We’re sharing how we transformed a $39 mirror from Marshall’s by painting it from glossy black to a softer, nursery-friendly deep asparagus green. The update made the piece less formal and more playful—perfect for the room we’re creating.
The process was straightforward, though those curvy cutouts around the frame took more time than a simple, flat frame would have. Still, the extra effort paid off; we’d happily do it again. The new color complements the deeper greens in our curtain fabric, so we settled on a rich shade: Scotland Isle from Behr. We had that color matched to an inexpensive quart of Olympic No-VOC Premium Paint in a semi-gloss finish.
Because the mirror was already painted rather than stained, we skipped primer to avoid added fumes and because we weren’t concerned about bleed-through. We did, however, lightly scuff the surface with high-grit 350 sandpaper to help the paint adhere. Note: if you’re not painting for a nursery or are not sensitive to fumes, a spray primer like Kilz followed by spray paint can yield a very polished finish—just be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.
Instead of spraying, I used a small brush to get into all the nooks and curves. I left my usual 2″ angled brush in the toolbox and grabbed a tiny sub-inch craft brush from my craft drawer to carefully paint the detailed sections. Two thin coats took about two hours total, and the result looked like the mirror had always been that color. No black showed through around the cutouts thanks to the small brush and careful application.
To keep things tidy I worked on a flat piece of cardboard so I could spin the mirror and reach every side, and it also caught any drips. After painting, I let the mirror cure fully and waited 24 hours before attempting to hang it. I used a straight-edged razor to gently remove a small amount of paint that had splattered on the reflective surface. For mounting, we used two heavy-duty anchors to secure the mirror to the nursery wall.
We positioned the mirror opposite the room’s only window to reflect natural light and make the modest space feel bigger and brighter. The green now ties in nicely with the curtain tones, and we love the whimsical shapes the frame casts on the wall—especially four small heart shapes around the perimeter that we hadn’t noticed until after painting.
Painting a mirror or frame is one of the simplest and most rewarding DIY updates. With thin, even coats of latex paint and a careful brush, the finish can be beautifully smooth. If you want an extra punch of color, consider painting multiple frames and arranging them in a grid above a sofa or console—just pick pieces that are easier to reach than this ornate example for a quicker project.
This project used just one cheap craft brush and a quart of colorful semi-gloss paint. We’re aware that as our baby gets older and more mobile we’ll need to make the mirror extra secure. At that point we plan to screw through the frame into studs, countersink the screws, fill and paint the heads, and make sure the mirror can’t be pulled free. We’ll share those childproofing updates as we go.
On a related note, we found a lovely aqua-colored 100% organic crib sheet and bought two—keeping a spare on hand makes life easier. We also ordered two matching organic changing pad covers. The solid pop of color complements the scrolly mirror and printed curtains without overwhelming the space. After comparing about twenty options, these were the best combination of price and color; they arrived true to the monitor image, which was a relief. They were an economical find at about $18 and $15 respectively, and free shipping made them an even better deal.
Now we’ll continue gathering nursery essentials—mattress protectors, a changing pad, dresser, side table, lamp, art, cloth diapers, toy baskets, and more. It’s a slow, satisfying build-out and we’re enjoying every step.
Psst—If you’re interested in more nursery updates, we’ve documented our progress from the beginning, including painting, shopping, crib selection, curtain-making, and chair hunting.