How to make a floor mirror yourself: complete instructions, tools, materials, ideas

Floor mirrors have been known since ancient times. Their manufacturing technology is constantly improving.At the same time, fashion in frame shapes and materials is rapidly changing. For those who cannot find a floor mirror for their interior, a simple solution will help - make it yourself. It is advisable to think over the shape, texture and dimensions of the product in advance. At the same stage, the material is selected.

List of tools and materials

There are several ways to make your own floor mirror for a room or hallway. The fastest way is to buy a ready-made frame to fit the dimensions of the existing mirror canvas. Then all that remains is to “correct” (shape, decorate, etc.).

Or they create a floor mirror from scratch. This approach takes longer. But the result will be an individually designed floor mirror frame that fits into the overall style of the room and meets the requirements of the customer/craftsman.

To work, you will need to choose a base. Experts suggest using the following materials:

1. A frame for a floor mirror made of metal fits organically into an interior designed in the style of hi-tech, futurism or minimalism with its inherent gray and white colors.
2. Sturdy plastic for the floor frame.
3. Wood is a classic option. It will emphasize the atmosphere of comfort in the room, is not afraid of moderate physical impact, and can be easily repaired. Pine is the type of wood that is suitable for those who want to give the floor frame an unusual shape due to its natural softness and pliability. Oak is resistant to mechanical damage. Suitable for families with children or active pets.
4. Plywood of sufficient thickness is “cheap and cheerful”, easy to work with and decorate.
5. Thick wire. It will help to recreate openwork patterns and imitate knitted elements (for example, if a floor mirror is made for a knitwear boutique or for a craftswoman’s office).

Wood is considered an easy-to-work material. To work with a wooden floor frame, you need to prepare the following tools:

1. A carpenter's square, a tape measure/ruler and a pencil will be needed to mark the parts on the material sheet.
2. Wood drill bit – size 8 mm.
3. Router, straight groove cutter 8 mm.
4. Miter saw.
5. Grinding machine. It is recommended to use grain 100-180.
6. Clamps. The clamp width is at least 80 cm.
7. Screwdriver with screws.
8. Self-tapping screws of different lengths.
9. Various sizes of fastenings: hooks, loops, hooks.

The floor mirror is supposed to be held horizontally by the stand. It is recommended to have a spare fastening option in case the retaining structure breaks down.

Additionally you will need to select:

• mirror (sizes are chosen by the customer or master; the classic option would be a mirror sheet 160 cm high and 50 cm wide);
• timber (the base of the floor frame can be made of pine, oak and other types of wood);
• 8 pcs. furniture dowel measuring 8x20 mm;
• glue (together with self-tapping screws, enhances the quality of fastening the parts together);
• Chipboard/Fibreboard/Plywood for the backing that holds the rectangle of the floor mirror in the frame.

Having selected the necessary materials and prepared the tools, you can begin manufacturing.

Step-by-step instructions for creating a floor mirror

High-quality work does not tolerate haste or great liberties. Masters recommend using a ready-made algorithm that explains step by step how to make a floor mirror with your own hands.

Stages of work:

1. Prepare the mirror sheet.If necessary, reduce it using a glass cutter, aligning the sides and removing excess. They give it the intended shape if it is intended to make a figured product.
2. The pre-selected bars must be aligned in length, width, thickness, and sanded. If desired, you can leave existing flaws in the wood as a “highlight” (a small hollow, a beautiful branch, etc.). On one side of the prepared bars, cut off part of the wood, forming an angle of 45˚. Thanks to this, they will fit closer to each other. On the inside, recesses are formed for subsequent installation and fastening of the floor mirror.
3. Using self-tapping screws and glue, secure the bars. The assembled floor frame forms a rectangle of the required length and width. It is recommended to sand the seams, increasing operational safety. Craftsmen advise strengthening the floor structure with metal corners, “placing” them on screws. This addition will prevent the wooden rectangle from warping after prolonged use, temperature changes, and humidity.
   
4. A backdrop for a mirror sheet is made from a sheet of plywood. You can also make floor shelves from it, placing them below or above, on the sides of the frame.
5. The previously made frame is laid face down. A mirror sheet is inserted into the sawn recesses, covered with a plywood sheet on top, and fixed. Fastenings that are too thin will not be able to support the weight of the floor mirror along with the plywood. A thin wooden plinth or metal brackets are suitable for fastening.
6. Formation of the “leg”-support. You will need to create another frame from thinner bars. The length and width of the future stand can be varied as desired.To improve stability, use metal beams, rods or hooks that do not allow the main part of the floor mirror or support to close or move apart.
   

A wooden mirror with a stand needs to be sanded and strengthened. If desired, you can cover it with stain, then with varnish for tinting, emphasizing the structure of the wood. Or the frame is coated with paint of the desired shade. Mirror with light bulbs It is better to paint it black or white, and it is preferable to paint a product for a child’s room in a bright tone.

A step-by-step master class will help you prepare step by step and carry out the work of creating a floor mirror on a stand, preventing mistakes.

What mistakes should you avoid?

When creating a large floor mirror for the first time, you can make a number of mistakes. They can be avoided by paying attention to details, using the wizard’s algorithms.

Among the mistakes made while working on the frame, the following are common:

1. Variety of materials: bars of different thicknesses, combination of wood characteristics, use of different structures (wood + plastic, plastic + metal, etc.).
2. A stand for a floor mirror made from thin baseboard elements.
3. Lack of reinforcement between the stand and the main frame, which reduces the degree of stability and safety of use of the product.
4. Poor quality fasteners/recycled material.

By paying attention to details, taking your time and adjusting the seams, you can make a product in a single copy. No one else will have this.

Original ideas for floor mirrors

Making it yourself at home requires perseverance and care. For those who cannot develop an original idea from scratch, you can start from popular creative options:

1. Unusual shape.The classic rectangular frame can be replaced with a curly one. For a children's room, animal shapes from small (raccoon, cat, dog) to large (elephant, hippopotamus, etc.) are suitable. For the bedroom of a teenager or an adult, you can make a triangular, round or oval frame.
2. Decorate with wooden elements.
3. For illuminated mirrors, built-in lamps with white light are suitable for makeup lovers who require high-quality lighting. In a children's room, it is advisable to install colored light bulbs or an LED strip with a changing color of light around the perimeter.
4. You can improve the functionality and make the design more attractive and interesting by adding additional shelves on which cosmetics will be placed.
5. Decorate a children's room with a design in the shape of a child's favorite cartoon character. To imitate the figure of Winnie the Pooh, you need to make a mirror in a large round frame, in the upper part of which there are the “ears” of a fairy-tale bear.
6. Vintage. The accent of frames in vintage style is a pattern, often floral.
7. Window imitation. The shape of the frame depends on the wishes of the master or the customer. A special feature of the window mirror is its thin wooden lintels. It can be decorated with a shelf at the bottom, imitating a window sill, or with fabric curtains.
8. For a dreamy person, you can install a floor mirror in the shape of a cloud, decorating the frame with cotton wool, creating a cloudy relief.
9. With a wooden mirror, you can show your imagination and make a frame from a single piece of wood, boards or thin branches intertwined. The use of rods will give the structure a delicate openwork lightness.

An unusual frame will become a functional solution that fits into the interior if you use the right decor.

Mirrors have a practical and aesthetic function, which makes them an indispensable accessory in a home, apartment or workshop. The photo idea will become the basis of an individual project. Detailed instructions will allow you to bring it to life.

How did you decorate the mirror when you made it yourself? Share the link on social networks and bookmark the article.