Lately I’ve fallen hard for gold—it’s an unexpected crush that has started to creep into more corners of our home. Don’t worry: oil-rubbed bronze and I are still on good terms. But after working on the powder room refresh, I kept picturing brass and antique gold finishes throughout the house.
A few weeks ago I picked up a pair of inexpensive white plastic mirrors (about $16 each from TJ Maxx) for the master bedroom. In person they felt lighter and cheaper than I expected, so I decided to give them an elevated, vintage-gold makeover. The results turned these basic frames into pieces that look much more expensive than their price tag.
DIY Antique Gold Mirror Makeover
Supplies Used: (Some affiliate links are provided below for convenience.)
- Mirror of your choice (mine were $16 each at TJ Maxx)
- Rub ‘n Buff in Antique Gold
- Small artist brush
- Small screwdriver
- Drop cloth or plastic sheeting
- Muriatic acid (for antiquing glass—use only with proper precautions)
- Champagne gold spray paint
- Aerosol paint stripper
- Plastic putty knife
- Clean, dry rags
- Funnel and spray bottle
- Chemical resistant gloves
- Safety goggles
- Ventilation mask
If you haven’t tried Rub ’n Buff before, it’s a small-tube metallic wax finish that goes a long way. I’d never used it until this project and now I’m hooked—the finish looks rich and layers beautifully to create depth and highlights.
I started by removing the backing from the mirrors with a small screwdriver, setting the glass and hardware aside carefully. Lay your frames face down on a drop cloth to protect your work surface.
Apply Rub ’n Buff in sections, working it into the details with your fingers for a rubbed-metal look. Use a small artist brush to reach tight corners and carve out highlights. The product is easy to blend, but it can be a bit messy—wear gloves if you prefer to keep your hands clean.
To give the mirror glass an antique, aged appearance I followed a proven antiquing method rather than inventing my own. For detailed steps on antiquing mirror glass, I followed the full tutorial by Layla Palmer (a.k.a. The Lettered Cottage) on HGTV, which walks through stripping paint, applying chemicals, and creating that authentic distressed patina.
Antiquing the glass takes patience and safety precautions (chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, and good ventilation are essential). At times I worried it wouldn’t take, but after following the steps and allowing the finish to develop, the aged look emerged beautifully—the mottled silver and dark spots create an authentic vintage patina.
I love how the gold frame and the aged glass work together—one adds warmth and glamour, the other adds character and history. The finished mirrors now read like pieces from Restoration Hardware or Anthropologie, but they cost only a fraction of that look.
Before and after photos show the dramatic improvement: a simple plastic frame becomes sophisticated with metallic texture and depth. Adding one of these updated mirrors beside the bed instantly makes the bedroom feel more curated and designer-ready.
I added one of the finished mirrors to each side of the bed; they balance the room and bring in the gold tones I wanted without overwhelming the space.
Sources for items in our bedroom (requested often):
- Bed (ours was a clearance find; look for similar styles)
- Nightstand makeover tutorial
- Ceramic lamps (similar styles available online)
- Antique-style alarm clock
- Photo frame stand and antique gold frame
- Marble jewelry bowl
- White coverlet and similar gray quilt set
Have you tried Rub ’n Buff or antiquing mirror glass before? Painting or finishing inexpensive pieces is one of the fastest ways to add a designer look on a budget. This project proved that with a little time and the right materials, you can transform something ordinary into a standout accent.
