Scavenger Chic

Upcycled Salad Bowl Belted Mirror DIY

• By Joan
• February 9, 2022
• 3 Comments

Upcycled Salad Bowl, Belted Mirror DIY

I have another thrift store upcycle for you today.  This time I’m working with an old salad bowl. Besides the salad bowl you’ll also need a craft mirror that fits inside your bowl, upholstery tacks, glue, paint and an old leather belt. 

What we’re going for today is a belted mirror,  a mirror, hung by a belt, used for wall decor. Once you have all your supplies, I think you’ll find this a super easy project.

Paint the salad bowl with black chalk paint.

Because chalk paint leaves a very flat, chalky, finish, I would recommend finishing the paint with either a clear wax or antique wax.   Paint on and rub off the excess with a rag. Use the wax sparingly, the rag will spread the wax quite a bit.

When the wax is dry buff with fine steel wool.

Attach a craft mirror to the center of the salad bowl with construction adhesive.

You can find various sized round mirrors at your local craft store.  This 10″ mirror is from Hobby Lobby and is technically a candle holder.  It’s a little thicker than your normal craft mirror and also has a beveled edge.  It goes on sale at Hobby Lobby, 1/2 price, every other week. 

Everybody has seen the traditional upholstery tack on the left, but did you know they also come in 3/4″ (center) and 1″ (right).  The middle tacks were perfect for this past mirror makeover.

I had bought the 1 inch tacks for that project, but they were too large so now I have a perfect chance to use them.

If I had left the tacks as is, they would have gone thru the salad bowl and stuck out on the inside of the bowl.  I ended up chopping off half the stem with wire cutters.

Use a belt that is long enough to go around your salad bowl with enough left over for buckling and hanging.

I checked out hubbies supply of belts first, he lucked out, his weren’t long enough.  This black belt was a  $3 thrift store find.

Because I chopped off some of the length of the tack they didn’t hold as well as they should.  A little E6000 clear adhesive underneath the belt holds everything in place.  The small squeeze clamp held the belt in place until the glue dried.

If you have a  gap between the mirror and the edge of the salad bowl, and you don’t like that look, you may consider a rope for a nautical look or wooden beads.

I needed a hanger that protruded from the wall so the mirror would hang flat.

I didn’t have anything fancy in stock but I did have a curtain rod bracket. That’ll work for now.

My husband didn’t realize that belted mirrors were a thing.  Let me assure you that they are popular right now.  Check out this google search.

As always, until next time, stay inspired and start shopping for salad bowls.

This was not my first salad bowl makeover.  It looks like I find a usable wooden salad bowl about every year and a half.

I  always check the wood accessory aisle at my local thrift store.

Salad Bowl Mirror

Wood Salad Bowl Makeover

Salad Bowl Pendant Light

Related posts:

Easy Thrift Store Makeovers with White Chalk Paint Thrift Store Lazy Susan Thrift Store Mirror Makeover with Plaster Lath Thrifted Dining Chair Makeover DIY