Published on June 29th, 2015 | When we moved into our house, it came with a variety of wall décor carefully chosen by the previous owner at some point during the closing chimes of the last century. While I love antiques, I’m not yet ready to embrace the ‘90s as historic, and the faux antique mirror and frame in the guest bathroom had to go (especially after we had remodeled the bathroom and installed chrome fixtures that clashed superbly with the mirror’s fake gold frame). However, it was the perfect-sized mirror for the space. Once we determined that the main problem was the color, we came up with the idea of giving it a makeover—upcycling it from an “antique” mirror into a modern one. All we needed was a can of spray paint. This turned out to be an incredibly easy project with a maximum amount of bang-for-the-buck. Here’s a step-by-step guide to how we updated our old mirror: Here’s the original mirror, in the original bathroom, before we remodeled.

As you can see, the gold tones do go with the green walls, if you like that sort of thing. However, a lick of French Grey paint and some new shiny chrome lighting and bathroom fixtures later, the room had a fresh modern feel, but the mirror didn’t—time to get out the spray paint. Step 1: We placed the mirror carefully on two stands in an outside area we didn’t mind getting red spray paint on. In Room Hot Tub PittsburghYou can also lay down plastic or an old sheet under your work area.Teal And White Chevron Bedding Then we covered the glass with newspaper and taped it down with blue painters’ tape.Digital Camera Armor Step 2: We sprayed the paint evenly across the frame in long, sweeping movements. Then we waited five minutes and gave it a second coat.

Step 3: We let it dry—which took about an hour, and then hung it in the bathroom. That was it—transformation complete! No sanding or pre-coating—the spray paint took easily to the frame and within two coats, had banished all traces of the gold paint. Here is the finished mirror hanging in the remodeled bathroom. The mirror I was once so desperate to get rid of has now become the centerpiece of the bathroom. And, if we get bored with the red, we now know how easy it is to update the look. This was a really valuable lesson for us, helping us to realize how easy it can be to change the style of a piece of furniture rather than investing in new items. If you’ve never used spray paint before, it is easy to be a bit daunted by the process. But it is surprisingly simple—much easier than paint and a paint brush. Keep these tips in mind when starting on your project and it should all be smooth painting. 1. Read the Instructions on the Can (and Follow Them!) Make sure to pay attention to how far you need to hold the can from the object, how long to shake the can and how long you need to allow the paint to cure before applying a second coat.

Use large sweeping motions, horizontally or vertically depending on your object, to get an optimal even distribution of paint. 3. Use a Large Dropcloth When you paint with a brush you don’t need much overlap space, but when you are spray painting you need to spray past the object to ensure even coverage. Make sure you have a large piece of plastic or cloth that is twice the size of the object you are painting. (You can even use that old shower curtain liner you’ve been meaning to replace). 4. Set It Up High Put the item you want to paint on sawhorses or a workbench rather than the floor, to give you easier access to the object. An aftermarket spray can handle will give you more control over the can than using just your bare hands. Spray paint outdoors to limit exposure to fumes. Always wear a mask! Check out this fun article from Sassy Style, which rounds up some more ingenious ways you can use spray paint to “upcycle” everyday objects, from plastic chairs to your front door!

Jennifer Tuohy is a DIY crafter in Charleston, S.C., who writes about her projects for The Home Depot. Jennifer’s mirror upcycling was one of many she undertook after moving into her current home. For a wide selection of mirrors available at Home Depot, you can click here.We all have stuff that no longer serves any purpose around the house, but we still have trouble getting rid of it. Either it’s “still OK”, or “might come in handy” or just holds some sentimental value to it. In extreme cases, this might lead to hoarding, but if you’re creative enough, you can solve the problem by repurposing, upcycling and reusing your old things. Besides serving a purpose (again), repurposed items add this lovely touch of creativity and coziness to the space. Heck, most of the time, upcycled things become even cooler than they originally were. 1. Old Ladder Into Bookshelf 2. Vintage Suitcase Into Chair 3. Chair Into Shelf/Closet Unit 4. Old Books Into Shelves

5. Bowlers Into Lamps 6. Tennis Rackets Into Mirrors 7. Plastic Bottle Into Broom 8. Hangers Into Room Divider 9. Old Piano Into Bookshelf 10. Spoons Into Lamp 11. Bathtub Into Couch 12. Pop Tabs Into Bag 13. Wine Bottles Into Chandelier 14. Old TV Into Aquarium 15. Glove Into a Chipmunk 16. Bike Wheel Into Clock 17. Bicycle Into Sink Stand 18. TP Rolls Into Organizer Box 19. CD Spindle Into Bagel Holder Toasted bagel + avocado in a CD spindle. 20. Wrenches Into Wall Hooks 21. Lightbulbs Into Oil Lamps 22. Computer Into Mailbox 23. Credit Cards Into Guitar Picks (Buy: here or here) 24. Glass Marbles Into Fence Decor 25. Bottle Caps Into Tea Lights 26. Skateboards Into Children Picnic Table 27. Bottles Into Pendant Lamps 28. Old Piano Into Outdoor Fountain 29. Old Cassette Tape Into Purse 30. Drum Kit Into ChandelierJust like the eyes are considered to be the mirrors of the soul, the windows are considered to reflect the quality, beauty and aesthetics of your house.

You can tell a lot about a house by looking at its windows, and the truth is that old windows do not compliment your home – however, instead of throwing them away, you can easily refurbish or repurpose them in many different and creative ways. You can use your old house windows in countless different ways – and this is only one of them! If you want to clean up your garage or to free up some space to store other goods, then do not throw your window frames away: instead, you can turn them into outstanding photo displays. This tutorial will show you just how easy it is to do that with basic tools and materials: the frame and glass of the former window will serve as the frame of the new photo, which you can easily hang in your living room for extra appeal. Besides, the whole trick is super cost-effective as well! Old house windows are very versatile and volatile, and you can easily turn them into a shabby chic decoration that features a basic wreath right in the middle. The best thing about this decoration is that it does not require any major investment: just make sure the paint is scratched in a natural manner, and that the glass is intact.

All you have to do is to thoroughly clean your frame and place it on a rack in your room – add the wreath to it and a couple of other rustic or vintage decorations (if any), and you are good to go! This is an outstanding idea for coffee fans who want to recycle all of their goodies, and who always think twice before throwing anything away! Here is a tutorial that will teach you how to turn your old house window into an outstanding window table: all you have to do is to attach the old window to your table and that’s it. What makes this coffee table truly stand out from all the rest is the fact that you can easily place all sorts of decorations under the window, for visual appeal. You can place stones, beads, shells, flowers – anything that appeals to you! Another great use for your old house windows is turning them into a great chalkboard – anybody can make good use of this handy trick, but it is particularly useful for families with children, as each small window frame can serve as their schedule.

A basic window has six or eight smaller frames, divided by the larger wooden frame – all you have to do is to remove the old glass and to add a basic chalkboard to that frame. You can easily hang it in the living room or in the kitchen where you can write the daily menu. This is another great idea that anybody can use without any trouble – if you have a hard time storing all your statement earrings, necklaces or bracelets, then look no further than this repurposed window-turned-jewellery organizer! Clean, neat and super easy to use, the frame of your old and shabby windows can easily serve as a “hanger” for all of your jewellery. Add a few nails to it and you are good to go – check out this tutorial to find out more about this exquisite idea! Who would have thought that you can achieve so much with an old window, a few strings and some old spoons? Although Christmas is months away, you can never be too prepared for it – and the last thing you want to do is to let Christmas take you by surprise!

Here is a super simple and creative tutorial that will show you just how easy it is to repurpose and refurbish your old house windows by simply removing the glass and adding a few strings designed to hold the spoons and other wooden cutlery (it is up to you to choose) in place. This is another great idea that you can use, if you are committed to making the best of your old home windows – before throwing them away or using them as firewood, you should definitely check out this tutorial, for it will definitely make you change your mind! All you need for these chic picture frames is some string, the classic frames (you must remove the glass first) and some good old conventional pictures that you will carefully hang in-between the strings! Voila, you just got yourself one of the best and most affordable photo displays! If your bathroom is decorated in a traditional rustic manner and you want to stick to that, then you should definitely pay attention to this great footboard towel rack – for it is more than just your average rack!

Basically, you can easily turn your old and seemingly useless windows into great bathroom windows that you can hang right on top of your sink – the most suitable type of frame for this project is the one with three squares, as opposed to the one with six squares which can be a bit too “fragmented” to serve as a bathroom mirror. Who said wreaths are only for Christmas? You can easily find a wreath idea for every season, be it winter, summer, spring or autumn – speaking of autumn, if you are the type who loves to prepare ahead of time and who never lets autumn take her by surprise, then you will definitely love this great autumn wreath made from burlap and grapevine! Easy to make, chic, decorative and virtually free, this lovely fall decoration can be easily hanged either by the window or by the front door, for the ultimate effect. Headboards can be very expensive nowadays – all you have to do is to go to your local furniture and see the hefty price tags! The good news is that there are several alternatives to that, and you do not need to choose the most expensive headboard that will empty your bank accounts beyond the point of recovery.

Here is how you can turn your old home windows into a simple but visually appealing headboard – at first sight, people will not even be able to tell that you have refurbished your old windows, and this is precisely what makes these headboards so sought-after these days! If you live on a farm or if you love that rustic, shabby-chic decoration style, then look no further than this outstanding idea to decorate your farmhouse porch! You do not need to invest a dime in additional decorations – as a matter of fact, you do not even need to give your old frames a paint job or anything, that is the beauty of it! All you have to do is to dust and clean your old frames and hang them as decorations on your front porch: you can also add a couple of scented candles, for extra effect. This is by far the most adorable and practical tutorial of all! Just look at this lovely baby greenhouse and you will certainly want to make one of your own, from scratch. All you need for this basic project is four windows and some cardboard or some wooden sheets that will help you create two “floors” within your baby greenhouse.

If you are fond of plants and your think your flowers and baby seeds do not get the heat and sun they so much need in order to thrive, then this cute little baby greenhouse is the solution to your gardening problem! As mentioned above, you can use your old house’s windows in tens of ways: you can use them as display racks for some lovely mason jars with small notes or other decorations inside of them, you can simply place them on top of your fireplace and let them work your magic on your traditionally decorated living room, or you can turn them into timeless photo frames that will never become old-fashioned. Regardless of your choice, you can easily make the best of these window frames, without investing too much time or energy in them, and this tutorial will certainly testify to that! If you are looking for a crafty DIY project, then you have certainly come to the right place – this is one of the best projects to try at home, when you have some extra time at your disposal.

Window tables can be adjusted in numerous different ways: you can, for instance, add old pictures of London, Paris, Milan and all the other fancy cities if you are a fashionista (and you are not afraid to let that show!), or you can add some pictures of your family and all those dear to your heart. Here is a step by step tutorial that will explain you the anatomy of a window table, from beginning until the end – you simply cannot go wrong with this one! Nowadays, people seem to focus too much on the aesthetic or decorative side of the old panes, when the truth is that there is a practical and functional side to them as well – and this tutorial will definitely give you an insight into it! Having said that, you can easily and effortlessly use the old panes to create a bathroom or a kitchen window cabinet – you can store your plates, cutlery, medicine, herbs, spices and virtually any other items in here. Check it out and see how practical your old house’s windows can turn out to be, sometimes!