The Easiest Way to Paint a Mirror Frame

Do you have an over-sized mirror you would like to paint, but are physically unable to relocate it outside for spray paint application? Well..I have the perfect hack for you today.

In this post ,I am going to show you how I painted my heavy, floor-length mirror exactly in it’s place- without ever moving it. Even better, I was able to get an even, durable finish without ever having to use messy spray paint. 

Leave it to me to find unique methods for cutting corners.

And no… I am not tooting my own horn.

This skill of “corner cutting” hasn’t been fostered through virtue or  ingenuity, but instead- by means of sheer impulsivity and laziness. 

You see…

I’ve had this heavy, boutique style mirror for years that I was wanting to re-purpose…

The bluish-hue of the frame worked fine when I was going for more of a coastal, transitional vibe. But once I went all Modern Farmhouse – incorporating more of a black, white and beige scheme, the mirror color just felt off.  Large mirrors can be quite pricey, so I was pretty committed to up-cycling it. 

I knew I wanted to paint it, but I didn’t know if I wanted to paint it gold or black. The way I contemplated this mirror makeover, you would have thought it a life or death decision. 

I kid you not…for months, I agonized over what color to paint the damn thing (like…complete design paralysis). 

And then one day, I woke up and decided I had to paint it black…like in that split second…it had to be done. 

I knew if I didn’t paint it in that split-second, I risked a design paralysis remission that could last for another twelve months. 

The only problem? My muscle-man hunk of a husband was not there to help me move this baby outside so that I could spray paint it, and I didn’t feel comfortable relocating the mirror by myself. 

So I decided to take a risk and use a special product which  I had actually just applied on my bathtub faucet (which you can read about that DIY makeover here).  Lucky for me, I still had plenty of it leftover.

Here is what I did…

*For your online shopping convenience, I have included affiliate links in this post. That means if you click on one of those links and buy something, I may receive a small commission, but you won’t pay a dime more. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases*

How to Paint a Heavy Mirror Frame without Moving it:

Materials:

• Protective Enamel Oil-Based Paint (here is the exact one I used). If you want a metallic finish, click here
• Foam Brushes (I would have at least 2 or 3 on hand)
• craft paper
• step stool

The beauty of traditional spray paint is the fact that it is oil-based and can be applied over so many different types of surfaces (plastic, metal, wood, concrete etc). 

Because this mirror already had a shiny, top-coat of poly applied to it, I knew that a run of the mill latex paint would not do (and I wan’t even about to attempt to sand that shiznit off).

I needed something that would stick well to a fussy surface. Not wanting to deal with the fumes of spray paint, however, I found the perfect compromise with this oil-based paint made by Rust-Oleum.  (If you are wanting a metallic finish for your mirror frame, click here to browse those options).

Before you start, be sure to slide some craft paper underneath your mirror to protect your floors and walls. You may also want to lightly clean your frame with a damp rag.

Now you can begin to apply your paint with a foam brush. While you can certainly use painter’s tape to protect your glass, I like to live life on the wild side. If you do happen to make any mistakes, have a rag with warm water nearby. 

Surprisingly enough, it only took me one coat (with a touch-up here and there) to completely transform this outdated mirror frame. Not too shabby for $20!

 

For any of you independent ladies out there needing to get some re-purposing done without the heavy lifting, I hope this gave you some inspiration. 

I am super happy with how this impulsive short-cut turned out for me, and I hope it works well for you too. I think this method could also be useful for transforming picture frames. 

Now get out there and design some good vibes along with a fabulous life. 

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