The Simple Yet Genius Hack That Makes Painting A Mirror So Much Easier

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Mirrors are understated decor pieces that can transform a room and brighten it with their light-reflecting properties. Plus, you can simply use some paint to decorate a mirror and upgrade your old or thrifted pieces on a budget. However, before you start pulling the reference images from your Pinterest board and mixing colors, it's important to protect your mirror's glass from rogue brush strokes or spray. Fortunately, there's more than one hack you should know before painting around a mirror. To keep the glass pristine, simply tuck playing cards into the mirror frame.

While you can use masking tape to cover the edges, you'll have to score the extra tape from the frame with a sharp knife or razor. This will add to the prep time and might be tedious if the mirror has a curved design or you have a couple to work through. And if you stick with thin sheets, like newspapers, there's always the risk of the paint seeping through the flimsy layer and undoing all your hard work. Being thick and solid, playing cards won't allow paint to make its way to the glass underneath. Moreover, you won't have to spend a lot of time or effort fixing them to the edges.

To avoid using masking tape while painting, find your old deck of playing cards. You don't necessarily need a poker set; your slightly worn UNO cards work, too. In case you don't have one handy, buy a cheap set like Bicycle's Jumbo Index Playing Cards. Once you have them, lay down your mirror and slide them beneath the frame's edge. You don't have to maintain a straight line, haphazard placement works as well. Just ensure you don't leave any space between one card and the next. If you want to keep the mirror upright, stick some masking tape on top of the cards to keep them in place.

Additionally, it's a good idea to cover the glass with some old paper and painter's tape when using spray paint to eliminate accidental spots. After you're done securing your mirror, give it a fresh coat of paint and wait for it to dry. Once the time is up, take off the paper, gently remove the masking tape (if you used any) from the slotted cards, and slide them out. Wipe their surfaces with a damp cloth if the paint is wet before putting them back in their box for your next DIY project.