Schematic Star

How to Build a DIY Smart Mirror with Raspberry Pi That Will Make Your Friends Jealous

Have you ever seen those super cool smart mirrors that display the weather, news headlines, calendar events, and more? Well, I'm going to show you how to make your own smart mirror with a Raspberry Pi that will impress and amaze your friends.

Introduction

A DIY smart mirror is a unique tech project that combines a mirror and a monitor to create an interactive display. With a Raspberry Pi mini computer, you can easily build a voice-controlled smart mirror that provides helpful information to start your day.

The end result is an awesome high-tech mirror that feels like something out of a sci-fi movie. Your friends will be extremely jealous when they see all the cool features your smart mirror has!

In this guide, I'll walk you through the entire process of constructing your own smart mirror with Raspberry Pi, from gathering materials to coding and setting up the voice assistant. Follow along, and you'll have an amazing smart mirror that makes getting ready in the morning both productive and fun!

What You'll Need

Building a DIY Raspberry Pi smart mirror requires just a few core components:

Hardware

Accessories

Tools

That's everything you'll need hardware-wise. Now let's look at the software side.

Software Requirements

We'll leverage MagicMirror2 to set up our smart mirror's functionality. MagicMirror2 is an open source modular platform for creating smart mirrors with Raspberry Pi.

You'll also need:

Additionally, you'll want some MagicMirror2 modules for your mirror's specific capabilities:

Don't worry about coding—we'll walk through it!

Step 1 - Set up the Raspberry Pi

The first step is to get your Raspberry Pi up and running.

  1. Install the latest Raspberry Pi OS on your microSD card.

  2. Insert the microSD card into the Pi and connect it to a mouse, keyboard, and monitor via the HDMI port.

  3. Power it on, walk through the setup prompts, and make sure you're connected to WiFi.

  4. Update the Pi's software packages with the following terminal command:

    bash
    sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

  5. Reboot your Pi to complete the setup.

With the Raspberry Pi prepped, we can move on to constructing the mirror frame.

Step 2 - Build the Mirror Frame

Now it's time to assemble the frame to house your smart mirror. This gives it the cool mirrored look.

Cut the acrylic

  1. Measure the outer dimensions of your monitor screen.

  2. Mark and cut your two-way mirror acrylic to those exact dimensions with a saw. File the edges smooth with sandpaper.

  3. Clean both sides of the acrylic thoroughly with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth.

Mount the monitor

  1. Carefully place your monitor face down on a soft surface.

  2. Apply double-sided mounting tape around the outer edges on the back of the monitor.

  3. Remove the protective film from the tape backing and firmly press the acrylic sheet onto the monitor. The reflective side should be facing out from the monitor.

  4. Check for any air gaps or bubbles between the acrylic and monitor. Press out any you find.

Add the frame (optional)

For a polished look, mount your acrylic-backed monitor inside a decorative picture frame:

  1. Measure the inner dimensions of the frame.

  2. Cut a piece of plywood or MDF to those dimensions. This will securely hold the monitor.

  3. Drill holes in the board to allow the monitor's cables to pass through.

  4. Secure the monitor-acrylic assembly to the board with tape or screws.

  5. Place the board inside the frame and hang it on your wall.

Step 3 - Install MagicMirror2

With your snazzy smart mirror frame complete, it's time to give it some intelligence.

  1. SSH into your Raspberry Pi if you're connecting remotely, or hook up a monitor and keyboard.

  2. Clone the MagicMirror2 repository:

    bash
    git clone https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror

  3. Navigate into the newly created MagicMirror directory and install the app:

    bash
    cd MagicMirror
    npm install

  4. Configure MagicMirror2 by copying the config sample file:

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

  5. Start the MagicMirror2 app to make sure it works:

    bash
    npm start

You should see a basic mirror interface on your monitor. Now we can customize it.

Step 4 - Set Up Voice Control

Let's make your smart mirror even smarter by adding voice control capabilities.

The easiest method is to use a third-party voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant. Here's how to integrate one:

1. Get an AIY Kit or Voice Hat

These accessories allow you to easily interface with the voice assistant SDKs.

For Alexa, get an AIY Kit.

For Google Assistant, get a Voice Hat.

2. Install the SDK

Follow the SDK installation instructions for whichever voice assistant you choose.

3. Enable Voice Control Modules

In your config.js file, enable the MMM-Assistant modules for your selected voice assistant.

Here are the config sections to add:

```js
{
module: 'MMM-Alexa',
config: {
LATITUDE: '',
LONGITUDE: ''
}
},

{
module: 'MMM-Assistant',
config: {
assistantConfig: {
latitude: ,
longitude:
}
}
}
```

Restart MagicMirror2, and you should now be able to voice control your smart mirror!

Step 5 - Add Function Modules

Let's spice up your smart mirror by adding some modules for helpful information displays.

Here are some fun ones to get started with:

To enable a module, add it to your config.js file:

{
module: 'MMM-NewsFeed',
position: 'bottom_bar',
config: {
feeds: [
{
title: "New York Times",
url: "http://www.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/HomePage.xml"
}
]
}
},

Customize each module's parameters to your preferences. Restart MagicMirror2 to see your new modules in action!

Final Touches

To complete your smart mirror masterpiece:

Now your DIY smart mirror is complete! Just speak to it for weather updates, news, and more. Your friends will be so jealous of your awesome high-tech mirror.

With the power of a Raspberry Pi, you can build anything you imagine. A voice-controlled smart mirror is just the beginning! Let me know if you used this guide to construct your own ingenious Pi mirror.