DIY Antiqued Mirror
How to Turn Glass into an Antique Mirror
I’m not usually a fan of antique-looking decor, but when I first saw this picture on Chris Loves Julia, I wanted that antiqued mirror right away!
The antiqued glass paired with the modern frame is just *chef’s kiss*. And then I looked at the price…
It’s not available for sale anymore but let me tell you, it was too expensive for my blood. In fact, every antiqued mirror I’ve found is more expensive than my cheap-o self is willing to spend. Plus, this seemed like a fun DIY. So, naturally, I made my own antiqued mirror! Here’s how I did it…
You can watch the tutorial by clicking the video below or continue reading for a step-by-step guide.
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Materials
A picture frame (with glass - plexi won't work!)
Distilled White Vinegar
Paper Towels
Prep Your Glass
To recreate the mirror from my inspo picture, I found this simple black aluminum picture frame online. No, it’s not nearly as big as the inspiration mirror, but I also don’t have anywhere to put a mirror that big, so that's okay!
If you’re not searching for a specific style of frame, you could easily find one that is cheaper and larger at a thrift store.
No matter what frame you choose, you might need to prep it first. For instance, my glass was held in place with clear silicone. That was certainly a surprise and took a bit of finesse to pop free without breaking it - but I did it! Once I was done, I cleaned the glass off with Windex.
Apply Black Spray Paint
Next, you’ll spray black spray paint on one side of the glass. You may need more than one coat for full coverage. Remember - multiple thin coats of paint are better than one super runny thick coat!
Make a Mirror!
Now, the fun part. Once the black spray paint is dry, flip your piece of glass over. Using your spray bottle, strategically spritz on some vinegar. Depending on the look you’re going for, feel free to use a mixture of fine mist as well as larger droplets. I purposefully applied mine around the edges to look more authentic like my mirror was slowly wearing away with time.
Next, spray on a thin, even coat of mirrored spray paint.
Then, using a paper towel, lightly dab up some of the vinegar.
This sequence of steps might take a little bit of practice, and that’s okay! I repeated these steps multiple times until I got the final look I was going for. And if the end product isn’t what you were hoping for, it’s easy to start over by spraying window cleaner on the glass and scraping it off with a razor.
Final Thoughts
This ended up being a hat trick of a DIY project - fast, easy, and quick! My favorite! All-in-all it probably took less than an hour and cost about $50 - most of which was spent on the frame.
Plus, I felt oddly accomplished when my three-year-old told me my mirror was dirty and I needed to clean it. #projectsuccess (I think.)