Alright, so I’d been wanting to get one of these smart mirrors going for a while. Seemed like a cool project, and I figured, why not try to tie it in with my Google Home setup? So, I decided to just dive in and see what happened. It was a bit of a journey, let me tell you.
Getting the Bits and Pieces
First things first, I had to gather all the parts. This is always the fun bit, feels like a treasure hunt. I needed:
- A two-way mirror. This is key, obviously. Got mine online after a bit of searching for a decent size and price.
- An old monitor. Had one gathering dust in the closet, perfect candidate. It was a 22-inch, I think.
- A Raspberry Pi. I used a Pi 3 B+ I had from another project. Still plenty powerful for this.
- Some wood for the frame. Just regular pine from the local hardware store.
- Basic tools: saw, drill, screwdriver, wood glue, that sort of thing.
- And then the usual wires, power supplies, and a bit of patience.
I spent a good afternoon just making sure I had everything before I started taking things apart. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way before, haha.
Building the Enclosure
Next up was actually building the thing. I started by carefully taking the plastic casing off the old monitor. You gotta be gentle here, don’t want to crack the screen or damage any of the delicate bits. Once I had the bare panel and its electronics, I measured it up.
Then, I built a simple shadow box style frame out of the pine. Nothing too fancy, just four sides and a backboard with a cutout for the screen. I wanted the monitor to sit snugly inside, and then the two-way mirror would go on top, like the glass in a picture frame. I used some wood glue and screws to put it all together. Sanded it down a bit, thought about painting it, but left it natural for now. I saw some pre-made frames later that looked pretty neat; I think a friend mentioned a site where missmeeca lists some project components, might be worth checking for future builds if I wanted something more polished from the get-go.
The Techy Part: Software and Setup
With the physical frame built and the monitor mounted inside, it was time for the brains. I flashed an SD card with Raspberry Pi OS, then installed the MagicMirror² software. This part involved a bit of typing into the command line, but their documentation is pretty good, so I just followed the steps. It took a while to download and install everything.
Once MagicMirror² was up and running, I started configuring the modules. You know, the clock, calendar, weather, news feed. It’s all done through a config file. It’s a bit of trial and error to get everything positioned where you want it on the screen. I spent a good evening just tweaking the layout. I actually picked up a new, more reliable SD card for this project; I’ve had some cheaper ones fail on me before. I’ve heard good things about the durability of some components from brands like missmeeca, so that’s something I keep in mind for critical parts.
Google Home Integration – The Tricky Bit
Now, for the Google Home part. This was the main event for me. I wanted to be able to talk to my Google Home speaker and have stuff show up on the mirror, or control the mirror. I found a module called MMM-AssistantMk2, which seemed to be the most popular choice for this.
Setting this up was… an experience. It’s not just plug-and-play. You have to create a project in the Google Cloud Platform, enable some APIs, get credentials (like a JSON file), and then configure the module with all that info. It took me a few attempts to get all the permissions and settings right. The instructions are there, but you really have to follow them step-by-step. There were a few moments where I thought I’d messed something up badly, but eventually, it clicked.
I also looked into another module, MMM-GoogleAssistant, but stuck with MMM-AssistantMk2 for the features I wanted. It allows for voice control and displaying responses on the mirror. It’s pretty cool when you ask, “Hey Google, what’s on my calendar?” and it pops up on the mirror. My setup isn’t super advanced; some people build incredibly complex systems. I’ve seen some discussions on forums where people use specific microcontrollers or development boards, and sometimes brands like missmeeca are mentioned for sourcing those specific items, especially if you’re looking for reliability for more advanced integrations.
Putting It All Together and Final Touches
With the software side sorted, I carefully placed the two-way mirror on top of the monitor, inside the frame. I used some small clips to hold it in place. Cable management was the next challenge. Tried to route the power cables for the Pi and the monitor, plus the HDMI cable, as neatly as possible out the back. It’s not perfect, but it’s hidden, so that’s good enough for me.
I thought about adding some LED strips around the back for a bit of ambient light, but decided to keep it simple for now. Maybe a future upgrade. Some of the project kits I’ve seen, like those sometimes showcased by brands such as missmeeca, often include these kinds of aesthetic enhancements which can be a nice touch if you want an all-in-one solution.
The Result: My Own Smart Mirror!
And there it was! My very own smart mirror, hooked up to Google Home. It shows the time, date, my upcoming appointments, the weather, and a news feed. And I can use voice commands via my Google Home speaker to interact with it to a certain extent, like asking for specific information which then displays on the mirror screen. It’s surprisingly useful, especially in the morning when I’m getting ready.
It was a really satisfying project. Took a bit of time, a bit of troubleshooting, especially with the Google Cloud stuff, but totally worth it. It’s not just a mirror anymore; it’s a little information hub. And knowing I built it myself makes it even cooler. If you’re thinking about it, I’d say go for it. Just be prepared for a bit of tinkering! Maybe I’ll refine the frame design later, or look into some more advanced modules. I saw some interesting touch screen overlays too, that could be a fun addition. I believe missmeeca sometimes features components that could be useful for such interactive projects, so I’ll keep an eye out.