Home » Education

How to Repair & Disguise Damaged Mirrors

Ranked #16,029 in Education, #345,785 overall

Mirror damage may be due to a number of causes. Cleaning products used around bathroom sinks can cause damage to the edges of a mirror hung on the wall. Sometimes mirrors have a manufacturer defect that becomes evident after some time has passed. Having a professional re-silvering a damaged mirror is a possible option for a very valuable mirror, but for ordinary mirrors, the technique is generally too costly to be practical. Re-silvering a mirror on your own is not cheap either, and can be dangerous due to the chemicals involved.

If your decor leans toward cottage or shabby chic, an antique mirror with minor damage may be part of the décor. But if you prefer a pristine appearance, the following creative ideas may help you disguise the damage so it is not so obvious.

Photo used under Creative Commons from tombrasington.

Frame It

If only the edges of a bathroom wall mirror are damaged, a decorative frame can cover the flaws and no one will be the wiser. Choose a wood molding wide enough to cover flawed edges and paint or stain the molding to coordinate with the bathroom décor. Attach the molding to the wall adjacent to the mirror with ordinary drywall anchors and screws or other appropriate hardware. It will appear that the mirror has always had a mirror.

Disguise the Damage with High-Quality Wall Decals

Today's wall decals are a far cry from the cheap adhesive stickers we used to know. Modern decals are micro thin and can be used to give glass or smooth surfaces an artistic etched appearance. Disguise damaged mirrors with strategically placed decals that accent your décor. Themed decals, elegant scrolls or geometric patterns can turn a mirror that has become an eyesore into a wall accent that becomes a focal point. Don't fret over getting your decals perfectly positioned on the first try; they can be repositioned over and over again so you can experiment until you get just the design and smooth application you desire. Mirrors adorned with wall decals are easy to clean using ordinary glass cleaning products.

Try Window Film to Camouflage the Damage

Window film is a self-adhesive product commonly layered on ordinary windows as a decorative treatment that allows light to pass through while maintaining privacy. It can be purchased in sheets that depict scenic views, in artistic patterns, or in colored sheets that can be used to mimic stained glass. You can use it to cover mirrors that have moderate and random damage. Create a pattern that cleverly covers damaged areas or cut pieces of colored window film and create a stained glass trim around the edges, top or bottom of the mirror as desired. Get creative and don't limit yourself to following only the square shape of a mirror; try creating a top flourish, corner designs or any pattern that you help you disguise the damage in a way that appears artistic.

Stylish Window Clings Can Accent Themed Decor

Window clings in every imaginable theme under the sun - as well as the sun itself - are an easy and practical way to disguise mirror damage. You will find them in thick vinyl and gel varieties that can be placed as needed to enhance a theme while disguising a flawed mirror. Birds, butterflies, flowers, planets, lighthouses, snowflakes and abstract or geometric designs are just a few of the possibilities that make this option funky and fun.

Great Stuff on Amazon

Loading

New Flickr Photos

Householder's object, decoration mirror, with teapot reflection, San Mateo, California, USA by Wonderlane
bamboo mirror 2-3 by knitsteel
Round Mirror by russelljsmith
curated content from Flickr

New Guestbook

Show All

by

davis66

Alice Davis is a staff writer and decorating specialist and she offers stylish suggestions for decorating your home with modern design and aesthetics... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags