Weekend Project: Build a Mirror Frame

Steps:

1. Select the wood you wish to use for your frame. If your room is dark, consider using oak or pine to lighten the space. If your room has sufficient light, you may want to use darker wood, such as cherry, mahogany or redwood. We’ve decided to paint our frame white rather than stain it, so we’re using birch plywood to save money.

2. Lay the mirror on the plywood and trace its dimensions onto the center of the plywood. Evenly space your borders. Remove the mirror and cut out the space you marked.

3. Cut the chair rail so the notch will fit snugly within the opening of the plywood. Glue and screw chair rail to the inside border of the frame being sure to have the notch of the chair rail inside the edge to keep the mirror from falling through the front of the frame.

4. Cut the larger molding that will go around the outside of the mirror frame. Glue and nail it in place.

5. Prime and paint the frame.

6. Using a screw gun, attach a board to the back of the frame to hold the mirror in place.

7. Screw in a large metal chain to the back of each side of the mirror frame to hang the mirror. Make sure it is thick for extra support.