Framing The Bathroom Mirrors

I wanted the bathroom mirrors framed. I didn't really like how they floated on the wall. Here's how we did it.

Supplies used:

Miter box and saw

four 7' pieces of fiber board casing

paint

liquid nails

caulk

We started by choosing the frame material we wanted. Lowes has several options. We chose to go with a fiberboard since it was lightweight and probably wouldn't warp over time due to the moisture in the bathroom. We also chose the darker, wood-like board since we were painting the frame dark anyway to match the painted vanities.

Our bathroom mirrors are 42" tall and 35.5" wide. Our frame would sit right on top so these are the measurements we wanted the outside of the frames to be. After choosing the frame material, we went over the cutting desk and found out their cutting machine only makes straight cuts, not 45 degree angles. Um...how can that be? What if I don't have a saw at home? The associate pointed in us the direction of the miter boxes. We grabbed one for this project and who knows what other projects I can come up with using this thing. The associate also tried to talk us into buying a power saw which I was all for, but hubby wasn't going for it.

First, measure and cut your boards according to the lengths needed.

Make sure the outside of the board is the length you need, not the inside. We cut four boards at 42" and four boards at 35.5".

We chose to use the same paint kit we used on the cabinets so both pieces would match. Turn the boards over to the back and paint the top half of the board. The top will be reflected in the mirror and you want it to be finished as well.

After the back is dry, paint the front.

Once they are dry, it's time to install. Lay your boards out in the layout you need. One by one using the liquid nails, adhere your boards to the mirror. We started with the bottom piece. This way we knew it was level and the other boards would rest on this one. Apply the liquid nails near the middle and bottom of the board in a zigzag. You don't want to get close to the top where it reflects in the mirror because you will see it and you don't want any oozing out there. You have to work pretty fast here because the liquid nails sets quickly. After the boards are set, you may find that the corners don't square up perfectly. Use caulk to fill in the gaps and touch up the paint.

How about a before?

The frames give a more finished look to the space. What do you think?

Master Bathroom to do list:
~~Paint walls~~
~~Paint cabinets~~
~~Frame mirrors~~
Change light fixtures
Install tile above tub
Window treatment
Art above tub