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How to Update Mirrored Built-ins with Paint and Peel and Stick Wallpaper

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You guys!  I thought I was excited about the limewash stone fireplace makeover I completed last month, but I think I’m even more excited about how I updated the flanking mirrored built-ins with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.  

Amazing! Previously dated 1970s mirror-backed built-in bookcases got a fresh new look with paint and removable wallpaper. See how she used grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper to hide the mirrors, and Behr Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray to paint these bookcases pretty!

This makeover totally transformed the look and feel of my living room in my new home!

And . . bonus . . it was very budget friendly.

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In case you haven’t been following my progress on Instagram, here is what one of the mirrored built-ins looked like after the fireplace makeover but before I got to work.  So reflective.

Before these dated 1970s mirrored built-in bookcases got a makeover, they were an eyesore with thin trim and mirrored backs!

I started by ripping off the top piece of trim on each built-in, simply because I thought it was a little flimsy and I wanted it to be a bit more substantial.  

To updated 1970s built-ins, she removed the top piece of trim, which was too thin.

Once that trim was down, I built craftsman-style headers with two 1×2 pieces of lumber and one 1×4 piece of lumber per header.  I used this tutorial for building craftsman window trim as a guide, but modified the tutorial to just use my trusty Ryobi brad nailer instead of screws.  Much easier, in my humble opinion.

To update 1970s built-in bookcases, she built a new craftsman-style header.

And yes, I did all of the building myself.  I also installed them myself, though my husband held them in place while I nailed them up so they wouldn’t move out of place.  (If you do this please make sure to find studs to nail into!)

To update 1970s built-in bookcases, she built a craftsman-style header and attached it to the top of the built-ins.

Once I had the new headers on the built-ins, they already looked nicer!  

To update 1970's mirrored built-ins, she built a new craftsman-style header for the built-ins.

Next, I removed the shelves from the built-ins and admired myself in the mirrors.  It was wonderful. (ha!)  Then I primed the built-ins and the shelves.  I used the same Multi-Surface Primer that I used on my painted marble fireplace hearth, and I’m so glad I did because the shelves had A LOT of stains.

To prime 1970s oak built-ins, she used Behr Multi-Surface primer.

I set up folding tables all over my house and painted away.  My family wasn’t really thrilled but I told them sometimes you have to suffer for beauty.

When priming built-in shelves, she set out folding tables to have plenty of space for painting.

After priming, I painted with Behr’s new Cabinet & Trim Enamel paint in Manchester Gray.  I plan to paint my kitchen cabinets, so I wanted to give this product a test run in here first.     

Behr's Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray was used to update these 1970s built-in bookcases.

The Cabinet & Trim Enamel was a great paint to work with.  It had very little odor, covered well, and self-leveled nicely (meaning fewer brush strokes).    

As part of a makeover of these 1970s mirrored built-ins, she painted the wood portions with Behr Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray.

I used a synthetic brush to paint it on, as well as a 1/4″ nap foam roller to roll it on wider swaths of the built-ins as well as the shelves.  To efficiently paint built-in bookcase shelves, she set out numerous folding tables as painting stations.

It took two coats of paint (plus the primer) to cover the old oak bookcases. 

If you don’t have mirrored built-ins, this is where your project can end!  Unfortunately for me, I had a lot more work to do.

I let the paint cure for a few days, and then I got to work covering the mirrors with peel and stick wallpaper.

My original plan was to cover large foam boards with fabric and rest those foam boards in the backs of the shelves, but for some reason I changed my mind and chose to use this grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper instead. 

I am going to write an entire post on covering mirrors with removable wallpaper (because it is a process!), so for now I will fast forward to the good stuff and show you how that self-adhesive wallpaper looks in my newly re-finished built-ins!  (P.S. you may notice we removed the carpet and had new floors installed – more on our choice of luxury vinyl plank soon! And yes, we don’t have baseboards up yet!)

These 1970s mirrored built-in bookcases got a gorgeous makeover with cabinet paint and peel and stick wallpaper! Grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper is a beautiful way to cover mirrors.

Outdated 1970s built-ins got a new look with cabinet paint and peel and stick wallpaper. You won't believe the transformation.

Totally different, huh?  So much less shiny!  

Dated 1970s mirrored built-ins got a gorgeous update with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.

Do you need a BEFORE photo to remind you where I started?  (I think you do!)  

This is the before of this blogger's stone fireplace and mirrored built-ins. See the after - you won't believe it!

Quite a difference!  Dated 1970s bookcases got a beautiful update with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.Peel and stick wallpaper covers mirrored backs of built-ins from the 1970s.

Instead of being an eyesore, these built-ins are now a perfect place for me to display my thrifted and vintage finds, family photos, and other little decor items I love.

Formerly an eyesore, these built-ins are now beautiful with a fresh coat of paint and peel and stick wallpaper to hide the mirrored backs.

The baskets on the bottom are also a perfect place to store blankets and other random junk I don’t want out on display!

Grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper covers mirrored backs in these 1970s built-ins.

I’m proud to say that those two baskets are the only new things I bought to style these shelves, as I had everything else already.  Yay for being fiscally responsible! 🙂

If you have dated built-ins that could use some new personality, give this a try!  At the very least, paint will work wonders.

-Bre

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