Mirror Mirror Adding a Little Pizazz to a Room in Your Home

by Red Wind Studio

When my family moved into our current home the décor left behind was a time warp back to 1974. From the red shag carpet and gold veined mirror wall in the living room to the harvest gold bathroom it left us with a lot of work. Hanging on the wall near the front entrance was a large ornate gold mirror, scones and shelf. Those were immediately taken down and sent home with my parents to be given away. How foolish I was.
I had buried my creative side for so long while working in the corporate world I didn’t see what I was throwing away. Today I look for those plastic ornate framed mirrors to give new life to and so should you.

mirror mirror adding a little pizazz to a room in your home, chalk paint, foyer, home decor, living room ideas, painting, These mirrors big small oval square or rectangular can fit into almost any d cor depending on the colour and finish you choose to use One of the most popular choices I have found so far has been the charcoal metallic This paint I found in the automotive department at our local Canadian Tire store It is rim paint

These mirrors big, small, oval, square or rectangular can fit into almost any décor depending on the colour and finish you choose to use. One of the most popular choices I have found so far has been the charcoal metallic. This paint I found in the automotive department at our local Canadian Tire store. It is rim paint.

mirror mirror adding a little pizazz to a room in your home, chalk paint, foyer, home decor, living room ideas, painting, The main thing you need to remember when painting these frames is cleaning them first Most of these frames have been hanging around for years and dirt grime and oils have accumulated on them Take the mirror out of the frame if at all possible and give the frame a good cleaning with TSP and rinse thoroughly Depending on the paint you are using a primer may be needed The rim paint as used on the above frame needed to be primed first Both the primer and rim paints came in a spray can I hung the frame in my workshop with all the windows open and a fan going I also made sure to be wearing goggles and a mask Not all paints have the same instructions for 2nd coats so make sure to read the instructions fully Have really good lighting and spray the piece from all angles to maximize coverage After I it was fully painted I allowed it to dry for a full 48 hours before handling it just to be on the safe side If you don t have the space to do this type of painting the next example may be more up your alley

The main thing you need to remember when painting these frames is cleaning them first. Most of these frames have been hanging around for years and dirt, grime and oils have accumulated on them. Take the mirror out of the frame if at all possible and give the frame a good cleaning with TSP and rinse thoroughly. Depending on the paint you are using a primer may be needed. The rim paint as used on the above frame needed to be primed first. Both the primer and rim paints came in a spray can. I hung the frame in my workshop with all the windows open and a fan going. I also made sure to be wearing goggles and a mask. Not all paints have the same instructions for 2nd coats so make sure to read the instructions fully. Have really good lighting and spray the piece from all angles to maximize coverage. After I it was fully painted I allowed it to dry for a full 48 hours before handling it just to be on the safe side. If you don’t have the space to do this type of painting the next example may be more up your alley.

mirror mirror adding a little pizazz to a room in your home, chalk paint, foyer, home decor, living room ideas, painting, These large mirrors can pose their own challenges as sometimes the mirror just doesn t want to come out of the frame When this is the case I either tape the mirror or try and slide wax paper or any paper you have on hand between the frame and the mirror The paint in this example does come off the glass easily enough if you use your finger nail to scape it off Since this example is using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint we want to leave the tape or paper in place until it has been waxed

These large mirrors can pose their own challenges as sometimes the mirror just doesn’t want to come out of the frame. When this is the case I either tape the mirror or try and slide wax paper or any paper you have on hand between the frame and the mirror. The paint in this example does come off the glass easily enough if you use your finger nail to scape it off. Since this example is using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ we want to leave the tape or paper in place until it has been waxed.

mirror mirror adding a little pizazz to a room in your home, chalk paint, foyer, home decor, living room ideas, painting, Your options are endless with these frames and this paint I will go over two techniques quickly Here is the two tone with gold shown above This is so easy Pick your tow colours and paint on the first getting into all the nooks and crannies Take a slightly damp cloth and wipe the paint off but don t try and get if out of the crevices just a light wipe over the surface to expose some of the gold Once the paint is dried in about 20 minutes take your next colour and do the same thing but this time don t be so diligent in getting the paint into all the nooks and crannies Wipe the paint off the same way as you did with the first coat This will leave a small amount of the first paint showing and some gold Finish the frame off with clear wax and softly buff

Your options are endless with these frames and this paint. I will go over two techniques quickly. Here is the two tone with gold shown above. This is so easy. Pick your tow colours and paint on the first getting into all the nooks and crannies. Take a slightly damp cloth and wipe the paint off but don’t try and get if out of the crevices just a light wipe over the surface to expose some of the gold. Once the paint is dried in about 20 minutes take your next colour and do the same thing but this time don’t be so diligent in getting the paint into all the nooks and crannies. Wipe the paint off the same way as you did with the first coat. This will leave a small amount of the first paint showing and some gold. Finish the frame off with clear wax and softly buff.

mirror mirror adding a little pizazz to a room in your home, chalk paint, foyer, home decor, living room ideas, painting, This is a slight variation on the other technique This time use colours that work well with dark wax Use the same painting technique and wipe off some of the surface paint while it is wet I used Country Grey and Old White After applying the clear wax I added dark wax to give the frame an aged patina

This is a slight variation on the other technique. This time use colours that work well with dark wax. Use the same painting technique and wipe off some of the surface paint while it is wet. I used Country Grey and Old White. After applying the clear wax I added dark wax to give the frame an aged patina.

mirror mirror adding a little pizazz to a room in your home, chalk paint, foyer, home decor, living room ideas, painting, Okay I couldn t resist a third option for those who do not like gold Yes this one started out gold I painted the entire frame in ASCP Graphite darkened with black acrylic Once the two coats of paint were dry I used a clear wax and buffed it with a soft cloth I used a small stiff bristle artist brush and highlighted the details of the frame with silver gilding wax

Okay I couldn’t resist a third option for those who do not like gold. Yes this one started out gold. I painted the entire frame in ASCP Graphite (darkened with black acrylic). Once the two coats of paint were dry I used a clear wax and buffed it with a soft cloth. I used a small stiff bristle artist brush and highlighted the details of the frame with silver gilding wax.

mirror mirror adding a little pizazz to a room in your home, chalk paint, foyer, home decor, living room ideas, painting, There you have it lots of options Find an awesome mirror an accent colour in a room of your home and get painting If you have missed any of my other blog post you can find them here

There you have it lots of options. Find an awesome mirror, an accent colour in a room of your home and get painting. If you have missed any of my other blog post you can find them here. http://redwindstudio.ca/store/category/blog/

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2 of 4 comments

Melisa Gingrich on Jun 27, 2014
Love it!!

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Symea on Nov 26, 2014
this is great. I got the gold rectangle one you have there- at an estate sale for 5 bucks! it's almost identical, can't wait to paint it. thanks for the advice.

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