Gilded Mirror Makeover

This gilded mirror makeover is something I’ve been thinking about for months…ever since I bought the perfect project mirror on Facebook Marketplace for $30. I knew a simple DIY would turn this second-hand find into a thing of beauty. All it took was spray paint, some Rub’n Buff, and a few hours of my time. Here’s how it went down…

I was scrolling through Facebook Marketplace one morning per usual (checking frequently is one my 7 Secrets to Scoring Big on Facebook Marketplace), and I saw this beautifully-shaped mirror. I purchased it right away, intending to gold leaf it. Instead, it sat in my house, untouched, for almost a year. Then, as I was playing musical mirrors for Christmas décor, I decided it was time to gild this beauty. 

So, I took it outside, taped it up, and got to work. You can see where I attempted gold leaf at first, but quickly abandoned that idea in favor of something that didn’t make me want to scream. 

I love this spray paint so much for a brass finish that isn’t too yellow or brown. It looks a lot like actual unlacquered brass, and I just happened to have a can sitting around. 

I sprayed on several light layers until the brown was completely covered, which didn’t even take the entire can of spray paint. 

The end result was so pretty I almost left it like this. But I didn’t.

Instead, I aged it a bit with steel wool to give it some dimension and character. 

Then, I loaded up a plain paper towel with Gold Leaf Rub’n Buff and let it work it’s magic. 

After this layer, it had the perfect amount of character, depth, and interest. So, I took it back inside, hung it above our bedroom dresser, and fell in love. 

I really liked the round mirror that was here before. It’s one of my all-time favorite pieces, but I was craving the warmth of gold, and a different shape for our master bedroom. This is exactly what I had envisioned.

To see how it looked with the round mirror, go to THIS post. 

The gilded finish is rich and complex, and pairs well with the worn, antique look of our beautiful dresser. 

I’m so in love with how this simple gilded mirror makeover turned out. And after the exhausting task of renovating our kitchen, small-scale, big-impact projects like this are a breath of fresh air. We are still saving for new floors, windows, and some other big-ticket items, which can make it feel like we’re not making much progress on our home at times. But when I can whip out a stunning DIY like this in a few hours, it gives me the motivation to keep going, keep sharing, and keep saving. 

I hope you enjoyed this quick makeover and can see how much of a difference small changes make, especially in the midst of larger projects with longer timelines. Have you completed an easy DIY lately? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below…I love hearing from you guys!

Onto the next project…

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