How to Make a Cheap Mirror Look Like an Expensive Antique
Mirrors are a timeless piece of home decor, and for good reason. Not only do they enlarge smaller spaces and enhance the natural light in the room, but they can also blend seamlessly with almost any design style.
At the same time, mirrors come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and patina. And while a brand new mirror from a large box store might fit in your modern mid-century guest room, you might want a mirror that looks like it survived a bit for your Victorian boho living room.
But no matter how hard you try, you can’t find a mirror that looks old enough at local thrift stores and thrift stores. However, there are plenty of new mirrors available at very reasonable prices. Instead of continuing to search, grab one of these (or even a picture frame without a mirror) and turn it into the vintage mirror of your dreams. Here’s how to do it.
How to make a new mirror old
When it comes to making a new mirror look like an expensive antique, there are two components to consider: the mirror itself and the frame. It all depends on personal preference. Maybe you want something that looks like a very well preserved antique mirror, where the mirror surface mostly looks new and the frame looks old.
Or perhaps you don’t care what the frame looks like, but you want the mirror to look like it has been standing in someone’s basement or shed for decades and showing its age. Or maybe you haven’t seen the mirror at all, but found a picture frame that you think would make a great antique mirror.
Well, no matter what your preference or what you work with, you’ve come to the right place. Complete step-by-step instructions for each process can be found here.
How to make a wireframe old
There are many techniques for aging frames. But if you’re looking for the classic look of an antique gold frame, Hunker’s Tricia Sprouse suggests painting the frame with gilding wax. To make it look even older, you can apply a light coat of dark wax polish over the gold wax, taking care to get into corners, cracks, and any crevices.
How to make a mirror look old
Aging the mirror itself is a bit tricky, but this post on The Navage Patch walks you through every step (including helpful photos). Warning: this is due to chemicals. They also have a general frame painting technique, but the end result doesn’t really look old and doesn’t match the new (old) patina of the mirror.
How to turn a photo frame into an old mirror
Let’s say you’ve found the perfect antique frame, but it’s a picture frame, not a mirror. It’s not a problem. In the same post on Hunker, Sprouse walks you through the process of transforming any picture frame – with a glass or plastic front panel – into a mirror that looks like a heirloom. She demonstrates how to do this using an IKEA photo frame with a plastic front panel.