The frame for the mirror is not only a part of the design of the mirror canvas, but also a decorative element in the composition of the room. Framing can become an accent of a room, harmonize with the surrounding space or get out of it with its originality. The frame can be any. Its shape, size and appearance depend on the dimensions of the mirror and the imagination of the master. Here are a few workshops that will help you realize the idea and create your own unique frame.
What can I make a frame of
Creating a mirror frame is a creative process. It is made from anything:
- Wood is the most common material. In the course are slats, old and new boards, saw cut trunks. The variety of decisions is limited only by the imagination of the author.
- Polyurethane foam skirting boards are another option for creating a classic frame that is well suited for decoration.
- Metal baguettes and forging are organically combined with a mirror surface. These materials are used by craftsmen who can work with metal workpieces, forging and welding.
- The remains of any building materials - drywall, slats, ceramic tiles, slivers, etc.
The main thing in manufacturing is an idea that should be well thought out and implemented, then the mirror composition will provide aesthetic pleasure and complement the interior.
Decor is an equally important stage in the design of the frame and baguette. If the frame is made of a ceiling plinth, it should be supplemented with decorative elements or covered with paint, enamel, since the plinth itself is often white and faceless. The same goes for plastic battens. With a tree, it’s different: the material already has a structure, a beautiful pattern, a shade. It is enough to cover wooden baguettes with protective paint or varnish, but you can always add accessories to the frame.
Mirror framing requirements for different rooms
When choosing materials for creating the frame and its decor, it is important to take into account the specifics of the room in which the mirror will be installed:
- For the bathroom, the use of materials resistant to corrosion is mandatory. This can be a wood treated with an antiseptic or galvanized metal, polyurethane is suitable.
- Near the heating radiators, in the kitchen, in the room opposite the window they hang a baguette made of heat-resistant materials that are not subject to linear expansion (it is not recommended to use plastic).
- The frame opposite the window must be resistant to ultraviolet; special compositions are used to cover the frames.
- Ease of care is an important requirement for the frame and its decor.
In addition to practical qualities, the frame should be combined with the surrounding space, in harmony with the interior and match the style of its design.
Manufacturing process
The most convenient material for the manufacture of mirror frames is wood. Natural raw materials are suitable for almost any interior style: from classic to modern. For manufacturing, you can use different forms of wood:
- longitudinal cuts of trunks;
- cross cuts (circles);
- finished rails;
- wood materials (chipboard, OSB);
- thick and thin branches.
The tree does not need additional decoration, but if necessary, you can do anything with it: paint, tint, glue applications, etc.
Taking measurements
The first thing to do before starting work is to properly measure the mirror canvas. To do this, measure the length and width of a quadrangular product, and the diameter of a round one.
When creating a rectangular frame-baguette, it must be borne in mind that the mirror partially goes beyond the frame (1-2 cm) on the front side. When harvesting rails, measurements should be taken on the inner shelf, if any. When gluing a mirror to the canvas base, this allowance can be neglected and the actual dimensions transferred.
Master class: composition of rails
The easiest way to design a rectangular or square mirror is to make a frame from ready-made wooden or ceiling polyurethane rails. You can buy them at any construction supermarket or framing workshop. The width of the blanks is determined by the aesthetic preferences of the artist:
- From the rails, it is necessary to cut the blanks to the size of the blade. It is important to consider the size on the inner shelf so that the mirror does not move in a large frame.
- Then you need to make a cut of the rails at an angle of 45 °, clean the sections with sandpaper.
- Now on the table we fold the frame corner to corner, to the outer - we attach metal corners.
- We take one blank and coat the ends with carpentry glue.
- When all the workpieces are missed, we again attach the metal corners and pull the structure with a rope to fix the position of all components. It is important to pull the rope as far as possible so that the glue seizes.
- After a while (see the instructions for the glue), remove the stretch. The frame is ready. It is necessary to strengthen its corners - we put brackets with a stapler.
The video shows the process of assembling a frame from finished profiled rails.
Then you can decorate the front side: paint, paint the resulting frame, make an application.
- To fix the mirror in the frame, we cut 4 corners from plywood.
- We insert the mirror into the frame, attach the corners to the base. This is done with glue or a stapler. Better combine these methods.
- We attach a loop for suspension to the frame.
Instead of a profiled rail, use the usual one. Then the profile can be done on carpentry tools if available. If skill allows, adhesive joints are replaced with grooves. To do this, in the angular planes it is necessary to make a spike and a groove, which are subsequently coated with glue and firmly connected to each other.
Another option is to connect the rails at an angle of 900not 450.
We use a vertical cut of the trunk
Sometimes nature itself creates masterpieces that you just need to see. For example, an old driftwood or a rickety tree can have an interesting shape and become the basis for an art frame for a mirror:
- We take a barrel of any diameter (depending on preference).
- We make a longitudinal cut, set the thickness of the workpiece.
- We process the board with sandpaper, saturate with antiseptics.
- We connect the slats at a given angle.
- To fix the mirror, on the back of the frame we attach plywood corners.
- We mount a loop for hanging the structure.
Framing a round and oval mirror
To make an oval or round mirror, you will need a plywood substrate for an oversized canvas. We make the basis for decoration:
- A mirror cloth is attached to the base with glue.
- On the reverse side, a loop is mounted to suspend the structure.
The flight of the author’s imagination is not limited: pasta, newspaper tubes, tiles, mosaics, etc. are used. Some ideas in the photo:
Framing an oval mirror (without wood)
It is not easy to enclose an oval or round mirror in a frame, but it is easy to decorate it with a fringing. For example, cable car:
- For glass, you need a base of a similar shape, only larger sizes.
- A rope or rope is taken with a length equal to the circumference of the fabric being formed.
- We fix the mirror to the base with thermal glue.
- Around we lay the edging in one or several rows, lubricating it with hot glue along the entire length.
- We hide the edge of the rope under the decorative elements. You can make the usual transverse dressing with the same rope.
The base made goes well with beads, accessories of a marine theme.
Branch frame
Branches can be found everywhere: in a park, forest, square on the way home or to work. Why not use them to decorate the mirror frame?
- The collected branches must be thoroughly cleaned of microflora: remove raw and broken bark, treated with boiling water or an antiseptic that makes the shade of wood more saturated.
- It is necessary to prepare a cardboard base for glass.
- To the base we press the treated branches tightly to each other, after having soaked them with hot glue.
- If necessary, paint the composition. This is convenient to do with spray paints.
Advice to a novice master
Most workshops are based on the use of a substrate for a mirror, to which all elements are attached - a mirror canvas, decor, and hinges for hanging. Otherwise, no difficulties - enough imagination, and the result will certainly please you and your loved ones!