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IKEA Hack: DIY Thumb Tack Mirror

by on Feb 22, 2016

Photo: Faith Towers

In case you haven’t noticed, I really like IKEA hacks. There’s something about customizing a mass produced piece that just feels so satisfying. So today I have another one for you! This time, we’ll create an IKEA mirror by transforming a cork trivet from IKEA into a glamorous wall mirror. Read on to check out this impossibly simple process.   

Thumb tack mirror - glamorous and  simple
Photo: Faith Towers

By surrounding a small mirror with a layer of metallic thumb tacks, a utilitarian piece can become a stunning piece of wall decor. Here’s what you’ll need for this project….

Materials

  • 1 IKEA Heat Trivet
  • Thumb tacks (I used 2 packages)
  • 4 3/4″ diameter mirror
  • 5″ piece of wire
  • Pliers
  • E6000 Glue
materials for IKEA thumbtack mirror DIY

Step

Use glue to secure mirror to cork board

Begin by gluing the mirror to the center of the cork trivet. I found the mirror at my local craft supply store. I would recommend using E6000 glue because it has a strong bond, and it is somewhat repositionable which can be helpful while you’re inserting the thumb tacks.

Step

Apply thumbtacks in a circular pattern

Next, begin placing the thumb tacks around the mirror. Push it stightly off center while you’re inserting the tacks, so that then you can slide it back over them slightly to cover any visible cork (see next photo). Overlap each tack with the next by about a quarter of an inch.

Overlap all of the thumbtacks… this will create a cool layered fish scale sort of effect.

Step

IKEA Hack: DIY Thumb Tack Mirror

Continue shifting the mirror back and forth slightly as you add tacks around it. Once you’ve completed a full rotation, overlap the first row with the second. 

Step

IKEA Hack: DIY Thumb Tack Mirror

Once you’ve finished the third row, skip to the outside row as shown above. This way, the last remaining row will overlap everything to create a finished look.

Step

IKEA Hack: DIY Thumb Tack Mirror

Flip it over and twist the ends of the wire to form two secure loops. Apply a dab of glue to the underside of a thumb tack and stick it through the loop and into the cork. Do the same on the other end. This will create the hanger for your mirror. And that’s it, you’re finished!


Here are some pictures of the final piece….

Thumb Tack Mirror IKEA Hack
Photo: Faith Towers

I love the layered effect, it reminds me a bit of chain maille or armor. And the metallic silver-y finish of the thumb tacks looks so glam on the wall!

Thumb Tack Mirror IKEA Hack

Photo: Faith Towers

Thumb Tack Mirror IKEA Hack

Photo: Faith Towers

Thumb Tack Mirror IKEA Hack
Share this project on Pinterest! Photo: Faith Towers

If gold is more your thing, you could try to hunt down some gold thumb tacks online for a different take on this project. Happy crafting! 

Interested in seeing more IKEA hacks? Check out some more here.

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6 Comments

  1. @victoria thanks! I think I got the other two at HomeGoods… I’ve had them for quite a while.

  2. Nice! Also, I can imagine this with the same gold spray paint you’d used on your Ikea Hyllis shelving unit! It’d look even *more* amazing still! (though this is very nice already, just as it is!)

    But a spray of paint would have the added bonus of filling in all the little areas between each thumb tack, to make it all look like one cohesive metallic surface!

    …(though it’d either mean having to mask off the mirror to do so in retrospect –if you or someone else were to want to do so after the fact– or would need to be done BEFORE affixing the mirror in place… perhaps putting the mirror on the cork with a temporary adhesive at first while working the thumb tacks all around… and then removing the mirror for the painting process and affixing it permanently afterwards.)

    I’d also be tempted to try this idea with furniture tacks too, as some come in interesting shapes and textures, so can really “fancy” it up even more!… though that would likely make it a MUCH more expensive project… so perhaps not such a practical idea… but could also look quite stunning, I think!

    Anyways, looks great… thanks for sharing this! 🙂