How to frame a mirror with wood molding. 09.03.2010
A couple of weeks ago I found myself inspired by some creative DIY'ers to frame my bathroom mirror with molding. The idea is to glue molding directly to a mirror. The bathroom on our main floor has some new-ish fixtures and the tiling still looks pretty ok, but the mirror is plain and uggo. So I jumped on the framed mirror bandwagon! *weee*
I had to take these pictures while standing in the doorway (unless you wanted to see my reflection) since our half bath is so small! Here is how it turned out:
We happened to have a ton of spare molding in our basement wewt! But, if you don't have any you can pick some up at any hardware store.
Materials you'll need:
- trim molding, cut to length
- level
- mitre box and hand saw
- glue
- paint and brushes, if needed
- wood filler, or paintable calking
- painters tape, if needed
Measure all four sides of your mirror so you can mark the molding to be cut. I don't have a fancy power saw so I fetched my trusty mitre box instead. You want the corners of the molding to meet at a 45 degree angle, so keep that in mind when you're marking it. The outer edge of the molding is where you mark. Cut all four pieces with a handsaw that fits inside the 45 degree mitre box slots. The mitre box makes it very easy to cut accurate angles. Optionally, you can get your molding cut for you at a hardware store such as Home Depot.
My pieces were originally white so I painted them black to match the bathroom then sealed with a clear top coat. Tip: You will see a reflection of the molding once it's mounted so don't forget to paint a top section on the BACK.
You'll need Mirror Mastic or Liquid Nails to adhere the molding to the mirror. I couldn't find either of those, so I used No More Nails which bonds to glass and worked great. Put a couple lines of glue down the length of the molding keeping away from the edges or it'll moosh out when you press it onto the mirror. I forgot to take pictures of the glue...whoops. Use the level to make sure the pieces are straight. Depending on the glue, it might dry in 5 minutes or as long as overnight - read the directions. Be on the safe side though and secure the molding in place with painters tape until it's fully dry or stand there for half an hour holding them in place only to regret it and wish you just taped them up there!
No matter how careful you were and how precise your cuts there's likely to be 'lil tiny cracks where the trim meets at the corners. Do not fret! All you need to do is get yourself some wood filler that resists shrinking/cracking (I used Elmer's Carpenters Wood Filler) OR paintable caulking to fill in the gaps. Just smoosh it into the cracks with your finger and wipe off the excess. Once that's dry - paint it to match.
If you didn't paint your pieces beforehand, you could paint them now. Also, now's the time to add any distressing techniques, if that's your thing.
Now to do something with the ugly grey walls and ceiling! Ideas? I really like this idea, but thought maybe black and white botanical illustrations instead. Yeah?
This was featured (wewts) on: One Pretty Thing
Link party ♥: Creative Chic Parade, The Shabby Nest, Sassy Sites, The Girl Creative, Simply Designing, Remodelaholic, Blue Cricket Design, Someday Crafts, It's So Very Cheri, Night Owl Crafting, Creations by Kara, Domestically Speaking, Tea Rose Home, Me and My Bucket
What people are saying...
The soap in the "before" photo is missing in the "after" photo. WHERE DID IT GO
whoa! That's an a rad idea! Looks super-slick! :D
Very nice Billie; I love the new look!
Thanks for linking up with us over at Sassy Sites for Feature YOU Friday! Be sure to check back often for features and giveaways! Have a fabulous weekend! xoxo Marni @ Sassy Sites! www.sassysites.blogspot.com "MY blog is all about YOU!"
Love this! Huge improvement compared to the plain ol mirror.
I love the depth you gave the mirror opening with the addition of the molding. I don't see any pictures of the whole bathroom so it makes it hard to give ideas on walls and ceilings. {I know you are just dieing to hear my input! :)} Three Men and a Lady stenciled her ceiling in her guest bathroom and she said it was really hard, but the look is amazing. http://windhula.blogspot.com/2010/08/guest-bathrm-before-after.html Maybe your idea would be easier.
I love the new mirror!! Crazy what a little molding will do!
Thanks so much for this! I love the molding. I'll be linking.
I am your new follower. You can visit me at http://showmemama.blogspot.com Please leave a comment so I know you visited. Have a great Labor Day Weekend!
This is great...I've been wanting to do this to ours, only they open up and are impossible to put molding on. I'm thinking about where else I could do that! Thanks...
That definately does make a huge difference and it looks great.
Hey! do we have the same bathroom? because mine is just that small too! I really love the frame on the mirror - makes it look finished! Someday I hope to conquer my fear of tools and attempt the mirror frame project myself! Thanks for the sweet comments on the Owl Mobile! Hope you're having an awesome weekend! Excited to be your newest follower! Best - Allison
You made this look so easy! I love the end results! I am following you back!
love it!!! so cute!!!
I have always wanted to do this! Unfortunately they frown on any changes to an apartment, but maybe next year we will be in a house and I can refer to your great tutorial! Thanks for sharing!
Amazing! Love it! Stopping by BMBF! Your blog caught my eye! I'd love if we would follow one another. I always follow back. Happy Friday! B
Awesome job. Looks great!
Hi! it's so nice to "meet" you!! Thanks for stopping by The Pink Elephant!! I am happy to follow your blog as well...love it...love the blog design too!! Hugs - LORi BOYD
Hi Stopping by to thank you for the follow and to return the same..however the GFC doesn't work.. I'll come back leter.. Nice to meet you! B
Our daughter and s-i-l did this to one of their bathroom mirrors, too, and it looks so nice!
I don't think my fiance would ever speak to me again if I decoupaged birds on our ceiling.
Your tutorials ROCK! I'm bookmarkin' ya and adding you to my favs my friend! :)
I love this idea. I need to do this in my bathrooms...although, I don't know what to do about the clips. Hmmm
I confirm. I agree with told all above.
I apologise, but, in my opinion, you commit an error. Let's discuss.
Wow! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this great tutorial!!! I thought about using this idea on our unframed (YUCK!), rather large, bathroom mirror. After thinking that maybe I could make it work, I started surfing the net, looking to see if there were any tutorials...and then I came across yours! Best one I was able to find! After I get our mirror cut down to a smaller size, I will be putting your great post to use! :)
i think these are great tips especially for people like me who barely knows how to do stuff at home.
I can refer to your great tutorial! Thanks for sharing!
What do you think?