How to Paint a Wooden Mirror Frame

In this post, how to paint a wooden mirror frame, I’ll show you how to use milk paint to update a thrift store mirror. The old wooden mirror was a good deal, but it needs a little TLC to update it’s looks. I may even add a little rub n’ buff!

Brown Wooden Mirror Frame

At $10, this wooden framed mirror was over my regular budget. But it’s really heavy duty, and definitely worth the money if I can give it a good makeover.

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The wood frame had some dings and dimples. I used a fine grit sandpaper wrapped around a board to sand the bad places. Keeping the sandpaper on the board helps to get a straighter edge when removing the dents.

Prep Mirror Frame for Painting

If you’re working on your own wooden mirror frame or furniture project, you know where it’s been and what it’s been subjected to. However because this is a thrift store find, I don’t know what kind of grime might be on it. Although I’ll be using milk paint, I want to make sure there’s no grease or nicotine present.

I find it best to apply the deglosser with a chip brush. In the case of this wooden mirror frame, it helps to get into the intricate areas to ready them for the milk paint.

How to Use Milk Paint

After taping off the mirror, I used a chip brush to apply the General Finishes milk paint to the wooden mirror. This is after one light coat.

Related Content: Painting Plastic Mirror Frame

For the second coat, I used a True Applicator Sponge to stipple the milk paint onto the mirror frame.

Don’t you think it’s so much better painted black? Maybe you would have chosen a different color?

Using Furniture Wax and a Sponge

I chose to use Miss Mustard Seed’s furniture wax over the milk paint, applied with an old piece of a True Applicator Sponge. It went on smooth and gave a slight shine and protection to the painted wooden mirror frame.

If you’re buying thrift store projects for your own home, $10 is quite a deal for this regal looking mirror. Of course, I’ll be selling this at my booth, so here’s hoping the new look will give it a fast turnaround. It will be going back to the same store where I bought it. 🙂

How to Use Rub N Buff

To show you how I used Rub n Buff, I placed a piece of black poster board over the mirror. This was solely to make photographing the mirror easier.

Less is more when it comes to Rub n Buff. Applying with your finger works best, you can do this with or without a latex glove.

I definitely recommend squirting a small amount onto a paper plate. Dip your finger into the dab, then rub the plate to get the excess from your finger/glove. I didn’t start out that way, but quickly realized it was the best way to have control over the amount of Rub N Buff applied.

Initially, I wasn’t going to do the long outer border on each side. For that application I used very little on my glove and finished the complete area without reapplying the silver leaf.

Have you got a secret for taking a picture of a mirror? I’m not sure I love the silver leaf rub n buff, what do you think? Too much?

Many people commented that the silver leaf rub n buff was too much. I used the black milk paint to tone it down a little.

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