How To Upholster A Wooden Frame For A Mirror

Looking to jazz up a plain and boring picture frame? Upholster it! Here’s the easy way how to upholster a wooden frame for a mirror.

Given the chance, I’ll upholster just about anything. If I can figure out a way to attach fabric to something and have it look beautiful, then I’m going to do it. And if I’m not upholstering something, then I’m monogramming it.

Sometimes even both.

I’m talking easy stuff. I’m not quite at the level where I can upholster a winged back chair yet, but I’ve got it written down in my goals. Soon enough, when I make the time I will, but in the meantime I’m sticking to cushions and now, picture frames.

I was inspired when I saw a pretty vintage mirror in a store a few years ago, and the frame was painted in a subdued leopard print. Now, if you think about it and look at leopard prints, it’s not too difficult of a print to paint or draw, but for me, I’m pretty much challenged at drawing stick people.

Needless to say that for me, painting the a leopard print was completely off the table.

I wouldn’t say that I became obsessed with the mirror that I saw, but I thought about it many times since I laid my eyes on it, wanting to add a gorgeous mirror like that in one of the rooms in our home. So I started thinking about how I can design one similar, and of course, I came up with the idea of upholstering a frame.

First things first, I had to find a big enough mirror that was plain with no do-dads or a single design element to it; a completely flat surface – a requirement for my first upholstered frame. And, the price had to be right – cheap. I searched everywhere from thrift shops to flea markets to a bastion of online shops and no said mirror with those requirements to be found. Then I narrowed my search to looking for just an empty frame, thinking I could use it to frame a mirror, or even attach the upholstered beauty to a larger mirror, creating a mirror on a mirror effect.

I found the exact frame I was looking for at one of my favorite flea markets for the whopping price $1. I tucked it away and saved it for a cold winter day where working on a craft would cure my blues. Worked like a charm.

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How To Upholster A Wooden Frame For A Mirror

This craft will work on any size of frame. The one I’m working with here measures 23″ x 18″. Here is the step by step:

1. Clean the surface with a microfiber towel or a Swiffer sheet (this is what I used), to remove any dust particles.

2. Lay the side of material you’re using, face down, on a flat surface. Place the frame on top and cut a two inch border all the way around the frame.

3. Measure 2 1/2 inches and draw a straight line on the inside, all the way around. **This measurement will vary, depending on how thick the frame is that you are upholstering. Mine was a half inch think for reference.

4. Cut out the inside rectangle following the lines that you marked.

5. Using a staple gun, staple the fabric to the frame, pulling tightly so no wrinkles appear. Fold each corner as you would when wrapping a present, pulling tightly and then staple.

6. Cut a 1/2 inch slit on the diagonal at each corner.

7. Pull the fabric over the staple to the frame.

Cut off any excess fabric.

Turn over and you’ve got yourself an upholstered frame.

I chose to affix the frame to an antique mirror that was stashed deep in the attic. To do this, I simply used a hot glue gun. I measured and used painter’s tape to mark where the frame should be, and glued each corner of the frame, then pressed on to the mirror.

Not too shabby for $1 and a half yard of scrap fabric that I had laying around. Totally upped that mirror’s game and looks so good hanging in our guest bedroom that yes, is in the process of getting a makeover. Stay tuned for that.

I love the mirror in a mirror look and the leopard brought a lot of spark to a pretty ho-hum mirror. Not ho-hum anymore. Girl’s got some jazz!

Meow!

How To Upholster A Chair Like A Pro!

I’ve got the in’s, out’s and best tips for how to upholster a pro!

Upholstering a chair cushion is easier than you think! Find the easy DIY, HERE!