Vintage Furniture Missing the Mirror? How to Add A Backsplash
It goes without saying that vintage furniture has been through a lot. And in its journey parts may break or go missing. This is especially common with mirrors. They can break easily, or may simply be removed becuase of their style. As a result, there may be a gap or holes on the top that are noticeable. You might be okay with leaving it the way it is, or you might want to fix it. And if I can figure out a way to fix it, that’s usually what I’ll do!
This Queen Anne-style buffet was my latest project and a perfect example. You can see the gap on the back where a mirror once was (it could have been a more traditional backsplash, but my guess is a mirror – if you Google Queen Anne buffet with a mirror, you will see some examples of a small long mirror on the back). So I decided I would make a new backsplash with some scrap wood I had on hand. In this article, I will share exactly how I did that.
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Steps for making the backsplash
To start, you will need a piece of wood to use. This can be many things – I used what I had on hand, some old scrap wood from some shelving we took out of a closet (hence all of the holes). I used two pieces and cut them to fit since they weren’t long enough on their own. Becuase this wood was full of holes, I filled those areas will wood filler and sanded them smooth before getting started.
You can also get a piece cut from a place like Home Depot, or if you have removed a detail from another piece of furniture, that will work as well. I’m a bit of a hoarder when it comes to old parts and pieces – and for a project like this, that pays off! And, I find the sizing is pretty standard and is about 1 inch – it’s an easy size to find.
Step 1: Measuring the backsplash wood
The first thing I did was measure the pieces so that they fit into the space exactly. When doing this, I made one slightly longer than my measurement and then sanded it to fit – that way you get a smooth fit and don’t have a gap to fill.
I also knew I needed to do something with the edge of this board. A sharp corner like this didn’t go with the rest of the piece and would have looked obviously added. So I decided to round off the corners. I started by placing the wood into place to see where to start my rounding. Then I used a roll of painter’s tape as a guide and drew a line where I wanted to make my cut.
Step 3: Cut the backsplash to size
I will be the first to admit, I don’t love using power tools. But this jigsaw is a great thing to have on hand and is perfect for a project like this. Just be sure to clamp down on what you are cutting and wear eye protection and a respirator. Becuase I had two pieces, I cut them each to size lengthwise using the jigsaw, then clamped them together and made one rounded cut.
Step 4: Install the backsplash
After I had both pieces cut, it was time to install. I started by adding a line of wood glue and putting the wood pieces into place. I then clamped them down. Next, I used a drill to drill some small screw holes along the back (into the top where there was solid wood to screw into) and added screws to secure the backsplash. I left the glue clamped overnight.
The next day I sanded everything smooth and added some caulking to fill the cracks. And that’s it – backsplash completed! Once I had the surface smooth and even, it was ready to prep for paint with the rest of the piece. See the steps outlined below to see how I completed this makeover.
Steps for the rest of the makeover
- Cleaned the entire piece with this degreaser
- Scuff sanded using 220 grit sandpaper and my SurfPrep sander
- Repaired minor scratches with Bondo Glazing and Spot Putty. This included small indentations from the old hardware I was planning on replacing
- Used wood glue and clamps to secure some loose pieces of trim and drawer slides
- Primed buffet with Melange stain-blocking primer in gray
- Painted in the color Antique Black by Melange Paints
- Restored the wood inside the cabinets with Restor-A-Finish, followed by Feed-N-Wax
- Sealed with General Finishes High-Performance Top Coat in Flat.
- Added peel-and-stick wallpaper for drawer liners
- Added new hardware
Other options for hiding mirror gaps
Sometimes you may just want to fill the gap and not create a backsplash. This is easy enough to do! I like to find a 1×1 piece of wood and cut it to size. Then install as described above. Once it has been installed you can fill the gaps with Bondo and sand smooth. You also could build up the area with Bondo alone – but most gaps are pretty big and would take a lot of Bondo!
Sometimes the top only has small holes where are mirror was placed. When I come across these I almost always fill with Bondo and paint. Check out this dresser makeover where I used some creativity to keep the top stained wood.
Summary
I hope you found this tutorial useful! The next time you come across a vintage piece with a missing mirror, know that it’s totally a repair you can tackle. With a little creativity and a few supplies, you can give your piece a beautiful backsplash. As always, please reach out with any questions. I’d love to know if you try this, and if so how it goes! Happy painting!
Want to learn more about each step? Check out the links below:
- Learn How to Paint Wood Furniture
- Repairing Wood Furniture
- Lining Drawers in Furniture and Cabinets
- How to Seal Painted Furniture with a Top Coat
As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Want to learn more about all things furniture? Make sure to sign up for my newsletter to get the latest updates and exclusive content.
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