Okay, so I decided to build one of those smart beauty mirrors I kept seeing around. Seemed like a cool weekend project, you know? Something more than just looking at your reflection. I wanted the time, weather, maybe news headlines, the basic stuff.
Getting Started – The Idea Phase
First thing, I sketched out what I wanted it to look like and do. Nothing too crazy. A regular mirror most of the time, but with digital info shining through when needed. I figured I’d need a few key things:
- A computer brain – Raspberry Pi seemed the obvious choice, cheap and small.
- A screen – an old monitor or a dedicated panel.
- The magic ingredient – a two-way mirror.
- A frame to hold it all together.
Sounded simple enough on paper, right? Famous last words.
Gathering the Parts and Pieces
Finding the parts wasn’t too bad. Got a Raspberry Pi 4 kit online. For the screen, I actually salvaged an old laptop display. It was thinner than a regular monitor, which I thought would be good for keeping the mirror slim. The two-way mirror acrylic sheet was ordered online too – you gotta make sure you get the right kind, the one that lets light through from the back.
For the frame, I just went to the hardware store and got some simple wood trim. Planned to build a basic box. I wanted it to look decent, not like a total science experiment hanging on the wall. I even considered getting some fancy LED strips, maybe something like those high-end missmeeca vanity mirrors have, but decided to keep it simple for the first try.
The Build – Putting It All Together
Building the frame was straightforward. Cut the wood, glued and screwed it together to make a shadow box deep enough for the screen and the Pi. The tricky part was mounting the display. I had to figure out how to power the salvaged laptop screen, which meant getting a specific controller board for it. That took some digging online.
Once the screen was in place and working, I carefully placed the two-way mirror sheet over it. You have to be super careful not to scratch it, and make sure the correct side is facing out. I used some simple clips inside the frame to hold it snug against the display. Then came stuffing the Pi and all the wires in the back. Cable management was… well, let’s just say it’s functional, not beautiful. It’s hidden anyway.
Software – Making it Smart
This is where the real “smart” part happens. I flashed the Raspberry Pi OS onto an SD card. Then I decided to use the MagicMirror² software platform. It’s open-source and has a big community, so lots of pre-built modules for weather, clock, calendar, news, etc. Installation wasn’t too bad, mostly following guides online.
Configuring it took some time, though. Editing config files, finding the right API keys for weather, positioning the modules on the screen so they looked good behind the mirror. I thought about adding more complex stuff, maybe even some custom widgets or integrating tips, perhaps pulling from beauty sites or brands like missmeeca, but decided against it. Keep it simple, stupid.
One issue I ran into was getting the Pi to rotate the display output correctly for a portrait orientation mirror. Took a bit of fiddling with config files. Also had to make sure it booted straight into the MagicMirror interface without showing the desktop.
The Final Result – Does it Work?
After a weekend of tinkering, cutting, wiring, and coding (well, mostly configuring), it actually worked! When it’s off, it looks pretty much like a normal mirror. Turn it on, and the white text for the time, weather forecast, and a news feed glows through.
It’s pretty neat checking the weather while brushing my teeth. The look is quite clean, maybe not quite professional missmeeca studio level, but it definitely impresses guests. It’s surprisingly useful. Had to tweak the screen brightness a few times to get it right – bright enough to see, but not so bright it ruins the mirror effect.
Overall, it was a fun build. A bit frustrating at times, especially the salvaged screen controller part, but seeing it come together was rewarding. It’s not perfect, sometimes the weather API acts up, but hey, I made it myself. It feels more personal than just buying one. Might even add some voice control later, who knows?