Gorgeous Fabric Covered Mirror Upcycle

I’d picked up this old mirror a few months ago from a thrift store for a few pounds (about $5). It had been sitting in my loft waiting to be transformed. It wasn’t until I sorting through my fabric scraps that I finally got the inspiration I needed to upcycle the mirror.

I wanted to make a frame that would match the gorgeous colorful sweater rug (see it here) I made a few months ago.

I have never shied away from colour. My mother is always the most colourful dressed woman in a room. Her home interior style reflected this. This love of colour seems to have rubbed off on me. The use of fabric was a great way to add colour and pattern to the rather plain mirror frame.

The mirror I used was an oval one that seems to be rather common, I’ve spotted a few similar ones in other thrift/charity shops. However, this upcycle will work for a frame of any shape.

The other thing you will need is fabric scraps. I used upholstery scraps but any fabric will do. If you don’t have enough scraps in your collection you can often pick bundles up online or even cut up old patterned clothes.

I love pinks and reds so I sorted my fabric scraps into these colors.

The first thing I did was clean the wooden frame and cover the mirror with newspaper to protect it while I worked.

The pieces of fabric were laid out on the frame to see how they would look. Once I was happy with the design, I was ready to stick the fabric down.

For the first piece of fabric, I used a rotary cutter to get a nice neat straight edge.

I pasted both the wrong side of the fabric and the mirror frame with Fabric Mod Podge (see here). Then I stuck the fabric to the frame.

Make sure that the edge of the fabric just touches the mirror and press it into the groves of the mirror frame. If there is a bit of overhang on the outside of the mirror, don’t worry this can just be tucked under and glued to the base.

I pasted both the wrong side of the fabric and the mirror frame with Fabric Mod Podge (see here). Then I stuck the fabric to the frame.

As the mirror frame is curved I needed to create a pattern template for each additional piece of fabric that was to be decoupaged to the frame.

To do this, first lay down a scrap piece of paper where the fabric is to be placed and then mark the shape with pen. Then cut out this shape and used it as a template for the next piece of scrap fabric. If you have a straight frame you will not need to do this.

Carry on cutting fabric scraps and sticking them to the frame until it is fully covered.

Finally, remove the newspaper and neaten up the inside edge of the glued fabric. To do this, glue a velvet ribbon around the inside edge. Holding it in place with pins as the glue dries.