Framing mirrors is a fun and relatively inexpensive way to decorate walls. There are several ways to frame your mirror: make a frame with decorative boards, use a picture frame, or make a unique frame out of ribbon or stencil prints. Read further to find a way that works for you, and follow the steps to complete your mirror frame.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Framing a Mirror with a Decorative Board
Step 1. Select the mirror to frame
You can choose any size mirror, because you will make a decorative board according to the length you need. The mirror also doesn't have to have straight edges like squares or rectangles, but it can also be circular.
Step 2. Purchase and cut the decorative board
You can buy decorative boards at home supply stores or furniture stores, usually they only cost a few tens of thousands of rupiah for each meter.
- Choose a decorative plank style: there are decorative boards that are traditional in style, without lacquer, and have a lot of embellishments such as corners decorated with flowers and different patterns.
- To determine the length of each piece of decorative board, measure the length and width of your mirror, then add 5 cm. Use a wood saw to make four frame cuts, and make 45-degree angles at each end of each frame.
- Check the lengths of the opposite sections by aligning them with each other to make sure they are the same length.
- Lay the frame on a flat surface: grease the inner corners with building glue or wood glue, and use masking tape to hold it in place for a while.
- Once the adhesive has dried, fill in the gaps in the corners with Spackle or wood putty.
- Once the putty has dried, paint your frame, if desired.
Step 3. Place the mirror in the center of the wooden plank
The wooden board you are using should be a sheet of plywood that is 5 cm longer and 5 cm wider than the mirror. If your mirror is already on the wall, then you don't need a board, and you can skip this step.
Step 4. Glue the grid pieces around the mirror
Your grid pieces should be 5 cm wide; these two pieces must be the same length as the mirror, and the other two must be 5 cm longer than the mirror, so that all four can frame the entire perimeter of the square. You can also skip this step if your mirror is already hanging on the wall.
- Use wood glue to glue the grid pieces to the board. Make sure that the mirror can fit into this piece of lattice.
- Hold the grid in position with tongs, and allow the glue to dry for 24 hours.
Step 5. Place the decorative board pieces on the top left
Align the two so that their length is just above the edge of the mirror grid. Glue the decorative boards to the grid pieces.
- Be careful that no glue sticks to the mirror.
- If you're using a rosette, glue it to the corner of the frame.
- Place a piece of plywood board on top of the mirror to press it down, and let the glue dry for 24 hours.
- Cover the decorative board with a towel to protect it while the glue dries.
Step 6. If you are framing a mirror that is already hanging on the wall, apply glue to the back of the decorative board, and press the frame against the mirror, leaving about 2.5 cm on all sides of the mirror
- Immediately check the frame with a ruler, and make adjustments before the glue dries.
- Use tape to hold the frame against the wall while the glue dries.
Step 7. Glue the decorative board with the mirror support board
Turn over the mirror you have framed, and use an electric screwdriver to attach a 2 inch (5 cm) screw to the center of each rose ornament. Insert two equally spaced bolts into each horizontal side, and one bolt into each vertical side, which is about one-third of the way down the frame.
Step 8. Attach the frame wire to the two D rings
Attach one ring to each vertical side at a point about one third of the frame from the bottom.
- Cut the wire of sufficient length to connect the two rings, leaving some left to reach a point 7.5 cm below the top of the mirror.
- Twist the wire into each D ring.
- Attach vinyl pads to every corner of the mirror, so they don't scratch the walls
Step 9. Add the finishing touches and hang your mirror
Finish the mirror by sanding the corners of the frame, if it's still rough, use an emery sponge, or sandpaper. You can also paint the frame with a glossy paint.
Method 2 of 3: Framing the Mirror with Photo Frames
Step 1. Find the right size frame and mirror
Your frame should be 0.6 cm longer and wider than your mirror. Also make sure your mirror is thin enough to fit into the picture frame.
Step 2. Remove the frame glass
This glass does not need to be placed in front of the mirror.
Step 3. Insert the mirror into the frame
Then fasten the frame around the mirror.
Step 4. Test the weight
Mirrors are heavier than photos, so make sure the hooks and wire hangers on the frame are strong enough to support the weight of the mirror before you hang it on the wall.
Method 3 of 3: Framing the Mirror in a Unique Way
Step 1. Make a decorative frame with ribbon
You'll need a wooden frame that fits the mirror and a slightly wider band than the frame.
- Draw an outline of one side of the frame, including the corners. Crop this image.
- Paint the inside of the frame and the outer edges the same color as the ribbon.
- Cut the ribbon slightly longer than the outline on the paper.
- Iron the fusing strip to the back of the tape.
- Use a pencil to copy the outline drawing onto the adhesive sheet. Cut the image from the ribbon. Repeat on the other piece of ribbon.
- Press each strip of tape, with the adhesive sheet face down against the frame. Place a towel on top of the tape and iron it on a low heat to seal it.
Step 2. Use the plate as a frame
Reuse antique plates by using the edges as decorative frames for mirrors.
- If any part of the plate breaks, use epoxy glue to fix it.
- Measure around the inside edge of the plate.
- Draw the shape you measured on a piece of paper, then cut out the shape as a mirror frame.
- Find a mirror that looks like your outline, or ask a professional glass cutter to cut the mirror to fit the frame.
- Create a wavy edge by gluing a pillow tube around the mirror.
- Use epoxy ceramic glue to glue the mirror to the center of the plate. For temporary adhesives, use duct tape.
- Hang a plate-framed mirror with a plate hanger.
Step 3. Decorate the mirror with a stencil frame
Use a stencil pattern to decorate your mirror.
- Find a stencil pattern you like on paper. Copy the pattern onto the inner layer of a piece of adhesive paper.
- Cut the pattern you drew on the adhesive paper with a building knife.
- Peel off the layer of adhesive paper and glue the pattern to your mirror.
- Use a brush to apply enamel paint over the stencil pattern. Let the paint dry overnight, and then peel off.
Step 4. Make a stone and shell frame
Use hot glue to glue the rock and shell around your mirror.
