Upcycle A Plain Mirror Into Something Truly Inspiring With A Fun DIY

Plain mirrors with unadorned plastic frames are pretty common. Take a walk through your house and you'll probably find one. There are plenty of ways to decorate a mirror, but if you're hoping for something truly original and quirky we have the perfect craft for you. Adding wooden shapes and toys that have been painted striking red to its outside edges is an easy, low-skill way to make your mirror look like you picked it up at a hipster shop in your town's arts district. Thankfully, however, you can DIY it for a whole heck of a lot cheaper than if you were to buy something similar in store.

Source some shapes that bring you joy and a can of vibrant spray paint. With the help of a bit of glue, you'll have a custom mirror that will frame your lovely reflection with flair. This DIY is completely customizable, so no matter your style, you can tweak the idea to fit your tastes.

Instagrammer Megan Zietz provides visual proof that the red theory trend can instantly elevate a décor piece. Animals, dolls, planets, and flowers are just a smattering of what ends up framing Zietz's previously-boring wall mirror. Coated in cherry red paint, the frame's irregular edges and bright hue makes checking out their look-of-the-day a whole lot more enjoyable. Copy this design with unfinished wooden shapes and toys from Amazon, like these botanical TOYANDONA wood cutouts, Tofficu wooden figurines, and JETEC outer space wooden cutouts.

If your mirror's frame is made of wood, opt for wood glue to adhere your shapes. If it's made of metal, plastic, or another material, E6000 industrial glue is a good choice. If you can remove the frame from the mirror, do that before starting your project, since the separate frame will be easier to spray paint. Arrange and glue your shapes in a pleasing way around the frame's edges, and let the glue dry and cure before painting. Take the frame outdoors and give it a few generous coatings of paint. If you have shapes that overlap the reflective face of the mirror, paint their undersides as well, since they'll be visible. Rehang your frame, and admire its looks  — and your looks, too.

If you're dealing with a mirror that's hard to remove from a wall, you can still pull off this DIY. Find a bottle of paint that closely matches your color of choice. Hand-paint your frame and the shapes instead of using spray paint to give you more control, then glue the shapes to the frame after all components have dried.

You can still end up with an eye-catching mirror border even if painting's out of the question. Give it a burst of crayon colors with an assortment of bright Pacon wood geometric craft shapes, or frame it with colorful tiny toys like animal figurines, cars, or kids' party favors.

Quirky and fun might not be your chosen aesthetic, but not to worry — this mirror upgrade isn't limited to just eclectic mixes and bright colors. Hop on the bobbin frame trend by painting and attaching wooden half-spheres to the frame like these ones from Bnnrjia, or go geometric with an arrangement of wooden rhombuses or hexagons.

If your tastes lean toward curvy or ornate styles, try a wood trim like this UFunhome scalloped molding or intricately carved details like these MUXAM decorative appliques. You can even make your framing from two sets of the same trim. Arrange the trim with the flat edges touching each other and the detailed edges facing out, and you'll end up with a double-edged design around your mirror.

Rather than opting for a jump-out-at-you color like bright red, you can make your mirror complement your décor with a distinguished accent color like dusky purple, muted yellow, or brick red. For fans of glam, try out a metallic sheen in the form of silver or gold spray paint to add polish to your newly adorned mirror. Want to ensure the piece will stand the test of time? Opt for a classic finish with one of the Property Brothers' favorite, timeless paint colors that are neutral but far from vanilla.