Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

Looking for the perfect DIY project to get keep you busy while waiting for spring? We've found a great way to add some spice to a simple and inexpensive mirror! We recently paired with DIY enthusiast Summer Scott to bring you this DIY Cement Tile Mirror!

Ready to get to work? Follow the step-by-step guide in this video.

Want to skip the process? Check out the final product on Summer's Instagram here.

DIY RECIPE #1: CEMENT TILE MIRROR

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• Lili Cement Tiles (Size: 6 x 6 | Pattern: Sabine) – You may need more or fewer tiles depending on the size of your mirror. Summer gathered 24 tiles of our Sabine pattern, but you can explore a variety of patterns on our website (even better, make your own!)

• Full-Length Mirror - You can use any mirror size you want!

• Plywood Board – This material can be found at HomeDepot or Lowes (or any hardware store near you).

• Loctite Power Grad Construction Adhesive – This is used to glue the mirror onto the plywood.

• Zeus’ Tile Sealer and Poseidon’s Tile Primer by Tile Armor – All LiLi Cement tiles must be sealed after installation and before grouting. We strongly suggest using this brand for the best protection. (Yep, proven and tested!)

• Check out our Installation Guide for more details on how to set up and install tiles.

• Sponge paint roller – This is used for sealing the tiles.

• Custom AcrylPro Ceramic Tile Adhesive – It is used to glue the tiles to the plywood board.

• Metal Trowel – It is used to place the adhesive for the tiles on the plywood.

• Mapei Flexcolor CQ Grout

• Rubber grout float – This material is for the grout.

• Damp Sponge

HOW TO DO IT:

1. Place the mirror on the plywood with the tiles surrounding it to check the fitting of materials and get an idea of how the finished product will look like.

2. Using a small rolling sponge, seal each tile with Original Sealer by Dryteat.

3. Use a pencil to trace the outline of the mirror onto the plywood.

4. Using a heavy-duty adhesive like Loctite Construction Adhesive (any other heavy-duty adhesive like Liquid Nails will work too), place the mirror on top of the adhesive, and press down gently. 

5. Place the tiles around the mirror. Working one at a time, take a tile off and place some Ceramic Tile Adhesive onto the plywood, using a metal trowel to spread it around. Place the tile back onto the adhesive and move it back and forth gently against the grooves to get it to adhere to the plywood before holding it in place. Repeat this step for each tile.

6. Let the adhesive dry. The ideal drying time is around 24 to 48 hours.

7. Place grout on the tiles. Get a bucket of water ready, dampen your sponge, and wet the tiles slightly before applying the grout (this will help you wipe off the excess grout). Using the rubber grout float, cover the cracks between the tiles and scrape the excess grout off. Go back in with your damp sponge and wipe all of the excess grout off. Work in small sections (one or two tiles at a time).

*Tip - If you do not wipe all the grout off with the sponge and it dries on the tiles, you can get the grout off using 220 sandpaper and water. Just make sure you use water, or else the sandpaper can scratch the tiles.