How can I repaint a gold mirror to an antique white?

You could tape off the mirror and use some chalk paint. Many brands of chalk paint come in antique white.

I was already to answer until I got to the marbalized part ??? I am not sure what you want ??? But ... To paint it white and antique it is super easy !!! But some chalk paint in the white tone you want and buy sealing wax in clear or antique finish . Just clean the frame of the mirror to make sure it is free of dust . I would use painters tape around the edge of the mirror to keep any paint from getting on it . No paint !!! No sanding or primer needed !!! That's what is so great about using chalk paint 😀 use 1 or 2 coats what ever looks better to you .

Now you have a choice on how to antique it ( or you can do both / combo )

You can take some sand paper a gently sand here and there , some of the gold tone will start to show through , it might look darker due to the contrast of the white paint . Or you can skip the sanding and use the wax sealer in the antique finish and that will darken all the crevices . If you sanded it and were happy with the way it looked use the wax sealer in clear . Was sealer will protect your work , it goes on like a stain , use a brush or a day and rub it in then wipe it off , it will dry to a hard finish , not waxy . If you are using the antique finish , leave on as much or as little as you want to give it the look you want ! Most of all , have fun !! And please post your project !!! This is a perfect piece to do this technique with , it will be gorgeous !!!!

Thank you so much Pamela!! Your answer is exactly what I was looking for. Forget the marbleized stuff, I was showing my ignorance because I’ve never done anything like this before.

I will ask my daughter-in- law to help me, she’s done lots of projects in the past. This mirror means a lot to me, I have had it for almost 35 years.

Pamela had the right answer. Do exactly as she says. She is 100% correct.

White chalk paint is the best to give the antique appeal and clear wax over it. Protect the mirror by using some tape on it. No sanding or preparation at all for chalk paint except to be sure it is clean and dry. If it is difficult to clean well, we run ours under the shower to get out all the tiny particles of dust etc from crevices and let it air dry. Just a thought. Hope it turns out nice!

Hi Bonnie! 😊

Your finish will only be as good as your prep! It doesn’t matter how perfectly you apply your paint if the prep hasn’t been done properly. I know you really love this beautiful mirror, and want it to last another 35 years and beyond!

I’m going to lay out a step by step for you. Here we go…..

• You need to clean your piece with a soft rag and a mix of 50/50 water and denatured alcohol. (If you don’t have denatured alcohol, white vinegar and water will work) What you’re doing is making sure to eliminate oil and dirt build up. You need to keep cleaning until your rag doesn't show any more dirt. Follow with a plain water damp rag.
• You’ll need to let it completely dry now, and when that’s done, scuff with sandpaper to give the next coat something to adhere to.
• Your next coat needs to be primer! A good water clean up primer will work. It helps to block stains from peeping through, and helps your paint adhere to the wood better. A side benefit is that you will use less of your finish paint, which can save money in the long run!
• There are several types of paints and topcoats to choose from. I use both acrylic paint and chalk style paints on my pieces. So choose your paint and paint on Sista’!
• With either type of paint, I usually prefer a clear acrylic topcoat. The reason is that it gives you room for error, and protects your work if you mess up the glaze, so I would add that topcoat now, over my chosen color.
• For your “marbelizing” or antiqued / glazed effect, I like using a darker glaze ...usually in the brown range, but you can make your own glaze any color you want! You would brush it on, and then wipe back off with a damp rag, leaving some of the glaze in the crevices for depth.
• Finally, you would apply another coat of topcoat over the glaze to protect everything. ( A good tip to keep paint off of your mirror without having to tape everything down, is to slide a stiff cardstock piece of paper under the edge all the way around.) Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for each product, like drying times etc.

It seems like a lot of work, but the more you work with projects, the better and faster you become! I hope this helps. If you’d like more detailed explanations on “chalk style painting” feel free to visit my website for a free ebook! Happy DYing 😊

Thank you all for your help! I just found out that my daughter-in-law thinks it would go better in the room to go with silver instead of white. I believe she is right. Would it be the same process as suggested by the answers above?

You guys are wonderful, I’m so grateful for your input.