How I Built a Smart Mirror with Raspberry Pi and MagicMirror

 

How I Built a Smart Mirror with Raspberry Pi and MagicMirror (And Why It Almost Drove Me Crazy)

raspberry Pi


Let me start by saying this: I did not expect my weekend Raspberry Pi project to turn into a two-week saga of frustration, tiny victories, and way too much Googling. But hey, that’s DIY tech for you.

If you’ve ever seen those sleek smart mirrors in sci-fi movies (or on YouTube) and thought, “I want that, but I also don’t want to spend $2,000,” then this post is for you. Here’s how I built my own smart mirror using a Raspberry Pi and MagicMirror—complete with all the messy, unglamorous details.

Why a Smart Mirror? (And Why Not Just Buy One?)

First, the why. I’ve always loved the idea of a mirror that does more than just reflect my questionable morning hair. Weather, calendar, news headlines—all at a glance while I brush my teeth? Sign me up.

But commercial smart mirrors? Oof. The price tags are wild (we’re talking "might as well buy a used car" territory). Plus, where’s the fun in that?

So, I settled on the classic DIY approach:

  • Raspberry Pi (because of course)
  • MagicMirror² (open-source, modular, and endlessly customizable)
  • A two-way mirror (more on this later)
  • A monitor (scavenged from an old laptop because I’m cheap)

Step 1: Gathering Supplies 

I thought I had most of what I needed. Spoiler: I did not.

The Big Three:

  1. Raspberry Pi – I used a Pi 4 because I had one lying around, but a Pi 3 would work too.
  2. Monitor – I ripped apart an old 24-inch LCD monitor. (Note: This involved way more screws than expected.)
  3. Two-way mirror acrylic – This was the trickiest part. I ordered a custom-cut piece online, which almost fit perfectly. (Almost.)

The “Oh Right, I Need That Too” List:

  • HDMI cable
  • Power supply
  • Frame (ended up using an IKEA poster frame because, again, cheap)
  • Double-sided tape (so much tape)

Step 2: Setting Up the Raspberry Pi 

Installing MagicMirror² should be simple. And it is… if you’re familiar with Linux terminal commands. I was not.

The Process :

  1. Flash Raspberry Pi OS – Easy. Used Raspberry Pi Imager, no issues.
  2. Open Terminal – Alright, I got this.
  3. Run the one-line MagicMirror install command – Wait, why is it erroring?
  4. Spend 45 minutes realizing I forgot to update packages first – Cool, cool, cool.

After some frantic Googling and a few sudo apt-get incantations later, MagicMirror was running. First victory.

Step 3: Configuring MagicMirror

MagicMirror works via a config.js file, which is just JSON with extra steps. I wanted:

  • Clock
  • Weather
  • Calendar
  • News feed

Problems I Faced:

  • Weather API Keys – Why does Dark Sky no longer exist? Switched to OpenWeatherMap after much grumbling.
  • Calendar Syncing – Google Calendar should be easy. It was not. (Pro tip: Make sure your API credentials are set to “internal” if you’re self-hosting.)
  • Module Positioning – My clock kept overlapping the weather. Took me way too long to realize I could just adjust the position values.

At one point, my mirror just displayed: Error: Cannot find module 'moment'
I screamed internally.

Step 4: The Physical Build 

The Steps (And Mistakes):

  1. Disassemble the monitor – Surprisingly easy. Just don’t break the LCD.
  2. Fit the two-way mirror acrylic – Wait, why is there a gap? Had to trim it with a utility knife. (Do not recommend.)
  3. Mount the Pi behind the frame – Used Velcro because I have commitment issues.
  4. Power it all up – Please work. Please work. Please—oh thank God.

The first time it booted up and I saw the time, weather, and my own sleep-deprived face staring back? Pure magic.

Final Thoughts 

Pros:

  • Looks incredibly cool.
  • Actually useful (I check the weather every morning now).
  • Learned a ton about Raspberry Pi, APIs, and my own patience.

Cons:

  • Took way longer than expected.
  • The frame is slightly crooked (but we don’t talk about that).
  • Now I want to add more modules.

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