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You are here: Home / Budget Decorating / The Cheapest Bathroom Mirror Ever

Budget Decorating

The Cheapest Bathroom Mirror Ever

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You guys know I love to decorate without spending a lot of money, so I am thrilled to be joining up with some other super thrifty bloggers in sharing our thrifty style.  Every month we’ll be sharing simple ideas for decorating on the cheap.  Be sure to check out these talented ladies’ projects at the end of this post.

thrifty style team

As for me, the next step in our bathroom renovation is done!  This may just be one of my favorite parts yet because it rang in at a grand total of $5!  If you’ve ever done a major renovation, you know that money adds up fast…and that pretty much nothing costs only five bucks.

As soon as we got our vanity made from an old dresser in place, I knew I wanted to find a vintage mirror to go with it.  I started keeping an eye out whenever I was able to sneak away to a thrift store or garage sale.  The great thing is there are certain items that seem to always be in high supply at thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales  – picture frames, old books, baskets.  And large mirrors – many of which came off vintage dressers.  A match made in heaven for my old dresser vanity.

mirror

I came across this little white mirror first.  It was $15 and I strongly considered it, but it was a bit girlier than what I had in mind.  Also, the mirror itself was showing its age and was a bit hazy – not exactly what you want in a bathroom.

IMG_5561

I also considered this beast of a mirror.  It is currently in our dining room over the buffet and was a yard sale find from a few years ago.  Unfortunately the frame was too chunky to fit behind the tall faucet that goes with our vessel sink in the bathroom.

Then last weekend, I decided to chance going to one yard sale alone with my 9 month old and 3 year old.  Shopping while holding a baby and trying to keep a preschooler from breaking things isn’t easy, but in this case it was worth it.  I immediately spotted a big, curvy old mirror and asked how much it was.  Three bucks.  I couldn’t say “I’ll take it” fast enough.

curvy mirror

Then right before we left, I spotted another old mirror back behind a pile of boxes.  When I asked about it, the lady running the yard sale told me it wouldn’t be as cheap as the other one because it was much nicer.  I nervously asked how much she would take for it.  She considered for a minute before answering.  Five dollars.  Woo-hoo!  I don’t know if that is what she was thinking the whole time or if she cut me a break because of my cute kids, but I was ecstatic!

When I got the mirrors home, I tried them both out in the bathroom.  The curvy one was cute but the curves were competing too much with the shape of the vanity drawers and it was a little too wide.  Luckily, the five dollar mirror was perfect!

vintage mirror and dresser in bathroom

It was extremely heavy, so I screwed two picture hangers to the back and then strung heavy duty wire between them.  I screwed two screws with drywall anchors into the wall and then hung the wire across them.

bathroom vanity with vessel sink

I may end up painting the frame eventually; I want to wait and see how a few other parts of the bathroom come together first.  But even if I do decide to paint it, I am definitely going to make sure that beautiful dark finish isn’t totally hidden.

Check out all the posts related to our DIY bathroom renovation below:

  • Modern Farmhouse Bathroom Reveal with budget and source list
  • How to make a dresser into a bathroom vanity: the nitty gritty
  • Cheap and easy board and batten
  • Working with contractors: A semi DIY bathroom renovation
  • Installing tile: smart tips for beginners

 

board-and-batten-with-blue-walls_thumb.jpg

Now you have got to check out the thrifty ideas the rest of the team came up with!

An InLinkz Link-up
carrie signature in blue
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12 Comments

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Comments

  1. Cecilia says

    May 11, 2016 at 8:56 am

    Carrie, those are some great finds! Don’t you live it when you find something you need and then it’s cheap too? Ah, the thrill of the hunt. Keeps us going back. And the mirror looks great with your vanity. Can’t wait to see more!

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      May 11, 2016 at 11:29 am

      Thank you Cecilia. You are so right. It is all about the thrill of the hunt. When I need me time, hitting up yard sales and thrift stores is my favorite thing to do. You just never know what you will find!

      Reply
  2. Julie says

    May 11, 2016 at 11:26 am

    $5??? You have to be kidding me! I would have charged at least $20! lol I love both mirrors. I don’t think it needs paint either. The older looking, the better!! You are good, lady! Thanks so much for joining are team! XO

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      May 14, 2016 at 8:11 pm

      Thanks Julie! I am liking it paint free right now so we’ll see!

      Reply
  3. kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says

    May 11, 2016 at 1:15 pm

    I’m loving the stained look…I’m with Julie, this one may need to be paint free? Either way, it will be awesome. Looks gorgeous on your vanity.

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      May 14, 2016 at 8:12 pm

      Thanks so much Kristi! The stain is pretty gorgeous – definitely worth the money ;)

      Reply
  4. kim domingue says

    May 11, 2016 at 2:23 pm

    Two fabulous old mirrors for under ten bucks? I’m having a serious case of mirror envy! The one you chose to put in the bathroom is perfect. Understated, simple, elegant. And the dark stain provides wonderful contrast! Were it me, I would forgo the paint and leave it as is. It looks to be in excellent condition.

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      May 14, 2016 at 8:13 pm

      Thanks Kim! It looks like going paint free is the popular opinion and I do love the contrast it adds.

      Reply
  5. Vanessa Hunt says

    May 11, 2016 at 7:05 pm

    Oh my word what great finds!!! The one you ended up using in the bathroom is perfect and I actually like it in the wood tone. It’s a nice contrast!

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      May 14, 2016 at 8:13 pm

      Thank you Vanessa! It is a pretty great contrast!

      Reply
  6. Dolores Haley says

    June 3, 2016 at 3:16 pm

    I am a thrift store junkie! Love getting ideas for my own style from you guys!

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      June 5, 2016 at 10:50 am

      Yay! I am definitely a thrift store junkie as well (although around here yard sales are my absolute favorite!)

      Reply

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