A mirror in the house is not only a necessary and convenient household item, but also a beautiful component of the interior, capable of expanding space and filling the room with light. The mirror itself does not stand out with any aesthetic appeal; it is the frame that makes it spectacular.
A mirror with a frame should harmoniously fit into the overall style of the house and can become a unique interior decoration. Framed wall mirrors can be made unique and luxurious if you decorate them yourself.
By showing your imagination and using simple improvised objects, you can create an amazing decoration for a mirror, into which a piece of your soul and the warmth of your own hands are invested.
Frames of kitchen products and household utensils
An aged mirror, with or without an unsightly frame, can be decorated decoratively using various, sometimes the most unexpected, household objects. Their use in an unusual role creates an amazing effect that can change simple and accessible things beyond recognition, breathing new life into them and filling them with a different meaning.
Decorating with products
Various kitchen foods are used as frame material: pasta, coffee beans, peas, beans, lentils or cereals.
To make a spectacular frame for a mirror with your own hands, take pasta of various sizes and shapes and carefully stick it around the perimeter. To create a specific pattern, pasta is laid out, evenly distributed along the surface; if desired, you can distribute it randomly or give it any desired shape.
To create an original decor, spray paint is used. To do this, first cover the surface of the mirror with a cloth or masking tape and spray paint.
A charming frame for a mirror with your own hands is ready; other kitchen products or mixtures of them are used in the same way.
Household items for decoration
For small mirrors, you can make a frame using cardboard, plywood or chipboard. Any selected frame configuration, larger in size than the dimensions of the mirror, is cut out of one of these materials. On the resulting configuration, mark the location of the mirror or glue it. The rest of the stencil is decorated with a variety of household items: buttons, shells, fragments of broken dishes, remains of jewelry or mosaic tiles, eggshells, egg trays and much more.
The variety of household items used is unlimited; personal imagination will tell you which of them can be used to create unique products.
The decor of the mirror using beads, bugles and glass pebbles looks sophisticated and impressive.
To secure such materials, you need colorless aquarium silicone glue, which reliably attaches the elements to the surface of the mirror and does not damage their transparent structure.
Decoration from disposable tableware
A decorated frame for a mirror with your own hands using disposable spoons can look like a delicate and graceful chrysanthemum.
The handles of the spoons are carefully cut off and, starting from the outermost row, the resulting petals are tightly pasted over the configuration, creating a flower.
The outer row should overlap the configuration so that its edges are not visible. Using paint of one or different nuances, they create a color scheme for the resulting chrysanthemum, which will be combined with the overall decoration.
Massive frames
For a large mirror, rich and massive frames with a complex pattern are better suited. They will become an organic finish and a chic edging that can turn a mirror into an exquisite piece of furniture. Wooden frames are made for rectangular and square mirrors, because it is impossible to bend a rigid material into an oval or circle shape.
Wooden frames
The material is wood, making the mirror in a wooden frame heavy. The ability to cope with basic carpentry will allow you to use a wooden door frame to make a simple and laconic frame.
You need to make four elements for any side. In order for the corners to connect correctly, the platbands are cut at an angle of 45 degrees.
The length of the inner edge of each segment should be one centimeter less than the sides of the mirror. To place the mirror cloth, indentations must be made on the reverse side of each strip.
Triangles are used to connect the planks and form corners; they will also serve as holders for the canvas.
A wooden frame for a mirror with your own hands can be decorated with any decorations. For a discreet interior, it is painted with varnish or paint of any nuance.
Ceiling plinth frame
Imitating wood, you can use ceiling plinths of any pattern and width, depending on your personal vision of the future product.
It is recommended to attach the mirror to a sheet of plywood or chipboard; this will give rigidity to the product and allow the fasteners to be correctly fixed for placement on the wall. The sides of the frame are cut from the ceiling plinth, just like the wooden planks, connecting the corners. The length of the inner edges should be equal to the length of the sides of the mirror. A glue gun is used to connect the elements into a single frame. The resulting frame must be covered on all sides with a layer of putty, which is diluted to the thickness of sour cream.
After it dries, work on decorating the baguette is done; paint or varnish is used for this. For aging, the surface of the painted frame can be treated with a sponge with golden paint.
A DIY mirror frame made from ceiling plinth can become a unique and luxurious part of the interior without weighing down the product.
Stucco molding
The presence of molded parts in the interior encourages the use of these elements to decorate the mirror. You can acquire such decorative elements from plaster or plastic, and from them you can create amazing compositions that decorate mirrors.
The base frame is made of dense material, with a size protruding beyond the edges of the mirror. It is painted white and the canvas is fixed on it. The stucco elements are distributed over the base in a planned manner and secured with silicone glue. The stucco can be left snow-white or using acrylic paints of any color, giving the desired nuance.
The video shows in detail the process of making a frame for a mirror from a ceiling plinth:
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And today we want to tell how to make a frame for a mirror made of solid wood and reveal the secret of an interesting aging mixture that can transform this frame in a very original way. In order to make this frame you do not need to have many complex tools or unprecedented training in carpentry. Everything is done as simply as in the first two cases; it’s up to you to decide which path is easier to take.
Materials:
- large frameless mirror;
- vinegar;
- Black tea;
- brush;
- sandpaper;
- L shaped corners;
- glue;
- screws;
- saw.
We measure the dimensions
The best news is that you can use any mirror. The frame can be easily adjusted to any size, which gives us unprecedented flexibility. The first thing you need to do is measure the length of the mirror, cut it on two boards 2.5 cm thick, on both sides, at 45 degree angles.
Cutting off the corners
Let's cut it off! Since we used a circular saw, the 45 degree angle was not a problem for us, but if you don't have one, then just join the frame at a 90 degree angle (straight cuts).
Trying it on
After you have cut off the long parts of the frame at an angle, you can bring them to the mirror and try them on.
Measuring the short sides
This step is kind of just a double check, but it's a good idea. After placing the long part of the frame on the mirror, measure the length of the top and bottom parts and repeat the above steps.
Putting it together
Even if you have a measurement error, all the pieces will come together beautifully. All that remains is to simply place the mirror in the center behind the frame.
Gluing the frame
A small dab of wood glue is a great idea. Since for the best effect you need to clamp each corner for a while, and since we didn’t have a corner clamp, we approached this process creatively, see the photo below.
Screwing the corners
This simple task does not require a detailed description; we take more screws and screw the corners in a circle. After this, you can start sanding our frame with sandpaper.
Tricky stain
In order to artificially age our frame, we use an ancient method for producing stain. Take steel wool and add some vinegar to a glass jar with it. Let this mixture sit for 24 hours. Then separately brew steep tea in a separate container.
First, we paint the surface of the frame with tea, let it dry, and only then paint it with a mixture of vinegar and wood shavings. Of course, the smell of vinegar is not the most pleasant, so it is better to do it outside.
Finished frame
That's all, time will pass and from a pale gray frame you will get an elegant and beautiful aged brown frame, it will fit into any suitable interior, but most likely bedrooms such as: Toscana, Nostalgia Night, Decor, Torriani will fit perfectly with this frame for the mirror.
Interesting video.
How to make a frame for a mirror from veneer.
We live in an era of the formation and popularization of the author's design of premises of any type. Standard decoration of apartments and household items is no longer fashionable. Real chic is considered to be the presence of handmade items in the room - flowerpot, vases, lamps and chandeliers. Well, the mirror in a beautiful frame, which was created by the owner of the house, is a real masterpiece!
DIY designer frame for a mirror - the advantages of such a mirror design are obvious - you can choose the size of the frame and its design in accordance with the overall style of the interior, and framed mirror will not resonate with the environment, but will become an integral part of it.
Mosaic frame
Creating a mosaic is an amazingly fascinating form of needlework and art. A mosaic frame for a mirror is sophistication, uniqueness and practicality in “one bottle”. The advantages of this type of mirror design are ease of operation, low cost of materials, because you can create a mosaic even from fragments of a broken dishes. Shards of dishes, shards of tiles, jewelry, and colored glass are also suitable for this work.
The mirror is attached to a base, it can be a sheet of plywood or chipboard. The base must be larger than the plane of the mirror. The mosaic elements will be attached to the protruding part of the wooden base using glue and a glue gun.
The number of mirrors in each house is different, but it is impossible to imagine a situation where there were none at all. The functionality of this piece of furniture is beyond doubt. But in terms of aesthetics, not all mirrors look as good as possible. Therefore, if there is a mirror in the house with or without an old frame, you should try to fix it. We share simple but effective ideas for transforming a mirror.
1. In a ceramic environment
If you are planning to renovate the bathroom, then the mirror can be mounted directly into the ceramic tiles. Secure it to the wall using suitable adhesive, and then proceed to laying the tiles or mosaics.
2. With memories of summer
To decorate the mirror, use small river or sea pebbles. It can be glued directly to the mirror with silicone glue. If this option is not suitable, cut out of thick cardboard the base on which the mirror is glued, and the upper part with a hole for it. Cover the top part with stones, and then glue both parts together.
3. Original plastic frame
Ordinary disposable plastic spoons become an excellent material for decorating a mirror with your own hands. To make the frame look even more impressive, we recommend covering them with acrylic paints.
4. For the most economical
The frame for the mirror, which can be made in literally a matter of minutes, is made from ordinary wooden clothespins. They can be pre-painted. Just attach the clothespins to the mirror.
5. Stained glass style
A mirror like this, reminiscent of stained glass techniques, is easy to make yourself. To apply dark lines on its surface, use special glass paint or black tape.
6. Futuristic mirrors from the future
To fix several mirrors, you can use a single base. For example, wooden. Simply glue the mirrors using silicone glue.
7. Return to nature
Short branches will be an excellent material for decorating a mirror, especially if you paint them in a bright color. They can be glued directly around the perimeter of the mirror or on the frame.
8. Marine style
A mirror frame made from thick rope will fit perfectly into a nautical-style interior. Additionally, it can be decorated with shells or pebbles.
9. Spring is coming
Artificial flowers will help create a delicate frame for the mirror. The composition can also be supplemented with green leaves and fruits. Everything you need for this kind of DIY mirror decor can be purchased at a floristry store.
10. Beads and shells
Combining beads and shells in the decor of a mirror creates an unforgettable effect. This interior detail will look harmonious in the room of a beautiful lady of any age.
11. A new look at the usual tree
To make such a wooden frame you will need a thick branch. It will need to be cut into thin sections, which are then used as decoration.
12. Affordable paper decor
The most affordable and affordable option for decorating a mirror with your own hands is to use paper strips. Glue strips of paper to the cardboard base and a mirror on top of them.
13. Kitchen decor
Cutlery that has not been used for a long time will become an unusual material for decorating a mirror. An ordinary plate can be used as the basis for this composition. Both the mirror and cutlery are glued to it.
14. Mirror for needlewomen
Those who are interested in sewing or embroidery will definitely like a mirror decorated with spools of thread. Simply glue colorful spools around the perimeter of the mirror.
15. Bright frame from old magazines
Reading magazines can be useful when decorating a mirror. Cut the page into two or three parts, roll each of them into a tube. All that remains is to glue the paper tubes to the mirror or frame.
16. New life for an old T-shirt
Cut a knitted T-shirt into several fairly wide strips and braid them. Then glue it around the perimeter of the mirror, leaving the edges free, and hang it on the wall.
17. Edible decor
Legumes, cereals, and pasta can be made into unusual materials for decorating a mirror with your own hands. Apply a generous layer of glue to the flat frame and sprinkle edible decor on it. After drying, we recommend covering the decorative compositions with acrylic varnish.
18. Useful buttons
Buttons that could not be used for their intended purpose can become material for decorating a mirror. Just glue them onto the mirror or its frame.
19. For lovers of an active lifestyle
Old rackets can also act as a frame for a mirror. Finding a ready-made suitable mirror can be problematic. But you can cut the appropriate size and shape in a workshop that specializes in working with glass.
20. More shine
Decorative glass pebbles are used to decorate a regular frame. You can buy them in stores that specialize in selling pet products. Most often they are used to decorate aquariums.
When the issue of decorating the living space has been resolved, it is time to take care of its little inhabitants. For example,
One way to add personality to your home is to decorate it with homemade items. A wide field of activity opens up when decorating. The most ordinary item can be turned, at least, into an original one. For example, the decor of a mirror turns an ordinary piece of glass into a stylish and original thing.
Basic principles of decorating mirrors
DIY mirror decor is made using a variety of materials, including those that are usually sent to the trash container, and if purchased, cost very little. For example, tubes from old newspapers or magazines. In some cases they are used without dyeing, in others they are painted. Spray paint is more convenient - it is applied in an even thin layer, painting occurs many times faster than using a brush. You can also use broken china, mirror, colored glass, shells, pebbles, rhinestones, glass drops, buttons, ropes, plastic bottles, branches, wooden planks and sticks, plastic spoons and other strange things.
All this wealth is usually glued onto transparent silicone. It is sold in construction stores and is available in small tubes or larger cartridges for a construction gun. It’s more convenient to work with a gun - it’s easier to control the force and get the right amount of glue, which is problematic with a regular tube.
Please note that silicone can be acidic or neutral. The acidic one smells very much like vinegar until it dries and you can only work with it in a well-ventilated area. Neutral silicone sealant does not smell like anything, but is more expensive. Still acidic, until it hardens, it can corrode the paint that is applied to the decor. When purchasing, pay attention to the setting time. This is the time during which you can still fix something, move something forward. As soon as the glue begins to polymerize, nothing can be done - it is covered with a hard film. The average time for the formation of a surface film is 10-20 minutes, but there are also more “long-lasting” compositions.
There are two decorating techniques:
- The decor is outside the mirror. In this case, a base is cut out of thin fiberboard or thick cardboard, which is larger in size than the mirror. It can be any shape - round, square, arbitrary shape. The decor is glued to the base, after the glue has dried, a mirror is inserted into the finished frame.
- Decorating the mirror around the edge. In this case, the glue and all fragments are applied directly to the mirror surface.
There seem to be small differences, but the design looks different in different techniques. The second allows you to get an openwork decor of the mirror, which seems to be illuminated by reflection.
Examples of decor for round and oval mirrors
First, let's talk about the decor, which is “built” around the mirror. The circle is beautifully decorated. You can make a sun, a flower, a star, etc. from it. Lots of options. Most often, the decor is also built in the form of a circle, but it can be a square, a multi-pointed star or any arbitrary shape.
From sticks or paper tubes
You can decorate a round mirror with Chinese chopsticks or tubes twisted from sheets of newspaper or magazine. If the tubes are rolled from newspaper, they will have to be painted. Made from thin glossy paper on which magazines are printed, they can be used without painting. The sticks can also be painted, or left as is.
To paint, find acrylic paint of the desired color in a can, lay the tubes on a sheet of waste paper, and paint on one side from a distance of 20-25 cm. Once dry, turn all the tubes/sticks over and apply paint on the other side.
Next you will need silicone. Apply glue to the back of the mirror. You can - in a short strip (so that it doesn’t have time to harden while you lay out the rays), or in drops. If the back of the mirror is not protected by anything, the silicone must be neutral. The acid will dissolve the amalgam and the mirror will be damaged. Place the rays on the glue and wait until the glue sets. After 24 hours, you can safely hang the unique mirror in place.
The mirror can be with or without a rim - your choice. Instead of sticks/tubes, you can use strips of glass, wood, plastic, etc.
From plastic spoons
In this version, a circle of larger diameter is cut out of thin fiberboard or thick cardboard. how much more - choose for yourself. Place the mirror in the center and trace it with a pencil or marker. The decor should not extend beyond this line.
We take plastic spoons, cut off the handles from them, and glue the scoops around the perimeter of the mirror. Three or more such layers are made. They look like petals. When gluing, try to place them very tightly to each other so that the backing does not show through. They can be placed straight or slightly turned to one side.
For a better effect, they can also be painted. The paint can have a metallic effect; you can paint the entire decor one color or different.
After the frame is ready, glue a mirror onto the same silicone in the center and admire it. After drying, you can hang it on the wall.
Using the same technique, you can decorate the mirror with buttons, shells, and branches of different diameters cut into circles. They even use trailers and model cars. They are painted in some unusual color and also placed in a circle.
The decoration of this mirror is toy cars
Something similar can be done with a rectangular mirror. In any case, it will look good with branches and buttons cut into circles. The other options are hardly suitable.
From plastic or cardboard rings
You can also decorate a mirror using rings. They can be cut from plastic pipes or glued together from cardboard. The sizes of the rings can be the same diameter or different, their width is about a centimeter or a little less.
If the rings are made of cardboard, you will need a base on which to fix them. For these purposes, a plastic cover with a slightly smaller diameter than the mirror is suitable. We will glue the first row of rings to the sides of the lid. The second and all subsequent ones are attached to them. We additionally secure one of the rings of the first row with a screw with a ring. We will then hang our mirror on it.
After the entire structure is glued together, take the sequins and glue them to the ends of the rings. The work is painstaking and requires time and patience. It’s easier to hold and move sequins with tweezers and better with thin tips. This mirror decor is universal - in winter it is associated with a snowflake, in summer - with the sun.
Using the same technology, rings from a plastic pipe are glued. But they do not need a foundation, since they themselves are quite rigid. From them we assemble a ring of the required diameter and glue it together. When choosing glue, make sure it is intended for plastic. Actually, there is a special glue gun and glue sticks for it. They are much more convenient to work with, but you can get used to regular silicone.
The edges of the rings do not need to be covered with anything. They look good themselves. But in this case, they must first be treated to remove irregularities and burrs that remain from the saw. If they were cut with special scissors, there will be almost no unevenness, but the edge will still be straight, and a rounded one looks better. The ends are processed with fine-grain sandpaper. Then they are wiped from dust and degreased (wash in water and detergent, wipe dry or dry). Only after this can you start working with glue.
From the rope
We take a thick rope. It can be synthetic or hemp. For larger sizes, you can even use a rope. We also cut out a base from cardboard or fiberboard that is larger than the size of the mirror. A thin layer of glue is applied to this base, and the rope is laid out turn by turn.
In this case, it may be better to first glue the mirror in the center and “wrap” the ropes around it. This way it turns out to be recessed in the frame.
Decor based on the mirror
You don’t always want to make a border around a mirror surface, and the decor that is applied to the mirror turns out to be more voluminous due to reflection. Therefore, basically another rule applies here - there should be free space between the decorative elements. These techniques will allow you to decorate a square or round mirror - with virtually no difference. The main thing is to choose the right pattern or decoration method.
Transparent stones
The simplest technique is to select the decor you like and place it along the edge of the mirror. At first, you can lay it out without gluing it - so that there is an opportunity to correct or move something. When you are satisfied with the result, apply a drop of transparent silicone to each fragment and return it to its place.
This mirror design looks best when using transparent and translucent stones. They can be colored, transparent, plain.
Painted decoration
For this work you will need special materials. You will need:
- Glass outline. This is a transparent or colored composition in a tube with a pointed spout. It is applied to glass and mirrors in the form of a thin strip. Usually it outlines the contours of the drawing, that’s why it’s called that. The contour on the glass can be with or without firing. Naturally, at home it is easier to use those without firing.
- Stained glass paints. They differ from ordinary ones in that after drying they become transparent. They are applied with brushes or squeezed out of the tube into the contour, after which they are distributed using the same brushes, swabs, and cotton swabs.
- Glitters. These are shiny small fragments in the form of hexagons, stripes, circles, etc. used in decoration. Can be added to paints and varnishes (including nail polishes).
You will also need the usual materials: alcohol for degreasing, cotton wool, cotton swabs, brushes (preferably with artificial bristles), toothpicks. You will also need a drawing that you are going to transfer to the mirror, carbon paper, and tape.
We place a carbon copy on the mirror, put a drawing on top, fix it with tape, and trace the drawing along the contour. Carefully remove the paper and carbon paper. Take a tube with a contour and trace the lines. Nearby is solvent, cotton swabs and toothpicks. We use them to remove flaws that appear during work.
Next, the contour should dry. This requires several days, and you can speed up the process using a regular hair dryer (not a construction hair dryer). After the outline has dried, take stained glass paints, pour a little into the outline, spread it with brushes, adjust with toothpicks - so that there are no unpainted areas left inside the outline. After stained glass paints dry, they become transparent. If you wish, you can add glamor using glitter.
The mixture of the two described technologies - painting and stones - looks very good. One example is in the photo above. The work is painstaking, but it turns out very beautiful.
Beaded mirror edging
In this technique, it is not possible to use ready-made drawings - there are a lot of accidents and it is not always possible to predict the result. But it's important to have a picture in your head of what you're going to see (or a photo of a prototype). For this work you will need transparent glue (the same silicone), multi-colored beads, stones and other decor that you plan to use. You will also need masking tape, brushes, and toothpicks.
Place tape on the mirror at some distance from the edge. It separates the finish from the rest of the surface. The border does not have to be exactly, it can be of any arbitrary shape. The width of the decorative border is usually not very large, since a wide one looks a bit rough.
Apply silicone to a separated area of the mirror surface using a snake. Spread a small piece at a time - a strand of 5 cm. Quickly distribute the glue over the entire surface. This can be done with a piece from a plastic bottle. We pour beads onto a sheet of paper and scatter them over the glue. Straighten with a brush and toothpicks. Don't use your fingers - it's hard to wash. We apply glue further, continuing decoration. Once you have gone around everything along the contour, remove the tape and leave it to dry.
Full drying time varies depending on the silicone, but is usually 72 hours or more. Then nothing can spoil your work, and you can hang it carefully within a day.
Some practical tips. If you want to get diagonally offset stripes of different colors (as in the photo), apply glue in the same areas. This way you will get a clearer separation of colors and the work will move faster. If the boundaries should be blurred - with a smooth transition of color - place different colors of beads on different pieces of paper, pour it in, shaking it slightly from side to side. Well, immediately after application you can correct everything with a brush or toothpick.
Beautiful frame for a mirror
This method of decorating a mirror has already been described - we take the decor and glue it on. But not on the mirror surface itself, but on the frame. The frame can be made from the same piece of fiberboard, or you can buy a mirror in a plastic (for example) frame.
From mosaic
To create a mosaic you will need mosaic pieces; you can use fragments of ceramics or colored glass, mirrors. You will also need glue (silicone) and grout for the seams of ceramic tiles (can be white or colored).
From fiberboard (cardboard will not work, as the decor will be heavy), cut out a frame for the mirror, place it in the center, and draw an outline. Next, apply strips of glue to the frame and lay mosaic tiles or pieces of glass on it.
After everything is laid out and the glue has dried (about three days), take the grout and dilute it to a thick sour cream (the proportions are written on the packaging). This mixture is used to fill the gaps between the tiles. When all the gaps are filled, remove the excess with a damp cloth. To prevent the mosaic from looking dull, you need to remove all the grout so that the tiles are clean. And this must be done before the grout dries.
This mirror decor is perfect for the bathroom. The decor is washable and fits well into the bathroom design concept. Such a mirror will look especially decorative if the mosaic is matched to the tone of the tiles.
