Do you have an old mirror at home and are wondering what to do with them? Mirrors are functional and can also be used to decorate the room. They come in a wide array of sizes, shapes, and styles. The right mirror can make the room spacious and brighter. Nowadays, you can find mirrors that are equipped with high-tech features to make them more convenient. But what if you decide to change the theme of the room and the mirror is no longer needed? What can you do with it? We will find out the answer below.
What to do with old mirrors? Old mirrors can be reused as decors and crafts. The pieces of mirrors can be used for creating mosaics as well as unique decorations. You can repaint the frames and use them as a decoration for your wall gallery. Moreover, it can be used outdoors to add charm to your garden.
What can you do with an old frameless bathroom mirror? How do you reuse old mirrors? Are mirrors recyclable? Can you throw old mirrors in the garbage? These are some of the questions that we will discuss. Read the rest of the article below for helpful tips and ideas that you can refer to.
How to Reuse Old Mirrors
Adding frames, using them outdoors, and creating mosaics are among the ways to reuse old mirrors. A mirror that is strategically placed in the garden can make it look brighter. Moreover, mirrors can make the room more spacious since it creates the illusion of space. If you have an old mirror at home, you can transform them by doing a DIY project. Mirrors take millions of years to decompose so it is best that you reuse them rather than throw them in the landfill. There are ways to breathe new life into the old mirrors. Let us find out these ways below.
Add Frames
One way to reuse an old mirror is to add frames to it. To do this, you need to cut the mirror into smaller pieces using glass cutters. Make sure to wear gloves and goggles when doing this to avoid cutting yourself. The next step is to place the pieces of mirrors on the edges of a picture frame using glue. This creates an interesting look into the frame.
Use Outdoors
You can also reuse old mirrors by placing them outdoors. Regardless you have a framed or frameless mirror; it provides charm to your outdoor area. For instance, you can place a mirror behind a water fountain to make the area look spacious and to add depth as well. Aside from that, you can also place the mirror in the shady area of your garden to provide additional light. We have also shared this article titled, can mirrors be used outdoors? You can check out the article for more tips and information.
Create Mosaics
Another way to reuse old mirrors is to create mosaics. If you have a broken mirror, you do not have to worry because you can still use the broken pieces. Take note that the piece of mirror is extremely sharp so you need to wear protective gear when working on them. You can use the shards to create a mosaic for an interesting garden piece. You can also the broken pieces of mirror to transform the look of your outdoor table. To do this, you need to grout the mirror pieces into the top of the mirror.
✅ Video – 6 Budget Friendly Mirror Transformations
Ashleigh Lauren shared the video below on YouTube. It discusses how to transform mirrors in a budget friendly way. In the video, Ashleigh shared six ways to upgrade the look of your mirror without breaking the bank. Watch the video below for more information.
What to Do With an Old Frameless Bathroom Mirror?
Frameless mirrors can be painted and decorated to repurpose them. You can also transform them into a sticker wall for your kids. Frameless mirrors are usually installed in bathrooms because of the many benefits that they provide. They are more affordable as compared to framed mirrors. Over time, you may decide to change the theme of the room and decide that the mirror is no longer suited. Rather than throwing the mirror, you can reuse it. Below are some of the things that you can do with old frameless bathroom mirrors.
Paint It
One of the things that you can do old frameless bathroom mirror is to paint it. It will transform the mirror and make it look new. Using acrylic craft paint, you can draw designs and borders directly into the mirror. If you are not confident in your painting skills, you can also use stencils. You can paint whatever style or theme that you want on the mirror.
Decorate
Another thing that you can do is to decorate the mirror. You can transform it and create a stunning décor that you can hang on your walls or even outdoors. There is a wide array of craft materials that you can use. You can tie ribbons at the center or corners of the mirror. You can also create a charming garden décor using garlands, silks, and yarns. Be as creative as you can when decorating the mirror.
Place Stickers
You can also install the old frameless mirror in your kid’s room and tell them to use it as a sticker board. Regula or vinyl adhesives can be used around the mirror. They can use it to display the stickers that they have collected. The good thing is that stickers can easily be scraped off the mirror glass. Vinyl adhesives are removable as well. Your kids will surely have a great time filling the mirror with stickers.
Create Border
Another way to transform the look of the old frameless mirror is to create a border around it. You can use various materials like buttons, pebbles, shells, colorful stones, sea glass, and so much more. Choose a design and pattern that suits the theme of the room where you plan to hang the mirror. For instance, if you plan to use the mirror outdoors, you can use small and colorful stones for the border. You can also use fried flowers so that it complements your garden. You can also read this article that discusses what mirror desilvering is. We have shared helpful information that you can refer to.
Can You Throw Mirrors in the Garbage?
You cannot throw mirrors in the garbage. This is because the glass that is used in making mirrors cannot be recycled. On the other hand, there are some ways that you can do to dispose of the mirror. For instance, you can sell or donate it if it is still in good condition.
Are Mirrors Recyclable?
Mirrors are non-recyclable. As compared to glass jars and bottles, the glass that is used to make mirrors and the reflective coating on its back cannot be recycled. Moreover, even if you remove the reflective coating of the mirror, the glass is still non-recyclable. You can also check out this article that discusses if you can hang a garden mirror on a fence. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
Can You Put a Mirror in the Recycling Bin?
Do not put mirrors in the recycling bin, especially the broken ones. If you have broken mirrors, you need to wrap them in newspaper or cardboard before you take them to the landfill. Take note that a recycling bin is where recyclables can be placed. A mirror is non-recyclable. Hence, regardless the mirror is broken or not, it is not recommended that you should put it in the recycling bin.
Why are Mirrors Hard to Recycle?
Mirrors are hard to recycle because of how their glass is made. To see your reflection, mirrors are painted with a reflective coating on the back of the glass. The coating cannot be recycled and even if you remove it from the glass, the glass itself is hard to recycle as well. To recycle the glass in the mirror, it needs to be crushed into small pieces which are referred to as cullet. The cullet is then combined with a small amount of virgin material and placed in a furnace so that it creates new glass-like sand and limestone.
This is a complicated process because the furnace should be heated up to between 2600 and 2800 degrees Fahrenheit. The amount of heat required depends on the type of glass. After the glass is in a liquefied form, it is poured into new bottles. It can also be used for beads and tiles. You can also read this article that discusses what to do if you break a mirror. We have shared helpful information that you can refer to.
Conclusion
You have reached the end of this post that discusses what to do with old mirrors. Mirrors are important in every home. On the other hand, they do not last forever and need to be replaced. Disposing of a mirror is hard because it is non-recyclable and takes millions of years to decompose. Above, we have shared tips and ideas on how you can reuse your mirror. Thank you for reading!