Do you have a plain, boring mirror that lacks visual impact? Transforming it with a creative frame can take it from bland to beautiful in no time. Framing is an easy and affordable way to elevate your decor and give new life to lackluster mirrors. From wood to metallic finishes, geometric shapes to asymmetrical silhouettes, the framing options are endless. Read on as we share brilliant mirror framing ideas to give your reflection the maximum style impact.
Framing a mirror allows you to add your own personalized flair. You can match your existing decor seamlessly or make the frame a bold statement piece. Materials like wood, fabric, recycled objects, and metal offer limitless possibilities. Play with unique shapes like stars, diamonds, ovals, and abstract cutouts. Incorporate vintage, modern, rustic, or coastal styles. And don’t forget about decorative enhancements like paint, tile, lighting, and beyond. With a little creativity, your framed mirror can become a true work of art.
Materials to Use for Framing Mirrors
Wood Frames
Wood is a versatile material perfect for DIY mirror frames. Choose recycled wood planks, pallet wood, pine, oak, or other wood types for a natural look. Particularly fitting for rustic and farmhouse styles, wood can be easily cut, joined, sanded, stained, painted, and distressed as desired. Use woodworking methods like mitered edges and wood glue for a polished finish. Try whitewashing, antiquing, or rub-n-buff techniques to refinish the frame. Whether aiming for an airy cottage feel or rugged industrial vibe, wood mirror frames add natural warmth.
For a uniquely geometric frame, assemble wooden triangles or other angular shapes. Old barn wood coated in black creates a dramatic framed mirror. Even unstained pine boards arranged in a starburst design make a statement. For a lighter look, an oval white-washed frame complements coastal decor. The texture and grain of real wood brings an organic feel that manufactured frames cannot replicate.
Metallic Frames
For modern glam, consider metallic frames in iron, steel, brass, copper or chrome. Metallics add shine and opulence, suiting contemporary spaces. Start with a basic metal frame shape or cut sheet metal into customized silhouettes. Try hammering metal sheets for all-over texture. Spray paint provides an instant metallic makeover in any hue like bronze, rose gold, silver, charcoal or bold colors. Experiment with rub n’ buff wax to antique brass finishes beautifully. Modern convex bubbles or grid-patterned metals create dimension.
Metallic frames make the mirror the sculptural centerpiece. Lean into mid-century or industrial vibes with sleek metal mirror frames. For an unconventional spin, frame a mirror in overlapping copper pennies coated in glossy resin. Oxidized steel with rivets crafted into geometric shapes lends an artsy look. Whether using a large circle frame or small metallic accents, polished metals lend elegance.
Unexpected Materials
For a one-of-a-kind DIY mirror frame, look beyond standard materials. Repurposed items offer lots of possibilities. Try framing with vintage lace, burlap, or upholstery fabric for a soft, textured feel. Pages from old books, music sheets, or blueprints can be collaged or decoupaged onto the frame backdrop. Or wrap your mirror in beautiful scrapbook paper or wallpaper remnants.
Cardstock, cardboard, foam boards, and upcycled picture frames provide structure for lightweight covered frames. Affix small mirrors or tiles for a mosaic pattern. Use faux flowers, feathers, seashells or other found objects from nature for whimsical organic frames. Driftwood or pebbles encasing a mirror exude rustic charm. Let your creativity run wild with unexpected framing materials to surround your reflection in style.
Creative Mirror Frame Shapes and Designs
Geometric Shapes
For a modern, graphic statement, frame your mirror in geometric shapes. Hexagons provide a honeycomb effect while interlocking circles create visual interest and dimension. Cut foam board or wood into equilateral triangles or diamonds for bold faceting. Five-sided pentagon or eight-sided octagon shapes also work well for framing mirrors.
Try arranging small mirrors or reflective tiles into starburst rays emanating from the center for a retro take. Work with combinations of shapes like nested circles or overlapping triangles and diamonds. Incorporate geometric cutouts into the frame rather than framing the entire perimeter for an artistic look with negative space.
Silhouettes & Patterns
Silhouette designs like botanicals, architectural motifs, or meaningful words and phrases can make mirror framing more bespoke. Laser cut wood or foam into patterns like leaves, branches, ferns or wildflowers for an organic frame. A city skyline cutout makes a great statement in an entryway.
Monograms using initials or inspirational quotes add character and personalization. Craft freehand designs like vines, abstract florals or tribal motifs. For boho flair try soldering stained glass or tiles together into patterns. Wallpaper cutouts can also lend color and pattern to frame a mirror uniquely.
Asymmetrical and Abstract
Think outside perfect rectangles and ovals by crafting an asymmetrically shaped mirror frame. For an organic look, frame your mirror in rippling waves or free-flowing lines. Expanding foam that hardens into an irregular shape creates a textured 3D frame. Arrange fragmented ceramic tiles or colorful broken mirror pieces together with silicone for an abstract mosaic frame. Leaving the edges and shape unpredictably ragged adds artsy appeal.
Frame a round mirror in an off-kilter circular frame for a whimsical feel. Try using varying widths, depths and overlapping sections of wood for an asymmetric wooden frame. Drip, splash or sponge paint for a dynamic abstract frame with visual texture and movement. Embrace imperfection with asymmetrically framed mirrors as striking focal points.
Frame Styles for Every Decor
Modern and Contemporary
The clean lines and simplicity of modern design allows the beauty of a mirror frame’s form to shine. Metallic finishes in silver, gold, rose gold or copper provide sleek modern allure. Bold solid colors make a statement, like a thick acrylic frame in cherry red. Streamlined wood frames stained graphite black also embody contemporary style.
Minimalist shapes, beveled edges, and small slim frames put the focus on the mirror itself. Metallic tubing bent into asymmetric angles has an avant-garde vibe. Modern frame embellishments like geometric patterns, chain link, or concave bubbles enhance the linearity. Crisp and current, polished modern mirror frames reflect light elegantly.
Rustic Farmhouse
A natural rustic mirror frame aligns beautifully with farmhouse decor. Reclaimed wood planks with visible cracks, knots, and metallic corner braces have an authentic timeworn appeal. For added texture, affix burlap ribbon, twine, raffia, or antique lace trim to the frame. Try a chalk-style finish in muted whites or pastel hues to soften wood’s organic patina.
Galvanized sheet metal with roughened edges and a matte patina also complements rustic style mirrors. Wavy barn wood frames, distressed shiplap details, and vintage-inspired iron hooks offer charming country character. Rustic mirror frames bring cozy warmth and authenticity to vintage farmhouse rooms.
Vintage and Shabby Chic
Vintage-inspired mirror frames evoke old-world charm with romantic silhouettes and timeworn details. Ornately carved wooden frames suit shabby chic styles. Antiqued gold or silver leaf finishes and floral motifs like roses or vines have traditional elaborate flair. For cottagecore appeal, try a classic oval frame in a washed pastel hue with visible wood grain.
Upcycle salvaged windows or shutters into one-of-a-kind vintage mirror frames. Add dimensional details like fabric flowers, pearls, or ribbon bows for a feminine feel. Chippy paint, visible crackling, and distressed edges give the frame a well-loved heirloom look. Softly refined with timeworn imperfections, vintage-style mirror frames are effortlessly elegant.
Coastal
Incorporate natural coastal elements to frame mirrors with breezy seaside panache. Sun-bleached driftwood planks surrounding a round mirror exude beach house vibe. Nautical rope wrapped around the frame’s perimeter adds texture. Accent with starfish, sand dollars, sea glass shards, or seashells embedded into paint or silicone for an oceanfront effect.
Cool tones of sea green, sky blue, and white, sometimes with subtle weathered surfaces, capture the colors of the coastline. Frame beach prints or paintings in salvaged barn wood for relaxed style. Coastal charm comes across in natural framing materials with subtle water-inspired hues and textures.
Enhance Frames With Decorative Accents
Elevate your framed mirror with charming embellishments and enhancements. Paint techniques like color-washing diluted acrylics or softly-sponged ombre hues add dimension. Use specialty glazes like chalk paint or leafing wax to patina metal and antique wood frames. Inlay crushed glass, seashells, or mirrored tiles into wood or molding paste frames while wet for sparkling pops of color and light.
Incorporate fabric accents like bows, ribbons, raffia, burlap trim, or lace, either glued on or tied around part of the frame. Adhere faux botanicals, small shells, feathers, buttons, or jewelry charms sparingly for delicate whimsy. Attaching corner shelves, picture ledges, or sconces with integrated lighting expands a frame’s functionality.
Let the frame enhancements reflect your personality. Paint or stencil designs meaningful to you, like song lyrics or silhouettes of places traveled. Detailed carvings and architectural molding make traditional frames pop. The embellishments you add put a unique signature on any framed mirror.
Displaying Framed Mirrors
Deciding how to mount your framed mirror depends on the space and desired effect. Hanging above a fireplace mantel or console table showcases the frame’s design details best. Place horizontally or vertically to fit the wall space aesthetically. Lean against a wall for a casual look that takes up less space. Angle slightly to widen reflected views.
In entryways, position horizontally to make spaces feel more open and bright. Above a dresser, mantle framed mirrors reflect light beautifully. In a bathroom, placing adjacent to windows keeps things airy and visually expanded. For a gallery wall, mix sizes, frame colors and styles. Wherever it’s displayed, a framed mirror makes its surroundings feel more spacious and elegant.
Framing a mirror allows you to transform a basic reflective surface into a stunning work of art. The frame you choose lets you incorporate your unique style. Rustic wood, polished metal, vibrant mosaic tiles, natural elements like driftwood or seashells – the possibilities are endless. Play with shaped frames like stars and octagons or abstract asymmetrical silhouettes for visual appeal.
Look to your existing decor for inspiration on colors and materials that will complement your space. Or make the frame a bold contrasting statement piece. Added decorative enhancements take your framed mirror to the next level. With a dash of creativity and personalized flair, you can craft a mirror frame that reflects your unique taste and brightens any room.
