Smart Mirror with MagicMirror²
Time, weather, calendar and news glowing through a mirror — open-source software behind two-way acrylic.
MagicMirror² is a modular open-source dashboard. Behind a two-way mirror, the bright text shows through while black areas stay a normal mirror.
Video tutorial
Video by Caroline Dunn, embedded from YouTube. The written steps below are our own and match the parts list.
Mission steps
Pick the screen
Any thin HDMI monitor works. Remove the stand; a slim, bright panel looks best.
Install MagicMirror²
Install Node.js and clone MagicMirror² from GitHub following its documentation, then run npm run install-mm.
Configure modules
Edit config/config.js: clock, weather (with your city), calendar (an iCal link), news feed and compliments.
Build the frame
Make a wooden frame deeper than the monitor, place two-way acrylic in front, and leave vents at top and bottom.
Auto-start and schedule
Use pm2 to start it at boot, and turn the screen off at night with a cron job.
Questions
Glass or acrylic?
Two-way glass gives a sharper reflection; acrylic is lighter, cheaper and safer to cut and mount.