Even when bathrooms are renovated, the mirror is often overlooked. Outdated tiles and fixtures may be replaced, but the plain-yet-functional builder-grade mirror frequently remains. Here are a few ways to upgrade your boring mirror without spending a lot of time or money on the project.
How to upgrade your boring bathroom mirror
Basic, builder-grade bathroom mirrors were likely the cheapest option available when your home was built (or renovated/flipped). They’re typically plain, rectangular pieces of mirror without a frame or border, that are simply attached to the wall.
They get the job done, but don’t do much for the room’s decor. Here are a few ways to change that:
Add a frame
The most common way to upgrade a builder-grade bathroom mirror is to add some type of frame. The best part is that there’s no need to remove the mirror—you can simply position your “frame” around the mirror and attach it to the wall either as a whole frame, or in pieces.
There are several different approaches you can take, depending on the size of your mirror, but these step-by-step instructions will walk you through how to create a basic frame.
Use crown molding
For a more classical, formal look, consider using crown molding around your bathroom mirror. Purchase a piece from the hardware store that’s slightly longer than the top of your mirror. Then cut plain pieces of wood for the other three sides, and finish it off with a thin board slightly longer than the bottom of the mirror. These instructions will show you what to do.
Add artificial greenery or flowers
This won’t work for every type of decor, but those looking for more of a boho or cottage vibe may want to consider creating a frame around their bathroom mirror with faux leaves, greenery, and flowers.
The process is relatively straightforward, but before you get started, you may want to do a test run on a small piece of cardboard to nail down the look you want to achieve. Then, simply affix the flowers and foliage to the outer edge of the mirror using a hot glue gun. You don’t necessarily have to frame the entire mirror, either, like in this example, which features greenery flowing from one corner.
