DIY Mirror Frame
This DIY mirror frame is a simple build that will upgrade your bathroom to the next level!
More bathroom ideas: How to raise a vanity – How to install a pocket door – Installing a Penny Tile Backsplash + Floating Shelf
Tutorial: DIY Mirror Frame
The frame is installed using mirror adhesive and nails making it a simple build with huge impact!
Tools needed for DIY Mirror Frame
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Miter Saw
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Drill
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Caulking Gun
Materials needed for DIY Mirror Frame
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(1) 1x6x8’ MDF board
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(2) 1x4x8’ MDF boards
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(7’) 4-1/4 in. x 1/2 in. MDF Crown Molding
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(1) Liquid Nails Mirror Adhesive
- Scrap wood or shims
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(2) 3-light Vanity Light Fixtures
Building a DIY Mirror Frame
First, let’s take a look at the before picture:
The 8-light open-bulb horizontal light fixture and frameless large mirror flush with the vanity did get the job done, but definitely left room for improvement, right?!?
Let’s get to it!
DIY Mirror Frame, Step 1: Remove the light and adjust the placement of the mirror.
Cassity decided that she wanted the mirror to hang above the vanity, not rest on the backsplash. It was a good choice, but required us to remove the mirror and re-hang it. We used the same hardware that it was hanging on before and made sure to secure the mirror very well.
If your mirror doesn’t need adjusting, skip this part, but do make sure the hardware is installed well and the mirror is secure.
You can also see that we had started the process of raising the vanity height. Never just one project at a time for this #remodelaholic!
DIY Mirror Frame, Step 2: The bottom and sides
We wanted the mirror frame to hang over the mirror by about 2 inches, so we measured and cut our bottom piece accordingly. For the side pieces, we wanted them flush with the bottom piece and also flush with the top piece of the frame. This meant cutting the side pieces slightly shorter than the distance from the bottom piece to the top edge of the mirror (see installation pictures below for a visual).
If your mirror has hardware that wraps to the front of the mirror, you will have the same problem we did: you cannot glue the board flush to the mirror.
Using my multi-tool I was able to cut the notch perfectly! We planned it out so the frame sat level on the notch to help hold it in place while the glue dried.
Next, install scrap wood or shims that are the same depth as your mirror. (The shims aren’t complete in the photo below and one is already covered, but you get the idea.)
Then, using the mirror construction adhesive, glue the bottom (which is already done in the picture above) and two sides of the frame to the mirror. We also nailed the frame pieces to the wall through just the over hanging portion (not through the mirror!) to secure it.
Here is the bottom in place and the sides going up.
(Notice the side pieces are shorter than the top of the mirror, as mentioned earlier.)
DIY Mirror Frame, Step 3: The top
We set the top frame in place then screwed it to the wall near the top and where the new lights would go. We chose to screw it in, not glue it in place to allow us access to the original electrical box if needed in the future.
Next it was time to add the crown trim. Crown molding is like icing on the cake, don’t you think? It makes everything look complete.
DIY Mirror Frame, Step 4: Caulk and paint
After adding caulk and a couple coats of paint, here is our DIY mirror frame that makes the whole bathroom look better!
You can see here that, with the lights hanging down below the frame, we get twice the amount of light because of the reflection in the mirror. This is so much better than the light fixture that was there before!
And now the final picture with the mirror framed, new light fixtures installed, vanity raised and cabinets painted:
We love it!
How did yours turn out? Let us know! And you might enjoy seeing all of our Park House projects.
More Mirror Ideas:
- Modern “Sunrise” Floating Mirror and Shelf
- How to Remove (and Reuse) a Large Builder Grade Mirror
- DIY Faux Gold Mirror Makeover
- Master Bathroom Renovation with Sliding Mirror Over the Window
- How to make a floor mirror
- Build a Trumeau mirror
Please pin this for later!
This post originally published 11/28/2012 — Updated 05/14/2021
Huge improvement! I love that you raised the sink level. And wow, what a difference paint and trim can make. Bravo!
Thanks Patricia! I agree that higher sink is a dream!
I think this is a VERY clever solution for not only making the mirror prettier, but adding more light. I think it would also be a great way to provide a lighting solution for those of us whose light boxes are NOT centered with the mirror, and who are sick of those race-track-style lights!
Your whole bathroom remodel is beautiful.
Thanks Korrie! I wish we could have stayed and enjoyed it longer!
We are wanting to do this exact same thing, but our mirrors are glued onto the drywall and i’m wondering did you have to use a hot wire to go behind your mirror to remove it.. or was it attached mainly with clips all the way around? And love the trim around the mirror, that way you don’t have to take off the lighting or tape around it when changing paint color.. Would love to know once you get a chance about how to take mirror off the wall if it’s attached via glue??
We had that same problem, and the only way to get the mirror off is to break it. And vow that you will never Liquid Nails a mirror to wallboard as long as you live. 😉
I love how you framed the mirror by including the lights. That makes it look even more custom! Your bathroom looks great!
Thanks, we like that detail too!
Love it!!! It looks amazing!! Great job 🙂
Thanks Crystal!!!
What a great upgrade! I am going to pass this along to my mom and dad — they have several of these floating mirrors in their bathrooms and what a difference it would make if they were framed out like this! You did a beautiful job, and I love all of the white, too!
Thanks Maria!
Did you put in new junction boxes for the new lights or run them off the old light? Couldn’t tell from pics. Would love to do this with our kids bathroom.
If you can I would put in new junction boxes!
Wow! What a transformation. Beautiful job. I love the clean look and the blue accents. Pinning.
THANKS for pinning! it was quite the change, I am so happy we did it!
Beautiful job! Love the fact that you incorporated the lights right into the mirror frame~~wish I had seen this tutorial before we redid ours or I would have attempted the same thing. Question~~our mirror/frame adhesive has horrible adhesion power and keeps pulling away from the wall. Could you tell me the brand name of the mirror adhesive that you used?
Many thanks!!
It is liquid nails “mirror adhesive” But we also added some nails to the portion of the frame that hangs over the mirror to make sure it is nice as secure! Hope that helps a bit!
You must add new junction boxes. It’s against electrical code to make a junction box hidden without access. Unless new wiring was run from switch or power this will not pass code. And in the new days of so many do it yourselfers inspectors are starting to look for things like this.
It does have access, like it says in the post in the post, you can remove the whole top panel of the frame, we did that on purpose. I do understand what you are saying though.
Is there a way to dress up a mirror with a frame or anything without it being as permanent? My husband and I are renters, but we still want the apartment to feel like home. We are allowed to paint and drill holes as long as they are less than the size of a dime. Any suggestions?
You could build a large frame and hang it over the mirror, and attach it at the top with “L” brackets and screw those to the wall above the mirror…. off the top of my head, that is what I might try.
this looks great and we are considering doing the same. One thing that I’m unclear on from your description is how you covered the gap that would have been created between the moulding and the wall by overlapping the moulding over the mirror glass. Did you have to cut a pocket or groove in the trim pieces to accommodate the edges of the mirror?
We chose not to, we just allowed for there to be a gap. It was only visible on one side of the frame, and since the wall behind the frame is painted the same wall color and the mirror was painted cleanly the 1/4 gap looks fine, Like any other picture you would hang on a wall, there is just a small space, no big deal. (when we nailed, we did add a filler piece of wood, behind the frame to keep the frame flush and laying flat but that was not visible from the side)
THANK YOU for this remodel! I have always wanted to remodel my bathroom and this is perfect. Even my husband said, ” I can do that!”
YAY! Good Luck!
I love this project and want to try it in our master bath but am a little intimidated. You make it look so easy! Yours turned out great. And I love the wall color. Do you know the name/brand? Thanks!!
Brenda, it was Behr, but it was a mis-mixed $5 paint. You could try Sherwin Williams Chip it plugin on an image that you like of the color and see if they have a similar swatch! Good Luck!
Thanks. I’ll defiantly try that! Hope it
Turns out half as good as yours:)
How did you do the lighting? Through the MDF? Looks like you ran 2 wires through the original light location at the center of the mirror. How did you anchor the light fixtures…to the wall or to the MDF???
Okay well the best way to do it, is to run some new electrical wire to two new light boxes in the wall. But you will still have to secure the lights to the MDF because of the height difference.
On the side of mirror where y’all went a couple inches over to cover the edge of the mirror did y’all put trim or just caulk it up? It looks great!
Nathan, there was just a little gap, and we decided not to fill it. The wall behind it was painted all the way under it so looked just fine and was nice and clean. Hope that helps!
Can you tell me more about the vanity?
Amanda, here is a post that we wrote on the vanity. https://www.remodelaholic.com/2012/11/how-to-raise-up-a-short-vanity/
I love this project. I have a question though. I see you glued the frame directly to the mirror and let it over hang the 1 1/2 inches on the side. I am curious as to how you dealt with the gap between the wall and the frame.
Thank you for the great project idea,
Michael and Lisa Wells
Michael, Actually the gap looked fine so we left it. I painted behind the mirror before we replaced it, so the gap looked just like a framed picture you have hanging on the wall would look anyway(if that makes sense). I figured that caulking would look TOO mussy. But if it really bothers you, you could use a small quarter round…
I looked over your list of supplies and am confused. Are the boards on the sides and bottom 4″ wide and the top board 6″?
Yes!!
Do you remember the name of the wall color you used in the bathroom mirror framing toturial?
Erica, it was a mis-mixed paint that I bought for $5.00 I LOVED the color too. Sorry that I don’t have a name or recipe. You might try Chip It by Sherwin Williams they may have a similar color to match it to.
Where did you get your cute turquoise accessories? (P.S. I was married in the SL Temple too. Cute pic and cute family!)
Lindsay, Thank you! I LOVE those pictures too! As far as the accessories go I got them all over the place. The blue glass bowl is from Sam Moon Home in Texas, and the little bird too. The towel I think is from Walmart. The soap dispensers I got at TJ Maxx on clearance.
Great tutorial and the mirror is awesome! I was curious about the electrical portion of the post. One original fixture and then did you splice it? How did you hang the fixtures? Off of the mdf at the top? I am thinking about doing this in our bathroom and want to make sure I dont cause any fires! Lol!
Nancy, make sure that you have an electrical box behind the new light fixture and you can get to the original electrical box. I made my fixtures so that it can all be taken off to get to the original box.