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Easy Vintage Gold Mirror Makeover

Easy vintage gold mirror makeover

Every once in a while I find one of these amazing gold mirrors at a thrift store.

You know the ones that weigh a ton and have all that fabulous detail work. They’re made of heavy duty plastic resin, and come in many different shapes and sizes.

Some people call these mirrors Hollywood Regency, or Rococo, or Victorian.

I just call them fun.

Because even though they’re so not my style as is, like most things, it’s easy to change them so they match any style.

Victorian style vintage gold mirror

When I go to a thrift store and I see something interesting I never ask myself… “Is this my style?”

The question I always ask myself is… “Can I make it my style?”

view of decoupaged stairs through vintage gold mirror before mirror makeover

And the answer for this mirror was a big absolutely yes.

If my colorfully painted living room floor, and my decoupaged scrapbook paper stairs are any indication… I think I may be a gal who loves color just a teensy weensy bit. lol.

label on back of vintage gold mirror

The label on the back identifies this as a Turner mirror from the 1950s.

I paid $7 for it, and you can find mirrors like this on etsy for around $100 or so, give or take a few dollars.

If you like the gold, by all means keep it as it is.

But for me, the gold has got to go. It is so not my thing.

The only time I have left something gold is when I did this living room wall vignette with a large music scale.

The joy this mirror will bring me after its makeover far outweighs its potential monetary value in the original gold.

back of vintage gold mirror

For this gold mirror makeover I’m not removing the mirror. even though it looks like it could be unscrewed from the frame.

Years ago, way before blogdom was even a thing, I did just that and I wasn’t able to reattach the mirror. By removing the screws the resin had stripped in a couple of the holes, and the screws wouldn’t sit tight any longer.

So now I play it safe and I use every painter’s best friend for projects like this.

Painter’s tape.

If you want to remove the screws and take a chance, go for it. But I also wanted to show how to tape off a mirror like this just in case you ever come across one that doesn’t even give you the screws option.

taping edge of mirror to prepare for spray painting

Now, this may look like a tedious job, but it only took me about 20 minutes.

preparing to spray paint mirror by taping off inside edge

You basically use small pieces of painter’s tape to get around all the curves.

taping off gold mirror before spray painting

When you have the whole thing done you add long strips of tape to create nice straight edges.


taping newspaper to protect mirror before spray painting

Then you add some newsprint and outline with more painter’s tape.

Now this vintage gold mirror is ready for some spray paint love.

spray painting vintage gold mirror with white paint as first coat

I took my mirror outside and gave it two light coats of white spray paint, letting it dry thoroughly in between. I used a flat paint and primer combo.

If you have a colored wall you may want to stop with the white, which is absolutely beautiful with all the details.

But I’m doing color, and whenever I’m spray painting over a dark color I always start with a white base.

That way I get the true brightness of the final color, which in my case for this gold mirror makeover is…. surprise, surprise.

Hot Pink.

spray painting vintage gold mirror pink

It’s actually called Berry Pink, and it’s a gloss paint and primer combo.

Whatever you call the color, this mirror is going from gold to bold.

vintage gold mirror spray painted hot pink

I gave it two light coats, again letting the paint dry in between.

Pepper helping with removing tape from mirror after spray painting

Pepper is a new addition to our family, and she felt the need to help me remove the tape from the mirror.

One day back in June I was kneeling in one of our gardens doing some weeding, and I felt something rub up against my back. Well let me tell you it really startled me because our cats were inside the house. I jumped up and when I turned around I saw this sweet little black cat. She meowed at me, and then she started purring and purring and purring as she basically crawled all over me.

Needless to say we took her in, and now she’s my newest project assistant.

Supplies needed for this mirror makeover

  • mirror
  • painter’s tape
  • newspaper
  • spray paint
Easy vintage gold mirror makeover with spray paint

There she is lounging on one of the chairs in the living room after all her hard work. lol.

view of decoupaged stairs through vintage gold mirror after spray painted gold mirror makeover

So the next time you see something at a thrift store that doesn’t match your home decor style, before you pass it by ask yourself… “Can I make it my style?”

You might just surprise yourself by answering with a big absolutely yes.

Whether you’re painting a mirror white or a fun color like mine, for me paint makes all the details pop so much better than the gold.

Spray paint is every gal’s best friend, and it makes magical makeovers possible for everyone.

Please pin to your favorite board.

From gold to bold vintage mirror makeover

Thanks so much for reading and until next time,

keep on keepin’ on!

XOX

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16 Comments

  1. Hi,
    I have painted a number of these mirrors. I found an easier way than taping them. Unscrew the screws on the back and the mirror pops right out. :). I sold a number of them in my booth

    I so enjoy your creative style. I have been a long time follower of your blog.

    1. Thanks Shelley! Yes, removing the screws would certainly be easier, but years ago I had holes stripped on one of these mirrors when removing the screws so I don’t do that anymore. Also, I wanted to show how to tape it off for those mirrors that don’t detach from the frame. Thanks so much for being a long time follower. 🙂

  2. Very pretty Tuula, I love those old mirrors too!

    Tania

    1. Thanks so much Tania! It’s amazing to me how inexpensive these are in the thrift stores here. I can’t resist them when I see them.

  3. Tuula, I LOVE your living room colors! Those are my go-to colors too. Your mirror, re-imagined in the hot pink is fabulous! What kind of spray paint did you use that has the gloss/primer combo? Nice that it saves you a step.

    1. Thanks Sandy! Both Rustoleum and Krylon make paint and primer combo spray paints in different sheens including gloss.

  4. Debra Hubbs says:

    Ok so when I saw this and started reading, I said to myself, I bet she made it bright pink! I just knew it. It looks awesome! I also love your new kitty addition! I love black cats. Glad he found a new good home with you!

  5. Oh, man. I wish I’d have known this idea YEARS ago! After my aunt and uncle passed, we had one of these floating from room to room, house to house, and never hung on the wall!! If one of my girls still happens to have it, I’m gonna snag it back and make it MINE!! Thanks, again, Tuula! You always get the creative juices flowing!

    1. Thanks very much Dona! I hope you get that mirror back, or maybe you can find another one.

  6. very fun…I love it in the white…. just love the fun finds!!

  7. I have one of these except it’s a clock instead of a mirror. But it has that same style molded plastic curlicue border. I said to myself, too, that it’s either going to be pink or aqua! Ha! I’m a white kinda gal, but glad we’re all different. Love your cat too!

    1. Thanks Florence! I spray painted one of those clocks a while back and it’s also hanging in my living room. All the details of these pieces are very cool. Yes, I’m glad to have another feline project assistant. lol.

  8. I couldn’t agree with you more, Tuula, these ornate plastic mirrors are just screaming for color! The paint whether bright and bold or simple white makes all those details pop.

    1. Thanks Marie! This is one project where spray paint makes it so easy to make a huge difference.