How to Distress a Mirror
An antique mirror shows its age, with blackened spots where the silver has tarnished and faded spots where it has worn off. These vintage mirrors can be expensive, but you can achieve this look yourself by distressing a new mirror. The technique of distressing a mirror is not perfect, and you do not want it to be.
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Things You'll Need
- New mirror
- Newspapers
- Paint thinner
- Household bleach
- Water
- Old rags
- Paintbrush
- Toothbrush
- Black acrylic paint
- Cotton swabs
- Cotton balls
- Photocopied photos (optional)
- Scissors (optional)
- Mod Podge (optional)
Instructions
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1
Protect your work area with newspapers. Place the new mirror on your work surface, with the back side up. Using a paintbrush or cotton balls, apply paint thinner to the back of the mirror, where you would like aging and distressing to occur.
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2
Allow the paint thinner to set a few minutes, to loosen the painted and silvered surface. Rub the areas where paint thinner has been applied with an old rag. Remove the paint thinner. Repeat, if you would like more paint or silver removed or distressed.
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3
Drip, paint or use a toothbrush to apply household bleach to your mirror back. The bleach will react to the silver and create a blackened tarnish. Watch closely. When you have reached the degree of tarnish desired, wash the bleach off with water to stop the process. Repeat the bleach where needed.
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4
Dip a cotton swab or cotton ball into black acrylic paint and dab or smudge around areas where the paint and silver on the back has been removed completely.
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Tips & Warnings
To make your mirror into a family heirloom, photocopy black and white photos of your family ancestors. Paint Mod Podge on the back of the mirror, over areas of the glass that have had all paint and silver removed. Cut the photos slightly larger than the clear areas of glass. Place the photos face down over the Mod Podge. Paint Mod Podge over the back and edges of the photos to seal. Mod Podge will dry clear. Allow the Mod Podge to dry. The photos will show through to the front of the mirror, with a blurred frame around the edges.
