We painted a $39 Marshall mirror to tone down its formal black finish and give it a playful, nursery-ready look by transforming it with several coats of deep asparagus green.
The process was simple, though the curvy openings around the frame took a bit more time than a plain frame would have. Even so, it was well worth the effort — we love how it turned out and would happily do it again.
We chose a deep green inspired by the leaves in our curtain fabric: Behr’s Scotland Isle, color-matched to a quart of Olympic No-VOC Premium Paint in semi-gloss. Because the mirror was already painted (not stained), we skipped primer to avoid extra fumes and to keep the job straightforward. Before painting, I scuffed the surface lightly with 350-grit sandpaper so the paint would adhere well. Note: if you’re not painting for a nursery or are comfortable with spray products, a spray primer like KILZ followed by thin coats of spray paint can give a smooth, factory-like finish. Just be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.
I decided against spray paint and used a small craft brush to get into the many nooks and curves. Instead of my usual 2″ angled brush, I grabbed a narrow under-one-inch brush from my craft supplies to carefully cover the details. Two thin coats took about two hours, and the result looked as if the mirror had always been that color. Painting on a flat piece of cardboard made it easy to spin the mirror and catch drips, which helped ensure even coverage around every edge and cutout.
After letting the paint cure fully (we waited 24 hours before hanging), I used a straight-edged razor to remove a few tiny drips from the mirror face. For secure mounting, we used two heavy-duty wall anchors to fasten it to the nursery wall. We placed the mirror opposite the room’s only window so it would reflect light and make the modestly sized room feel airier.
The green pairs beautifully with the curtain tones and highlights the mirror’s playful shapes — including four small heart cutouts around the perimeter that became much more noticeable after painting. Those little details add a whimsical touch we’re sure our baby will enjoy staring at.
You can see how smooth the finish is after just two thin coats of latex paint applied with a small brush. Painting a frame or mirror is an easy, rewarding DIY — especially on less ornate pieces — and makes a big visual impact. Consider painting several in a bold color and arranging them in a grid for a dramatic wall display.
This quick nursery update required only one inexpensive brush and a quart of semi-gloss paint. When our daughter gets older and can reach the mirror, we’ll add extra reinforcement by screwing through the frame into the wall and countersinking, filling, and painting the screw heads so the mirror can’t be pulled off. We’ll share those childproofing updates as we complete them.
While updating the mirror, we also ordered an aqua 100% organic crib sheet and matching changing pad covers. We bought two of each so we always have a spare. The solid aqua adds a cheerful pop without competing with the scrolly mirror and printed curtains. After searching many options, these were the most affordable and the color matched nicely in person — especially welcome after hoping the on-screen color would be accurate.
Now we’re working through the rest of the nursery checklist: waterproof mattress cover, changing pad, dresser, side table, lamp, art, cloth diapers, toy baskets, and other essentials. One small painted mirror later, and the room already feels more personal and finished.