I absolutely adore the mirror that hangs over our bed. Non just because of the style of it, merely because information technology'south one of my most gratifying DIY projects always! I really scored this mirror on a major deal from Kirklands years agone. Only when I got it habitation, I realized the original stop actually didn't work in our home. Later on moping about it and bold I wasted my money, I decided to give it a makeover using spray pigment. And very much to my surprise: it worked…beautifully! Spray painting a mirror isn't necessarily hard, but there are some tips and tricks you should know before trying it yourself. Let me break down how to spray pigment a mirror from start-to end!

Silver spray painted mirror hung on neutral wall

Before & Subsequently

When I starting time snagged this mirror for $xxx (thank you to a sale, a coupon, and a pocket-sized scratch in the mirror itself), I thought it was the "bargain of a lifetime." Only as soon as I got it domicile and hung information technology on the wall, I was so bummed to realize the cease was then, so incorrect for our habitation.

A circle wall mirror with bronze frame

At first, I saw no piece of cake way to fix it. Mirrors are notoriously tricky to paint considering they almost never split up from their frames, and I knew I'd never be able to pigment the tiny edges past manus. Simply at a loss for any other options, I threw circumspection to the current of air, taped up every inch of the mirrored surface, gave the wire frame a few coats of spray paint, and crossed all my fingers.

Silver spray painted mirror hung on neutral wall

The results exceeded every expectation, and now you'd never know this mirror started out as dingy brown! It'southward i of my favorite bargain DIYs ever, and a true attestation to the power of pigment. In fact, I've purposely made a identify for information technology in our 4 previous homes because I still love it so very much!

Why Spray Paint a Mirror?

Spray paint is likely the easiest option for giving fresh life to a mirror, especially compared to latex paint, acrylic pigment, or chalk paint that all usually require a brush. Not only does spray paint give you a hard, clean, stroke-free finish, but it likewise allows you to maneuver from all directions in guild to become into odd angles and tight crevices.

The flim-flam with spray paint though is that you can't easily control where it lands, so you must mask off annihilation you don't want painted (similar the mirrored surface). Thankfully, this is pretty easy (admitting time-consuming), merely the beautiful results will be well worth information technology!

Supplies Needed

  • Masking Supplies – this includes a diversity of materials such as painters tape, contact paper, newspaper, brownish paper bags, etc.
  • Spray Primer – optional just recommended
  • Sanding Cake
  • Spray Paint – in the colour of your choice. I used Valspar Silver Spray paint and loved it.
  • Cutting Tools – scissors, sharp arts and crafts knife

Step 1 – Prep the Mirrored Surface

When Yous CAN Remove the Mirror from the Frame

Some mirrors (although not many) are designed like standard picture frames, where you can easily remove the mirror from behind its frame. If this selection is available to you, it is well worth your time to lift the clamps or loosen the screws in social club to remove the mirror completely away from the frame. Place the mirror in a spot where information technology can safely lay apartment and out of the fashion while you paint the frame.

The backside of a start-shaped mirror

Nevertheless, even if information technology appears that you tin easily remove the mirror from the back of the frame, please do and then very carefully. Many mirrors are held to the frame with potent adhesive and if y'all endeavor to pop it out by force, you volition take chances shattering information technology (speaking from experience). As such, I recommend removing the mirroronlyif it is very clearly unattached and loose within the frame itself. If the mirror is glued to its frame, refer to the instructions below instead.

When You Tin can'T Remove the Mirror from the Frame

In most scenarios, you will not be able to hands remove the mirror from the frame. This tin can exist for a variety of reasons:

  • The mirror is glued in (as discussed higher up)
  • The back of the mirror is "sealed" up in such a way that you tin can't admission it (ordinarily with tight paper and hangers glued into identify)
  • The mirror has lots of distinct, separate mirrors that would exist too hard or too wearisome to pry out.

In any of the instances, you volition first need tomask the mirror…as in, protect it with some sort of record or paper covering…so that you can paint the surrounding frame without saturating the cogitating mirror surface.

Masking a Foursquare Mirror

Virtually mirrors are squares or rectangles, which makes masking quite piece of cake. While you can technically apply painter's tape across the full surface of the mirror, that will waste material a lot of tape. Instead, place big stretches of newspaper, brown paper bags, or cardboard sheets across nearly of the mirror, and then place stretches of record forth all the edges. As you record, exist certain you nudge information technology under the frame's edge at least 1/four″ to forbid paint seepage onto the mirror's front end.

Green mirror frame with mirror covered up in cardboard

Masking a Circular Mirror

Masking a circle-shaped mirror is quite a bit more challenging, but it can nevertheless exist done with some scissors and a lot of creativity! Every round mirror will be slightly dissimilar, simply let me show you how I masked up my circle mirror with a combination of paper, painter's record, and contact paper.

Kickoff, I used my Cricut auto to cutting down bones white contact paper into a bunch of circles perfectly sized to fit the circles on my mirror.

White contact paper circles on a green table

I then placed the circles onto all the small mirrors effectually the perimeter. If I couldn't go the placement only correct, I used a abrupt arts and crafts knife to cut away the contact paper along the edges.

White contact paper circles on a green table

With the smaller circles all covered up, it was fourth dimension to tackle the big middle circle. Taping in a circle is a bit tricky since straight lines of tape don't bend around a curve round curve. But I found that cutting the remaining circles in half allowed me to put a curved edge of contact paper around the within rim of the mirror. (You lot can't likely achieve the same result by layering really short strips of tape effectually in a circle.)

White contact paper circles on a green table

White contact paper covering up mirrored surface

Once the edge was nice and protected, I cut a big circle out of newspaper, covered up the remainder of the mirror, and secured it in place with small lengths of painter's record.

Mirror masked off with contact paper and newspaper

Below is my mirror all masked and ready for cleaning and painting. Before you proceed, have some time to ensure that as of mirror is covered up, fifty-fifty if it means you take to cutting down record or newspaper into funny angles to cover bad-mannered areas. Although getting paint on the mirrored surface isn't a huge deal (I'll evidence you how to take care of that down below), taking fourth dimension to mask well here volition salve you time afterward!

Mirror masked off with contact paper and newspaper

The nigh tedious step of spray painting a mirror is at present behind yous and the next few steps should exist quicker and easier!

Step 2 – Clean the Mirror Frame

For any painting project to take good results, information technology's always recommended that you lot get-go thoroughly clean the surface. A damp material or rag with a pocket-size corporeality of vinegar or rubbing booze is usually enough to remove any dust, remainder, or dirt from the mirror's frame, specially if its metal, plastic, or finished wood. However, if you have a very old mirror or one that has wax or chipping paint, y'all may want to consider a deglosser or a low-cal sanding with sandpaper.

Step 3 – Prime & Paint the Mirror Frame

Once the mirror is clean of grit and residue, it's time for priming and painting! Equally I mentioned above, I recommend using spray paints for mirror projects since they allow you lot to become into all the various nooks and crevices much easier than with a brush.

TIP! I highly recommend working exterior with the mirror placed on a tabular array protected past drib cloth. Having the mirror above off the footing will ensure you tin can easily get all angles of the mirror's edge.

Circular mirror spray painted silver

Prime…

To ensure really good adhesion, start with a few light coats of primer. Go along your manus moving quickly to avoid thick coverage and drips. If the white primer feels gritty to the touch on subsequently its dry, a light sanding is all that's needed to make the surface overnice and shine in preparation for paint.

…And so Paint

After the coat of primer is dry and you've sanded away any roughness, apply your preferred spray paint to give the mirror several lite coats of color. It is always ameliorate to do lots of low-cal coats rather than a single heavy coat, which will more likely produces stickiness and drips. Equally you're painting, don't worry nigh the mirrored surfaces (since they are protected). Instead, work diligently from every angle possible to thoroughly cover the mirror's frame.

Circular mirror spray painted silver

Pace 4 – Remove the Masking

Once the mirror's frame is painted to your satisfaction, give information technology ample dry time. For most spray paints, this will be a few hours; but depending on atmospheric condition and the paint y'all chose, it can take up to a solar day. When yous can touch the painted surface without whatever tackiness, you tin can proceed with finishing up this DIY project:

  • If you were able to remove the mirror from the frame back in Step 1, go ahead and replace it now.
  • If you masked your mirror instead, you tin can now carefully remove all the tape and paper. You may need to employ a craft knife to lift upwardly tight or stuck edges as you work, but most should pare away without whatever impairment to the mirror or the pigment.

Step 5 – Remove Excess Paint from the Mirror Surface

When I removed all the contact newspaper, record, and paper, I had dainty clean edges across virtually of my mirror. However, my smallest circle cutouts were a touch smaller than the mirror's, which left a ring of silverish paint along the edge of each circle.

Although discovering paint on your carefully protected glass surfaces is a pain, it'south totally fixable. Simply use a razor bract/craft knife with some Windex to remove paint from the mirror(s). It will accept some patience, but the paint should come off quite easily and won't damage your mirror!

Step 6 – Hang Your "New" Mirror

With the frame at present painted and dry out, give the entire mirror one more cleaning with some glass cleaner earlier hanging it on your wall. And then be certain to pace dorsum and fully accept in the transformation you were able to achieve with a simple $5 tin can of spray paint!

Silver spray painted mirror hung above bed

In the end, I am so thrilled I made the decision to spray paint this mirror. I assumed this transformation would be difficult and turn out poorly. However, quite the opposite was true! Each stride of this transformation was absolutely a fleck deadening and time consuming, merely not at all difficult; and the results are more than worth it. If yous have a mirror or frame in your domicile that y'all wish was a different colour simply can't imagine how to get most fixing it, I promise these tips and tricks on how to spray pigment a mirror motivate you give it a go!

Megan sitting on white bed under silver spray painted mirror

See You Before long!
Megan