If I wanted to paint the frame of a mirror....

that is gold, and is painted-- do I just paint over it? I want to paint it silver-ish instead. I also have another gold mirror that I want to paint white-- here I would just use my semi-gloss left over.

What kind of silver paint should I use-- something I can get at Michaels?

Re: If I wanted to paint the frame of a mirror....

I just did a mirror like this.
I went to lowes and bought a can of valspar high gloss laquer finish and it came out great. I used painters tape and newspaper on the glass but if you get any paint on the glass use nail polish remover to remove it once its dry

I didn't use primer and I didn't sand it either and it came out great! I'm about to do another mirror in a few weeks

Re: If I wanted to paint the frame of a mirror....

did the paint get everywhere since it's spray paint? I figured a brush would be easier.

BTW, do you think by painting this one white it would totally change the look of it? Not so into the "greek revival" thing going on here-- but it's a nice mirror and was my grandparents.

Re: If I wanted to paint the frame of a mirror....

I think that particular mirror would look great in a dark color and wouldn't show as much of the relief as a lighter color might. Maybe even distress it a little by lightly sanding some of the edges and relief. Are you putting it up against that wall? It would be a nice contrast to the creamy walls and white moulding.

Message edited 11/19/2010 4:55:35 PM.

Re: If I wanted to paint the frame of a mirror....

Re: If I wanted to paint the frame of a mirror....

I forgot to mention I did it outside. I layed a drop cloth on the lawn and used bricks to homd it down then I layed the mirror ontop of it an sprayed it. the very edges were hard to do so I taped newspaper up in my garage and leaned it on the wall and sprayed it in the small spots.

I didn't want brush marks so thats why i did it with the spray

I think any color would look good! the paint was around $4 so if you don't like the look you could do another color. it also dries very quickly and goes on quick so its not a huge task to do over

Re: If I wanted to paint the frame of a mirror....

I did a smaller mirror....but all you do is tape of the mirror part and then use spray paint. Reg paint with a brush will be messy and difficult due to the detail on the mirror. I did it outside and it was really easy and quick.

Re: If I wanted to paint the frame of a mirror....

I would get that steel wool (a fine one) and just sand it down a little bit before painting it.

i think it will look nice painted. go for it.

id also use a high gloss paint for it.

an alternative option would be to use silver foiling and foil paint it.. i could see that looking nice too!!

ETA: i like the spray paint idea as well.....

just make sure you cover the mirror part well. I'd use some cardboard and that green frog tape.

i've painted a mirror like this before.. but it wasn't as detailed as this one.

Message edited 11/19/2010 11:56:00 PM.

Re: If I wanted to paint the frame of a mirror....

I spray painted the frame of a mirror last yr. Same advice: tape it, do it on the grass, etc. And dont worry about it getting on the mirror. Just get a razor blade, and it will come off instantly.