DIY Duping the Anthropologie Primrose Arch Mirror From Trash I Found on the Street
For the longest time, I’ve wanted to try to dupe the Anthropologie Gleaming Primrose mirror, but couldn’t find the right piece to do it with - until now! We went dumpster diving in a recent video where I picked up this brown arch mirror that I saw a ton of promise in. Check out how to upcycle an old mirror into a golden beauty!
The original Gleaming Primrose mirror in Gold.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Arch mirror
Sander/sandpaper
Gold spray paint
Hardwood accents
Small piece of wood
Brown paint
Black paint
Water
Small paint brush
Hot glue & glue gun
Wood glue
Small nails & screws
BEFORE
To start this DIY, remove the glass from your mirror. If you cannot do this, then cover the glass with craft paper or newspaper and painters tape to protect it. Next, sand down the rounded edge on the front of the mirror frame to be flat. This is where the accents will be placed, so it will be easier to glue them on to a flat surface rather than a rounded one. Then give the entire thing a nice sand to prep for paint.
Next, cut your piece of wood slightly longer than the bottom of your mirror, sand it down, and then screw it into the bottom of your mirror to give it an edge to rest on.
Moving on, you’re going to add the hardwood accents. I chose ones that looked like the Anthro mirror, but you can add whichever ones you like! I used two that mirrored each other (hah) on the bottom on either side, and one large one centered at the top, and used wood glue to attach them. You could use tiny nails to nail it in if you wanted, but this was easier and more effective in my opinion! Pro tip: use painters tape to secure the accents while the glue dries, and remove before painting.
In addition to the hardwood accents, you’re going to create dimension all around the frame using small dots of hot glue. Moving around the whole frame, glue small dots about a centimeter away from each other in a straight line to add some detail to your DIY. The trick is to make it a bit messy and imperfect!
Once all the glue dries, prime your mirror frame and then spray paint the whole thing gold. Let that dry.
Next, mix some brown and black acrylic paint together and add a little bit of water to your brush. Brush this on top of the gold very messily to add an “antique” look to your frame, dulling the shine slightly and making it look totally vintage. Wait about a minute, and then use a paper towel to wipe off the excess, leaving all of the cracks and crevices with an antique look, while keeping the gold shining through!
Once it’s dry, add your mirror back into the frame or uncover the paper from your glass, and your Anthropologie Gleaming Primrose mirror DIY dupe is complete!
AFTER
This is maybe one of my favourite DIYs I’ve ever done, so make sure you check out the full video below to watch me make it happen!