How to Paint a Mirror Finish on a Wall

Painting your walls with high-gloss paint is the closest thing to a mirror finish available without actually covering the wall with glass. The key to a mirror finish on your wall using high gloss lies in the wall preparation. Any imperfections on the wall will appear magnified beneath a coat of shiny, glossy paint. To achieve a mirror-like finish, take the necessary time and steps to prepare the walls before you open the paint.

Fill any nail holes in the wall with drywall compound, wood filler or plaster and a putty knife. Let the wall filler dry completely, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Lightly sand the filled areas and any other areas of imperfection on the wall with light-grade sandpaper. Look for previous paint runs, paint cracks and any raised imperfections. Make sure to sand any product used to fill holes flush with the wall.

Clean the walls with an all-purpose cleaner to remove any grease or grime. Let the walls dry completely.

Tape the edge of the ceiling where it meets the wall with painter’s tape. Tape along the top rim of the floor molding with painter’s tape. Tape around the window and door moldings with painter’s tape.

Pour primer into a plastic container. Never dip a paintbrush or paint roller directly into the paint container to avoid contamination. Brush a line of primer onto the wall areas adjacent to all taped areas using a 2 1/2-inch-wide paintbrush. This is called cutting in.

Pour primer into a paint tray. Roll primer onto the wall. The roller should slightly overlap the cut in areas. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and allow the primer to dry completely.

Follow the process to cut in the areas adjacent to the painter’s tape with high-gloss paint. Roll the same high-gloss paint on the wall. Let the paint dry completely, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Follow the process to apply a second coat of high-gloss paint onto the wall to achieve a mirror-like finish. Let the paint dry before decorating the wall.