We love a Marketplace freebie and this timber framed mirror was too good to pass on. The beautiful timber frame was oozing with potential for our coastal chic aesthetic and we knew that with some time, effort and paint, this mirror would be the perfect addition to our coastal chic home décor. Here’s how we upcycled this Marketplace mirror.
Step 1: Repair
As expected, this mirror had a few minor blemishes. To begin our upcycle, we needed to fix these. Using Earl’s Timbermate Wood Filler and a scraper, we filled in the small holes. For deeper holes, apply the filler in layers and allow to dry between each layer. Once the holes were filled, we let the filler dry for 30 minutes.
Step 2: Sand
Once the filler was dry, we sanded the mirror’s timber frame. We used an orbital sander with 120 grit sandpaper on the face of the frame and then a sanding block with 120 grit sandpaper on the frame’s edges. We made sure not to overdo the sanding as we just needed to smooth the surface before applying our primer.
Step 3: Prime
Next, we masked around the edges of the mirror with masking tape. The, we applied 1 coat of Dulux 1Step Prep to the frame with a mini roller for the face and a brush for the edges.
Step 4: Paint
After the primer had dried, it was time to paint our first topcoat. We chose Dulux Lamb's Ears Quarter and applied 2 coats, allowing to dry between each coat. We wanted to paint a striped pattern onto the mirror’s frame and this first topcoat would be the base colour of the pattern.
Step 5: Tape
For the striped pattern, we decided to have a thinner and a thicker stripe on the frame. This meant we needed to measure the distance carefully before applying the masking tape. Slowly, we worked our way around the frame until we covered the entire frame (a lot of work, but definitely worth it).
Step 6: Bleed Seal
To achieve clean lines on our striped pattern, we needed to bleed seal the masking tape. This meant reapplying 1 coat of our base colour to the frame and allowing it to dry. Doing this prevents our secondary colour from bleeding through the tape and ruining the clean lines in our pattern.
Step 7: Paint (Again)
Now it was time to paint our secondary colour. We applied 2 coats of Dulux Clay Pipe Quarter, allowing to dry between each coat. For the striped pattern, it’s important to choose contrasting colours. If the colours are too close together, then the pattern will be lost (and all that time taping would be worthless).
Step 8: Remove Tape
Once the secondary colour dried, we removed the tape to reveal our clean lines and admire our hard work.
And with that, this marketplace freebie is now the perfect addition to our coastal chic aesthetic. When you get done scouring Marketplace for your next upcycle project, head to your local Inspirations Paint store for everything you need.