DIY & Crafts

DIY Anthropologie Mirror Dupe, Under $50

By Liz Lovery · Updated June 30, 2026

There was a period of a few years when the Anthropologie Gleaming Primrose Mirror was basically unavoidable. It kept showing up on every mood board, every “home inspo” Pinterest save, every “sources please” comment section. And honestly? It deserves the attention. It’s a gorgeous piece. But the price tag is a hard no. The 3-foot version is about $500. The 7-foot version is $1,600. I love it, but not that much.

I had a mirror sitting in the corner of a room doing nothing, a basic rectangle I’d held onto for years, and I decided to see if I could replicate the look from scratch for a fraction of the cost. A few hours and $50 later, I had something I’m genuinely obsessed with. It pairs beautifully with the kind of warm, layered accent wall ideas I’ve been leaning into lately. The gold finish reads as intentional, not crafty.

Below is everything you need, the exact steps I took, and all the little details that make the difference between a dupe that looks cheap and one that looks like a design decision.

What is the Anthropologie Gleaming Primrose Mirror?

The Gleaming Primrose Mirror is one of Anthropologie’s most iconic home pieces — a heavily ornate, gold-leaf frame with carved floral and scrollwork detailing that gives it an antique European feel. It’s available in multiple sizes, with the most popular being a tall arched version designed to lean against a wall or sit on top of a dresser. The detailing on the frame is what drives the price: real carved or cast frames like that are expensive to produce.

The DIY version works because the ornate look comes almost entirely from the surface of the frame, not the structure. Wooden appliques (pre-carved decorative shapes you can buy online or at a craft store) glued to a basic frame and spray-painted gold read nearly identically to the real thing from any normal viewing distance.

What materials do you need for the DIY Anthropologie mirror?

The supply list is short and inexpensive. The only place you might spend a little more is on the appliques, and even those are a few dollars each. Here’s everything I used:

Materials

• A mirror — I used one I already had (a basic rectangle). If you don’t have one to repurpose, check your local thrift store first. If you want the arched shape of the Anthropologie original, look near the dresser section — that style of mirror is often sold as a dresser-top piece.
• Gorilla Glue — regular Gorilla Glue, not super glue. It expands slightly as it cures, which helps it grip irregular surfaces.
• Painter’s tape
• 6 spring clamps — to hold the appliques in place while the glue sets.
• 4 wooden appliques for the corners — decorative carved wood pieces. Look for corner appliques with scrollwork or floral detailing to match the Anthropologie look.
• 1 wooden applique for the top — a larger centerpiece applique with a peak or crest shape works best.
• Gold metallic spray paint — I used a warm, true gold (not brass, not champagne). This is the most important material choice; the shade of gold determines how close the dupe reads to the original.
• A towel or poster board — to protect the mirror glass during the spray paint step.
• Gloves — non-negotiable for the Gorilla Glue step. It will permanently stain skin and clothing.
• Measuring tape

Where to find the appliques: craft stores (Hobby Lobby, Michaels) carry them in the woodworking or unfinished wood section. You can also find a wide selection online: search "wood appliques for furniture" or "wood onlays corners." Decorative appliques are also sometimes sold at antique stores or estate sales as replacement pieces for furniture.

How to make a DIY Anthropologie mirror, step by step

The build has eight steps, but most of the time is just waiting for things to dry. Active hands-on time is under an hour. Here’s exactly how I did it.

Step 1: Clean the mirror

Wipe down the entire mirror, glass and frame, before you do anything else. Any dust, oil, or residue on the frame will interfere with how the Gorilla Glue bonds. A dry cloth works fine; just make sure the frame is completely clean and dry before you move on.

Step 2: Cover the mirror & tape the corners

Before any glue or spray paint comes out, protect the mirror glass. Lay a towel or poster board over the glass and tape it down around the edges of the frame with painter’s tape. This step takes two minutes and will save you from having to scrape dried glue or overspray off the mirror at the end. Do not skip it.

Step 3: Measure the top of the mirror & mark the center

Run your measuring tape across the top edge of the frame and mark the exact center point with a small pencil mark. This is where the top applique will be centered. Getting this right matters — an off-center top piece is the most visible mistake in the finished product.

Step 4: Glue the top center applique

The Gleaming Primrose has a peak at the top, so the top applique should extend slightly above the frame rather than sitting flush with it. Apply Gorilla Glue only to the bottom third of the applique, the part that will actually contact the frame. Gluing the part that extends above will cause drips with no surface to hold them.

Press it into place centered on your mark, then use two spring clamps to hold the sides down. Check with your measuring tape that both sides are even. Wear gloves and an apron for this step. Gorilla Glue will permanently ruin clothing and is extremely difficult to remove from skin.

Step 5: Attach the four corner appliques

Using the same method as Step 4, glue all four corner appliques. I let about 1/4 inch of each corner piece extend off the frame to add a little more shape and dimension. This is optional, but it makes the finished piece look more substantial. Just make sure you’re not applying glue to the parts that won’t contact the frame, or you’ll have visible dried glue on the finished product.

Step 6: Let it dry for 2.5 hours — with a touchup at the one-hour mark

This step is more active than it sounds. Set a timer for one hour. When it goes off, take a dry paper towel and carefully clean up any glue that has dripped or expanded out from under the appliques. Gorilla Glue expands as it cures, and if you wait until it’s fully hardened to remove the excess, it won’t come off cleanly. The one-hour touchup is what gives you a clean, professional finish.

After the touchup, let everything continue to dry for another 1.5 hours until fully cured.

Step 7: Spray paint

Once the glue is fully dry, it’s time for the transformation. Lay a blanket or tarp under the mirror, or work outside. Spray the gold metallic spray paint over the entire frame: the original frame, the appliques, and all the edges. You want even, full coverage so everything reads as one unified surface.

Apply in thin, even coats and let each coat dry before adding another. Once you’re happy with the coverage, let the final coat dry for approximately 1.5 hours.

Step 8: Remove the tape & mirror protector

Once the paint is completely dry, carefully peel off the painter’s tape and remove the towel or poster board from the glass. Your mirror is done. You can hang it, lean it, or display it on a dresser just like the original.

What does the finished DIY Anthropologie mirror look like?

Honestly? It looks like it cost significantly more than $50. The combination of the applique detailing and the warm gold paint is what sells it. Once the whole frame is the same color, the seams between the appliques and the original frame disappear. It reads as one continuous carved piece.

I styled ours leaning against the wall in the entryway, the same nook that got the wood slat wall treatment. The gold frame against the dark stained slats is a combination I’d do again without hesitation. A gold mirror reads as expensive in almost any setting; this one just happens to be $450 cheaper than the version that inspired it.

How much does this DIY Anthropologie mirror cost?

The entire project cost me under $50, and most of that was the appliques. Here’s roughly how it breaks down:

• Mirror: $0 (I already had it). Thrift store mirrors typically run $5–$20.
• Wooden appliques (5 total): $15–$25 depending on size and where you buy them
• Gorilla Glue: ~$7
• Gold spray paint: ~$8–$12
• Painter’s tape + spring clamps: ~$5–$10 if you don’t already have them

Even buying everything new, you’re looking at $50 or under, compared to $500 for the 3-foot Anthropologie original. The savings are real, and you get the added satisfaction of having made it yourself.

DIY Anthropologie mirror FAQ

What kind of glue works best for attaching wood appliques to a mirror frame?

Gorilla Glue is the best option for this project. It expands slightly as it cures, which helps it fill any small gaps between the applique and the frame surface. Make sure to apply it only to the surfaces that will make contact with the frame, and have clamps ready to hold everything in place while it sets.

Do I need a specific type of mirror for this DIY?

No. Any mirror with a frame wide enough to glue the appliques to will work. A basic rectangle is completely fine. That's what I used. If you want the arched look of the Anthropologie original, look for a dresser mirror at a thrift store. Arched mirrors are typically sold as dresser-top mirrors and are often very affordable secondhand.

What gold spray paint should I use for the Anthropologie mirror dupe?

Use a warm, true gold metallic spray paint. Avoid brass-toned golds (which pull yellow-green) and champagne golds (which pull too pale). The Anthropologie original has a warm antique gold tone, so a metallic gold that leans slightly warm and slightly aged reads closest to it. Test on a scrap piece of wood first if you're not sure.

How do I keep the appliques even on both sides?

Measure carefully. After you place the top applique, use your measuring tape to confirm the distance from each end of the applique to the edge of the frame is equal on both sides before the glue sets. For the corner pieces, measure the distance from the corner for each one so they're placed symmetrically. Taking an extra two minutes to measure saves you from noticing it's off after the paint dries.

Can I do this DIY with a frameless mirror?

It's possible but significantly harder. Gorilla Glue bonds best when it has a surface with some texture to grip. A frameless mirror has polished edges, which are much more difficult to adhere to reliably. If you want to use a frameless mirror, consider adding a thin wood border first and gluing the appliques to that instead.

How long does the whole DIY Anthropologie mirror project take?

Plan for a full afternoon. The active work is under an hour, but the glue cure time is 2.5 hours (with a required touchup at the one-hour mark), and the spray paint needs another 1.5 hours to dry fully. Don't rush either drying step — they're what determine the quality of the finished product.