Painted mirror

Add glam detail to a vintage mirror using metallic paint.

Resene upcycling for good with Sarah Herring - Project 62

Finished painted mirror, vintage look
Finished project

You will need: Painter’s masking tape, ruler and scissors, testpot brushes, Resene testpots in your choice of colours; Sarah chose Resene Rice Cake and Resene Rose Gold, Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer.

Top tip: Painting a design onto a mirror is a decorative project and not suitable for a hard wearing mirror that needs to be cleaned often. Adding a painted detail like this makes cleaning a little bit more delicate, so it’s best placed somewhere it can be kept safe from fingerprints!

Before

Finished project

Step 1: This mirror was a stunning find, however it did have a few imperfections in the glass that come with old age. Sarah decided to revive it by adding a painted herringbone design. For any mirror project, first start with a good clean and remove any price stickers.

Step 2: Mask out a herringbone design along the bottom third of the mirror only. Sarah didn’t want to obscure the whole reflective surface so she made sure the design included some negative space (that’s the part of the pattern that doesn’t get painted).

Step one

Step two

Step two contd.

Step three

Step three contd.

Step four

Step 3: Once the design is masked out, apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and let it dry, then apply the paint colours in 2-3 coats using testpot brushes. Sarah chose to alternate between Resene Rice Cake and metallic Resene Rose Gold.

Step 4: Remove the masking tape very carefully. It is really hard to paint onto glass so it pays to be extremely careful when pulling the tape off! Applying some pressure down onto the paint while you lift the tape up can help.

Step 5: Style or hang your glam ‘new’ mirror as you like! It would look fabulous on top of a dresser alongside perfume bottles and jewellery.

Upcycling for Good

You can find a huge range of treasures, from ornaments and picture frames, to furniture and toys at your local Salvation Army store that you can easily upcycle with a little Resene paint and some imagination.

"Our Family Stores are full of treasures generously donated by members of the public. We value these donations and try our hardest to re-purpose and sell as much as possible. We’re all about re-using and recycling, so teaming up with Resene on Upcycling for Good was a perfect match. Resene’s products and tips are a natural fit with our pre-loved furniture and accessories, which are usually great quality but could sometimes do with a lick of paint to ensure they fly off the shelves.

Each year, nationally, our stores save 16,000 tonnes from landfill. This initiative increases the value of the donated product, improves the range of goods for our customers, and furthers The Salvation Army’s mission and Resene’s community activity.” Gareth Marshall, The Salvation Army's National Family Store Manager.

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Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.com