We’re back with another update on John’s sister’s nursery, just like we promised. After sharing the play-by-play of our wall striping project and revealing a few fabric choices, we moved on to the biggest design challenge: the room had zero windows. That’s right—none. Emily’s modern new construction positioned this interior room behind a sliding barn door (on a cool industrial track) that connects it to her older son’s room, which has a large 5′ x 5′ window, and it’s also accessible by a hallway door. While the layout met fire-safety codes, it created a real decorating dilemma: how do you make a windowless room feel bright and open?
The goal was simple: get light bouncing around the space and create the sense of openness that a room with a view naturally has. The solution ended up being straightforward and inexpensive—two large, strategically placed mirrors painted white. Mirrors are an easy way to amplify light and visually expand a room, and in this case they function almost like faux windows.
We found these oversized bronze-framed mirrors at TJ Maxx for $19 each—cheaper than the thrift and Craigslist options we’d scoped out. We bought them knowing we’d freshen the frames with crisp white paint once we were back at Emily’s house, and the low price made that extra step totally worth it.
To transform the mirrors, we laid a plastic drop cloth in the yard, taped off the glass, and applied three thin, even coats of glossy white Rust-Oleum spray paint. If any paint sneaks onto the glass, a simple trick is to wait until it dries and then carefully shave it off with a straight razor for a clean edge. The result is a polished, cohesive look that helps the mirrors read more like architectural elements than thrift finds.
Quick practical note: spray painting indoors is a bad idea—spray particles travel everywhere and can coat surfaces within a wide radius. Doing the work outdoors keeps the mess contained and the ventilation good, so you’ll be glad you moved the project outside.
Once hung across from the window in the adjoining bedroom (with the barn door open), the mirrors actually reflect the sky and trees—essentially functioning as two faux windows for about $19 each plus a little paint. Even when the barn door is closed and the mirrors no longer reflect the backyard, they still bounce light throughout the nursery, making the space feel brighter, larger, and more inviting. We’re not sharing a full-room shot yet because we have other projects underway, but this sneak peek of the newly glossy mirrors should hold you over.
All told, this was an under-$45 fix that only took a few hours from shopping to hanging. We’re not finished with that wall yet—plan to add a few functional and decorative elements underneath each mirror to bring more form and function to the space. In the meantime, we’d love to hear how you use mirrors to brighten and enlarge rooms in your home. Do you have any tried-and-true mirror tricks that give your rooms that “ooh la la” factor? Share your ideas—mirrors can be incredibly effective, but placement matters, so treat them thoughtfully.