We did this project last fall but I realized that I hadn’t posted anything to the blog when a good friend was trying to find out where I posted the project information. I’m writing this one out in a tutorial/recipe format so if you just want to see the pictures, scroll on down!
What you Need …
- Trim
- Liquid Nails (w/caulking gun)
- Paint or Stain
- Paint Brushes
- Small Washers
- Screwdriver
- Miter Saw
- Pencil
- Wood Putty (If using stain) or Paintable Caulk
Step 1: Remove Hardware
Some mirrors are secured to the wall by plastic anchors. Unscrew the plastic anchor one at a time. Take a small washer, run the screw through and secure it back to where it originally was.
Step 2: Measure
In order to place the trip, you need to take fairly good measurements. When you measure, be sure to measure to the edge of where the washer falls so that when you place the trim the washer and screw are hidden.
Step 3: Select/Buy Trim
Go to Home Depot or Lowes and pick out your trim! It can be as basic or as fancy as you’d like. When you pick it out there is usually a little cart where you can saw your own trim. We did this since the line to have it professionally cut was a long wait and the trim we selected needed to be cut down for transport. We used a pencil to write out the measurements on the back. We also did several bathroom mirrors at one time so when we cut the trim pieces down in the store we also wrote down the bathrooms they belonged to. Just something to keep in mind if you do several at one time.
Step 4: Select/Buy Your Stain or Paint
Decide whether you’re painting or staining your trim. If you’re staining you might want to also purchase a polyurethane. Be sure to pick something that is not high gloss unless you’re wanting it to be too shiney.
Step 5: Make Your Cuts
With your miter saw, measuring tape and pencil make your marks and cut the trim to you measured lengths. The miter saw will help keep the angles at a clean 45 degree angle.
Step 6: Stain or Paint
You’ll want to plan to do this a day or two before you actually want to hang the trim. Dust off the trim and paint or stain it. Be sure to paint a little on the flip side so that the reflection against the mirror won’t show the raw wood. Depending on the paint and stain you select you may need to apply multiple coats.
Step 7: Apply Liquid Nails
Once the trim is completely dry, place the liquid nails in the caulking gun and apply it across the bottom half of the trim. You should be generous but not overly generous. Once it’s applied, you’ll place the trim directly on the mirror. We found it was easiest to to lay the trim from bottom to top. This will allow for some adjustments to be made if your cuts and measurements are less than perfect. You may need to apply some pressure on the trim. We used some painters tape to brace it but I really recommend having another set of hands to help out.
Step 8: Fill in the Gaps
We used stain on our project and were able to use wood putty to fill in the gaps between the trim joints. If you choose to paint you can use a paintable caulk to fill in the joints and then paint over it once the caulk has dried.
Before and after photos of our project!