How to Paint a Mirror Frame
One of the easiest ways to update a mirror is by painting the frame. Changing up the finish on a mirror can change the whole look and feel, and give your space an instant update. New mirrors can be so expensive, so why not get the look for less with a little paint? Plus, it’s not a huge project – this weekend I painted two mirrors I had on hand to go into a new bedroom refresh. In this article, I will share with you the easy way to paint a mirror frame, by taking the mirror apart.
Finding a mirror
Old vintage mirrors are everywhere! I have a bunch lying around that came with sets where I didn’t use the matching mirror. My local Habitat for Humanity always has bunches of mirrors, and you can find them at thrift stores and yard sales too. And this doesn’t just apply to vintage mirrors, if you have something newer you can change that up too! If the quality of the mirror glass itself is good then it’s a great candidate for a refresh. No need to spend lots of money on a new mirror.
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Steps to paint a mirror
One thing I have learned over years of refinishing is that it’s almost always easier to paint something when it’s taken apart. This is true for painting a mirror frame. While it may seem like more work, it saves you time and effort in the long run, I promise!
Step 1: Remove the backing and glass
This will vary depending on how it is attached – usually with screws, nails or staples. For these mirrors, one was attached with nails and the other with staples. To remove, I gently pried the backing using my 5 in 1 painters tool and mini crowbar (both excellent tools to have on hand for all sorts of things). I was able to save the nails to use again when putting the mirror back together, but the staples were useless once removed. As a side note, I always try to reuse what I can – it’s easier and cheaper than finding replacement parts and you know they will fit.
After removing the backing, there are usually wood stops that are nailed in to hold the glass in place. These also need to be pried off gently. I leave the nails in if possible and label them so that I can reinstall them in the same spot in the end. Take special care not to scratch the gray backing on the mirror (this backing is the reflective part of the mirror and you will see the scratch on the front side).
Once I’ve removed everything that is holding the mirror in place, I can carefully remove the glass. The glass is usually heavy and sometimes has rough edges so I make sure to handle with care (and consider soft but grippy gloves, I’ve even used regular rubber gloves in a pinch).
Did you KNow?
Mirrors are often dated on the back with their manufacture date. A cool way to know how old the mirror is as well as the furniture that it came with (if you have the originals together). These mirrors each had a date – the large curvy one was 1963 and the smaller rounded one was 1933.
Step 2: Prepare mirror frame for painting
So now I have just a plain wood frame, and I treat it like I would any other surface I’m planning on painting. These mirror frames were cleaned with a degreaser and then scuff sanded.
The smaller mirror has some metal brackets on the sides, probably to connect it to a mirror harp on a dresser. However the harp and the dresser are long gone, so these metal brackets had to go too! They screwed out easily and then I filled the holes with Bondo. I suppose I could have just painted over them, but I think removing and filling them before paint gives a much more professional-looking finish.
After filling and sanding the holes smooth, I primed the whole small mirror with spray shellac. I generally use the brush on shellac becuase it’s cheaper. Becuase this was such a small area it was much faster just to spray a few coats on and not even worry about getting out a brush. I did not prime the larger mirror, it already had a painted finish on it that was in good shape so I was comfortable painting over that after a good scuff sand.
Step 3: Paint the mirror frame
Now it’s time for the fun! When painting, I always start with the back. Yes, I paint the back of the frame. Becuase I’ve taken the mirror apart, I can paint in the grove that holds the mirror glass in place. You can see this in the reflection when the mirror glass has been re-installed, and if it is painted to match the rest of the frame it looks so much better! It’s another small detail that will give a more professional-looking result. After letting a few coats dry I will flip the mirror over and paint the front.
For the larger curvy mirror, I chose Jett Black by Melange Paints. This is an all-in-one paint so no topcoat is necessary, and becuase mirrors aren’t really a high-use surface, I felt confident in not adding an additional topcoat. I did 3 coats for full coverage and am absolutely loving the new sleek look!
For the smaller rounded top mirror, I wanted a metallic finish so I decided to use spray paint. I had this new to my color, Gilded Brass, by Rustoleum and it’s perfect! A muted champagne bronze color that isn’t too yellow or bright.
Step 4: Putting the mirror back together
I let each mirror dry for a few days – I didn’t want to ding or scratch it when putting it back together. Then I carefully placed the glass back in, reinstalled the wood stops, and nailed the backing back in place. Basically redoing all of the steps of taking it apart in reverse, and trying to use the same nail holes when possible. For the one with staples, I just used some small brad nails I had on hand to re-install, but using my staple gun would have also worked.
Other ways to paint mirrors
As I mentioned earlier I think removing the glass does end up saving time and it also gives you a cleaner finish by allowing you to paint the inside back edge of the frame. However, there are other ways to paint mirrors. I reserve these for times when I can’t remove the glass for some reason.
Some antique mirrors have the silver starting to flake off. Often this antiqued look is desirable, but I don’t want to mess with the backing and scratch off any more than necessary. Or the glass may installed in such a way that taking them apart is just not possible. In these cases, there are a few other options.
Option 2: Use masking liquid
I have a whole post on using masking liquid, so I will be brief here. Basically, masking liquid, or liquid masking tape is a thick liquid that you paint onto the glass. Once dry you can paint over it when painting the frame, and then use a blade to cut and peel it off of the glass surface (it sticks to wood but not glass). If I can’t remove the glass, this is what I’ll do. I think it’s easier and takes less time than option 3 below, using tape.
Option 3: Use painter’s tape
If you don’t have any liquid mask on hand (or don’t want to buy some) you can always use plain old painter’s tape. Just carefully apply to the edge of the mirror, paint, and then remove. Sounds easy enough, but the taping always takes longer than you think and inevitably some paint will bleed through to the glass. You can remove this paint with a razor blade, but it still ends up being a process and I think the finished product doesn’t look as clean.
Summary
Painting a mirror frame is a great way to update a space on a budget. And it’s easy to do! I was able to get both of these mirrors done in a weekend and can’t wait to get them hung in our space. Like most painting projects, I think it’s easiest when you take the mirror apart. And after reading this, I hope you give it a try!
Check out these Related posts below:
- How to Use Masking Liquid to Paint Around Glass
- Where to Buy Furniture
- Prepare Furniture for Paint: Cleaning and Sanding
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