The entry to your home gives a greeting every time you or a guest walks in your door.
For ages my home gave a pretty lacklustre sort of greeting, kind of equivalent to a bored teenager grunting an inaudible “hello”.
Things started looking a little happier when I indulged my cushion obsession and added a bit of colour to that gorgeous old pew, which we purchased as newlyweds.
As well as some baskets underneath.
But we still had a bare wall to deal with, and nothing to hang there. Buying something new was not in the budget. What to do?
Enter: the Harem Mirror.
This mirror was a wedding present well over a decade ago. Back in the day, Moroccan-style mirrors with cage doors were a hot trend. Until, a few years later, they weren’t. This mirror was a solid, good quality piece, but the has-been styling was seriously dating our home. We eventually moved the mirror into storage until we figured out what we wanted to do with it. And there it remained for the next four and a half years.
While trying to figure out how to finish off our entryway, it occurred to me how easy it would be to bring this mirror back on trend.
The biggest issues I had with it were those doors – 90’s harem style, anyone? – and the painted woodwork everywhere, which makes the mirror look too busy. But both of those things are easily fixed.
First, I removed the doors. The hinges took a bit of prying and levering with a screwdriver and pliers, but they eventually popped off. Aaaahhhh – better already. It’s a good thing to be able to actually see a reflection in a mirror. You know… it’s all about the small details.
I sanded down the holes left by the hinges being pried loose.
… then spackled the holes.
I taped and cling-wrapped the mirror in preparation for spray-painting. Then I gave the frame a coat of Rust-o-leum spray paint in Gloss Black.
After the first coat dried, I went over the whole surface with fine grade steel wool. Then I added a second coat of spray paint.
This is when the glossy brilliance of the paint really began to shine through.
All of that intricate fretwork which looked so tired and busy before, is now unified and simplified by the black paint. Paring back the color palette puts the focus squarely on the beautiful patterns and flourishes in the frame.
A simple update that cost only a few dollars for a can of spray-paint and took a matter of minutes to execute. Now, instead of looking dated and woebegone in a storage facility someplace, my lovely mirror is looking hip and sophisticated as it takes pride of place in our entry.
And there you have it – our completed entryway. So much more welcoming than before.
Let’s chat: Do you like the greeting your entryway gives your guests? What have you done to create a welcoming feel when people walk in your front door? What would you like to improve there? Does anyone else have a Harem mirror kicking around their home?
Pssst – this home is being featured this month in IKEA Live Family magazine. You can see the feature here!
I link up at these parties!
I link up at these parties!
I LOVE the baskets under the bench! š I am all about the extra storage!!!
Your entry is beautiful! Love the windows at the doorway to begin with. Your church pew with colorful pillows is wonderful!
I LOVE the baskets under the bench! š I am all about the extra storage!!!
Your entry is beautiful! Love the windows at the doorway to begin with. Your church pew with colorful pillows is wonderful!
Thanks so much Stacey! We love our pew too. š
Thank you Stacey! We love our church pew too. š
Oh me too Elise! xo
Thanks so much Stacey! We love our pew too. š
Thank you Stacey! We love our church pew too. š
Oh me too Elise! xo
Looks great! I have so many plans for our house but with 2 little ones it just never seems to happen!
Looks great! I have so many plans for our house but with 2 little ones it just never seems to happen!
Really??? My mid-day snack craving just kicked in with some furry!!! LOL
Really??? My mid-day snack craving just kicked in with some furry!!! LOL