Ever since I started remodeling the guest room, I’ve known exactly what I wanted to put above the bed….a wooden pallet sign with a song verse on it. But as soon as the stone wall went up that idea went out the window…wood on stone is just too much rustic. Evidently, that’s possible. For one of the first times ever I was glad I suck at getting things done in a timely manner, because putting a bunch of words onto wood is actually pretty difficult. Anyway, I thought about it for a while and decided to go the opposite route with a glamorous gold-trimmed mirror. I needed something to tie in the gold on my super chic (ha!) tomato cage side tables anyway.
I wanted something round (there are so many squares in the room already) but really wanted to avoid a sunburst mirror, since everyone and their mom has one these days. My favorite was this one from Wayfair…
The price tag on it was $380 bucks though, and I’m not sure how I would go about making a knockoff. Eventually, my Wayfair wonderings led me to this sunburst mirror (for a cool $590) and I thought to myself “dang it….that would be so easy to make”.
And so I gave into the gold sunburst mirror idea. I actually really like them, even if they are way overdone.
Here is what you will need (or at least what I used, you can go so many different ways with this)…
DIY Gold Sunburst Mirror Supplies
– Round mirror – mine is a 12″ round mirror from Hobby Lobby for $10, but Amazon has some great choices as well.
– Wooden Dowels – (disregard the number of dowels in the above picture. I had the special honor of making multiple Home Depot trips, because evidently counting is hard.)
*Three 5/16 inch dowels (red ends) – cut into eight pieces
*Four 1/4 inch dowels (green ends) – cut into 24 pieces
*Six 3/16 inch dowels (purple ends) – cut into 36-inch pieces
– Pencil
– Ruler
How to Make a Sunburst Mirror
The first thing I did was pizza pie the back of the mirror so the dowels would be evenly spaced.
Then I cut all the dowels and hot glued them into place. I started with the thick ones, then added the medium and small ones. This is what the back looks like…
Then I taped off the mirror, primed and painted. If you’re smarter than me, the first step would be to take the back off the mirror, remove the glass, and spray paint the mirror frame. Then cut down the dowels and spray paint them as well. This would have been much easier than trying to tape off the round mirror to paint after everything is assembled.
I used Kilz for my primer (it’s awesome) and Rustoleum spray paint for the gold. All brands make gold spray paint, but I’ve found that Rustoleum has the best coverage and the prettiest color.
And so, for a grand total of $19.87 (I already had the spray paint) I made this…
I really want to back up and show you how it looks in the room, but I’m going to save those for the guest room reveal post. Only a few things left to do!
Southwestern Guest Room Project Links –
- Guest Room Paper Flooring
- DIY chalk Paint FAIL and the bed that almost killed me
- Shopping for Southwestern
- The Perfect Neutral Paint Color
- Modern Southwestern Guest Room Bedding
- How to Sew a Euro Sham Pillow with Flanges
- DIY Faux Stone Wall
- Giant Framed Map Decor for $30
- Double Sliding Barn Door FAIL
- Tomato Cage Tables
- Form + Function Storage and Organization
- DIY Gold Sunburst Mirror
- Mason Jar Pendant Light
- Southwestern Guest Room REVEAL!
I totally agree about sunburst mirrors, but this is really unique and awesome! The gold looks great against the stone wall, too. Nice work!
Wow your actually going to complete a room haha! Great change of pace there my friend. I love the color palette you chose. Being pregnant must gets you in the worker bee mode.
I know, right, I can hardly even believe it. The boys room is equally close to being finished and I just might pull them both off by my February 1st self-imposed deadline. Though the last project in the guest room is to build and install double bypass sliding barn doors…hoping that goes well.
You go girl… With your talents, it will look great! I am glad to see you back blogging regularly again, I missed your posts.
Thanks! Don’t give me too much credit though, my husband does all the actual building. I just come up with the ideas and tell him how I think it would work….which isn’t usually how it ends up working, haha.
Now THAT is impressive. A savings of $570 AND yours is truly gorgeous!? Wow wee!
Wow Ashley! I’m not into the sunburst mirror thing too, but this one is really great!! It looks awesome on the brick wall. Are you planning on using the verse anywhere else in your house?
Wow, that is so beautiful!! One of the loveliest I’ve ever seen. The trim on the picture frames really adds a gorgeous element. :)
I saw the sunburst mirror on your wall and had no idea you made it. It really is eye catching with no hint, in my glimpse, of being homemade. Impressed:)
Perhaps you will find another location for the beautiful and terrifying chorus, it is a wonderful one.
I like suns, have them hanging all over. I will use this idea but will make a sun insted of the mirror. O will paint over it.
I love the thing except, in my opinion, it needs one small tweak. The thick ones in the “+” position should be trimmed back to the same distance beyond the frame as the thick ones in the “x” position. But if you prefer it like this, then it’s all set.
Beautiful! I love your version even more than the Wayfair version. Love the beaded trim on the mirror.
Gorgeous! I love it as much as the price tag! :D
Very nice! I love the mirror you chose – you are very talented!
Love it! I have that Hobby Lobby mirror! Now I need to refresh mine!
Debbie
Have the same mirror and am actually making this now! I went through the trouble of taking the screws off the back of the mirror, only to find out the mirror is glued to the frame!! Now I have to tape if all off! If you would have given the lengths of the dowels that would have also been a huge help. Now my math skills are coming into question! ;) You did a wonderful job. Love your home and family.
Oh my gosh, I love, love, love this! Pinned!
Your DIY projects are unique and inspiring! I love your ideas!
This is fabulous!! pinned it!!
This mirror turned out amazing! I’m pretty much obsessed and can’t believe it cost less than $20 to make! Thanks for sharing at The Makers, pinned :)
nice one
HI,
I am confused by this measurements ‘Six 3/16 inch dowels (purple ends) – cut into “36 INCH” pieces’. Isn’t one dowel measures 36 inches = one yard? Am i reading it wrong? Did you mean 36 pieces as well? If i do cut the 6 dowels and get 36 pieces out of it, then it would be the same size with the medium dowels. I bout all the materials I am just confused. Thanks a lot. I love all your home projects.
Karen, PA
I love sunburst mirrors, great article! They’re look beautiful!
Absolutely beautiful!