Picture: istockphoto.com
Whereas builder-grade mirrors are completely purposeful, they are often fairly boring. In comparison with extra ornamental mirrors you’ll discover on the retailer, these mirrors don’t have a body or any visually intriguing parts. Thankfully, simply as you’ll be able to spruce up the look of an outdated medication cupboard, there are additionally a number of methods you’ll be able to improve the look of a builder grade mirror by utilizing a bit creativity and DIY know-how.
RELATED: How To: Take away a Wall Mirror
Easy Wood Body
Picture: Wayfair.com
Making a DIY body in your mirror requires just some woodworking instruments and a bit little bit of time. One model to think about is a mitered body. With this model, all sides of the body is given a 45-degree angle reduce—or miter. When two sides be part of collectively on the reduce edges, it creates a sq. nook. If you wish to construct a mitered body in your mirror, you’ll must measure its dimensions and reduce the wooden appropriately to suit.
Alternatively, you might buy 4 pre-cut lengths of wooden out of your ironmongery shop measured to suit the size and width of your mirror. Then sand, paint, and cling them to the mirror. The corners won’t be mitered, giving a extra rustic or modern look.
Nook Block Body
Picture: Homedepot.com
You might additionally construct a nook block body in your lavatory mirror. Whereas this body might value a bit extra with the added supplies, it can be a bit simpler to construct since you don’t have to fret about making exact 45-degree cuts for the corners as with a mitered body. For this body model, you’ll must buy 4 nook blocks, like these rosettes from Residence Depot, together with the wooden in your body.
If you wish to paint or stain your body or nook blocks, paint all sides first earlier than slicing and attaching the items to the mirror. Then, use your selection of adhesive to position the 4 nook blocks flush with the sting of the mirror. Measure and reduce the chosen wooden trim to suit precisely between every of the nook blocks. Apply it utilizing the identical robust adhesive you used for the 4 blocks.
RELATED: The Greatest Vainness Mirrors With Lights
Pure Components
Picture: Amazon.com
Going for a floral theme within the tub? Or possibly you want boho model with baskets or beachy with seashells. It doesn’t matter what parts of nature you favor in your house, you should use those self same parts to brighten your builder grade mirror.
For a whimsical or floral look, attempt adhering rows of flower blooms alongside the perimeters of your mirror, like these multi-colored daisies from Amazon. You are able to do the identical with seashells, pebbles, small pinecones, trimmed rafia, fake leaves, or different ornamental gadgets out of your native craft retailer. For a nautical theme, attempt utilizing thick lengths of rope to frame your mirror.
RELATED: 18 Rest room Updates You Can Do in a Day
Get a Clear View
Picture: Wayfair.com
Working with an additional massive mirror? Create a DIY fake window body and divide the view in two whereas creating an fascinating ornamental look. Begin with half spherical molding, like this unfinished pine trim at Lowes, and reduce items to create a window pane look. Embody a single massive pane on the left and proper facet of the mirror, or divide it up into smaller sections like a window grille. You possibly can sand and stain or paint the trim earlier than adhering to the floor.
Crown Molding
Picture: Wayfair.com
When you want a extra elaborate and classical-inspired look, you should use crown molding to make the mirror seem like an extension of the woodwork within the residence.
Start by buying crown molding for the highest of the mirror and wooden trim for the remaining three sides. Then, measure the size and width of the mirror. Reduce the crown molding and the underside piece of trim to match the mirror’s width. The 2 facet items will must be reduce to suit between the crown molding and the trim, so that they’ll be a bit shorter than the mirror’s size.
After slicing and sanding every bit as wanted, apply your required paint or stain. At all times stain or paint the again, since will probably be mirrored within the mirror’s floor.
Suave Body
Picture: Wayfair.com
Wood mirror frames are lovely, however they aren’t the one approach to improve the look of a boring builder-grade mirror. An alternative choice is to make use of mosaic tiles to make an ornamental body in your mirror. As with the opposite methods shared above, you’ll be able to apply the mosaic tiles on to the mirror with out taking it off the wall—simply make sure to clear the mirror and take away mud in order that they’ll adhere correctly.
Begin by selecting a 12-inch by 12-inch mosaic tile sq., like this marble, glass, and steel mosaic sq. at Residence Depot. Then, determine the width of the border you’d like across the mirror, and reduce the mesh backing to match the scale. When you’d desire, you’ll be able to create a customized design utilizing free mosaic glass tiles, like these stained glass tiles accessible on Amazon. Nevertheless, understand that individually gluing every tile will likely be extra labor-intensive.
One other creative possibility is to color a border or design in your mirror with acrylic or water-based enamel craft paint. Begin by taping round any a part of the mirror you’d like to color with painter’s tape, like our favourite Frog Tape accessible on Amazon. Get inventive with greater than a border by taping stripes or utilizing a stencil to color an ornamental border across the sides. Needless to say paint will replicate again so the design will look doubled as if reflecting in a physique of water.
Mounting Choices
Picture: istockphoto.com
It doesn’t matter what you select as a border or ornamental component in your mirror, retaining it in place generally is a problem. First, look at the portion of the mirror you need to beautify for something that sticks up, flakes off, or causes a difficulty with adherence.
Older builder grade mirrors have plastic brackets that stick out on the corners or sides of the mirror, making the job of attaching a flat body or ornamental piece to the perimeters a difficult prospect. To compensate for these additional raised locations, attempt utilizing heavy-duty velcro, like these industrial energy strips accessible on Amazon, or for a much less everlasting repair, attempt utilizing these Command velcro strips you could take away to both clear the mirror or change up the look.
If it’s essential cowl greater than a few inches with adhesive, attempt double-sided mounting tape, like this waterproof foam tape on Amazon that stays on even the foggiest mirror. To completely adhere heavier frames, use a heavy-duty glue, like this robust gel adhesive from Amazon.
RELAED: 9 Methods to Make Your Outdated Rest room New Once more
Made for You
Picture: MirrorMate
DIY initiatives aren’t for everybody. When you’d desire to keep away from the effort and stress of creating your individual body for a mirror, you’ll be able to order a customized body from MirrorMate. MirrorMate makes a speciality of making inexpensive body kits that adhere on to mounted mirrors.
Their frames even provide a recess alongside the again that permits for a flush set up over the clips or strips which are holding the mirror to the wall. Merely measure the peak and width of your mirror, after which choose and order the model you want. As soon as your body is delivered, observe the instructions to assemble it, peel off the adhesive backing, and stick the body immediately over the perimeters of the mirror.
