DIY Full Length Wood Mirror

I used to have this modern full length mirror from IKEA that I loved but when my taste changed to a rustic/farmhouse style, I ended up giving it away. Since then I’ve wanted a big, distressed, wood mirror that I could stand up in a corner or make a pipe stand for (which I’m still considering, so stay tuned).

Mirrors can just get so pricey. So I knew I would have to DIY one or wait even longer to justify the cost. After searching for ideas on Pinterest, I finally had a plan. I’ll keep this post short and just get right to it. I won’t include cut lengths because it can vary depending on what mirror you use. Make sure to measure for your own project. This DIY full length wood mirror is gorgeous and easy on the budget!

Price Breakdown

$10 – I found this full length mirror at IKEA. Pretty standard size except it’s wider than the cheap frameless mirrors found at Target or Walmart, which made me happy.
<$5 – The frame is made from dog-ear fence posts. You can find nicer, wider wood, but you can’t beat the price. And they’re great for the really rough look. Only 3 were needed for this size mirror.
$20 – ½” plywood sheathing for the backing. Again, could be nicer, but I didn’t need it. We had Home Depot cut it down to size (about 10” longer and wider than the mirror dimensions for 5” on all sides) for us and then brought the extra home for future projects.

This #DIY full length wood mirror is gorgeous and easy on the budget! Share on X

Steps

Since the backing was already cut to size, I just placed that on a flat surface and then centered my mirror on it.
I measured the fence post sides first and cut them to the same length as the mirror. Then I placed them where they would be attached and that made getting the top and bottom length easier.
Once the wood was cut, I sanded all sides and then wiped them down.
Use wood glue (or a construction glue like Loctite Power Grab if you want to go stronger) to one by one secure the frame to the plywood backing. We then used our Ryobi Finish Nailer to attach the wood.
I tilted the frame up and carefully let the mirror fall out so I could put it aside while we finished the frame.
I wanted the wood to look roughed up and old but didn’t want to go too dark on the finish. The hubs suggested a technique he used on a replacement plank on our vintage factory cart coffee table.
1. First, we stained the wood with Varathane in Ebony making sure we got deep into the gouges in the wood.
2. Once it was dry, we sanded the wood until most of the stain was gone except in the gouges and grain of the wood.
3. Last, we treated the wood with Minwax Tung Oil. It darkened the wood just a bit and really brought out the beauty.
Once everything was dry, we used Loctite Power Grab to glue the mirror in place.

One thing to keep in mind is that with this process, you will see the plywood backing from the side depending on how you display the mirror. For us, the mirror is standing in a corner so we can’t see the backing – which is why we made the plywood backing smaller than the full size of the finished mirror. Similarly, mounting the mirror to the wall would still hide the backing. Always an option – adding a trim to the back or around the edges to hide the plywood, which we may still do.