I found a pallet by the dumpster and knew I could make something out of it but didn’t know what. I’ve been wanting a decorative mirror for our living room but didn’t want to spend $40+ for one. I bought a simple body-length mirror for under $6 at Wal-Mart and built my wooden frame around it. It looks good standing up on the floor or hanging on the wall.
What you need: 1 long pallet (I used 6 boards that were approximately 3 3/4″-wide by 64″-long), many 1″ wood screws, wood glue, picture hanging wire, 2 metal washers, 8 corner braces, white paint and paint brush (optional).
Tools: saw, drill (with drill bits and screwdriver bit).
I put a bead of glue along one long side of one board and overlapped it with another board by 1.5-inches and screwed along the back with wood screws every 10-inches or so. Repeat for the remaining 4 boards. You should have 3 sets of overlapped boards once you’re done that are now 6-inches wide.
Cut 2 of your boards into 59-inch lengths (this length is the outside length) with 45-degree corners. Cut the last board into 2 pieces that are 23-inches long (this is the outside length) with 45-degree corners. **NOTICE: you’ll want to make sure when you cut your boards that you won’t be cutting into your screw – you can take out the ones you’ll hit and screw them in off the cut**
Match up your boards on the floor and on the back side screw your corner braces onto the outer layer of boards and then on the inner layer of boards.
If you want to paint your boards white, mix your paint with water to a 1:1 ratio. The wood will absorb the mixture quickly. The quicker/messier you do it – the cooler it looks!
Once your frame is dry you can center your mirror on the back and screw along the edges. Be sure not to screw into your mirror or it will break!
I made 2 loops (with several loops and then twisting the end around the entire loop for strength) out of the picture hanging wire and screwed it onto the back of my frame for hanging. Make sure they’re the same distance from the top and sides so your frame isn’t lopsided when you hang it up.
Ta-da!
2 Comments
This is such a great post Dani! I love the way your decorative mirror came out. Thank you for sharing this with us!
February 28, 2013 at 7:21 amWow!!!! That really looks great. And who hasn't gone shopping for a nice big mirror and walked away because they really are, super expensive.
February 28, 2013 at 7:21 am