Upcycling Projects: Mosaic Mirror Table Top Makeover!

In the spirit of Earth Day coming up later this month, I thought I’d share a furniture upcycle idea! Because upcycling is AWESOME!! And great for the environment! Reworking items that you already have around the house, or that you find for super cheap at a yard sale (like I did) is a great way to make something unique and fun for your home! For this upcycling project we will be turning an old side table and an old mirror, into a funky little table with a mosaic mirror table top! Check it out!

So, I have to admit something to you before we move on with this table top tutorial… I made this table about 20 years ago! LOL! I know.. I know… It was an upcycling project for my art class when I was in high school!

Yes I have been out of high school for almost 20 years! Isn’t that in its self CRAZY!! I know!!

Anyways… Upcycling! It’s fun and I made this! And my dad kept it all these years, until he recently thought my kiddos would love it! And he was right! It is now the kids play table! Actually it was until Shawnikins thought it was a step stool and stepped on it, and broke one of the legs off… It’s just propped up for these photos… its fixable, I hope…!

Anyways enough disclosing my mosaic mirror table top life story, and onto the tutorial!

MATERIALS NEEDED TO MAKE A MOSAIC MIRROR TABLE TOP

NOTE: You could use this mosaic technique to cover any surface really. Such as a Frame, Vase, Clock, Fridge (lol), even a Backsplash (if you are the funky type).

• A Table (This table was actually the bottom level of a three level side table stand. I just removed the other layers. It does not matter what condition the table top is in as you will be covering it)
• A Large Mirror
• An Old Pillow Case or Large Old Towel (it will get trashed)
• Hammer
• Pre-Mixed White Tile Grout (or any colour that you like)
• Grout Spreader
• Damp Rag
• Protective Gloves

METHOD TO MAKE A MOSAIC MIRROR TABLE TOP

Step 1: Put your mirror inside a pillow case (or inside a towel) and smash it with a hammer. Keep Smashing it till you have the size of pieces that you wish!

Step 2: Spread some of the Pre-Mixed Tile Grout onto the table top in a thin layer (just enough to hold your pieces in place, and only in the area that you are working on. (You could use some fast drying glue if you prefer).

Don’t cover the whole table in the grout otherwise it will dry before even get half of your pieces laid down).

Then carefully place your broken pieces of mirror onto the grout while leaving a small space between each piece, just keep placing them in a puzzle like fashion until you cover your whole table top.

Don’t put your mirror pieces right to the edge (this prevents sharp edges on your table).

NOTE: You could wear some protective gloves to prevent cutting your fingers on the sharp glass shards. I think I cut myself a few times… but it was worth it. Lol!

Step 3: When you grout holding your pieces in place has dried, spread your Pre-Mixed Tile Grout all over your project making sure that all your cracks are completely filled with grout. I believe I used a spatula to apply the grout (Lol), but you can use anything that spreads things or… a Grout Spreader! (Probably not called a grout spreader?!?!)

Make sure you spread your grout on the edges of the top of your table top too (not the sides of your table), and make sure none of the sharp mirrored edges and poking out (a safe table is a good table!).

Step 4: Use a Damp rag to wipe all the excess grout off, so that your mirrored pieces tops are completely cleaned off.

Step 5: Let your project dry!! and you are DONE!!

NOTE: I did finish the table off by painting the edge and legs of the table after the top dried. Now-a-days I wouldn’t have chosen the colours that I did almost 20 years ago… I think the edge and legs would look super cute painted a shiny rose gold!! What do you think??

TEA PARTY TIME!

Enjoy! If you make a mosaic mirror table top in a kids size, you could set up a fun tea party on it!!

When Ivy woke up from her nap she declared it was HER BIRTHDAY! (not her birthday)…

Just her cupcake that she didn’t finish at her besties Aubree’s birthday this weekend!!

Thanks so much Aubree!!! YAY for tea party cupcakes!!! They just ate the tops off!

Kids!

I hope this upcycle project inspires you to take something old and make it fun again! This would be a cute way to change up some of your old home decor and put a funky spin on it!

You can upcycle lots of different materials to make a mosaic out of, if you are not into the mirrored look.

Items that you could smash and use instead include:

• Plates
• CDs
• Tiles
• Coloured Glass (Glass bottles)

Items that don’t need to be smashed to use include:

• Rocks
• Pennies
• Corks
• Marbles
• Collected Sea Glass
• Sea Shells

Let me know if you can think of other fun objects that could be used in a fun mosaic pattern!

Until next time, enjoy finding ways to upcycle the objects in your life, and create beautiful things everyday!

XO JCL

P.S. Here is a link to some more of my DIY home decor projects!

P.P.S. Here are some links to product like the ones used in this tutorial, that can be found on Amazon!