A DIY Mosaic Mirrored Table

Use a broken mirror to make a beautiful piece of furniture.

The old superstition says it's bad luck to break a mirror, but if you turn that broken mirror into a beautiful tabletop you can change that into good luck instead. The pieces of mirror can be arranged in any pattern you like to make a mosaic design that matches your decor. The entire project can be completed over a weekend.

Things You'll Need

• Mirror pieces
• Tile nippers
• Hammer
• Paper bag
• Safety goggles
• Heavy gloves
• Pencil
• Mirror mastic (glue)
• Newspaper
• Rubber gloves
• Non-sanded grout
• Sponge
• 4' x 4' piece of plywood
• Table base
• Screws
• Drill

Instructions

1. Cut or break the glass into smaller pieces; use the tile nippers to control the size of the pieces if you wish. To make them more random and angular, put the mirror inside a thick paper grocery bag and hit it with a hammer. Either way, wear safety glasses and heavy gloves.

2. Sketch your design on the plywood with a pencil. Simple shapes work best with mirror because you don't have a palate of colors to work with, as you would with a typical tile mosaic.

3. Squirt a small amount of mirror mastic on the back of each piece of mirror and glue it in place according to the design. When you place each piece, wiggle it around a little to spread out the mastic on the back. Use the tile nippers to cut pieces to fit the design better.

4. Cover the wood with mirror pieces, leaving approximately one-eighth-inch spaces between them for the grout. Let the mastic set overnight.

5. Lay out several layers of newspaper over your work surface and place your mosaic in the middle. Mix the grout according to the package instructions and scoop a handful out onto the center of the mosaic, wearing rubber gloves.

6. Smooth the grout into the spaces between the mirror pieces with your gloved hand until they are all filled. Slide the side of your hand around the surface of the mosaic to remove any excess grout. Allow the grout to dry for an hour and then clean off the surface with a damp sponge. Let the grout dry completely overnight and then clean the surface more thoroughly with the sponge.

7. Place the tabletop face down on the floor and attach the table base to the bottom using screws and a drill.

Tips & Warnings

• Add molding to the edges of the table for a more polished look.

• Wear safety glasses and heavy gloves when working with glass