With the cooler weather setting in and the daylight becoming increasingly shorter, this is a great time to focus on projects inside of the home. Most homes include lovely mirrors that lack flair, to say the least.
Mirrors are one of the easiest ways to upgrade your bathroom. When the budget does not cover a full makeover, this is a great way to spruce up the space without putting a dent in the wallet.
Mirror upgrades can be as simple or complex as you want them to be, depending on your expertise with power tools. Today I will be focusing on a simple and low cost way to beautify the mirror: no power tools needed! This is truly the easiest way out, which allows anyone to tackle this project.
Materials needed for this project:
• Four corner blocks in pine 3 x 3
• molding, I used baseboard trim (5/8×2” – 1/2×8”)
• Glue – PL (construction adhesive) or liquid nails, either will adhere to a mirror
First, take the measurements of the mirror so the molding is cut to the correct length. You can get the molding cut at the place of purchase, so have the dimensions with you before going to the store. Do not forget to take into account the corner blocks which will take up three inches of length on each side. For instance, if the mirror measured out to be 50 x 36 inches, make sure to have two horizontal pieces cut at 44 inches and two vertical pieces at 30 inches (30” molding + 3” corner block + 3” corner block = 36” total height of mirror on one side, same with the horizontal pieces.) Figuring out the measurements will be the hardest part of this project.
After the cuts are made, prime and paint the pieces according to the space and your liking. Do not be afraid to use your imagination here. The corner blocks could be painted a contrasting color of the molding, accessorized details could be glued on – the options are as vast as the imagination.
Once everything has been painted and primed, it is time to piece the mirror together. Apply your liquid nails (my preference) to the back of your corner block. Make sure to apply pressure to the block for a couple of minutes to ensure there is no movement. Then apply your bottom horizontal piece – you may need another person’s help to ensure pressure is evenly applied across the longer pieces if it is a large mirror. Continue this process with your next bottom corner piece and your vertical sides.
At this point, allow all of the pieces to dry for a couple of hours before moving on to the top corner pieces and top horizontal piece. This will ensure that the weight of the top pieces will not weigh the bottom pieces down. After the bottom and sides have set for a couple hours, apply your top corner pieces and top horizontal piece.
To finish this project up, apply painter’s tape tightly around the mirror for added support. Allow the tape to stay on overnight for a nice tight finish. Remove the painter’s tape and sit back enjoy your beautiful creation.
For a larger mirror, this project will run around $30. The difference a mirror can make in a space is quite amazing. In addition, if you have ever tried to remove a mirror that has been glued straight to drywall then you already know the amount of pain and mess associated with it.
This project can work with any type of mirror: it is not limited to bathroom mirrors. An inexpensive mirror from Wal-Mart would be just as easy to make beautiful. If you have a miter saw or can borrow one then the corner pieces would not be necessary, just 45 degree cuts.
Now go make those mirrors beautiful!
April Sherrill is a staff writer for the Hamilton County Herald. Contact her at april@dailydata.com.