Before & After Mirror Makeover Using Glaze
I found some old notes from when I used to teach DIY decorating classes. I realized with all the talk about chalk paint lately – there is another – almost forgotten way to make beautiful painted finishes – using Clear Mixing Glaze.
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It used to be the only way I painted furniture. Working with paint glazes gives any painted piece the depth in a similar way that colored waxes do to chalk paint.
I found some glaze in my basement, but it was pretty old so I headed to Lowes to pick up a new bottle. Once I got back home I started a weekend painting marathon with a mirror makeover.
I like the mirror placed on it as it is directly across from the doors. It bounces the light which makes the room look bigger and brighter.
Before I discovered chalk paint and wax, I used to paint using latex mixed with Clear Mixing Glaze. For this mirror I decided to experiment with both. I love how it turned out.
I want to back up a bit so you understand what Clear Mixing Glaze actually is. It is a water based liquid that is sold by many paint manufacturers. I used Valspar for the mirror, but have used Ralph Lauren, Muralo, and even craft glaze in the past.
How to Paint and Use Clear Mixing Glaze
You mix the glaze with your paint and a little bit of water:
– 4 parts Clear Mixing Glaze to 1 part paint and about 1 tablespoon of water. For increased transparency, use more glaze than paint.
You apply the mixture liberally over a dry painted surface. The glaze/paint mixture is semi-transparent and very slow drying, this allows you ample time to run a dry brush or rag through to expose some of the base color giving the finish more depth.
The glaze mixture is not shiny when dry – it provides a satin finish. You can leave as is or protect it with a coat or two of non-yellowing polyurethane.
I painted my bedroom furniture with glaze and latex paint many years ago. I wanted to create an aged look. The base paint color is off-white. The green color is a glaze mixture that I brushed on and then brushed off in areas using a dry wide wallpapering brush to create the aged effect. No polyurethane.
This kitchen chair was glazed and then I painted the leaves on it after the glazing coat. The base coat was white. The glaze coat – pale yellow. I used two coats of water based polyurethane over it for protection.
I later gave these chairs a colorful paint makeover to brighten the kitchen.
How to Glaze Paint a Mirror Frame
Here is how the mirror looked before. It is a beautiful classic mirror in black. I used to decorate with lots of black accents, but I have found my family and I like cheery brighter colors around us and am slowly painting over a few black/brown pieces with some cheerier colors.
1. I made up a batch of DIY chalk paint using Calcium Carbonate. You can find the recipe for it in my post on DIY Homemade Chalk Paint. I also made up a batch of glaze using white latex craft paint. I save coffee cans with lids. They are the perfect vessel to mix and store chalk paint and colored glaze mixtures.
2. I painted over the black section of the mirror using blue chalk paint I made. The paint color is from Behr – Bayou (670B-4). I applied two coats, letting the first one dry before I applied the second.
3. When the paint was fully dry, I ran 100 grit sandpaper over a few of the areas on all sides of the mirror to age the paint a bit.
4. I then applied my white glaze mixture:
1 part paint to 4 parts clear glazing mixture, add 1 tablespoon of water.
I liberally applied it over the base color of paint with a brush. I used a rag to wipe it off so that the glaze only stayed in the recessed areas around the frame. Since the Clear Glaze mixed with paint doesn’t dry fast – you have about 5 – 8 minutes to drag through it or wipe it off in areas you don’t want the glaze color.
The glaze is the white, the green verdigris color was on the mirror originally. I didn’t want to change that.
5. When the glaze is dry, add a layer of soft paste wax over the entire surface of the frame. Let dry for about 20 minutes and then buff the wax with a soft cloth (cut-up old t-shirts or flannel shirts work well) to bring out a subtle shine.
Lots going on in that mirror reflection – so many colorful changes happening in the living room with the power of paint.
More Mirror Makeovers:
- How To Create a Layered Mirror Gallery Wall
- How to Make a Large Wall Mirror By Repurposing Old Window Frames
- How I Hang Wall Art and Mirrors Instantly