Creating your own touchscreen smart mirror is a fun and rewarding project. With a few parts and some patience, you’ll have a sleek mirror that provides information and looks amazing in any room. Let’s dive in!


Step 1: Prepare Items

Touchscreen smart mirrors require a few key items:

  • Two-way mirror glass
  • Raspberry Pi or other small computer
  • Touchscreen monitor
  • Mirror frame (or make your own)
  • Adhesive strips and mounting tape
  • Power supply and HDMI cable
  • Micro SD


Step 2: Build The Frame.

Before making your frame, you need to measuring your monitor’s length, width, and depth. Once you have the exact dimensions, choose a strong, water-resistant wood that can handle the weight of the mirror and electronics without looking bulky or out of place. Cut the wood into four pieces to form the frame. Cut the wood into four pieces for the frame.

You can paint each wood piece in a color of your choice. Once the paint dries, arrange the pieces into a rectangle. Tape each corner and secure them by drilling two screws into each joint to create a stable frame.

If you’d prefer to skip the woodworking, consider buying a shadowbox frame.

If you go with a shadowbox, look for one deep enough to fit your monitor and computer but still sleek. Check that it can conceal the monitor’s thickness and leaves room for the special mirror glass in front (around 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick). Make sure the insert can be removed so you can replace the clear glass with the mirror for a cleaner, more seamless look.

Tips to Select Shadowbox Frames:

  • Select a shadowbox with just enough depth to house the monitor, electronics, and mirror without looking bulky on your desk or wall.
  • Ensure the frame’s inner insert can be removed so you can easily swap out the clear glass with the two-way mirror.


Step 3: Attaching the Back Support

With the frame assembled, apply superglue along the back edges. Place a piece of wood or cardboard cut to perfectly match the frame’s size onto the glued area, ensuring no gaps. Add weight around the edges to keep pressure on the support, then let it dry for several hours to set firmly.


Step 4: Install the Two-Way Mirror and Touch Features

First, turn on your monitor and set the brightness to maximum. Remove any plastic coverings, including the stand, back panel, and front guards.

Choose a high-quality two-way mirror that allows the screen light to shine through while reflecting well. Ensure you have precise dimensions for a perfect fit, then apply superglue along the edges to secure it in place. Clean the mirror with a microfiber cloth.

Next, attach the IR frame to the edges of the monitor, placing it on top of the mirror. You can use glue or metal clamps to secure the frame.

Related Topic About IR Frame

Mirror Options You can Refer:

  • Glass Two-Way Mirror:
    • 70% reflective, 11% transparent, bronze tint.
    • If the mirror is larger than the display: prefer use it.
  • Glass Smart Mirror:
    • 70% reflective, 30% transparent, color neutral.
    • If the mirror is larger than the display: Best prefer use it, great budget option.
  • Acrylic Two-Way Mirror:
    • 70% reflective, 30% transparent, silver tone.
    • If the thickness is 0.32 cm or more: The largest size recommended to use 30.48 cm x 60.96 cm or 60.96 cm x 71.12 cm
    • Not recommend to use: the IR Touch Overlay will interfere due to bendiness
  • Dielectric Mirror:
    • 30% reflective, 70% transparent, color neutral.
    • If the mirror and display are the same size: Best Choice

How to Choose the Transparency Percentage?

Transparency = Display Quality

The transparency percentage is crucial because it shows how much display quality comes through the mirror. This percentage ranges from 0 to 100, where 100% means clear glass with no mirror effect. For example, a glass two-way mirror has an 11% transparency level, blocking 89% of the light. It’s like watching a television while wearing sunglasses.

When choosing a mirror, keep this transparency percentage in mind to ensure you get the desired visibility for your smart mirror setup.


Step 5: Install the Monitor to the Picture Frame

With your touchscreen mirror skeleton and wires ready, it’s time to place the monitor in the frame on top of the cardboard. First, trace the areas where you need to cut out holes for the wires and power cord to pass through the back. Also, create a slot for easy access to add and remove the Raspberry Pi.

Once you’ve made the necessary holes, glue the monitor to the frame and back support. After securely gluing the touchscreen mirror in place, add wooden supports across the corners, attach the back strips to secure the monitor. This will help lock it safely within the frame, with the IR frame protruding outward.


Step 6: Assembling the Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi serves as the brain of your smart mirror. Insert your 32GB micro SD card into the Raspberry Pi and place it inside the case. Next, connect the power and HDMI cables, and plug in a mouse and keyboard into the USB slots.

Install the operating system and configure settings like time zone and Wi-Fi, connect the Raspberry Pi to a separate monitor or screen.

Steps you can follow:

  1. Download and Install Raspbian OS: Get the latest version of Raspbian OS from the Raspberry Pi website.
  2. Install Balena Etcher: Download and install Balena Etcher on your computer. It works on both Mac OS X and Windows.
  3. Prepare Your Micro SD Card: Insert your Micro SD card into your computer using an adapter.
  4. Flash the Raspbian Image: Open Balena Etcher, select the extracted Raspbian image you downloaded, and make sure you’ve chosen the correct disk. Click “Flash!” to start writing the image to your SD card. This process will take about 10-15 minutes.
  5. Set Up Your Raspberry Pi: Once the flashing is complete, remove the SD card and insert it into your Raspberry Pi. You can then access your Pi using a VNC connection, mouse, and keyboard.

Related Topic about Raspberry Pi


Step 7: Install Magic Mirror Software

Now, your Raspberry Pi is running, I prefer to install an open-source app called Magic Mirror. This is because you don’t need to be a coding expert to get it set up. Simply copy and paste the installation commands one by one into the terminal app on the Pi, following the instructions in the Manual Installation section of the Magic Mirror documentation.

Click me to View the Instructions of installation and Usage.


After the installation is complete, you can customize your mirror however you like! Add various widgets, such as a news feed, calendar, and social media apps, to make your smart mirror uniquely yours.


Step 8: Place The Monitor into The Frame

First, disconnect the Pi from the monitor you used for setup and remove it from its case. Next, plug the 90-degree HDMI adapter into the back of your almost-complete smart mirror and connect it to the micro HDMI cord. Then, plug in the power cable for the monitor.

Secure the case onto the back of the monitor by screwing it in on the side. After that, place the Raspberry Pi back in its case and connect it to its power source and micro HDMI cord.


Step 9: Final Assembly and Results

To keep the back of your smart mirror tidy, bundle the wires together with a plastic tie or tape. Don’t forget to drill some vents in the back frame to ensure proper airflow and provide a space for the cables to run through.

Now your touchscreen mirror is ready for use! Plug in the device and enjoy the fruits of your labor. With this DIY smart mirror guide, you can confidently create your own unique setup.