DIY Rattan Mirror
I've been wanting to create a DIY rattan mirror for a while but rattan reeds are only manageable up until a certain thickness. Larger reeds, like the kind used to make furniture, are hard to bend even if properly soaked! Was that going to stop me from making a rattan mirror? Of course not, if something doesn’t work, you start looking for workarounds!
I tried a few designs and materials and finally landed on the right one. Guess what, it’s not rattan, it’s raffia AKA “faux” rattan because the overall look is very similar! So grab a bunch of natural raffia and read on to find out how to make a rattan mirror (the easy way)!
All you need for this DIY is some raffia and a round mirror.
Start by twisting a small bunch of raffia, applying dots of hot glue as you twist. This method will create a twisted rope that doesn’t unravel so it’s much easier to work with.
Once you have enough rope to go around the mirror, continue twisting one end of the rope for about 2″ (5cm) making sure to bend the rope up, like in the pictures above.
Next, twist the other end of the rope, also bending it up at first for 4″ (10cm). Once you’ve reached 4″, start twisting the rope and shaping it into a loop for another 4 or 5″. This is the shape of the mirror frame handle!
Now that you’ve completed the larger frame, start twisting a smaller bunch of raffia strands to create the inner frame. I made a rope that was about 1/4″ thick (5 or 6mm). This one doesn’t have a handle, it’s a simple frame that goes around the mirror.
To glue the outer frame, apply a small line of glue right at the edge of the mirror. Press the frame into the glue and hold it for a few seconds. Next, glue the inner frame. This will cover up any visible glue from the larger frame. Once you’ve glued the small frame around the mirror, cut the end short and glue it in place.
Feel free to check out my DIY Rattan Mirror post if you need detailed step-by-step pictures!
Finally, to finish the handle, glue a few strands of raffia to the back of the handle. Wrap the strands around a few times then secure them with some glue and cut them short.
You can also apply some wood stain to darken your raffia if you find it too light.
And voila! A faux rattan mirror made from natural materials to bring a touch of Boho to your decor, and for the fraction of the cost!
Find me on Pinterest for more DIY and Home Decoration ideas!
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Carole White on Apr 30, 2021
This is really cute...great idea! Thanks for sharing
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Is anything done to the backside of the mirror?