AN OLD DISCARDED MONITOR BECOMES A MIRROR THAT SHOWS YOUR DAY EVERY MORNING
A Raspberry Pi and a sheet of two-way mirror glass turn a discarded screen into a mirror that floats your calendar, weather and news over your reflection every morning.
by Michael Teeuw and the MagicMirror² community
DisplaysHome
- difficulty
- ●●○○○
- time
- a weekend
- license
- MIT
- repo
- repo ACTIVE23,697 stars
●●○○○ · a weekend · MIT · 23,697 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
MagicMirror² is the most mature smart mirror software in existence: it has been running in bedrooms and hallways since 2014, the module ecosystem is vast, and the core install is a single script. The software part is solved. What is NOT solved is the physical build — the repository gives you zero guidance on where to buy two-way mirror acrylic, how to size it, or how to build a frame that hides the Pi and the monitor bezel. You will spend more time on YouTube watching other people's frame builds than you will on the code. The monitor can be free if you rescue one; the mirror sheet will cost 30-80 dollars depending on size and shipping, and a clean wooden frame another 20-50 dollars if you build it yourself or 100 dollars+ if you commission one. The single biggest mistake is buying glass instead of acrylic — glass is heavier, more fragile, and twice the price for a worse reflection. If you are comfortable with basic carpentry or have access to a laser cutter, this is a weekend well spent. If the idea of cutting and mounting a sheet of plastic makes you nervous, you will stall before the Pi ever boots.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —MIT license — no restrictions on commercial use.
- —The software is production-ready with extensive documentation and 600+ third-party modules.
- —There is no frame design, BOM or build guide — you source the monitor, mirror and enclosure yourself.
- —The installation docs assume you can SSH into a Pi and edit a config file.
- —Mirror glass and framing dominate the cost; the software itself is free.
- —23.7k stars, active development, last pushed within days of this page.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterBluHub reads and burns Blu-ray/DVD/CD, adds USB-C, USB-A, SD/TF and 10 Gbps data — plug and play, grand-piano finish.
Videos
Raspberry Pi Magic Mirror
There is no official video — the documentation is text and the YouTube walkthroughs are all community-made; search 'MagicMirror build' for dozens of frame tutorials.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the installation docs and make sure your Pi model is supported (The automatic installer works on Raspberry Pi OS; manual install is documented for other platforms.)
- 2.Order two-way mirror acrylic cut to the size of your monitor's visible screen area(Search 'two-way mirror acrylic' — do not buy glass unless you want triple the weight and cost.)
- 3.Run the install script on your Pi and configure the modules in config.js(The config file is JSON; copy the sample and edit it — the defaults show clock, calendar, weather and news.)
- 4.Watch a community frame build video that matches your tools and skill level(YouTube has hundreds — look for one that uses materials you can actually source locally.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
- Official documentation docs.magicmirror.builders
- Module directory github.com
- Community forum forum.magicmirror.builders
- Build video youtube.com
- Build video youtube.com
- Project site magicmirror.builders
Partner · KickstarterCORE POWER BANK S: 0.2" thin, 2.8 oz, 5000 mAh with 22.5W fast charging. Semi-solid battery, carbon fiber, IPX7 waterproof.
KNOWN ISSUES
- Buying glass instead of acrylic — glass is heavier, more fragile, ships at higher cost, and reflects worse because it is thicker.
- Underestimating the frame build — the software is easy; the carpentry or fabrication is where weekends disappear.
- Not measuring the visible screen area before ordering the mirror — bezels do not count, and a badly sized mirror looks unfinished.
- Choosing a monitor with a glossy finish — matte panels work better because the mirror's reflection is already adding one layer of gloss.
- Forgetting that the Pi has to update modules and fetch API data — if your mirror is in a hallway with no Wi-Fi, it will show stale information.
- Skipping the autostart config and expecting the mirror to boot on power-on — you have to enable the autostart script or it will sit at a desktop.
Can I use a touchscreen?
Yes — several modules add touch support, but you will need a USB touchscreen overlay or a monitor with built-in touch, and the mirror glass adds a small air gap that slightly degrades sensitivity.
What is the difference between two-way mirror film and acrylic?
Film is cheaper and goes on top of glass, but it bubbles, scratches easily, and looks worse — acrylic is a solid sheet with the reflective coating baked in, and it is what every clean build uses.
Do I need a frame, or can I just lean the monitor against a wall?
You can lean it, but the bezel, cables and Pi will all be visible — a frame is what makes it look like a mirror instead of a monitor with a sheet taped to it.
Can I add voice control?
Yes — there are modules for Google Assistant, Alexa, and offline voice recognition; all require extra setup and a USB microphone.
What happens if the Pi crashes or loses power?
The mirror goes black — there is no persistence; it is just a monitor running a web page served by the Pi.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
23.7k stars and a decade of bedroom mirrors — this is the reference build. What module would you install first: the one that shows your commute time, or the one that hides everything when no one is standing in front of it?
Michael Teeuw and the MagicMirror² community
Michael Teeuw built the first MagicMirror in 2014 as a side project and open-sourced it. The community took over in 2016, forming the MagicMirror² organization, and the project has been community-governed ever since — hundreds of contributors maintain the core and the module ecosystem.
Keep building — related projects
Same category, picked by how close they are to this build.
NO CAD FILESPut an old monitor behind glass and the mirror starts telling you the day
DisplaysHome●●●○○moderate
NO CAD FILESInkyPi — e-ink dashboard on Raspberry Pi (4.1k stars)
DisplaysHome●●●○○moderate
FULL CADYou can build your own split-flap display that clacks like an old train station board
DisplaysHome●●●●○advanced
NO CAD FILESYour TV can light up the whole room with the colours of what is on screen
HomeDisplays●●●○○moderate
DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM24d agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repository has been stable under community governance since 2016, the module count in the wiki is over 600 (we did not independently verify all of them, but the top 50 are actively maintained), and the single most common mistake in the forum is people buying glass mirror instead of acrylic and then complaining about weight and cost. The docs are thorough on the software side and silent on the physical build — that gap is why YouTube is full of frame tutorials. One surprise: several people run this on old tablets instead of monitors, which skips the frame problem entirely but limits the screen size to 10 inches.