DIY a Vintage Looking Gold Mirror

Loving the large gold mirrors from Anthropologie or Pottery Barn but don't love the cost? Here's an easy way to take a basic framed mirror of any size and create the look for less.

For this project, I used a white framed, resin mirror from Homegoods that my daughter used as a leaner in her bedroom. The frame was 4 inches wide. Any sized mirror or frame can be used for this treatment.

Next, I taped off the glass and covered it with plastic so I could spray the frame with primer and bronze gold spray paint. I used the Krylon brand. You may want to sand scuff the frame first, if necessary.

Once the frame is coated, it's time to pick out your appliques. I went with a variety from both Amazon and Lowes. You can find the appliques I used by clicking here or on my Amazon Storefront. Here's where you'll want to play around with various layouts to get the look you want. Be sure to pay attention to the sizes you're ordering.

Once you have everything picked out, spray all your pieces. If your mirror is heavy like mine, It's a good idea to decide how to hang it now, before putting the appliques on. I created wood cleats on the back that fit directly onto the cleats I added to the wall to ensure lots of support.

Once the ornaments are sprayed, it's time to glue them on. A good wood glue is necessary, along with some painters tape to hold the pieces in place until they dry.

Once all the appliques are set, it's time to tone down the metallic gold spray paint and give it that aged, vintage look. You can do this by adding Antiquing Wax or a polyurethane stain. I went with the antiquing wax, using a brush and soft rag. I lightly brushed it onto the entire frame as well as all the moldings. Be sure to dab it into all the nooks and crannies.

You can see the cleats on the wall (left). They are angled at 45 degrees so that the cleats on the back of the frame (also angled at the opposite 45 degrees) slide right in. These cleats are screwed directly into the studs, ensuring this bad boy isn't going anywhere. This won't be necessary for smaller mirrors, however, it's a great way to hang large or heavy wall decor.

Here is the final look:

I absolutely love the way it turned out and am so glad I didn't spend the $500-$1200 a mirror this size can cost! I styled the chest below it with this brass art deco peacock lamp from World Market, along with other items such as this round woven basket and candle you can find linked in my LTK Shop.

All in all, I'd say this DIY was a hit! I was able to reuse an item instead of buying new and learned a few new techniques along the way. I'd love to hear about your mirror upcycle too! Leave me a comment or follow me on IG @kellbellcan .

Happy DIY'ing!

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