
I was surprised it was so simple and easy to transform it into something I love even more. Keep on reading for the directions.
Supplies Needed:
- Mirror frame (you could also use a picture frame too)
- Fusion mineral paint (I used Raw Silk)
- Paint brush
- Antiquing Glaze (I used this Valspar Antiquing Glaze)
- Painters tape (I did not need to use any because this mirror frame actually detached from the mirror itself, but it yours doesn’t do that, you will need to use some painters tape to prevent paint from getting all over the mirror)
Wash The Mirror Frame
The first thing I did was take a damp rag and wiped all around the mirror frame. I wanted to make sure it was free from any dirt or debris before I started painting it. Then, I used another rag to dry it off with.
Paint the First Coat of Paint
So after you washed and dried your mirror frame, the next thing to do is apply the first coat of paint! Like I said above I used fusion mineral paint in Raw Silk for this project but you could use whatever paint you like best and whatever color that will work best for your home.
I was very impressed with this paint (see my honest review about it) and I only used a small sample sized pot for this entire mirror.
The sample size is only 1.25 fluid ounces and as you can see the mirror frame was pretty large and intricate so the coverage on fusion mineral paint is phenomenal.
Let Mirror Frame Dry and Then Apply the Second Coat of Paint
I let the first coat dry for about 3 hours. For fusion mineral paint, it is dry to touch after only 30 minutes but you want to be sure to wait at least 1-2 hours before applying a second coat.
So I gave it plenty of time before applying the second coat. After I applied the second coat, I just let it dry overnight before applying the antiquing glaze.
This was mainly because I did not have any glaze on hand and I had to go get some the next day!
Apply the Antiquing Glaze
After your frame is completely dry, now you can apply the antiquing glaze! This was super fun to me to do because I have never used antiquing glaze before and I was also impressed by this product as well.
It definitely gave the painted mirror frame a distressed look to it, which is what I was going for. I used the antiquing wax pictured below. You don’t need much at all to do this.
First, I mixed the glaze well and then I used a damp rag and dipped it in there, getting just a tad bit on the rag.
Then, using small circular motions, I applied it all around the mirror frame. I used more in some spots to give it a darker appearance and then less in some spots to give it more dimension.
It really made the appearance of the mirror frame look antique and vintage which is definitely my style! Click here to view the exact glaze that I used for this project.
Let Mirror Frame Dry Completely
Again, after applying the antique glaze, I let the mirror frame dry overnight. I wanted to be sure it was completely dry before I hung it up.
It is also important to note the drying time if you are just painting the mirror frame with fusion mineral paint and not applying the antiquing glaze- Curing time with all acrylic paints is 21 days, but painted surfaces can be used gently after just 24-48 hours of drying time.
However, longer dry times and curing times are required when painting is done in high humidity and cooler temperatures.
So use your best judgement to determine when your mirror frame is completely dry from being painted and distressed!
Hang Up The Mirror Frame
The last step is obvious, but once you have let your mirror frame dry completely, it is time to hang it up! I wanted to hang it in our office because I had some wall space next to my lockers that needed a little something.
And I think it is the perfect touch! I love how the painted and distressed mirror frame looks next to my old, rusty lockers. It’s like it was made for this space!
I hope this post was helpful for you if you are planing on painting a mirror frame, or anything else for that matter! These techniques can definitely be used for any kind of furniture as well.
I would love to find an entryway table to paint next so hopefully I can find one of those soon too. I will of course let you all know if I do!
Have a lovely day my friends and as usual, thank you so much for stopping by! I appreciate you all!
Learn more about how to turn your builder grade home into something more here too!
This is such a lovely idea to upcycle old peices of furniture! Will definitely keep it in mind when I’m looking for bits in the future x
Yes it really is! I can’t wait to find a larger piece of furniture to paint!
This came out really cute!
Thank you so much! I appreciate that!
Such a cool idea – looks great!
Thank you so much Lisa. I appreciate you stopping by.
What a fun DIY project! I love creating things from scratch for my apartment, and this looks like a great product. I also read your review of the mineral fusion paint, and may have to take a took into that as well, considering how good it looks for this finished project. Thanks!
No problem! And yes, I am a huge Fusion Mineral Paint fan now! It’s such a great product and so easy to use as well.
First of all, your photos are absolutely lovely!
You’ve got me primed to go through my much ignored attic and find something I can do a similar job with. Wish me luck haha!
xx
Good luck! That will be fun though once you find something to paint!
Love an up-cycle project! The mirror now really suits your space x
Thank you so much! I love up-cycle things to and make it exactly what I want!
What a great idea for making something second hand look so luxurious and pretty!
Awe thank you! I love giving old things new life again!
Thank you for this post. Very creative and makes me think of how I can revamp an old mirror in my house!
Thank you so much! I love to revamp old things and bring them new life!
How absolutely beautiful! Well worth the effort I can see! Really enjoyed this!
Thank you! It definitely was worth the effort I think too!
I love that there are furniture pieces that can easily be refurbished with some fresh paint. You made the mirror frame look popping!! I love the antique touches to the frame. Thanks for sharing the DIY!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
No problem! Yes, I love painting furniture! I am hoping to find a bigger piece of furniture to try out with this paint soon too!
Thank you for sharing. I love personalised touches to my furniture or restoring unique items. Your post was helpful plus the results were stunning
Awe thank you! I appreciate you stopping by and letting me know!
I love personalised touches as well as sprucing antique / unique items. Your post was helpful and the results are stunning
This is very cool! And great walk-through.
I love that distressed look. The pictures do a great job of illustrating the entire process from start to finish.
Now if only I were good enough to do this… Lol
Thanks for sharing!
Awe thank you so much! I believe you could do this too! It really was easy! The longest part was just waiting on all the paint and glaze to dry!
I love the effect<3
Thank you so much! I do too!
This came out great! I love the mirror. The way you upcycled it is fantastic!
Thank you so much! I appreciate it Jody
I love how you upcycled and refurbished an old piece of furniture to give it a new life! The white paint made such a big difference! It looks great! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
melissakacar.blogspot.com
No problem! I love giving things new life with a little paint!
Great post – I love what you’ve done with the mirror it looks so good! It’s amazing what the outcome can be from a little DIY project.
Holly x
http://www.adailydoseofholly.com
Thank you so much Holly. I totally agree. It was such a fun DIY and I love the results from it!
The transformation is amazing! I love the antiquing glaze, I think it really made this project 🧡 I’m going to start looking out for bits and pieces when I’m next at any second-hand shops that I can revamp like this one!
Beka | http://www.bekadaisies.com
Thank you Beka! I do too. I was a little hesitant to add the antiquing glaze since I have never used it before, but now I am so glad that I did!
Wow, your new mirror looks stunning, it fits perfectly in your room and decor. You made this look so easy, I’m very tempted to give it a go too now. I’d much prefer to upcycle rather than buy new, thank you for laying out the steps so clearly!
No problem! You should definitely try it out. It was super easy and the longest part about it was just letting the paint dry!
This looks like so much fun to do! Could we get a Toby with this tutorial? Haha!
Lol yes he is quite the helper with my DIY projects!!
This is nice idea, you can paint it any color you want and easy to do it. Also, It’s good for saving money.
Yes it really is. Better to paint something old to what you want rather than buying something new that is more expensive!
It looks incredible with just the paint but it looks lovely with the antique coat too. The end product looks amazing, I love your interiors style x
Sophie
Awe thank you so much Sophie! I am so glad I went ahead with the antiquing glaze. I was a little worried about it at first because I haven’t ever used it before, but I like it much better with the glaze on it!
I absolutely love that you up-cycled this, it turned out gorgeous! Also I must say, your decor with the rusty locker and the fan is absolutely delightful. Another fabulous blog hun!
Quinn x
Awe thank you Quinn! You are too sweet. I really appreciate it!
Oh wow you did such an amazing job! It looks so pretty, and shabby chic xo
MakeupMuddle.com
Awe thank you so much! I love how it turned out as well!
I’ve never tried any DIY décor myself but this looks great. I will be getting a new mirror in the near future so that might be the time I try something new!
You should definitely try it! It wasn’t hard at all and it was so much fun to do!
That turned out beautiful, and whatever camera you use takes amazing pictures.
Awe thank you so much! And I don’t even have a fancy camera, I just use my iPhone and edit all my pictures with the Lightroom app!
What great idea and lovely DIY post. The how to makes it simple.
Thank you so much! It was very simple and I am so happy with how it turned out!
So well done!
Thank you for teaching us how we can be hanging up our environment
and upcycling items to give them new life 🙂
Also, if we check out some thrift stores we know how to change up the
items a bit to our liking 🙂
https://www.ecoislogical.com/
/Nathalie
Yes! I love finding things at thrift stores and giving them new life! It’s amazing what a little paint can do for sure!
This looks great! I have a mirror I want to try this on!
You definitely should! It was so easy and I am so happy with how it turned out!
I love how clean and neat it turned out. Thanks for sharing this helpful project ♡
—Athena Christy
https://athenachristy.wordpress.com/
No problem! I love to share easy and fun DIYs.
Such a lovely idea! Would love a mirror like this in my home, so will need to look in some thrift stores and get some paint!
Becky | Uptown Oracle
Yes you definitely should! I saw a mirror similar to this one at Goodwill and it was only $4! So it’s definitely worth it to check out the thrift shops so you can keep this project pretty cheap!
Thank you for sharing the details of this process! You made me want to try my hand at this 🙂
Thank you so much! You should definitely try it! It’s so simple and easy!
This is such a fantastic way to make your living space beautiful without spending a lot of money! Instead of spending money, you can score savings on things you find in thrift stores and transform them with a little paint and creativity! I love it! I would put my savings directly into my retirement savings account, to help me catch-up my retirement savings.
Yes! I love finding cheap things at thrift stores and giving them new life with a little paint! It’s so much fun and cost effective too!
Oh I adore this! Totally saving this post for when I start decorating my apartment a little more. I love a good DIY!
Awe thank you so much Meredith! Yes, you should definitely try this out whenever you can!
Ah very inspiring and helpful tutorial and lover your furry helper, thanks for posting 🙂
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Awe thank you so much! He is a good little helper for sure!
Wow you’re very artsy and it’s come out SO WELL!
Awe thank you! Funny thing is I don’t think I am that artsy at all! Lol glad you think so though!
Wow, you are so brave! The mirror looks wonderful. Good job!
Thank you! I was so happy that it turned out well!
What a great way to decorate and re use a piece of furniture rather than donating it or throwing it away. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! I think so too! I love giving things new life with a little paint!
Oh my gosh this is such an good idea. You’ve made it sound so easy that I want to try it for myself. The end result looks so pretty
You should definitely try it out, it was very easy. The hardest part was just letting the paint dry in between!
Such a great idea – The finished frame looks great!
Sophie // SophieMLoves
Thank you Sophie. I was very happy with how it turned out!
Such a good idea, it looks fab afterwards! x
Thank you Jenny! I am very pleased with the results after too!