Framed Mosaic Mirror
Most mirrors around the home are functional pieces on bathroom cabinets or wardrobe doors. Create a decorative feature DIY by giving a plain mirror a timber frame and mosaic border.
Cut a 1200 x 900 x 16mm MDF panel, $18, down to 1170 x 870mm. Build a frame for the backing from two 2400 x 65 x 19mm lengths of Tasmanian oak, about $15 each.
Add mosaic tile sheets for the border then use mirror and glass adhesive to secure a 900 x 600 x 5mm mirror with a bevelled edge, about $30, from Bunnings.
Meranti or radiata pine can also be used for the frame but Tasmanian oak has a tight grain pattern and natural sheen that’s beautifully enhanced by a coat of Cabot’s Oil Based Interior Stain.
You’ll also need both tile and PVA adhesive, premixed grout, clear polyurethane and timber screws.
Cut the frame pieces using a mitre box and tenon saw or a mitresaw. For this project, the stiles are 1170mm long and the rails 950mm.
Hang the mirror
To wall-mount the mirror, use a stud finder to locate two adjacent studs then mark the screw hole positions, drawing a level line across them.
Check the exact distance between the points then use a twist bit to drill pilot holes and secure 65mm x 8g screws into the studs, leaving the heads protruding about 3mm.
Cut 3mm deep housings on the top of the backing panel with a router for 26 x 15mm D-rings, spaced to match the wall screws.
TIPUse 50mm x 8g screws with wall plugs to hang it on masonry.
Choosing the mosaics
Mosaic tiles are often sold in sheet form, with the tile faces glued to paper or backed with mesh.
The opalescent tiles used for this project were paper faced, so no mesh can be seen through the glass.
If using mesh-backed tiles, choose an adhesive in the same colour to create a uniform backing.