DIY illuminated mirror

An illuminated mirror looks elegant and aesthetically pleasing. This product can be hung above the dressing table in the bedroom, in the hallway and in the bathroom. To independently make an interior item, you do not need any special skill. Today we will look step by step at how to make a mirror with your own hands.

Choosing a design to create a backlit mirror

There are several design options that can be used to create a product (the color will depend on the interior or your design):

1. Rectangular dressing room mirror with lamps on the front frame.
2. Rectangular or round mirror with lighting behind the mirror from conventional or LED lamps.
3. Product backlit from LED strip.
4. Decorative mirror, like a decoration, on canvas.

Whatever design you choose, you first need to decide on the size and purpose of the item. For example, if the product is made for a bathroom or a room with high humidity, then you should not choose incandescent lamps. Here it is better to choose LED lighting fixtures.

TIP: when making a makeup mirror, you must take into account that hot elements can cause burns.

Preparation of materials and tools

Not everyone has special carpentry tools in their home, so we will choose a material that does not need to be processed for a long time. To begin with, let’s prepare a number of tools common to the first three design options:

1. LED lamps matte or strip.
2. Mirror.
3. Cartridges with E27 or E14 base - the quantity will depend on the size of the product.
4. Electrical cord, plug and switch.
5. For the box, we select a furniture wooden panel, which we first saw into 8 rectangular planks. We make the size according to the parameters of the mirror. For a more aesthetic look, you can cut the edges of 4 parts at an angle of 45 degrees. You can sand the edges with sandpaper.
6. Covering for the box. It is recommended to choose: stain of any color, enamel or furniture varnish.
7. Metal corners and strips, screws and a screwdriver.
8. Wood drill bit 38 mm.
9. Wall mounts.

TIP: for the third option, instead of a wooden box, you can take a narrow metal (plastic) frame onto which the mirror will be attached using furniture glue.

For the last method, you need to purchase a thin mirror and a diamond for cutting out the necessary shapes. You will also have to buy holders and a canvas on which you want to install reflective elements. The canvas can be wooden or plastic.

How to assemble the product

Having prepared all the necessary ingredients, we proceed to assembling the illuminated mirror for the bathroom with our own hands.

1 design option. We fasten the cut wooden parts with metal plates on the back side of the work. You should make a hollow along the inner edge of the frame. Next, coat the product with the chosen paint.

TIP: for a more beautiful effect, apply the coating in several layers.If you choose a varnish coating, you should make sure that it is heat-resistant.

We make holes for the cartridges. The distance between the holes should be at least 12–15 cm. Then we install the base and connect the wires to each. There should be a chain.

TIP: to prevent light from shining into your eyes when using the item, it is recommended to install a few lamps or make double parallel wiring. In the latter case, the cartridges are connected through one, and a separate switch must be installed on each circuit.

How to make a mirror with light bulbs with your own hands? After installing the electrical elements, it is necessary to hide the exposed contacts under adhesive tape or cover them with tow. We fasten the remaining wooden parts with corners perpendicular to the frame and fasten the mirror cloth. It can be placed on the edge of furniture or reinforced with plates.

We got a make-up mirror with lighting for the wall, made by ourselves.

2 design option. First the box gets knocked down. It should be smaller in size than the mirror sheet. We attach the lamps around the perimeter, just like in the first method. It must be remembered that the light elements must be located on the outer edge of the box. The mirror is glued to the top of the frame with furniture glue.

TIP: lighting does not have to be done on 4 sides. Some craftsmen attach lighting only on two sides.

3 design option. It is done in the same way as the second one, only instead of lamps, LED strip is glued. The tape can be attached to the mirror itself with light bulbs around the perimeter, made by yourself, on its back side, select a mount for the wall and use the product. Before you cut part of the tape from a roll, you need to know how to do it correctly.

Some tapes are sold with a self-adhesive backing. If it is missing, it is recommended to use double-sided tape for installation.

4 design options. How to make a mirror with light bulbs? Here you need to select a canvas on which several pre-cut mirrors are attached. The graphic contours of the reflective details depend on your imagination and skill. For the first time, try making several triangles (circles, rectangles, any simple shape will do). Holes are made on the canvas for wiring in the places where the mirror parts are attached. Then the LED strip is glued to the back of each element. The cords extend beyond the base.

TIP: you can stick tape around the perimeter or on both sides of the canvas itself, then the mirror fragments are simply glued to the base with furniture glue.

Reflective parts are mounted to the shield using special fasteners.

This decoration can be placed in any interior of a home or office.

Decoration features

1. If you want to make an oval or round mirror with light bulbs with your own hands, choose the third manufacturing method.
2. You can stick the mirror on any base (option 4) and attach the LED strip to the canvas. Reflective surfaces look beautiful on glass, colored plastic, and metal. When choosing glue, consult with the seller which one is best suited for your case.
3. If you have problems installing electrical components, consult a professional. They will tell you how best to conduct the wiring.
4. Do not forget that the light from the mirror should not shine into your eyes.
5. There is a large color palette of light bulbs and ribbons that can be used when decorating. You can combine several colors.

The nuances of using an illuminated mirror in the bathroom

1. Before making a product for the bathroom, you need to decide on its location. The dimensions of the product will depend on this.
2. It is also worth paying attention to the intensity of lighting, this will affect the selection and number of lamps.
3. It is not recommended to install electrical parts near water.
4. When selecting material, you should take into account the high humidity in the room. Laminated chipboard and MDF suffer greatly from fumes and fumes. Over time, they swell and the product loses its original appearance. Some metals are afraid of moisture, this should be remembered when preparing.
5. During assembly, it is necessary to insulate all contacts and place them in sealed pipes or cable channels (in some cases, the wires can be coated with sealant).