DIY Tropical Mirror Upgrade
Do you have an older mirror that’s seen better days? Yeah me too. Instead of trashing a perfectly good mirror I decided to give it a quick and easy upgrade with some serious wow factor.
Here’s the mirror I used. It’s not wood but some sort of formed lightweight resin or foam and it has been beat up. My daughter got paint splotches all over it, there were scratches from moving it around and it just wasn’t looking its best.
This is prepped for painting with the liquid mask and seal, see step 1 below.
Here is what you will need to make your own DIY Tropical Mirror:
-I bought the gallon tub as it works amazingly well on mirrors, windows any type of glass inset to avoid paint mess
Rustoleum 2x in Gloss Key Lime
Krylon Colormaxx in Gloss Coral Isle
Sawhorses or something to set your mirror up on
Utility knife
Step 1: Apply the Jasco liquid mask and seal to the surface of the mirror. Make sure you get a nice thick coat as this will make removing it later much easier. Take care not to get it up on the frame of the mirror just the glass.
Step 2: Once the liquid mask has fully dried use Coral paint and spray the entirety of your mirror.
This is how mine looked freshly painted and drying.
It felt a little one note for me so I snagged the Key Lime color. The next day after fully drying I moved it outside and set it up again.
Step 3: Spray up from the back all around the perimeter of the mirror. I tried to spray pretty straight up so as not to overspray all over the front of the mirror.
This is how it looked after going all the way around. Notice how I didn’t fully spray the ruffled edge? I didn’t want a solid color but a mesh of the 2.
From the front you just get the hints of the lime green. It acts as a really fun highlight without overpowering it.
If you accidentally get a little overspray on the front take your coral and just do little spritzes over those areas.
Step 4: After it is dry, its time to remove the liquid mask. This is super easy, take a razor blade or even your fingernail and just start getting a bit of it up. Once it gets started you can just peel it back.
I peeled the bulk of it off and came back for the edges next.
Step 5: Get those stubborn edges of liquid mask with a utility knife. Run the blade right along the edge of your frame.
Then just peel it right up without ruining your paint!
So satisfying.
Here’s how it looked with all of the liquid mask removed and dry.
All that movement yes please.
And ta da, the finished product! I’m obsessed with the way the lime green emphasizes the ruffle/petal shape and gives so much dimension and interest.
This would work really well with any mirror that has an unusual and uneven edge.
The gloss finish of both paints adds even more interest by highlighting all of that texture.
Like delicious tropical fruit for your wall.
I’m carrying all of those luscious rolling shapes from the DIY tropical mirror down to the table with its own curves going on for a cohesive feel.
What do you think? An easy DIY I know you can totally do! This would work on picture frames too either for art or even as a stand alone funky frame.
Is this DIY tropical mirror a project you can see yourself doing? I am stoked I followed through on the idea even though the fam was very skeptical about the key lime situation. Don’t worry I turned them all into believers in the end. 😉
Hit me up with your thoughts in the comments below!
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XOXOXOXO
Pat
February 24, 2022I love this!! I would never think of spraying up like you did on the back. How do you think of these things? 🤷♀️😂 I’ve never heard of the mask so I have learned more than 1 thing today ~ thank you!!
Tina Bousu
February 25, 2022Hi Pat! I have no idea where this comes from but I figured it would either be awesome or absolutely terrible. Luckily it was awesome haha. And HIGHLY recommend the mask and seal stuff, oh my gosh I’ve used it on several windows already and this mirror and it works like a charm! XOXO
Sherri Morris
February 24, 2022Absolutely cool those 2 colors together, love how you back sprayed! We did something similar with about 4 different golds on an empty antique frame. We placed another type of antique (similarly sprayed) on the wall inside the frame and they were magic.
I love your creativity! xxxooo
Tina Bousu
February 25, 2022Hi Sherri, oh with gold tones would be AMAZING!
Monique Abbott
February 24, 2022Beautiful design! I absolutely love the colour and shape of that mirror!
Tina Bousu
February 25, 2022Hi Monique, thank you so much! I bought it years ago and it just needed some new life. I’m so glad you like it!
Tina
February 25, 2022You constantly amaze me with your creativity! This came at the best time—I just picked up 4 small mirrors that are uniquely shaped which I planned on painting. I will definitely use this technique on 1 or 2 of them. Thanks for the inspiration!
Tina Bousu
February 25, 2022Aww you are too sweet 💕 And that literally makes my day, I’m so happy this gave you some ideas!! Have fun with your color choices!