It can be so disheartening when you fall in love with a trending item only to find out it costs a small fortune. Let’s delve into some products and techniques that will update your basic mirror into the DIY Parisian-style mirror of your dreams!
Materials Needed:
- Basic Arch Mirror
- Glue Gun
- Hair Dryer
- Gold Spray Paint
- Industrial Strength Adhesive
- Acrylic Paint in Raw Umber
- Mod Podge Matte
- Gilding Wax
- WoodUBend Trim
- Decorative Wood Appliques
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Step One: To get started, we need to unravel our trim. Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat up the bendable wood moulding. Once warm, the stiff trim will become soft and pliable. Just unravel it so that it’s easier to paint. Careful, as once it hardens, it can be quite delicate!
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Step Two: To get that realistic gilded gold look, we are going to need to start off with a base layer of gold spray paint. Place all of your appliques and trim into a large cardboard box and give them 1-2 coats of spray paint in a well-ventilated area.
Step Three: Once your appliques are dry, arrange them on the mirror. After finding the perfect placement, use industrial-strength adhesive to glue them into place. (TIP: You can use a few dollops of hot glue to help secure the appliques while the adhesive cures!)
Step Four: Once again, heat up your bendable wood trim and begin to attach it to the rest of the mirror frame using the industrial adhesive and a bit of hot glue. Let the adhesive cure completely before moving on.
Step Five: Now for the fun part! Mix together Matte Mod Podge and Acrylic Paint in Raw Umber at a 1:1 ratio to create a glaze. This is going to get worse before it gets better!
Step Six: Working in sections, apply a generous layer of the glaze to your appliques and trim, making sure to work it deep into the crevices. Before it has a chance to dry, take a paper towel and wipe away most of the glaze, leaving a shadow of colour in the recessed areas of the moulding. Let it dry.
Step Seven: Finally, we are going to add one more layer of colour to get that glamorous gilded finish. Take your gilding wax, and using a stiff brush and light application, apply it to the raised areas of the moulding and trim. This final detail really takes the gold up a notch!
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Step Eight: This luxe (without the price tag!) mirror is the perfect focal point for a hallway, powder room, or above a vanity! Really, anywhere that could use a touch of elegant charm. Where will you style it?
Images courtesy of Courtney Ryall.
