You don't know what to do with a mirror that is too old, out of date, cracked or completely broken? Before throwing it away, find out how to give it a second life with five “Do it yourself” (DIY) ideas. With our tips, transform your mirror into an original decorative object for your interior.
Repaint your mirror frame
Do you own or have found an old mirror, with chiseled moldings and elegant sculptures and want to revamp it to give it a more modern look? Why not just repaint it?
Spray paint is a good solution, but regular acrylic paint works just as well for your renovation. Choose a color that will fit in well with 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 painter's tape.
Lightly sand the frame with fine sandpaper to help the paint stick. Dust.
Shake the spray paint well and apply it to the mirror frame, covering the entire exterior surface.
Let dry.
If you don't like the painting option, you can glue decorative elements to the frame (shells, masking tape, fabric, raffia, newspaper, etc.).
Reuse a 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 it. You can frame a large photo, poster or poster, or you can 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
By applying magnetic paint to a plywood background to make a photo frame, etc.
Make a mosaic from a broken mirror
Is your mirror broken into a thousand pieces? Retrieve them, being careful to avoid injury from sharp pieces. Afterwards :
Choose a solid support: a wooden board, plasterboard, hard cardboard, etc. Make sure it can support the weight of the mirror pieces.
Before gluing the mirror pieces, take the time to plan their arrangement on the support. Arrange them like a puzzle to visualize the end result and adjust the layout according to your preferences.
Fix the broken mirror pieces with strong glue (epoxy glue or PVA glue). Be sure to apply the glue evenly and press the pieces together to ensure a strong bond.
Once the mirror pieces are glued, fill in the empty spaces with small pieces of mirror or other decorative materials, such as beads or shards of colored glass.
After completing your mosaic, you can also add a mosaic joint with a flat spatula.
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.
Recompose the pieces to make a new mirror
You can use the broken mirror pieces to make a brand new mirror. All you need is a shard of mirror large enough to serve as the center glass, to which you can add other small shards all around for a decorative look.
Start by cutting the pieces of broken mirror into small squares using a glass cutter. Then assemble them directly on the wall or on a support using special glue. For an optimal visual effect, alternate between full and empty spaces.
The support thus decorated can be hung on the wall or placed on a dressing table, for example.
Use mirror pieces to customize objects
You can let your imagination run wild by sticking the broken pieces onto various objects.
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Decoration of vases or planters
: stick the broken ice onto a vase or planter. The mirror pieces will reflect the sunlight in your garden or on your terrace.
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Creating decorative letters
: after collecting the mirror shards and taking the necessary precautions, stick them on previously 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 decoration.
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Personalization of furniture:
to revamp an old piece of furniture or customize a chest of drawers that you are starting to get tired of, attach shards of mirror 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 dries, wrap the mirror pieces in a towel to prevent flying chips, and use a hammer to break them into smaller pieces. 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 dry. Once dry, gently clean the mirror pieces to make them shine.
In summary, your old or broken mirrors are full of creative potential. Above all, remember to handle them with care to avoid injury and to wear gloves.