How To Make An Old Window Into A Mirror

Acquire how to transform an former window to DIY window mirror decor for your wall using looking drinking glass spray paint. This is a great thought for the antique windows you meet at yard sales and austerity stores!

Any fourth dimension I can create DIY decor that mimics something expensive from the store, it feels like a real win. This DIY befouled window mirror wall decor certainly fits that description. Some of my other favorite decor DIYs are this pallet flag American flag and DIY cafe shelves.

Barn Window Mirror | Learn how to transform a barn window to an antique mirror using looking glass spray paint. This is a great idea for all of those old windows you may have lying around!

DIY Barn Window Mirror Wall Decor

Originally published February 12, 2014.

This mail service contains affiliate links. Please encounter my disclosures hither for more data.

I picked up this old window in the spring of 2013. I was driving down the route past my son's preschool on trash collection twenty-four hour period when this window caught my center. They propped it up against the mailbox in front end of an antique colonial farmhouse beside the trash, as if the owner knew there was a possibility someone may consider information technology a treasure.

Before

Of course, I had to pull over! In that location were two cleaved panes of glass, and every bit I carefully avoided the broken glass to put it in the dorsum of the car, I noted that it really came from the barn they were renovating, weathered gray barn forest and all. Score!

If you aren't lucky plenty to snag a costless window on trash day, thrift stores and salvage yards are a neat resource. You tin also shop for them online!

I had a few ideas for what to exercise with the window:

transform the sometime window into a chicken wire bulletin eye
paint the panes with chalkboard paint
add photos to the window panes
transform information technology into DIY window mirror wall decor

I suppose now it's pretty easy to encounter which choice I chose!

I have been wanting a window mirror for a while. As soon as the thought struck of transforming the window to a mirror, I immediately knew that's what my befouled window should become.

DIY Barn Window Mirror Tutorial

I accept been dying to attempt out drinking glass-upshot spray pigment, and then I already knew my method for transforming the clear drinking glass to a mirror-similar finish. I also knew I wanted a slightly antique-look, so I used the method I describe beneath to distress the glass.

It was the details related to this window that made the project a piddling more complex, just definitely not impossible.

Replacing Glass in a Glazed Window

This was actually an accurate glazed window, and the putty that originally held the panes in was chipping away. I was reasonably certain that the chippy paint on the backside of the window was atomic number 82.

Before I could replace the drinking glass, I somehow had to remove the glazing without agonizing the chippy paint. Since the edge of the glazing was so close to the chippy paint, this made me very nervous!

seal any lead paint for window mirror decor

Sealing Potential Lead Paint

Zinsser Peel Stop turned out to be a perfect solution for this project. Earlier anything else, I sealed upward the back of the frame with the Peel Terminate, just in instance. I could remove most of the glazing safely, without chipping off the paint. I left the glazing that had been painted.

The side by side step was replacing the glass in the 2 missing sections. I took my measurements and headed to Lowes for replacement glass. This was catchy, every bit the remaining window glazing made it hard to go a perfect measurement. I ended up having to take the drinking glass back to have it re-cut. In retrospect, I should have just hauled the window in in that location! Ultimately, I prevailed and could get pieces that slid under the glazing.

Replacement Glass for DIY Window Mirror Decor

Painting and Distressing Replacement Drinking glass for DIY Window Mirror Decor

I painted the two cutting pieces earlier repairing the mirror. The mirror-effect spray paint is very piece of cake to use- merely make sure yous have proper ventilation! This stuff smells like nail shine multiplied. Information technology as well dries very chop-chop.

Since my new pieces of glass were less rustic-looking than the old drinking glass in the window, I did some light distressing with a 25% vinegar 75% water solution and a paper towel. I spritz the drying panes with the solution. The vinegar/h2o removes the mirror-like finish hands, and I just dabbed with the newspaper towel to pick up the droplets. Then I added another coat of Looking Glass.

Creating a distressed and antique finish on glass for DIY window mirror wall decor

Prepping and Painting the Antique Mirror

I taped upward the behind of the window mirror, using masking tape and masking paper. Later I prepped it, I sprayed a coat of the looking glass pigment.

As soon as information technology stale, I sprayed a 2nd coat, and then a 3rd. The original panes were already very aged and rustic looking, and then I didn't demand any of the vinegar/water solution. In that location were spots where the mirror-consequence spray paint inexplicably beaded. I presume there was something on the old window that prevented information technology from curing. I just kept layering the finish until it was no longer possible to run into the shadow of objects behind the glass. It's still slightly translucent, but I am okay with that!

After everything dried, I secured the two new panes with glazing clips. I had wanted to do this stride last, so the clips didn't show through. Now the mirror-issue pigment hides the clips!

The Outcome

DIY window mirror decor from an old barn window

I have to say, I am quite in love with this technique for creating DIY window mirror decor! The mirror looks like something yous'd spend a lot on at an expensive abode decor store, only for under xx dollars (free window, $7.58 for replacement glass, 8.48 for the mirror-issue spray paint and $1.14 for the clips).

Are you going to give this a try? Let me know in the comments if you decide to make your own window mirror wall decor.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Active Time i 60 minutes

Total Time 1 hr fifteen minutes

Difficulty Beginner

Estimated Toll $twenty

Instructions

1. Fix any needed replacements post-obit the instructions in the Notes department.

2. If you suspect lead paint, I recommend using Peel Finish binding sealer to seal in any chips. Permit to dry.

3. Use masking tape and/or paper to tape off all wood grids and the window frame.

four. In a well-ventilated area, apply two-three coats of mirror-result spray pigment in even strokes. Allow to dry out betwixt coats. Optional: follow sorry method in Notes section betwixt coats.

v. Remove masking newspaper and tape. Install any replacement glass with glazing push points.

6. Install weight-advisable hanging hardware. Hang up your DIY Befouled window mirror decor and enjoy!

Notes

Replacement Drinking glass: Later finding your antique or salvaged window, measure for whatsoever necessary glass replacement. Accept replacement glass cutting at the hardware shop. Adapt replacement glass on masking paper and apply multiple coats of mirror-result spray pigment in a well-ventilated area. Optional: follow distressing method beneath between coats.

Optional Distressing Method: to distress new or replacement glass, utilize a 25-75 vinegar-water solution with a spray bottle. Simply spray on the solution to the mirror-event paint before it'due south completely dry and dab with a newspaper towel. Apply another coat of mirror-effect spray paint after. Echo until platonic patina is achieved.

Source: https://www.ninahendrick.com/barn-window-mirror/

Posted by: perkinssweves.blogspot.com