Recently, decorating modern interiors with “infinity mirrors” has become very popular. The design is based on an LED strip, which is often used by interior designers to bring their most daring and creative ideas into reality.
In this article we will reveal all the nuances of making such an unusual lighting design for a room as an endless light well. You will learn what it is and how to make such a mirror yourself.
From the article you will learn how many mirror surfaces are needed to create a light tunnel with luminous points, as well as what materials are needed and how to make a lamp with an eternal effect with your own hands.
Theoretical basis of the infinity effect
also used the illusory effect of an endless mirror (during fortune telling on Christmastide, girls placed a burning candle between two mirrors). Infinity in reflection from a mirror surface arose due to multiple reflection of the light source from a real and imaginary mirror.
If you are interested in how a real and imaginary reflective surface have the same optical properties, a textbook on studying quantum physics will help you.
How to use in the interior
Despite the name, this design is not used as a mirror. It is suitable for decorating home and commercial premises. Visually enlarges the space and brings a touch of hi-tech to any interior. And thanks to the color, it can support the main shades of the design.
Step-by-step creation of a frame for a mirror with your own hands, decor options
Infinity mirrors are installed in clubs, bars, and restaurants. The effect is applicable for creating interesting tabletops, bar counters, and large installations. Increasingly, such products decorate commercial premises, showrooms and offices. There are original solutions where the effect is embodied in the steps of spiral staircases and on the floor of elevators. You can do it in the following styles:
- minimalism;
- pop Art;
- techno;
- high tech.
The mirror surface can be round, oval, square, rectangular, pentagonal or hexagonal. The effect of an infinity mirror also depends on the shape of the frame. Designers use additional elements inside to enhance the illusion, creating the feeling of endless columns standing inside. You can assemble a simple structure for your home.
In the interior, the system is used as an LED lamp, a full-fledged light source, and additional lighting. More often used as a decorative element that does not carry a functional load. It can be an independent piece or be part of a coffee table, table, bar counter, or exhibition display.
Such mirrors are used in the interiors of premium cars, on the ceilings of limousines, in racks with champagne and glasses. In this case, the installations are supplemented with long LED strips along the outer border.
The infinity effect is used in exhibition halls and galleries. It is used to decorate specific compositions, as an accompanying art object. In contemporary art galleries, mirrors are widely used for zoning, separating one exhibition from another. Another function is to enhance the effect of light shows.
Criteria for choosing lighting for a bathroom mirror, connection rules
How to do it yourself?
Your task is to create a flat reflective surface, looking at which the optical illusion of an infinite mirror will appear. To make it you will need :
- Mirrors (2 pcs).
- Light source.
Naturally, you can always resort to the ancient methods of our grandmothers and build an open mirror system in which the focus of the viewer's gaze will be parallel to the mirror planes. In this case, the height of the lamp will be equal to the width of the reflective surface, which a priori will not be very convenient.
Our goal is a mirror plane that will not reduce the height of the room. To create it, you need a closed-type optical system, in which a person’s gaze will be directed perpendicular to the mirror surfaces.
One of the mirrors must allow a portion of photon ducts from the light source to pass through; if you do not follow this point, you will not be able to make and see an infinite mirror.
To make your own light well you will need:
- light source;
- a mirror that reflects only on one side;
- glass, which partly has a reflective effect;
- a design with which it will be possible to maintain mirror surfaces at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other.
Implementation of 3D design
You can build a structure with the optical illusion effect of an “infinity mirror” in different ways, depending on the type, quantity and quality of materials you have. Further in the article you will learn one of the simplest ways to create a light tunnel.
Mirror surface
To begin, purchase a classic mirror (you can cut an existing one to the required size). Then, the question arises - where can I get a second reflective surface with a partial mirror effect?
The answer is quite simple - you will need glass with a density of 3-4 mm; a translucent reflective surface can be obtained by covering it with automotive window tinting film. The ideal option is a film that transmits 50% of light.
Frame
To make a base that will hold the mirror system, purchase wooden blocks, the sides of which will be 2-3 cm. In order to efficiently and reliably attach such a frame to the mirror surface, use a silicone-based sealant, ideally if it is colorless.
Before you start working, you need to make a hole in the frame made of wooden blocks using a drill, which will be parallel to the mirror plane. Through the hole you need to pass the power supplies of the diode wire .
Do not rush to attach all the slats at the same time; glue them one by one, parallelly aligning the bars along the outer edges of the mirror surface.
Source
After completing the assembly process, the cavity of the optical illusion system will become airtight and as airtight as possible.
The only light source in such a system can be one that does not emit heat. The most suitable option for such a design is a strip with LEDs, ideally RGB - it will allow you to create various optical effects in the tunnel.
Also pay attention to the operating voltage rating of the LED strip , it should be equal to 24 volts. Such tapes are among the brightest, which will allow them to penetrate as much as possible through such an obstacle as a tint film.
Assembly
Let's take a step-by-step look at the process of assembling a light tunnel. You are required to be extremely careful, attentive, and have all of the following materials at hand.
- Armed with silicone sealant, glue the frame slats one by one to the mirror (from the side of the reflective surface).
- Take the RGB LED strip and carefully attach it to the surface of the frame from the inside, pass the power cord through the hole in the rail, which must be made before assembling the frame.
- Cut a piece of tint film that matches the width of the frame structure.
- Apply silicone-based sealant to the wooden frame, then place the glass covered with film on top so that it rests with the mirror side inside.
And finally, the final stage of assembling the structure. In it you will learn what to do with the ends that are left open, and what is needed to close the wooden frame.
- If the wooden blocks were well processed and the work was done carefully, you can simply paint them over, choosing the appropriate shade.
- If your interior is made in Hi-Tech style, you can decorate the light tunnel stylishly and beautifully using a regular aluminum profile.
- Also, the ends of the wooden frame can be covered using a plastic cable duct, after first removing the cover.
Silicone-based sealant is ideal for fastening all of the above materials.
Belt design options
The simplest option for placing an LED strip is to run it along the entire perimeter of the wooden frame. The visual effect with this arrangement will look like many identical rows of light standing one after another.
If you want to make a more interesting and effective light tunnel, attach several geometric or some other shapes to the mirror surface using sealant; they must be made from the same wooden slats.
Attach a strip of LEDs around the entire perimeter of your inserts . Be sure to pay attention to ensure that its length is a multiple of the distance between all mounting points along which it will be possible to cut in the right place.
Using a diamond-coated drill, you need to make a hole in the mirror and pass the light source power wire through it.
Connecting LED strip
When the RGB LED strip is connected directly to the power supply, it will emit white light. When connected using a controller, you can create a variety of color effects. This control device works in tandem with a remote control .
But if you want to see color music, you need to choose models that are compatible with a computer.
Bottom line
The result is a high-quality mirror with pleasant lighting and an infinity effect, only 2.8 cm thick.
What is
An infinity mirror creates the magical illusion of endless depth, despite the fact that its design is actually completely flat. Looking into it, it seems that it is a well that has no bottom or is located at a great distance. In fact, the thickness of the mirror is only a few centimeters. This effect is achieved thanks to small LEDs that illuminate the mirror surface: closer to the center they become smaller and do not shine so brightly, due to which an optical illusion occurs. A person gets the impression that the tunnel is slightly narrowing, and its bottom is in pitch darkness.
It is not difficult to explain this optical effect theoretically. You can even create an illusory endless tunnel with the help of an ordinary candle: this magic was used by many girls of almost all generations, conducting Christmas rituals of fortune-telling. Due to the multiple reflection of the light source from the real and imaginary surfaces of the mirror, it seemed as if the candle was falling into a tunnel without end or edge. All this can be easily explained in terms of quantum physics.
Infinity mirrors are a wonderful decorative item that can become the main accent in the interior. Most often they are used when decorating commercial premises: nightclubs and bars, cafes, exhibition halls, offices. However, you can decorate your apartment with such an art object. It will look appropriate in a bathroom or hallway made in a Gothic or industrial style, with elements of minimalism, pop art or techno.
A mirror with infinite depth can be used not only for its intended purpose, as a wall structure with lighting, but also as an element of other furniture. It will become an original tabletop for a coffee table, the face of a cubic structure, a decoration for the floor and more. This can be a full-fledged ceiling chandelier or an additional light source.
