A mirror that's cracked, too cloudy, or has an outdated frame sitting in your attic? Here are some tips on how to turn it into a decorative object.
Don't know what to do with a mirror that is too old, outdated, cracked or completely broken? Before you throw it away, find out how to give it a second life with five DIY ideas. With our tips, turn your mirror into an original decorative item for your interior.
Repaint your mirror frame
Do you own or have found an old mirror, with carved moldings and elegant sculptures and want to remodel it to give it a more modern look? Why not just paint it over?
Spray paint is a good solution, but regular acrylic paint works just as well for your renovation. Choose a color that will fit well into your interior decoration. All shades are welcome: very cheerful, black, shiny, pastel…
- Protect the surface of the glass by covering the entire surface with newspaper and duct tape.
- Lightly sand the frame with fine sandpaper so that the paint adheres better. Powder.
- Shake the spray paint well and apply it to the mirror frame, covering the entire outer surface.
- Leave to dry.
If you don't like the coloring option, you can stick decorative elements (shells, scotch tape, fabric, raffia, newspaper, etc.) to the frame.
Reuse the broken mirror frame
If the mirror is broken but the frame is in good condition, don't throw it away. There are many creative ways to reuse. You can frame a large photo, poster or poster or opt for a more original approach:
- By creating a composition of dried flowers or a beautiful herbarium
- Adding wire or rope to the empty space of the mirror to hang sticky notes with clips
- Applying magnetic paint to a plywood background to make photo frames etc.
Make a mosaic from a broken mirror
Wall decoration made from pieces of a broken mirror.
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Is your mirror broken into a thousand pieces? Take them out, being careful not to injure yourself with sharp pieces. After:
- Choose a sturdy support: wooden board, plasterboard, hardboard, etc. Make sure it can support the weight of the mirror parts.
- Before gluing the mirror pieces together, take the time to plan their placement on the mount. Arrange them like a puzzle to visualize the end result and adjust the layout to your liking.
- Fix broken pieces of mirror with strong glue (epoxy glue or PVA glue). Be sure to apply the glue evenly and press the pieces together to ensure a tight bond.
- After the mirror pieces are glued, fill in the empty spaces with small pieces of mirror or other decorative materials, such as beads or colored glass shards.
- Once you have finished your mosaic, you can also add mosaic grout with a flat trowel.
- Carefully clean the resulting mosaic to remove any glue residue or dirt. If desired, apply a coat of varnish to protect your creation and give it a glossy finish.
Reassemble the pieces to make a new mirror
You can use broken mirror pieces to make a brand new mirror. All you need is a piece of mirror large enough to serve as the center pane, to which you can add other small pieces throughout for a decorative look.
Start by cutting pieces of broken mirror into small squares using a glass cutter. Then assemble them directly on the wall or on the support using a special glue. For optimal visual effect, alternate full and empty spaces.
You can hang the carrier decorated in this way on the wall or place it on, for example, a dressing table.
Use mirror parts to customize objects
You can let your imagination run wild by gluing the broken parts to various objects.
● Vase or planter decoration: stick broken ice on a vase or planter. The mirror parts will reflect the sunlight in your garden or on the terrace.
● Making decorative letters: after picking up the mirror shards and taking the necessary precautions, glue them onto pre-painted cardboard letters. Then arrange these letters on a piece of furniture or hang them on the wall to add a touch of sparkle to your interior.
● Personalize furniture: to renew an old piece of furniture or customize a chest of drawers that you are tired of, attach mirror shards to the drawers and/or sides of your piece of furniture, mosaic-style. To do this, sand the furniture to prepare the surface. Then apply the first coat of paint to give it a new shine. While the paint is drying, wrap the mirror pieces in a towel to prevent flying pieces and break them into smaller pieces with a hammer. Then arrange the mirror pieces on the furniture according to the desired pattern and glue them firmly. Finally, apply putty to fill the gaps between the pieces and let it dry. After they dry, gently clean the mirror parts to make them shine.
In short, your old or broken mirrors are full of creative potential. Above all, remember to handle them carefully to avoid injury and to wear gloves.