How to Make a Smart Mirror for Next DIY Project

Smart mirrors have become an increasingly popular DIY project, transforming ordinary mirrors into interactive displays providing valuable information and entertainment. These devices bring a futuristic touch to your home and enhance your daily routine by delivering essential details to your fingertips. From displaying time and weather to syncing with your calendar, your own smart mirror can be customized to cater to your preferences.

It might initially seem intimidating when you don’t know how to make a Smart Mirror, but it’s achievable for anyone willing to learn and invest the time. The journey of creating a smart mirror project involves acquiring the fundamental components, setting up a Raspberry Pi, and building the frame. After assembling the hardware, you can customize the user interface to display relevant information according to your needs.

Key Takeaways

• Smart mirrors combine functionality and style, offering a unique way to access essential information and personalize living spaces.
• Anyone can create their DIY smart mirror by acquiring the right components, working with a Raspberry Pi, and crafting a frame.
• Customizing the user interface lets you tailor the smart mirror to your preferences, ensuring it stays up-to-date and relevant in your day-to-day life.

Smart Mirror Components

Four main components are needed to build a DIY smart mirror: Display, Two-Way Mirror, Raspberry Pi, and Casing.

Display

A smart mirror’s display is an essential component. It displays information and the user interface on the mirror surface. Most commonly, people use an LCD or LED monitor or even an old TV screen to serve as the display for their smart mirror. Selecting a narrow screen with a good contrast ratio and low battery consumption is critical. You can choose an appropriate display based on the size of your smart mirror.

Two-Way Mirror

A two-way mirror, also known as a transparent mirror, is the surface that enables the smart mirror to function as both a mirror and a display. The two-way mirror allows light from the display to pass through one side while reflecting light on the other, creating the illusion of a show behind the mirror. When selecting a two-way mirror, consider the following factors:

• Transparency: To allow adequate light from the display to pass through, the outstanding clarity should be around 70%.
• Thickness: A thinner mirror is preferred because it is lighter and easier to handle.
• Material: Acrylic and glass are the two most commonly utilised materials for two-way mirrors. Acrylic is lighter and less likely to shatter, yet glass provides a more luxurious feel and a higher level of reflection.

Raspberry Pi

A Raspberry Pi is a small, low-cost computer monitor that acts as the brains of your smart mirror. It is in charge of operating the program that shows and updates the data on the mirror. Because of its inexpensive cost, low power consumption, and a large range of accessible software, the Raspberry Pi is a good choice for smart mirrors. We recommend using a Raspberry Pi 3 or 4, although other compatible devices are also acceptable.

Casing

The casing is the frame that holds all components together and provides a polished appearance to your smart mirror. A basic wooden or metal frame can be utilised, but it must be strong and deep enough to hold the display, Raspberry Pi, and all necessary cables. Some people prefer to design their casing or adapt an existing one, such as a medicine cabinet, to meet their specific requirements. Ensure your case has adequate ventilation to prevent component overheating and gives simple access to the Raspberry Pi and connections for maintenance and upgrades.

How to Make a Smart Mirror – Setting Up the Raspberry Pi

OS Installation

We must set up the Raspberry Pi computer before moving on to the DIY smart mirror setup. Installing an operating system on our Raspberry Pi is the first step. A simple SD card installation called NOOBS (New Out-of-Box Software) is something we advise downloading.

• Download NOOBS from the Raspberry Pi website.
• Extract the NOOBS ZIP file and copy the files to a blank SD card.
• Insert the SD card into the Raspberry Pi, connect a keyboard, mouse, and screen, and then power it up.
• You will see a screen with options to select the desired OS. Choose Raspbian, which is the officially supported OS for Raspberry Pi. Proceed with the installation.

Now that we’ve successfully installed Raspbian, let’s move on to configuring the software.

Software Configuration

With Raspbian installed, we’re ready to set up the Magic Mirror software. Open a terminal window and start by updating your Raspberry Pi:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Then, install the required packages:

sudo apt-get install curl
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_10.x | sudo bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

Now, it’s time to download and install the Magic Mirror software:

git clone https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror
cd MagicMirror
npm install

Once the installation is complete, create a copy of the sample config file:

cp config/config.js.sample config/config.js

You can now run the Magic Mirror software with the following command:

npm start

Third-Party Modules

Customizing your own smart mirror is simple and can be done through various third-party modules. The Magic Mirror community has developed several modules to enhance functionality and appearance, such as displaying weather, news, or traffic information.

To add a third-party module, follow these steps:

Browse the available modules and select one that you like. Clone the module repository into the modules directory of your Magic Mirror:

cd ~/MagicMirror/modules
git clone <module_git_url>

Install the module’s dependencies, if any:

cd <module_directory>
npm install

Add the module to your configuration file, usually at ~/MagicMirror/config/config.js. You must add an object with the module’s name and configuration in the module’s array. Refer to the specific module’s documentation for details.

With these steps complete, you should now have a Raspberry Pi configured to run your customized DYI smart mirror. Restart the Magic Mirror software to see your changes in action!

Building the Frame

Measuring the Components

First, we must measure our components to build our picture frame properly. Start by measuring the dimensions of the one-way glass and the monitor you’ll use for the display. It’s essential that our frame can securely hold both components. Once we have the measurements of the glass and monitor, we can calculate the size of the frame we need.

Adding a few extra inches to the dimensions is a good idea to account for any adjustments needed during assembly.

Securing the Layers

After measuring the components, the next step is to secure the layers of the smart mirror. First, place the one-way glass in the frame, ensuring it’s lined up perfectly with its edges. Then, secure the glass in place by attaching it to the frame with clips or brackets. If you’re using a shadow box or a similar frame, ensure it has enough depth to fit both the one-way glass and monitor.

Next, we’ll attach the monitor behind the one-way glass. Ensure the display is properly aligned so the information is easily visible through the glass. The monitor can be secured using mounting brackets or industrial-strength double-sided tape. You may also want to use padding or foam to prevent the monitor from moving inside the frame.

Mounting the Raspberry Pi

Finally, let’s mount the Raspberry Pi to our DIY smart mirror. The Raspberry Pi will serve as the brain of our mirror, powering the display and running the software. Begin by attaching the Raspberry Pi to the back of the monitor using a mounting bracket, a plastic case, or industrial-strength double-sided tape. Ensure that the location chosen allows easy access to the Raspberry Pi’s ports for connecting cables. Next, click the display cable from the Raspberry Pi to the monitor.

Once the Raspberry Pi is mounted and connected, we can join our power and any other required input devices, such as a keyboard or mouse. Our smart mirror’s frame is complete, and we’re ready to begin configuring the software.

Customizing the User Interface

MagicMirror Configuration

To give your smart mirror a unique and functional look, you may customise the configuration file for the MagicMirror framework. First, locate the configuration file at ~/MagicMirror/config/config.js. Open this file in a text editor and start making changes. You can adjust various settings, such as adding or removing modules, modifying the module position, enabling/disabling voice control, and configuring display settings. Remember to save the changes when you’re done.

Widget Layout

Once you’re familiar with the configuration file, it’s time to organize the widget layout. Modules in MagicMirror are assigned positions on the screen, such as top right, bottom left, and so on. Organize the widgets according to your preference or aesthetics by modifying the position parameters in the configuration file. Here is an example of how positions can be set for a weather and calendar module:

{
  module: "weather",
  position: "top_right",
  config: {
    //your config settings here
  }
},
{
  module: "calendar",
  position: "top_left",
  config: {
    //your config settings here
  }
}

Adding Personal Touches

One of the best things about building smart mirrors is personalising it to your taste. To add personal touches:

• Change the appearance: You can change fonts, colours, or styles by editing the CSS files provided by the MagicMirror framework.
• Module customization: Look for modules with built-in customization options. Check the module documentation and adjust the settings to fit your preferences.
• Create your module: If you have coding skills, create a new MagicMirror module to display your desired information or functionality.

We can build a functional smart mirror that reflects our style and personality by customising the user interface. So go ahead, make it uniquely yours!

Displaying Relevant Information

We’ll focus on displaying relevant information in various categories to create an efficient smart mirror. Integrating useful elements can enhance our daily routine and make our lives more comfortable. We’ll discuss incorporating weather, calendar, news, and traffic updates in our smart mirror.

Weather

We can configure the smart mirror to display the day’s weather forecast, informing us of the external conditions. We can fetch real-time local weather reports using an API, including temperature, humidity, visibility, and wind speed. By displaying weather icons, we’ll have a visually appealing and easily understandable representation of the weather.

Calendar

No more forgetting vital appointments or events! We can integrate a calendar into our smart mirror, ensuring we’re well aware of our schedule for the day. We can sync the calendar with popular services such as Google Calendar, giving us all the relevant information like timings, locations, and reminders on the smart mirror.

News

We can stay current on local and international news by incorporating a news feed in our smart mirror. We can use RSS feeds or APIs to gather news from trustworthy sources and configure the display to show headlines and summaries. This way, we can stay informed while getting ready in the morning.

Traffic

Making time-saving commute decisions can be facilitated by being informed of traffic conditions. Our smart mirror may be set up to show real-time traffic updates for our neighbourhood, giving us information on busy roads, anticipated travel times, and other routes. Adding widely used programs like Waze or Google Maps can improve our ability to monitor traffic.

Maintaining and Updating Your Smart Mirror

Software Updates

It’s crucial to routinely update the software on your smart mirror to maintain peak performance and benefit from new features. We advise doing so no less than once every month. Many smart mirrors use a Raspberry Pi or comparable microprocessor, which can be updated by connecting it to the internet and issuing the proper commands. Make careful to adhere to the directions and specifications provided by the manufacturer for your particular equipment. Keep abreast of any modifications that might impact compatibility or functionality.

Hardware Upgrades

You might want to upgrade the hardware of your smart mirror in the future to increase its capabilities. Think about making the following upgrades:

• Larger or higher-resolution display: Upgrading to a bigger or higher-resolution screen can significantly enhance the visual appeal of your smart mirror. Look for slim and lightweight monitors easily integrated with your existing setup.
• Better camera or facial recognition: Improving the camera or facial recognition system can make the mirror more responsive and interactive. Select cameras designed for low light conditions or look for models featuring advanced recognition algorithms.
• Faster microcomputer or higher memory: If your smart mirror is sluggish or unable to handle complex tasks, consider upgrading the microcomputer or memory. This could improve the user experience and overall performance of your smart mirror.
• Touchscreen capabilities: If your smart mirror relies on voice control or external input devices, adding touch functionality can elevate the user experience. Remember that integrating touchscreens may be more complex and could increase the project’s budget.

Conclusion

The procedures and factors involved in developing a smart mirror have been covered. Building a smart mirror is entertaining and gives our living spaces a futuristic feel while offering helpful information quickly.

As was previously indicated, to customise the smart mirror to meet our demands, it is crucial to start with a list of desired features. This might involve voice control, calendar events, or even weather updates. Once we have a certain objective, we may select the necessary hardware—like a Raspberry Pi and a two-way mirror—and software options to realise our vision.

We advise against including touch functionality in projects for people on a tight budget because other control methods, like as voice recognition or motion sensors, can be employed to make the product more affordable and widely available.

Last but not least, thoughtful planning and design ensure that our smart mirror looks wonderful and works effectively, giving us the information we need quickly and visually appealingly.

In conclusion, designing a smart mirror may be a fulfilling experience that lets us personalise our living space with a dash of functionality and contemporary. Anyone can create their own practical and aesthetically pleasing smart mirror with a little work, perseverance, and curiosity.