How do you distress a gold mirror frame?

Either spray paint the frame or use Rub and buff to dull the color.

Using newspaper or mailing paper and tape, cover the mirror. Using a paint color you're comfortable with, apply it and wipe it off until you've achieved the tone you want. Don't use spray paint as it dries too quickly If you're using a rub-off method.

buy a tube of umber...put a little on a sponge...wipe around the frame a few times...when it's distressed a little too much, use a different sponge to wipe it off. The umber gets into the design and walla, your mirror is distressed

I would either replace the glass shelf with wood, perhaps painted red or black or white and then apply gold leaf sparingly for a broken look to the leafing, or try painting the bottom of the glass with Elmers, apply gold leafing, again not covering it all, and then spray paint, the bottom again, for an aged metallic look to coordinate with the mirror.

how do I get black water marks off my bathroom mirrors very distrabing, we don't like it but cant replace the mirror, we live in a trailer

I have a mirror like that and to tone it down, I took some leftover paint from the bathroom walls [dark yellow flat] and rubbed it around the mirror trim and then rubbed some of it off to get the affect I wanted. I would do the same to the wood posts holding up the glass shelf, so they coordinate each other. Cost = Nothing.

For the glass, either do the same or replace with a thin piece of wood painted.

No need to tape off the mirror area as long as you are sure to clean off any paint you get on it quickly.

I would sand it down, spray paint it with chalk paint and then sand the edges for distressed look

I use Windex & a Paper towel. And rub a little.

I mixed some greys i had and just painted mine a few times til i got the shade i wanted . I Let some of the gold still show through.It was no big deal.

The first thing I'd do is rehang the shelf brackets to line up with the outer edges of the mirror. You have a balance problem that makes the whole area look out of whack. Then use latex paint (your choice) , water it down juuust a little. Paint your frame and brackets. After it has dried 20-30 minutes, take a stainless steel pot scrubbie and gently pull off the paint til you see the gold peeking through on the details. This shutter was dark green and I distressed it using this method. Since the original paint was well-cured, only the fresh latex came off. You can do as much or as little distressing as you want - just do it while your latex is dry to the touch but uncured...up to an hour. Once your latex is completely dry it won't budge. I like this better than sanding because I always tend to take off too much.

I had a similar mirror except shiny silver. I painted it with robins egg blue chalk paint I picked up at Walmart, and then wiped and fine sanded to let some of the silver show through. I finished with a matt sealer because I didn't want anything shiny. Chalk paint is wonderful for a distressed look. I suggest painting brackets gold too, then use same off white chalk paint so it matches the mirror. I would replace the glass shelf with wood though, it just seems to modern.

Here is a closeup photo I got off internet of a gold mirror distressed with white chalk paint to give you a visual of how it would look.

I distressed my mirror frame with paint on a rag, like sponge painting, I made it to look like the metal headboard of my bed. I came out perfect. Hope this helps.

Painting the frame and the shelf supports the same color would make them more of a set. Depending upon your room color, consider something bold and/or dark -- cobalt blue or emerald green or stark black or all bright white would work.

This is what I did to my old mirror...and I LOVE it. Still hanging in my bathroom. Not distressed look, but more vintage.

http://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/mirror/drab-mirror-to-fab-lace-mirror-7723436

We had wanted a antiqued mirror and couldn't afford the price. A designer told us to apply vaseline to the mirror part, cover mirror with newspaper and then stand away from mirror a little and lightly spray with black spray paint. The key is lightly spray and from a distance. You end with small droplets of paint. Wipe off quickly if it looks too heavy. We ended up with a beautiful frame that looked very expensive. Hope this helps.

You could dry brush a darker color paint on top of the finished frame. If you apply too much, just wipe a bit off.

I'm amazed that everyone wants distressed looks. I'd want it to look great not

distressed.

Tape off the mirror with painter's tape and do a dry brushing technique with off-white chalk paint, allowing some of the gold to come through - it will be easy and look so good!

Distressing on wood is a mixture of grey,white,blue,and some blacks.Used to work at Baetz Fine Furniture.Did distressing on cabinets.Do it manual would be easier.Dabble the brush in the paints,apply,them steel wool it for a short while!

Purchase a can of waterborne urethane satin or even dull. Brush it on, let it dry. The sheen is now less.

Go to art store and ask for a tube of gilt (comes in diffierent shades) to rub on with cloth or brush. Although cloth gives you better control. That will dim the

gold shine. This method is used by many frame restorers.

I changed these shiny gilded gold candlesticks to an aged old world finish using simple supplies. See details on how to, on goldrushgalcrafts.blogspot.com on Jan. 12th and 13th posts.

go get a can of dark stain and brush it on, that will give you the distress look you want. and it's easy.

Paste wax shoe polish.

it depends what you mean by the word "distress". If you mean you want it looking rather beat up, get some heavy duty sandpaper and scrub away at the corners and some raised areas BUT if you mean, you want it looking less "gold" and bright looking, that takes one minute. Honest! I had a too-shiny gold frame that just looked wrong and looked cheap. Buy a $2.00 bottle of "Raw Umber" craft (acrylic) paint at the dollar store or Michael's. Brush on with any old brush or sponge brush, or rub on with an old cloth then LIGHTLY rub off. If still too bright, add some more Umber. Keep adding until you are happy. If you mean a beat-up look, let me know and I'll show you some once-brassy candlesticks that are now nicely distressed.

Your neighbor hood ceramic shop or craft store have an antiquing you apply. it comes in assorted colors. You just rub it on , it fills the cracks or notches with a color you pick like a darker color, but it can be lighter. check them out before you put anything permanent on it. These mostly can be removed with soap and water. A permanent effect would just get stain rub it on with a cloth, buff off excess. If you want more apply a second coat. If you have some stains left over at home try it on something all ready painted.

Use a gel stain. Lots of color choices and wiping some off will give it the antique look you need. It is and oil base product so it does smell and I would add a clear coat.