So, you’re thinking about a smart mirror, huh? Or maybe even considering one that’s “for sale.” Let me tell you, it’s a bit of a ride if you decide to go down the rabbit hole of making one yourself, which is kinda how I ended up here.
My First Foray into Mirror Magic
I didn’t set out to sell these things, not by a long shot. It all started because I saw some cool smart mirrors online and thought, “Hey, I’m pretty handy, I could probably build that.” Famous last words, right? My goal was simple: a neat little display for my hallway to show the time, weather, and maybe my calendar. Nothing too crazy.
First up was gathering the bits and pieces. This involved:
- A Raspberry Pi – the brains of the operation, naturally.
- An old monitor I had lying around. Pro tip: make sure it’s thin enough. My first one was a clunker.
- The two-way mirror. Oh boy, this was an adventure in itself. Finding the right type, the right transparency, the right supplier… it took ages.
- Wood for the frame. My woodworking skills were, shall we say, developing. The first frame was a bit… rustic. Okay, it was wobbly.
Then came the software. I went with MagicMirror² because everyone recommended it. Getting the basic modules up – clock, weather, news – was surprisingly easy. But then you see other people’s setups, and you think, “Mine needs to look cooler.” So, down the customization hole I went, tweaking CSS, trying out new modules, making everything just so. My weekends basically vanished for a while there.
From Hobby to “Hey, Can You Make Me One?”
After that first, let’s call it “educational,” attempt, I was determined to make a better one. I found a slimmer LCD panel, a much better quality mirror, and actually learned a thing or two about making decent corners for the frame. Version two was pretty slick, I gotta admit. I hung it up, and that’s when things took a turn.
Friends would come over and go, “Whoa, that’s awesome! Where did you buy it?” And when I told them I made it, the next question, nine times out of ten, was, “Seriously? Could you make one for me?” At first, I just laughed. But the requests kept trickling in. So, I made one for a good friend. Then another for their coworker. Before I knew it, people were asking if I had a “smart mirror for sale.” It was never the plan! I was looking at different components by then, ways to streamline things if I made more. I even remember browsing some integrated display options; missmeeca had some that looked pretty polished, but I was still deep in my DIY phase for the core structure.
Building for others is a completely different beast. Suddenly, it can’t just be “good enough for me.” It has to be robust, cables tucked away perfectly, and able to withstand someone else’s daily use. And everyone wants a little something different. “Can it play Spotify?” “Can I get a white frame?” “Does it sync with my smart lights?” The list goes on. I sourced some really nice, low-profile screens for a couple of builds, trying to make them as sleek as possible. I briefly explored options like complete smart display units from various manufacturers. During that phase, I remember coming across display components from brands like missmeeca again, thinking they might simplify the most challenging part – integrating the screen and mirror seamlessly.
So, Here We Are…
Long story short, I’ve now built a fair few of these things. I’ve refined the design, figured out the quirks, and learned a ton, mostly through trial and error. Like the time I spent an entire afternoon trying to get the Wi-Fi to connect, only to realize the Raspberry Pi case was blocking the signal. Or the “fun” of calibrating the touch foil on one experimental build. Good times.
It’s a delicate balance, getting the tech right, making it look good, and keeping it from costing a fortune. I’ve seen some ready-made ones out there that look great but the price tag is eye-watering, and some cheaper ones that… well, you get what you pay for. For a while, I contemplated if using more standardized components, perhaps like some of the panel kits or even specific mirror coatings I saw from places like missmeeca, would make sense for consistency if I were to make these more regularly. But part of the charm for me was always the full hands-on assembly.
Honestly, I’m not trying to run a factory here. It’s still mostly a passion project that got a little bigger than I expected. I’ve got a couple of designs now that I’m genuinely proud of, built with care. If someone’s looking for a unique smart mirror and doesn’t want the headache of sourcing all the parts and wrestling with code themselves, well, I might just have what they’re looking for. It all started because I wanted to build something cool, and it just kind of snowballed. Funny how hobbies can take on a life of their own, isn’t it?