Glam up your old mirror in three steps

I inherited this gorgeous mirror from my grandmother when she passed away. Believe it or not, it was gold to begin with, then black. And now, it’s white. And it only took three easy steps. Check it out.

Refinishing furniture is one of my favorite DIYs because it’s pretty easy and the end result is so satisfying. This beautiful mirror needed a bit of a lift and a couple coats of white paint was all that it took. Here’s what I did:

Step #1: Clean your mirror

This step is really important. Just ask me. I made the mistake of just casually wiping down the mirror. I missed a ton of dust in the cracks. If you want a up-close clean, professional look, make sure you get a Q-tip and wipe all the dust away.

Step #2: Tape down garbage bags

Of course, you’ll want to protect the glass section of the mirror so it doesn’t get any paint on it. Make sure you use painter’s tape so it comes off easily and still protects. I used kitchen garbage bags, but you can use smaller grocery bags or even newspaper.

Lay down the garbage bags first and leave a slight border around the edge of the mirror uncovered so you can place the tape down. Take your time and make sure there is nothing left exposed before you start painting.

Step #3: Paint!

First off, you’ll want to use spray paint for sure. But there’s so many types out there. What do you choose? Here’s an awesome post on the best types of paint for furniture. However, all I wanted was white with a matte finish that didn’t require a separate primer. I ended up with Krylon Colormaster Paint + Primer. It was pretty inexpensive and worked great. I bought two 15-ounce cans.

Try to paint outside if you can, but if it’s too cold outside, find a well-ventilated area in your home. Then just start spraying even coats all over the frame of the mirror. Pay careful attention to the edges and walk all around the mirror to see if you missed any spots. Wait for one hour and then apply the second coat.

I debated whether to do a third coat, but I liked how the finished product had an antique look and feel. So, I called it good. I love the way it turned out.

If you want to provide extra protection so that paint doesn’t chip, you can apply a coat of Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane. It will protect your hard work from crack and chips.