DIY Rope Mirror: A Restoration Hardware Inspired IKEA Hack
When I planned my son’s nursery I had only one item on my wish list, Restoration Hardware’s Iron & Rope Mirror. The problem? It cost more than I budgeted for the entire room. However, with a quick trip to the hardware store and another one to the Swedish retail giant, I was in business.
When I checked out the RH mirror in person and saw that the eye hook anchors and rope only played a decorative role, I began to think about how I could recreate the look using everyday materials. I’m not a welder, so I wrote off the idea of forging my own iron band and welding iron eye hooks directly to the frame…probably a good idea given that I was nine months pregnant at the time. Instead, I opted for ready made industrial size eye hooks, thick rope, and an Ikea mirror. Originally I planned to spray paint the mirror and eye hooks black for an iron look, but I decided to just stick with the silver since it had a better contrast with the navy blue walls.
Total Cost:just under $50
Total Time:after gathering supplies the whole process too about 30 minutes (and I washugelypregnant, so you could probably knock it out in 15-20)
Tools & Supplies:
• IKEA’s GRUNDTAL stainless steel framed mirror: $29.99
• Rope (sold by the foot): $8.00
• Large Eye Hooks: $4.00
• Door knob: already owned, free
• Glue: already owned, free
• 3, 1/2 inch nails: already owned, free
• Picture hanging wire: already owned, free
• Picture hanging hook: already owned, free
• Wax Cord: already owned, free (you can find it in the jewelry-making section of a craft store)
• Drill
• Hammer
• Screw driver
Process:
• First I attached heavy duty picture wire to the back of the mirror, and secured a heavy duty picture hook to the wall (it’s not an especially heavy mirror, but since it’s in a child’s room I went the better safe than sorry route)
• Next I hung the mirror, and measured a half an inch on either side where I marked where I wanted each eye hook to go
• Then I measured 1 foot directly above the center of the mirror where I marked the spot where I wanted the top of the rope to hit
• Then I took the mirror off the wall, pre-drilled holes, and then screwed the eye hooks into the wall
• Next I screwed a regular screw into the wall at the place I had marked for the top of the rope to hit
• After— this was my aha! moment, thought out as I was already halfway into the process— I filled the cavity of an antique doorknob with glue and placed it over the screw in the wall (purely decorative, the doorknob doesn’t actually hold any weight, just masks the screw like a cover)
• After, I tied the rope to one eye hook, draped the middle section of the rope over the doorknob , gently pulled the rope taught, then tied the other end of the rope to the remaining eye hook.
• For looks and to ensure the semi-loose knots did not unravel, I wrapped black wax cord around the end of each knot.
• I didn’t like how the rope sagged, so I hammered a small nail through the center of the rope on each side of the mirror which held the rope in place. I simply pulled one strand of the rope over the nail head to mask it so it isn’t visible to the eye.
• Lastly, I hung the mirror on the picture hook.
It’s a small nursery, under 8′ x 7′, so the large mirror makes a big statement and does a lot to open up the room, and the rope adds great texture. My son is named partly after my grandfather, who was a sailor, so I like to think of the slightly nautical look of the mirror as a nod to him.Plus, he was a frugal and industrious man which makes me think he’d be on board with the $600-saving hack.
Images:Leah Moss,Restoration Hardware