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Homemade mirror with LED lighting. Master class on making a do-it-yourself illuminated mirror

It is unlikely that there will be such an apartment in which there would be no mirrors. All human life is accompanied by these reflective glasses. Leaving the room on the street, everyone will definitely look at how he looks. Well, for a woman, often spending a lot of time in front of him is almost a vital necessity.

Of course, for most men this is not so important, but, on the other hand, how to imagine the same shaving, morning toilet without a mirror in the bathroom? And of course, everyone wants it to look aesthetically pleasing and beautiful. Of course, you can order a mirror of any curly shape, but still, by far the most interesting and non-standard option is its backlight.

However, for many, the purchase of finished glass can be too expensive, and therefore we will try to figure out how difficult it is to make a do-it-yourself illuminated mirror for a bathroom or hallway.

First you need to decide in which room you need a mirror and what type of lighting will be used.

Types of mirror illumination

This work can be performed in three specific versions or in a combination of several of them. The main types of illumination are as follows:

Spots at the top or sides of the mirrors. Such lamps can be rotated, thereby it becomes possible to direct the light flux to a particular area. They are produced in various designs, both in a single version with adjustment, and in the form of small sconces with 2, 3 or 4 lamps, which can be directed independently of each other. With such a backlight, you can illuminate the person standing in front of the mirror or a certain part of the room.
In the form of LEDs placed behind the mirror and directed outward. With this option, the light flux is directed to the person standing in front of him, perfectly illuminating the face. The illumination of the mirror in the bathroom made in this way will be very functional.
LED lighting in the form of a tape is also located behind the mirror, but the direction of the light flux is opposite to the second option. Such lighting performs only a decorative function, gives the glass an unusual look and, when installed in a bathroom or hallway, decorates the interior.

Well, now it makes sense to consider making each of the types separately with your own hands.

Spots

This type of lighting is the easiest to manufacture. The main thing that is needed is to calculate the number of spotlights, the total lighting power, and, depending on it, choose the thickness of the wiring section.

After acquiring the necessary parts, you can proceed with the installation. The mirror to be illuminated should already be in its place, or its exact location should be noted. It is also necessary to note the places of the future location of the spots, and then dismantle the glass in order to avoid damage to it. It is possible to bring wiring both in special boxes and hidden, by gating, which is more acceptable.

After laying the wires, the shtrabs are puttied, cosmetic finishing is performed. Well, now it remains only to fix the spots in their places and hang the mirror.

This option requires more effort. First you need to order a mirror with a frosted glass frame around the perimeter. Of course, you can remove the inner mirror layer yourself, but this will require additional tools, although such work is not too difficult. The main thing is accuracy, because glass is a rather fragile material.

To do this, you will need a sandblaster with a compressor, reinforced tape and, of course, an accompanying tool in the form of a metal ruler, knife, etc.

Having turned the mirror over, on its back part it is necessary to mark the boundaries of the future matte surface and, leaving them uncovered, glue the rest of the surface with reinforced tape. After that, using a sandblasting machine, the reflective layer is removed from the unprotected reflector.

Next, a frame is made of thick plywood or boards (the thickness is chosen by the master, based on his preferences). Its size should be such that the mirror fits exactly inside. It is assembled using liquid nails and screws, it does not hurt to fasten it with metal corners. It is also necessary to fix the furniture corners from the inside, on which the canvas will lie.

An LED strip is attached to the wall around the perimeter. The power supply for it can be hidden behind a false ceiling or in another convenient place where water will not get.

It remains to fix the plywood frame on the wall in any convenient way, insert the mirror into place, securing it with wooden glazing beads, and enjoy the resulting product.

Decorative lighting

DIY decorative mirror lighting

This option is a little simpler than the previous one, since special preparation of the mirror sheet is not required. It will take the manufacture of almost the same plywood frame, with the only difference being that it should be smaller than glass. It should be 2-4 cm larger on all sides along the perimeter. A wooden base is attached to the inside of the mirror with liquid nails, and an LED strip is glued from the outer end of it.

After complete drying, the mirror is hung in its place and the power is connected. On this, in fact, the work on making a mirror with illumination with your own hands is over.

Of course, everyone can come up with their own lighting options, here, of course, you need to rely on your imagination, but we discussed the main, basic lighting options.

Fundamental rules

The basic rules that you need to know in order to make a mirror with LED backlight with your own hands:

compliance with safety regulations when working with glass;
knowledge of the principles of electrical safety when connecting the power supply, as well as attention to its location - water should not get on it. Doing so may cause a short circuit, device burnout, or electric shock;
accuracy and care at each stage of production and strict adherence to instructions.

And then you get a wonderful hand-made product that will delight you with its appearance and functionality for many years.

The illuminated mirror looks elegant and aesthetically pleasing. Such a product can be hung over the dressing table in the bedroom, in the hallway and in the bathroom. For self-production of an interior item, special skill is not required. Today we will take a step-by-step look at how to make a mirror with your own hands.

Choosing a design for creating an illuminated mirror

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

Rectangular dressing room mirror with lamps on the facade frame.
Rectangular or round mirror illuminated behind a mirror of conventional or LED lamps.
Product with LED strip lighting.
Decorative mirror, as a decoration, on the 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 in a bathroom or in a room with high humidity, then you should not choose incandescent lamps. This is where LED lighting comes in handy.

TIP: when making a dressing room mirror, it must be taken into account that hot elements can cause burns.

Preparation of materials and tools

Not everyone in the house has special carpentry tools, 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 common tools for the first three design options:

LED lamps frosted or tape.
Mirror.
Cartridges with an E27 or E14 base - the quantity will depend on the size of the product.
Electrical cord, plug and switch.
For the box, we choose a furniture wooden shield, 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 on 4 parts at an angle of 45 degrees. You can sand the edges with sandpaper.
Box cover. It is recommended to choose: stain of any color, enamel or furniture varnish.
Metal corners and strips, self-tapping screws and a screwdriver.
Wood drill 38 mm.
Wall mounts.

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

For the latter method, you need to purchase a thin mirror and a diamond to cut 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 the assembly of a backlit mirror in the bathroom with our own hands.

1 design option. We fasten the carved wooden parts with metal plates on the back of the work. You should make a hollow along the inner edge of the frame. Next, we cover the product with the selected paint.

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

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

TIP: in order for the light not to hit your eyes when using the item, it is recommended to put a few lamps or make double parallel wiring. In the latter case, the cartridges are connected through one, and a separate switch must be placed on each circuit.

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

We got a make-up mirror with lighting on the wall, made by hand.

2 design option. First, the box is knocked down. It should be smaller than the mirror canvas in size. We fasten the lamps around the perimeter, as well as in the first method. It must be remembered that the light elements should be located on the outer edge of the box. The mirror is glued on top of the box with furniture glue.

TIP: backlighting does not have to be done from 4 sides. Some craftsmen fix the lighting only on two sides.

3 design options. It is done in the same way as the second one, only LED strip is glued instead of lamps. The tape can be fixed on the mirror itself with bulbs around the perimeter, made by yourself, on its back side, pick up the mount to the wall and use the product. Before cutting a piece of 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 pick up 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 some 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. Cords are brought out for the base.

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

Reflective parts are mounted to the shield using special fasteners.

Such decoration can be placed in any interior of the house or office.

Decoration features

If you want to make an oval or round mirror with your own hands, choose the third manufacturing method.
You can stick a mirror on any base (option 4) and fix the LED strip on the canvas. Beautifully reflective surfaces look on glass, on colored plastic, on metal. When choosing an adhesive, check with the seller which one is best suited for your case.
If you have problems with the installation of electrical components, consult with professionals. They will tell you the best way to wire.
Do not forget that the light from the mirror should not shine into the eyes.
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 a mirror with lighting in the bathroom

Before manufacturing a product in the bathroom, it is necessary to determine its location. This will depend on the dimensions of the product.
It is also worth paying attention to the intensity of lighting, this will be reflected in the selection and number of lamps.
It is not recommended to mount electrical parts near water.
When choosing a material, you should take into account the increased humidity in the room. 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.
When assembling, it is necessary to isolate all contacts and place them in sealed pipes or cable channels (in some cases, the wires can be covered with sealant).

It is not at all difficult to make the backlight of the mirror in the bathroom yourself. To date, there are many ideas for creating a bright, safe and at the same time decorative lighting of a mirror surface. We will not consider time-consuming options in which you first need to create a frame, then cut out seats for lamp holders in it, and then only conduct electricity to the finished structure. Everything is much simpler - just take the LED strip and fasten it around the perimeter of the mirror from the inside. A simple instruction for making your own LED backlight is provided below!

Material fastening features

So, to make diode lighting of the mirror in the bathroom, you must perform the following steps:

After connecting the LED backlight of the mirror, you can turn on the finished lighting and check the correctness of all the work done. As you can see, there is nothing complicated and anyone can make decorative lighting on their own. However, there are a few important points to keep in mind:

The video below clearly shows how to make a mirror illuminated with an LED strip:

Installing the LED strip from the back

Alternative lighting options

If it is not fundamentally important for you to make the built-in lighting of the mirror in the bathroom around the perimeter of the object, you can organize another, no less comfortable lighting option. Spots will do this task well - spotlights on brackets that can be manually directed in any direction. A very good idea that allows you to change the lighting area depending on what you are doing - shaving near the mirror (or applying makeup) or taking a bath.

Another highlight idea is the use of special ones. There is a wide range of lamps that can be attached to a mirror surface or tile on suction cups and clothespins. In addition, there are lamps that can be easily installed in a horizontal position above the mirror or in a vertical position on both sides, which allows you to make high-quality lighting of the entire area nearby.

Hello, dear forum users!

I congratulate everyone on the holiday season and propose to have fun with my bath-bath epic. Nowadays unrealistic comfort dependence and unhealthy virtuality it’s so difficult instead of “let’s call and order” to say “I’ll do it on the weekend” ... And I said. And did… ultra-budget illuminated bathroom mirror . Now, I ask you, dear guests, to take off your shoes and go to my bathroom ...

History of Purchase History)))

For more than a year, repairs have been quietly smoldering in my home. Exactly "smoldering", because there is no strength to throw wads of money into this fire. But the question of buying a bathroom mirror was a long time and very acute: the snot of the supply wire spoiled the whole appearance of the room. Having studied the prices in the stores of the capital, I realized that I would look into such mirrors exclusively with fierce hatred. The price of the finished product fluctuated within. After reviewing dozens of options, I summed it up: it will be possible to make a coveted mirror on my own ten times cheaper .
Having collected the necessary invoice, we slobber a pencil and knock out an estimate:
1. Mirror 1000x700 mm under the order - $24
2. Ali led strip - $2.99/5m, need 3m= $2
3. Power supply with Ali = $6
4. Heat sink in the form of aluminum corners (found in the garage) = $0
___________
Total: $32

Ola-la, 10 (!) Times cheaper than stock. We spit on the palms and proceed to the implementation of the project "Light my Mirror, tell..."

Purchase of components

Tape I bought for $ 2.99 in conditions of its complete uselessness, but the attractiveness of the price.
Specification
LED Strip Light
Manufacturer: Home Center Average
Service time: 100,000 hours (hohoh)
Diode type: SMD3014
Number of diodes: 60/m
Power: 60 watts (hohohohoho)
Power: 12 Volts
Glow color: cool white
Certificate: CCC, CE, RoHS
The tape came on a plastic reel. The quality is very mediocre: thin base, low-quality adhesive tape (although 3M claims). The type of diodes used is 3014. For those who are not in the know, this is the size. Such bugs look rather sparse on the tape, compared to, say, 5050 or 3528. There are three diodes on each module.

When the power supply is connected, we see a moderate glow.

Such a conclusion forces us to connect this product to a miracle machine for testing. The claimed tape power of 60 watts by the Chinese, of course, was greatly overestimated.

Moreover, upon careful study of the product page, it turned out that the Chinese were completely confused in the calculations.
But in the repair fever, I safely overslept the terms of the announcement of the dispute. The punishment did not take place and now only the Buddha is the judge of the Chinese. As a result, with similar characteristics, this light source is suitable only for decoration. Among other things, the length of the tape turned out to be less than declared by 20cm. Of course I cannot recommend buying from this seller. If only you will be seduced by the price, which is somewhat lower than the average for the hospital.

Power Supply I had in stock and bought almost a year ago in the amount of 4 pieces. The first one has been working for about a year and does not cause any complaints.

Specification:
Input voltage: 100-240 Volts, 50-60Hz
Outgoing voltage: 12 Volts, 5A
Connector size: 2.7mm x 5.5mm
Cable length: 2.6m
Purpose: for LED strip 5m
Certificates: CE Approved, RoHS Compliant, FCC Compliant, WEEE Approved
There is nothing to add here: pro and I will not sing another one. Taking into account the real power consumption of the tape, the potential of the block is enough "for the eyes".

Mirror I ordered in Minsk according to my project.

The dimensions are: W1000 x H700, along the perimeter I made a matte frame-window 20 mm wide. Such dimensions are not accidental: the larger the mirror, the visually freer the small room looks. Production takes an average of 2 days. The cost was about $24-25. There are similar productions in any more or less large city, it will not be difficult to find them.

From improvised materials an aluminum corner 10 mm wide and metallized tape were used for mounting ventilation ducts (corrugations). The first one was left from the country greenhouse and was found in the garage - I used it as a base / heat sink for the tape. I decided to use metallized adhesive tape to reflect the light flux at the right angle.
With everything at hand, we proceed to the installation.

Mirror installation

In accordance with the project, I brought the backlight control to the regular switch in the bathroom.

All wiring and wiring was laid at the stage of repair and hidden under the tiles. The power supply unit is installed under a stretch ceiling (unfortunately, the photo could not be taken ...). The power cable was brought out in the mirror installation area and was waiting in the wings.

1. First of all, we turn the mirror from dull-ordinary to light-magic. To do this, you need to cut an aluminum corner of the desired size.

We glue the corner with hellish glue to the back of the mirror and wait until it “grabs”.

It will serve as the basis and heat sink for the LED strip. The direction of the glow in my case will be from the center to the edges. Such a glow angle will give a large mirror canvas lightness and create the illusion of “hovering” above the surface of the tile.

2. We glue the LED strip to the aluminum base and bring out the contacts for connecting to the power source. To avoid power loss along the length, I connected 2 equal pieces of diode tape. This connection will also ensure the uniformity of the glow.

After gluing, do not forget to check the surface of the mirror for heating. Taking into account the real power of the tape, the heating turned out to be expectedly weak.

3. We “shoot” the approximate installation location of the canvas and mark the contours of the location of the “window” of the backlight. According to the contours, we glue the metallized tape.

This is not necessary at all, but in my opinion it will increase the frontal reflection coefficient.

4. According to the level, we drill a hole for fastening the mirror and hammer in the dowel-nails.

5. Connect the mirror to a power source. We hide the wiring and wrap decorative trims.

6. We turn on ...

Shine Christmas tree!!!

In the near future, I plan to bring the color temperature in the room to a “common denominator” and make it completely cold, like in a mirror.

Fantasies about...

The idea of an illuminated mirror is not new and I do not pretend to be original. The variations on this theme are endless. If you do not like the idea of decorative lighting, but need more light, you can install more powerful diodes and place them frontally. The window in the mirror may not be trite rectangular, but with a pattern. Or engraving your portrait))) True connoisseurs of their time can install in a mirror

Decorating a mirror with a backlight is a great idea. Not only will the room be transformed, it will look original, but in some cases LED lighting for the mirror will help, for example, to enlarge the room or improve lighting. She also has many other advantages, but since you have come to this article, you are probably familiar with them.

So, today we will consider in detail the question of how to properly make a backlit mirror with your own hands. You will receive a lot of practical advice and will be able to equip the bath with a beautiful and functional element of decor.

DIY lighting

In this section, we will discuss the frequently asked question, how to make a backlight for a mirror. At first glance, everything may seem very difficult, however, having already started work, you will understand that everything is not as scary as you thought. Required set of tools:

Jigsaw electric type.
Screwdriver.
Screws.
Any line.
Screwdriver.
Pre-prepared corners made of metal.
Glue gun or instant glue.
Wiring.
Light bulbs of electric type.
Bulb holders.
Mirror glass.
Plywood, preferably thick, you can also use a pre-finished wood board.

Step by step instructions for backlighting

First you need to make a frame in which after we will place the mirror itself and other details. Approximate dimensions are 0.9 meters wide and 0.2-0.25 meters thick. Next, you need to cut the ends of the boards. Remember that this must be done strictly at angles of 45 °.

After that, we additionally fix the resulting ends with the help of metal-type corners. I also note that when you insert the mirror into the frame, it should fit into it without effort and at the same time leave room for the lamps that will act as a backlight.

Holes must be made in the sides of the frame so that a lampshade can be inserted into them. They are attached with glue.

Then we attach special furniture-type corners to the first frame, usually this is done with small screws. A mirror is placed at these corners.

The next step is to assemble the entire mirror into a single whole and paint in the color you like, including the shades. By the way, in the frame the mirror is fixed with small bars, which must be thin.

All bulb holders must be connected to each other by electrical wiring. Next, we bring out the common cord through a special hole that needs to be drilled in advance.

The last, final step is to screw in the light bulbs, and check the correct operation of the mirror and backlight. If you want to make the back of the mirror closed, use plywood and small screws.

More detailed instructions on how to make a backlit mirror can be found on the Internet. You can also watch a video where you will not only be told how to do this or that part correctly, but also shown with an example.

By the way, today we will not talk about how to connect and adjust the backlight for the mirror, if you wish, all the information is on the Internet.

What kind of lighting for the mirror are still available?

One of the simplest options is lamps that are mounted on top or on the sides of the mirror. They are very good to use and look quite nice.

You can also use an LED strip that needs to be attached around the edges of the mirror frame. Their advantage is that they come in different colors, so choosing a ribbon for any interior or style is not difficult.

By the way, in order to better understand what is at stake, we recommend that you look at the photo of backlit mirrors.

So, today you learned what is needed in order to make a backlight for a bathroom mirror with your own hands, you also received step-by-step instructions for making this piece of furniture with unusual decor elements and learned about two other, easier ways to make a backlight for a mirror. I hope the article was useful and after reading you have no questions left.